Seventeenth Day. Of inward peace

I. ' Peace I leave with yoiu my peace I give unto you, not as the workl giveth give I unto you.'' John xiv. 7- Mankind seek for peace but they seek it where it is not to be found; they seek it in the world, which is ever promising, but can never give us a solid peace: that is th gift of Christ alone who reconciles man to himself, subdues the passions, sets bounds to his desires inspires hopes of eternal biiss and gives the joy of the Holy Ghost; a joy which glows in the midst of sufferings, and, flowing from an inexhaustible source, becomes a perpetual spring of delight, which the world can neither interrupt nor diminish.

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II. True peace is not to be found, but in the possession of God; and the possession of God cannot be attained but by faith and obedience: remove all forbidden objects; renounce all unlawful desires: banish all earnest care and anxiety; desire only Grod; seek only God: and then you shall have peace, a peace which the world shall not be able to disturb. For what can trouble you? Can poverty can disgrace, can disappointments, can outward or inward crosses? All these in the hand of God should be considered as real favours which he vouchsafes to give you a portion of. The world would then put on a uew appearance, and your peace prove inviolable.