The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-03-19

THINGS THAT MAKE PEAcE.-Cbris-l
tians are followers-imitators Of Christ.
He was meek and lowly, holy, harmless,
the Prince of Peace. His
followers should therefore be peaceable.
This should be characteristic of them.
Hence it is not strange, that the apostle
under the guidance Of the spirit should
exbort them to follow after tho things
that maketh for peace. What are some
Of those things'
Truth makes for peace. A great ma
ny contentious result from false reports
Truth has been violated, and peace is
destroyed. Christians should therefore
be careful to speak the exact truth, es-
pecially where the interest and charac-
ter of others is concerned. Loose state
ments, even when there was no bad mo-
tive, have often occasioned bitter con-
tentions. Truth is therefore to be spo-
ken accurately, and also in love. The
truth without love may irritate. Truth
spoken in love rarely irritates. Love
will prevent the utterance of all unpleas-
ant truth, except when duty requires it.
Ifall our utterances were those of truth
in love, we should seldom disturb the
peace of individuals, of neighborhoods,
or of churches.
Circumspection makes for peace. 1t
will enable men to avoid all actions
which are likely to give offence. A large
portion of acts which give offence, are
prompted by no bad motive. There is
no design to injure tho property and
feelings of those who take offence. The
action may have been ill.timed, or the
manner unfortunate and it disturbed the
peace Of one, perhaps of many. Now by
circumspection all this may be avoided,
and our actions may be the true expo
nents Of the truth and love that dwells
within US.
A habit Of judging cbaritably makes
for peace. 1t is very easy to put n wrong
construction on mems actions and mo.
tives. Hasty judgments are most al
ways inaccurate, and consequently un-
just. Goodness and delberaton are nee
cessary in order to judge according to
truth. 1t will make for peace if we 60
beyond this, and put on every act, the
best construction that truth will allow
This is habit which is not nstural to
fallen man, but it is one which may be
formed, which must be formed IF we
study for those things which make for
peace. Juding uncbaritably is one Of
the most fruitful sources of contention.
Things wherewith one may. edify an
other make for peace. Whatever tends
to promote the growth of holiness in the
soul, makes for peace. Love is the full
filling of the law. The nearer one ap-
proximates to the fulfilling the law, the
more he will love, and the less he will
hate. Love never causes the disturbance
of peace. Hatred rs the great cause of
contention. In proportion as we increase
the former, and decrease the latter, we
promote peace. Whenever, therefore,
we do anything for the edifcation Of
others, when we lead them to the per.
formancc of any duty, we are doing that
which makes for peace. Just in pro.
portion as man is edited be becomes
like Christ. The more he is like
Christ, the less he will be disposed to
quarrel.
The spirit of the exbortaticn requires
not only that We, in our daily conduct,
should follow after tho things which
make for peace, but also that we should
use all our endeavors to restore peace
when it has been interrupted, and when
enmity has taken its place. There is
such thing as peace making. Christ
has declared the pcacemaker blessed. 1t
is blessing which all christians can Sc
cure. There are blessings not accessi-
bic to all, but all may secure the bless
ings promised to the peaccmakcr. And
no one who has any just appreciation of
spiritual things, will count it a small
blessing. Blessed are the peace max
crs, for they shall be called the children
Of God"