Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-03-09
RELIGIOUS.

The PEACE OF GoD.-Atout once a week
there comes to US the story OF some one who
desires to serve God, but whose heart is op-
pressed with longing for that peace which so
many Christians possess Such persons have
reformed their lives; they have become devout,
but they will not believe that God accepts th am
until they receive a sign from heaven. The
number Of these oppressed souls is 80 great as
TO be appalling, and it suggests that there must
De something wrong 10 the popular preseuta-
lion OF truths relating to repentance. Certain
there Is wide spread error, or there could not
be this wide spread disease Of dependency.
One OF the capital errors is the mistaking Of
animal cheerfulness for Gods peace. Older
Christians often detail for religious experience
Joys that have their foundation In placidity OF
temper, or healthiness of physical constitution.
Ihere are people whose very over. hopefulness
makes them lead sunny lives, and other people
sometimes fancy their own Christian expert
ence lacking because they are not thus sanguine.
But the peace OF God is something deeper than
this. Paul was not a man Of sunny temper, or
OF great constitutional hopefulness. lie saw
the clouds, and keenly felt the pelling of the
storm. He was inau of bilious constitution
anu OF energetic unrest. The placid repose
which some people find never came TO him.
lie was teInpest-tossed within as well as with
out Aud yet Paul's stormy nature found al
ways peace within the storm. and victory
over the shipwreck. He could glory in tribu-
lation and triumph over defeat. He knew how
TO be cast down In an impenetrable melancholy,
caused, no doubt, by physical exhaustion :; but
when cast down he was not destroyed. Per-
maps no Christian ever suffered mere from out
ward battles and inward depressions than he,
and perhaps none ever had more continuous
and lfe-long victory.
For one thing, Paul did not let his faith in
God depend on bis state Of mind or body, He
did not insist that lo would believe in God only
when he felt cheerful This is what many peo-
Pile do. They cannot believe that God loves
them, or receives them, or is their Father, until
de works miracle, and gives them a cheerfuls
ness Of disposition that does not pertain to their
temperament.
Christian peace POUNDS itself In reasonable
trust The man who has money in sound
bank sits him down in quetude In the mdst
OF financial fright. He does not ask that some
inward or outward signs be given him that his
bank is safe. His cbeerfulness does not come
Of any affiatus. He does not 60 and beseech
the bank to take care of what 1t keeps for him.
He does not superadd precautions. His peace
fulness has no relation to his temperament. 1t
is a trustfulness well-grouRded that makes him
sleep when other men awake. 1t was lust such
peace that Paul felt when he said, III know
whom have trusted. | know His ability to
keep to that day all that have put into His
hands,"
Y souls, weary of seeking, why do you ask,
"Who shall go up into heaven to bring Christ
down from thencep" or, who descends iuto
the abyss to bring Christ up from the dead ?"--
The word els nigh thee, even in thy mouth
The way of peace is simple, and you will per-
sis. in overlo oKing 1t. While you seek God by
groaning and praying and Travelling, God
stands patiently waiting at your own door TO be
let in. You would not distrust friend, though
he were but man. God has undertaken the
care of your soul. HIS mercy cannot fall
Plant yourself on this reasonable truth, cease
to look for inward exercises, and your peace
shall flow as a river the peace of reasonable
being who has made deposit in secure place,
and who does not agtate himself about it,
"Wherefore, let them that suffer according to
the will of God commit the keeping Of their
snuls to Him in well doing, As .aso a faithful
Creator Christian Union.