The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-04

xae you may have peace. In the WORTH you
have tribulation; but be of good cheer: nave
overcome the world" John xvi, 80. Revised
version.l
The disciples were, indeed, to have
tribulation in he world to degree, 1t
would seem, far beyond the common lot.
They were to occupy new position
before the world, and they were to have
the world against them. The church
and nation to which they belonged
would cast them out and account them
as criminals. They would be perse-
cuted, imprisoned, tortured, and put to
death as the preachers of heresy, as the
representatives of false religion, and
as the promoters of dissension. They
were to be accounted as wicked and
vile; and men who might kill them
would think they were rendering service
to God by the act.
Their situation was going to be one
that nobody, without much stronger
motives than those which generally
govern men, would ever be willing to
accept. Ordinarily, all would shrink
from what they were destined to en-
dure for all naturally dread suffering
and shrink from the cup of pain.
Their hope was in their leader, but he,
alas, was doomed first to suffer, and to
he taken from them by the hand of VIC
Ience. Yet, while he sees and predicts
these calamities, he still tells them that
they were to have peace in him.
This was because there was princi-
pie in him. Without principle there is
no peace, even though the favor Of the
whole world is inherited. With princi-
pie, ''the souls calm sunshine and the
heartfelt joy'' abide, though the world
forsake and persecute.
The principle, too, that was in Jesus
was the highest principle-even the
principle of soul union with God. In
this he had peace, and his disciples
were to share his peace. AS they heed
ed his words and followed his example,
they, too, would be joined to God, and
therefore would enjoy peace and SO in
him they would have peace.
This is the peace of the Christ, and
it is the same as his rest-that rest to
which he alluded when he said, "Come
unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy
laden, and l will give you rest" He
however, enjoyed that rest and was in
the constant possession of that peace,
because his soul was permanently united
to God. He had no selfish end in view.
He sought not his own glory or gain, or
advantage, in any way, but only I'M
ion of his mind with the mind of Cod
an acquiescence of his will with the
will of Coda cooperation of the ac-
ton of his entire being with the work
of God. Therefore Gods peace was
his. Gods rest was his; and so the
peace of Cod and the peace of Christ
are one, and so, too, men have peace in
Christ who in spirit follow Christ
who after his example join their souls
to the Father as he joined his soul to
the Father.
And so, still further, the disciples
could endure the terrible tribulation
that they were to have in the world.
AT first they could not endure this, be-
cause at first their minds were not
wholly joined TO God. The spirit of
The Master had not yet filed them, and
when by the violence of the world he
was seized as an evil doer, they all for
sock him and fled. Instead of peace
they were filled with CONSERVATION and
fear. They were in dismay and confu-
sion, given up to despair as to his king
dom and reign, and as to their inner
itance in the same.
But they found the peace of Christ
when they learned more of the nature
Of his kingdom, and felt within them
the healing presence of that Helper of
which he had told them, and which he
promised to send them. Then they
were able and ready to face an opposing
and prosecuting world.
And this they had to do; because the
powers of Judaism on the one hand, and
Paganism on the other, were arrayed
against them, and both priest and
people reviled them, and prosecuted
them, and sought their destruction.
The hope of Christ the love of his
cause, the peace Of the Divine Spirit
sustained them, and they were happy
in their trial and affection. AS one of
them said to his fellow believers who
had not personally seen Jesus, but who
had come into the spirit of his mission,
after his death and reappearing: Whom
not having seen you love on whom
now not looking, but believing, you re-
ioice with an unutterable and gloriied
Joy" Original translation.l
AS the Master had overcome the world
by the union of his being with God, so
they, too, by partaking Of his spirit and
by joining their souls, also, to God,
overcame in spirit, and had peace in
their tribulation Of the world and they
found his words fulfilled Peace 1
leave to you my peace | give to you;
not as the world gives give | to yOu.o
Tina Daace wifhin-this peace of the