The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-15
For the Central Presbyterian.
My Peace Give Unto You.

ivy E6dcG L G1Ve OnCO GU.
This peace Jesus gave to his sorrowine
disciples was the richest legacy he could
have bequeathed to them, far more val
liable than riches or honors, thrones prin-
cipalltles, or powers. What was it? 1t
was not that profound harmony or I'M
ruffled communion that exists and always
has prevailed between the persons of the
adorable Trinity. Between the ever
blessed three no element of discord has
ever been known or felt, no divergence
Of plan or difference of purpose or con-
trariety of thought has ever arisen. Being
the same in substance and equal in power
and glory they have dwelt together from
all eternity in the absolute unity of one
Godhead. When the Son became incar-
nate and put himself under the law and
made himself the object of the divine
curse, he did not forfeit the Fathers love
or relinquish in the slightest degree the
sympathy or fellowship of the Spirit.
He never undertook a work which they
did not approve, or entertain a purpose
y they did not share, or ever utter senti-
ment which they did not fully recipro-
cate. At his baptism the Father testified
MS pleasure and entire concurrence in
the act by declaring in an audible voice
this is my well beloved Son in whom
am well pleased" the Spirit likewise
manifested his cordial approval by de-
scending In the form of dove and rest
ing upon him ; and the Son himself, when
IN the midst of all the horrors of his sac
rifcial death on the cross, still could say
"nay God, my God" The three persons
of the Godhead dwell together in most
loving accord, maintain the most AMIGA
Die relations, and share to the fullest ex-
tent each others counsels, purposes, OBJ
jects and aims. 1t was not this mutual
amity or intercommunion between the
divine persons Christ referred to when
he said My peace 1 give unto you"
Nor was it that mental equipoise among
the different powers and faculties of his
own soul which Jesus as a distinct per-
sonality always enjoys. He possessed
all the attributes OF perfect humanity,
Tor he was made in all respects like
unto his brethren" and shared every
characteristic OF their nature, Gin alone
excepted. But the powers and faculties
OF MS soul never antagonised each other !;
his sympathies never came in conflict
with his moral judgments, nor did his
will ever seek to set aside or override the
conclusions of his understanding. Our
bosoms are often agitated and rent by
opposite feelings, and our peace of mind
destroyed by tumult of conflicting pas.
sions. But the soul of Jesus was always
calm, he never lost his balance, his head
al lora1 -, 80, Il
clear, his conceptions always adequate,
his conclusions always right. Neither
the shouts of applause uttered by his
friends, Hosanna to the Son OF David |
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of
the Lord, nor the excavations of the
mob, thirsting for his blood and crying
Away with him, cruelty him, cruelty
him, neither success nor failure, VIC
tory or defeat could shake his repose or
disturb that peace profound which his
unsullie mind enjoyed.
The peace he bequeathed to his disci-
pies which ne characteristics as a,y peace,
is neither the tranquil INSTRUMENTATION
Of the Godhead nor his own mental COM
posure, but rather. that reconciliation
which he effected between the Justice
and the mercy of God through his suffer
ings and death by which the claims OF
the law are met and sinners delivered
from condemnation. He wrought out an
everlasting righteousness which as soon
as the sinner accepts he is justified by
faith and has peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ by whom he re-
ceives the atouement and passes from
death unto life. This is the Guest, most
complete and satisfying peace man can
ever know. 1t pervades all the powers
Of the soul, gives repose to the troubled
conscience, settles down within the eta
del Of the hearr, has God for its author,
eternal justice Tor its defence, and heaven
for it's elimination. This Jesus calls mn
peace, and well may he call it so, for he
purchased it by his death; he trod the
wine press of Gods wrath alone to pro-
cure it, and Of the people there were none
with him to aid him, and none can be-
come possessors Of it but by gift from
him.
The importance Of this legacy to the