The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-16
The Rev. F. 7. Webb on the Sub
ject of Peace in This
World
It Ii Not Mere Inactivity, But IL
to Be Acquired by Con-
slant Work.
The Worlds Way and the Way Of tho
Righteous-Follow the Teachings
Of Christ

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unto you that in me ye might have peace.
Ye shall have tribulstion, but be of good
cheer. have overcome the world.''
Mr.. Webb said: Dante, when asked at
Santa Croce what he sought, said only.
Peace"
I have taken the text this morning ont of
tho gospA for the day. The gospel for the
day is part of that discourse, without a
match elsewhere for its sublimity and
pathos, delivered by our Lord ON the night
Of the betrayal. II closes with this prom
iss of peace to the disciples. And having
thus spoken He turns His face to the
Father and offers up His memorable high
priestly prayer. Two points are noticeable
on account of the contest in the way in
which Jesus here speaks of peace.
In the first place it is something to be
obtained at once, here and now, in this
world. Peace cannot come to you out of
the world as source. Still, being on the
earth yon may enjoy this blessing. Out Of
the world comes tribulation, but in Christ
ispeace. David often speaks of the Al
is pressing him hard he fees unto God.
He hides in God. So does Christ
offer himself as a very present
help. In a far off realm, where there is no
friction in we'll doing, and the strife of life
does not obtrude; where pain has ceased
and men, redeemed and risen, shall zee the
shall! find peace But how does Jesus speak,
Not in heaven, He says, but in Me. Must
we travel sea and land to find Him2 Is He
not always near at hand? Is He not keep
ing His promise: so, am with you al
ways, even to the end of the worldv' Sure
ly We hope for endless peace in heaven. But
the assurance of having it there is because
we have first found it in Christ here.
Notice, in the second place, how Jesus,
while He Speaks sees the difficulties which
are surrounding Him and the apostles. He
is blind to nothing, and that they might
not be SO He points out what they. are to
leave them for awhile; then He foretells
the prosecutions which are imminent-their
enemies will try to kill them, and whoever
succeeds will think that he is doing Gods
service. The turmoil which prevailed out
side of the peaceful room where they were
the midst of this turmoil, in spite of their
hardships, they, and we after them, may
have peace in Hlm,-if We will. I'm the
world ys shall have tribulation; but at the
same time peace"
Let us look into the nature of this peace.
1t is peace which Jesus elsewhere calls His
own. "Peace leave with you, my peace
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled.
neither let it be afraid.''
What are some of it's characteristics?
Do not think of 1t as simply the opposite
Of action. Peace is not mere inactivity
To work, to keep the mind engaged, to be
using ones talents md time conscientious.
ly-that you must do. There is no comfort
in mere quiesoence. Discomfort ia insep-
arabic from idleness. But if you labor, do
so with worthy ends in view; carry on your
occupation without fret and worry; use all
the tact you can command to allay friction.
Much is said about the push and hurry with
which it seems necessary that the worlds
business in these days must be prosecuted.
The Christian does not want to fall behind
his times in the energy with which he puts
his hand to his daily task. "Be not sloth-
fai n N business ne is an Injunction of st.
practiced his own precepts. But for the
sake of your body and soul keep the tu-
multi of the street and of the store from
finding Judgment in your mind. To this
end what is of more use to you than your
religion? the quiet hours which you spend
There remaineth therefore rest for all the
people of God, is the conclusion which the
most energetic of all the apostles draws in the
course Of great argument he is pursuing,
In the presence of God there is always rest.
And the sacrament of the Lords supper
serves this purpose. It is meant to bring
you to the side of Christ; and each moment
of oommunionwith him helps to give youthat
calm mastery over the movements of your
mind, over your plans of living and con-
Quoting businoss-which means inward
peace. You may look upon the sea when its
whole mass seems to be moving ON endlessly
in splendid rhythmic undulations or beaten
BY the winds. leaping up in terrible wrath,
OF, in gentle mood, scattering it's foam in
the sunshine and breaking with musical
murmurs upon the placid sand-but through
it all have the deep waters been STILL" So
variable is the life of human being. But
ask, what is the condition of the soul at its
depths? Is there disquietude there or
calm! For at the center of it's ceaseless
a.gitations there is not always rest. Yet
here, If anywhere, you are to look for the
reign of peace. And for one whose mind ia
stayed on God, here it does prevail, in spite
of any turmoil or activity through which he
is called to 90.
To be in certain harmony with per-
OF peace. Or, as the church child is
taught, to be contented to do ones duty
in that state of life into which
it has pleased God to call him.
Obviously to harbor dissatisfaction with
the people or things about one is to bar the
contented with the place which providence
has assigned him in the world, seeks a
sphere for which he has not proved himself
worthy, for which, most likely, he has no
qualifications, or who, blind to his own
blessings, looks covetously upon those pos
sessed By others, be at peace with God or
his fellow-man or himself. "Five great
enemies to peace" says Petrarch, ''inhabit
within us, viz: avarice, ambition. envy,
anger and pride; and if these enemies were
to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy
perpetual peace" There are other ele-
n4ents which obstruct the progress of peace,
but are they not all allied in some way with
the feeling that God has not given US what
we deserve, or has put upon us more to
bear than we merit? Keep in mind our
Lords acknowledgement that there is much
to disturb ones composure. In the world
ye shall have tribulation." There is in
justice. Perhaps you are suffering under
1t. But how is the evil that assails YOU to
be conquered? Only in Christ's way: That
IN Me ye might have peace. If you have
any misgiving that God is not doing well
BY you, bring to bear upon your torment
ing suspicion the thought of Christ's life
and death and doctrine. He is
the Man of sorrows; He is innocent; He
suffers for the guilty; He overcomes the
world: He brings such revelation of the
divine Fatherhood, such disclosure of the
eternal world, such an unfolding of the pur-
pose of pain, such an e4piation of sin, such
compensation for necessary ills, patiently