Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-03-17
SERMONS OF THE DAY.
RELIGIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED BY
PROMINENT AMERICAN MINISTERS.

"rhe Peace That Passcth All Understand
ing'' Ia the Title of the Fifteenth Ser
mon in the New York Herald's Compe-
titive eSeries-Dr.Talmage on the Maine.
Seek peace, and pursue it.'-Psalm
xxxiv., IA.
These words mean that peace is an object
worthy OF being vigorously sought, even In
deed Of being hunted after.
/. There is peace which is the opposite Of
worry. The future is always uncertain.
We lay our plans as wisely as we may, but
there are innumerable contingencies be-
tween them and their realization. Wekeep
asking ourselves, "Have omitted any i'm
portant item from my calculationsp Have
put my money in good securities, or in an
enterprise that after all lacks promise? lis
accident or sickness going to befan me!
Have made proper provision for my fam-
lily or for my own old age?" There are
lines OF care upon the faces we meet. Even
though some people are careless and light
hearted, most men know the stern realities
Of life, and do not cast off cares easily. Life
brings its worriments, and where there is
worry there cannot be peace.
2. Peace is the opposite Of conflict. War
desolates q land. Weary marches, fierce
battles, horrible carnage on the side of the
army and desolation and sorrow in multi
tudes Of homes mark its continuance.
Peace means a reunited Nation, business
ment, happy homes, rewarded industry
all those good things which we sum under
the word progress. .Tumultuous pas
sions rage In some mans breast, envy
gnaws or avarice shrivels or anger lacer-
ates or lust burns. What a contrast to such
one the real saint, with the Sabbath m orn-
ing calm upon his brow and peace like a
river in his heart!
8. Peace is the opposite Of a disturbed
conscience. 1t is unfortunately true that
there are a great many men who are not
concerned about their evil doing. 1t is not
peace which Is in such souls, but moral
stagnation. The pretty uniform testimony
Of mankind, on the other hand, is that the
human heart is not at peace. That men
feel themselves to be somehow out OF right
relations to Diety is the thought that un-
deries all religions. The great question
that comes to the front in heather lands
as well as in Christian is, "How shall a
man be just with God?" Until that ques-
ton is satisfactorily answered there is no
peace.
The important, practical question now
Is, How shall peace be secured?
/. AS contrasted with worry, the way of
peace is trust. Trust does not imply care
lessness or Indifference. In our Lords
beautiful discourse His warning in regard
to the cares of life is really not "Take no
thought" but rather "Be not anxious" ;"
Your heavenly Father" He says, "know-
eth that ye have need OF all these things"
No one is rightly relieved of care in plan
ming or diligence in the work of life, but
proper care and reasonable diligence are
very different fr ON worry.
This lesson of trust is not always easy to
learn, but it can be learned. God is on the
throne of the universe. We do not under
stand His plans, but it is enough that He
rules. When we are sure Of our pilot we
need not question every time He shifts the
helm. We cannot see the end from the be-
ginning, but the Father can. 1t is to be
understood that losses and failures, great
er or less, will still come into our lives.
But they will not interfere with the peace
which trust in God brings. 1t is the peace
of the great ocean deeps, even though the
tempest RACES on the surface. Nor is such
peace stolidty; it is not superficial light
ness. 1t is full and true and 1t possesses
the soul. 1t is deep, pervading, endur-
Ing.
2. AS contrasted with conflict, peace is
to be gained by conquest. 1t is the battle
fought through to victory. 1t was thus
thct our nation gained peace in the War of
the Revolution. How precarious just now
the condition of Europe, with each nation
armed to the teeth 1t is not a satisfactory
peace when war may flame out at any mo-
Inent. Nothing is ever settled until 1t Is
settled right.
In the conflict of passions in the human
breast peace can be had only by conquest.
A man must be the victor over himself or
war. The peaceful possession of truth
comes only through conflict fought to a
finish. We deprecate theological contro-
versies, and some Of them indeed are fool
ish enough. But even theological warfare
is better that calm which is the quiet of
death. When the great fundamental relig-
ious contentious have been fought through
to victory permanent and productive peace
will ensue.
8. AS contrasted with disturbed con-
science, peace comes through atonement.
There will be peace only when man is ut
one with God. The bringing this to pass
is the atonement-through Jesus Christ.
The salvation which Jesus brings is not in
sin, but from sin. 1t is work wrought not
SO much for the believer as in the believer.
1t is no artificial process hinging on legal
action. It is something real and vital 1t
is q new life in the believing heart the life
of God within the man, deep and high and
wide as the divine grace and lasting as
eternity. This Is true peace-peace here
on earth, and peace swelling In fuller tide
out into the life that lies beyond this.
REV. OLIVER A. KINGsBURY,
Pastor OF the Presbyterian Church, New
Hartford, N. Y.