The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-01
plea that suitable hall cannot be. OBJ
tanned. This is q mat tier for the Cham-s
Der Of commerce5 seriously tosconsider.
THE BLESSING OF PEACE.
1seIected for The Times


.iot peace; nor is indifference, nor insens
bility; nor yet the quiet which comes of
selfish fear of consequences. There cannot
be peace when there cannot be passion.
Thus we speak of peaceful sea; and we
speak rightly, for the sea is exposed to
forces which may rouse it into terrible
tempests.
Peace. then, must be understood to be
an af11rna tivc--not 4 negative-conditloll
Where there is true peace. there is OF
necessity right relation Of forces-noth-
ing praponderant, nothing conflicting;
everything has it's due and its place.
We sometimes see men who have no
sensibilites towards God. They see Him,
hear Him, feel Him nowhere. Neither in
the light nor wind, nor in the days story
Of gift and love and mercy. They are in g.
state of moral torpor. Are they at peace
with God? Most truly not; for peace is
other than death. In the case OF the
heart there must be life, and that life
must balance the entire nature, judg-
1nent, conscience. will and AFFECTION. To-
wards God there must be intelligence, de-
votion, constancy; toward man justice,
modesty, honor. Finding a tendency to-
ward this we find a tendency toward
peace; finding all Of this, we. find true
peace-the peace which passeth all under
standing.
One particular class is here spoken Of
not world, but section-certain pecu-
liar persons-"IIs people," In one sense,
all people are His. TIc created them by
His power; He sustains them by His
bounty; they hold the breath in their nos
trils at His will. If EIc frown or turn
away, they are troubled and die. But the
Psalmist here uses The expression His
people in a peculiar sense. and it means
all who accept the guidance of God and
walk in His ways.
This distinction is made the clearer by a
reference to those who set themselves up
against God, and so put themselves be-
You'd the range OF His blessing. We can
supply a terrible background to the text.
There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto
the wicked" OBSTRUCTION and misery
are in their ways, and the way of peace
have they not known 'The wicked are
like the troubled sea when it cannot rest,
whose waters cast up nire and dirt
These statements from the great Book
show that peace is not an indiscrim-
mate blessing. The sun shines and the
rain falls upon all; but peace" only
alignts upon those who have acquainted
themselves with God and whose sover-
eign will they acknowledge.
In calling us to peace, God has not call
ed us to indoleace, but to our work for
Him. We must resemble in some degree
the worlds which arc at rest by reason
OF their verocity. The earth is at rest;
yet no runner can give us the ieintest
fast. The light gives no sign of motion;
yet no cleaner can give US the faintest
idea of it's speed. Rest is the ultimate
expression OF motion. God is at rest: Yet
energy is pouring from Him constantly
to WITTY all the creations of His power.
.'The Lord will bless His people with
peace, Surely such a promise should
make us calm and hopeful under the
most distressing circumstances, even
though .the earth be removed and the
mountains be carried into the midst OF
the sea-" 1t speaks little for our vital re-
1ationship with God when we are dis
turbed by every sound OF tumult. Union
with God should mean participation in
the nature of God-not mere connection,
but spiritual oneness-the union of life.
The Christian may be violently tossed
about as if God had controversy with
him; he may be in great perpleSity, in
deep trouble and suffering; Yet, in the
depths of his heart, there may be great
peace. The very stress that is put upon
him will give him q holder and richer
character, if it be but accepted in a tlial
spirit 1t will not deepen that peace
which it once threatened to destroy.
Let us look back over the past year and
count how many mercies FIc has sent us,
along With the trials which may have
been our lot: how NC have been watched
over and guided and led! We will thank
Him for the sunshine, and we will thank
Him for the ''useful trouble of the rain"
Both were needed, or they would not
have been sent.
" NAT. arc tllc i-SSOliS NlllCll VIC nave
learned from this Thanksgiving season?
Nature is beautiful, and fciioW-men and
family ties are dear, and duty is close
beside us and He is over us and in u.s.
What more 20 we want, except to be
moro thankful and more faithful, less
complaining of our trials and our time;
and more worthy OF the tasks and the
privileges He has given lis. We want to
trust Him with q fuller trust, and so, at
last, to come to that higher life where
we shall "be careful for nothing, but III
everything, by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let our requests be
made known unto Cod
Then and then only shall be know and
possess His great blessing of peace
{, we sincerely hope that all the railroads
entering Richmond will eventually find il
THE ESOUIMO