Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-07-30

r/1E(%I F4&
VG7FIT
THE MASTERS G A
By Rev. Alexander MaoColl

give unto you; not as the WCriQ CIV
eth, give l unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it he
afraid.-John 1927.
The closing verses of the fourteenth
of John have well been called the last
will and testament of Jesus. Tender
ly His heart goes forth to the friends
He is soon to leave. He would fam
leave them sCme legacy of love; and
here It is: Peace | leave with You;
Ny peace I give unto YOU: not as the
world givcth, give | unto you
One feels at once the contrast be-
tween this legacy and any other
known among men. Indeed Jesus
Himself emphasizes the contrast, Not
as the world giveth. give -
There is a contrast in that when
is given. The gifts of men are COM
mon things; the gifts of Christ are
thoughts, perceptions. ideals. tasks,
new attitude and atmosphere in IKE.
To many the superiority OF Chrlsts
giving is rot at once manifest. Sup
nose that one were listening to the last
will of some mar Of large possessions
and wide culture and beautiful spirit,
| and it read somewhat as follows: 10
nv son James I leave a million dol
lars. to my son Peter I leave all my
real estate, to my son John I leave my
love- At once the worlds comment
would be, Extraordinary. What has
John done that he should be cut on
without a cent?" But suppose. that II
were possible for this father not only
to make, but. which is so very diner
ent, to carry out his will; to leave TO
James a million dollars and nothing
else: to leave to Peter his real estate
and nothing else; to leave to Johh MS
love for life, for work, for friends, lot
books, for the beautiful in nature and
art, his controlling love for Jesus
Christ, who after all is the faVorlte
Son? A few years pass u mas
often been the story? The million
dollars without the man to use 1t Is
quickly wasted; the real estate With
out the lovers heart to develop 1T is
mortgageG to the limit; but the young
man in whose heart there thrObs again
his fathers love has long since ac-
quired all the possessions he needs
and made for himself and others a
victorious life. 1t is just this power
to give to men the material of which
a strong, true life is made, this power
which many a father longs above all
things to give to his son, but cannot.
which Jesus claims to give to men.
Not the baggage and furniture of life,
but the thing itself; not h environ
mont, but the spirit. Peace l leave
with you" za
But why among the gifts of the
spirit does Jesus emphasize peace?
Why not JOY or hone or love? Mani
testify peace was the gift these men
were to need most in the days oon
to come. for the loss Of the friend on
whom they leaned would drive some
of them to denial and all of them to
despair. But when they came into
possession of Christ's gift they became
men of glorious courage and unfailing !
resourc and unfaltering loyalty. And
to-day there is no gift which would
minister more deeply to the lives Of
men than the gift of peace; not OF
course the peace of Incidence and in
activity. but the poise of a balanced
soul which keeps one calm and conf
dent in any condition of life. Most
men who know themselves know what
a gift to them would be the grace that
.conquers moods. dispels fears and
frets. delivers from the bitterness that |
exhausts and the resentment that
p%oisons, keeps one eve earnest and
Christ, Peace I give unto you" And
from it will blossom as a flower from
the stem all the other graces which
the heart can crave.
There is a further contrast between
the giving of Christ and the giving
men. Men give what they have;
Christ gives Himself. The peace prom
Used is the peace hat was in His
own heart, the peace Of a Son in per.
feet harmony with His Father, the
peace of a life which once tempted as
are by the prizes Of earth had
to say, 81 came not to do Mine
own will, but the will of Him that
sent Me-" which had adjusted all
values in this light, and brought all
ideals m energies beneath the heel
this supreme. allegiance. A man
go through a lot in the world
when everything is right at home. He
go through far more when there is
at the heart of his life a deep sense of
rightness with God. This was the
peace of Christ, and this is His gift to
the man who with undivided heart ac-
His leadership, who is ready to
radically all standards of value,
and bring life vigorously into harmony
with the Christian ideal.
The modern movement for the CO.
operation of religion and medicine"
is at it's best al effort to bring to men
Christ's peace. 1t recognizes the cura-
tive value Of a placid mind. and pleads
for repose, surrender and trust. The
Christian who tries to do this work
will find a limitless sphere for service,
and one rich in results. Healthfulness
is contagious; the sunny spirit will
radiate sunshine. But if his work is
to be permanent, he must remember
always that his plea is not for q mood,
but for a Master. The peace hat
'quietness and confidence is
Christ's peace. 1t is not an achieve
ment, though persistent effort helps
to make it effective, but a gift to the
who has made a whole-hearted
to Christ, and is eager to
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