Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-06-04
CHRISTIAN EROEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
ginning June 8, 1913.

ginning June 8, 1913.
Topic.-seek Peace and Pursue I'll
Pet. iii, Sis. Edited by Rev. Sherman H
Doyle, d. d.
Peace is defined as "a state of quiet
or tranquility" 1t is calmness of mind
and of soul and Is one of the most de
sirable and precious of divine bless
ings. No position in life, ne amount
of earthly possessions no attainment
of human ambition, can make up for
the absence of peace-peace with God,
peace of conscience. peace In our own
souls and peace with cur fellow man.
Better far poverty and humble position
with peace than the greatest gifts that
the world can bestow without 1t
There can be no joy and no satisfac-
ton in life when the mind is harassed
and the soul troubled. The apostle
Paul therefore well exhorts US to
seek peace and pursue it7-seek II as
a hidden treasure and pursue ii as IL II
might escape.
Peace Is TO be sought To some IL
seems to be a natural possession. Nc
matter how great the tribulations and
perplexities Of life, their peace of mind
and tranquility of soul are not disturb
ed This. however, is the exception
and not the rule. Most people are dis
turbed by life's perplexities and prob
lens and vexations. Even David, the
man after Gods own heart, was so
harassed and troubled that he cried out
in anguish, why art thou cast down,
o my soul, and why art thou disauiet.
ed in me?" He needed peace and
sought ii, for to his troubled soul be
said, Hope thou in God. for | shall
yet praise Him who is the health of
my countenance and my God" Hope
In God" is one method of seeking
peace.
Peace with God is especially to be
sought through reconciliation with
Him through Jesus Christ. The unfor-
given sinner who is not in harmony
with God cannot have peace with Him
While still in his sins he may cry,
peace. peace, but there is no peace"
Augustine as a skeptic and an atheist
seeking peace In various ways never
found it until he found God in Christ.
and this done he well declared.
Thou hast made US for Thyself.
And the heart is restless
TIL 1t rest in Thee.
The peace of Christ must be sought
through prayer. He left peace, His
peace, as a most priceless legacy to
His apostles. Peace | leave with
you; my peace give unto you
Christ's peace! What greater peace
than His? Surrounded by conditions
of life that would ordinarily have
brought distraction to the mind and
anguish to the soul, yet tranquility was
one of His chief characteristics. Moth
ing disturbed the calm OF His life and
the poise of His demeanOr. Enemies
might assault Him and even friends
desert deny and betray Him, yet peace
never forsook Him.
And His peace is possible to us. II
comes as gift. and His gifts are be
slowed In answer to prayer. Let US
therefore hold constant communion
with Him and earnestly pray that His
peace may be impaired to us.
Peace of conscience, peace with one
self and his fellow men, can only be
sought and obtained through right liv.
ing. An upright life brings peace; a
life Of sin, of wrongdoing. Of injustice,
OF dishonesty. OF hypocrisy, destroys II.
II we "love life and twouldl see good
days" let US seek peace and pursue
it, by doing that which is approved
by our own consciences and that which
is right before God and In the sight of
our fellow men.