The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-10-27

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and reliant, SO must we be in these
times. Ordinarily there should be no
occasion for bringing this matter be-
fore the Christians, but they sometimes
forget the great fact of the peace Of
God. 1t is that which he should pos
sess, and which should control his life.
In our day the word peace makes
great appeal, and there are Christians
who are taken off their feet by it, and
they have become paciists in the pop
ular sense, when they would not be
considered so for a moment If they
would think soberly. We sing very
Justify, Lord, give us peace in this
our day. and with only cessation of
hoStilties in view, the return of SOL
oilers to their homes, and the resump-
lion of business activities and the
many rounds of ease and pleasure to
which we have been accustomed for
many years.
The peace of the text is a peace
that applies to the time of war and
social agitation as much, if not more
SO, than to time Of political tranquil
Eity and universal amity among men.
A Difference.
1T is easy to include too much in the
term peace of God" for sometimes
we mean peace with God" which is
clearly a very different thing. This
Kr-ftce Of God has to do, not with re-
IPionShip, but with an experience, 1t
dPes not refer to any cessation of hos
tNities, even spiritual, but it is state
oF soul or mind, something very real.
= Mdoes not proclaim itself from the
y Top or scfye afoua i4..s tasoy.,...s.sss.,
bNkit is rs real as the dawn, which
l.HaEkes no ado, and is as modest as the
IdeEdrop. It is a still small voice with
inEthe soul; indeed, it is the voice of
Cpd himself, who speaks to the soul
tlfat is bearing his image and likeness.
This peace is the very peace that
Gbd himself possesses. We cannot con-
qeive of God being agitated, fiustered,
excited. To speak reverently, he could
Not afford to be, as his business is too
vast on the one hand, and too minute
pa the other, to allow this. 1t is the
peace also of Jesus Christ himself; his
fGice was not heard in the streets; the
ipsuts, threats and prosecutions Of his
btiemies did not throw him into anger
bH resentment; as lamb, he goes to
Fhe Slaughter, and as a sheep before
his shearers, he is dumb. In the storm
lot the sea, he says, Peace, be still"
land the winds obey him.
The Haven OF Peace.
\ The Christian has known that who.
' soever hearkeneth to the voice of
God doth dwell in safety and shall
be free from fear of evil. He goes to
the operating table without fear; he
sees the lions ready to tear him tc
pieces, and sings songs of praise tc
God; he goes 'over the top with his
comrades falling about him, and his
soul is quiet. He has the record OF
the Holy Spirits injunction. AS the
Christian has had this peace; every
Christian today should have it. The
responsibility is on every one who
knows it. Why cannot the Christian
believe the word of God, my grace /.
sufficient for thee?' The promise Of
this peace is one of the strongest mo
tives that can be offered to man. Al
| fear hath torment,ds 1t not of the great
| est Importance that fear should b,
taken away? TO man the two strong
4 est motives might be, first, the promise
Of the supremacy Of the spirit owe
the flesh In life. Whatever the eartI
conditions, ill-health, poverty, bereave
ment, persecution, the spirit shoult
| dominate, and the things of the fiesl
should become of little moment. Sec
ondly the promise Of perfect bod,
at the coming of the Lord; glorious
| immortal, powerful, honorable an,
i deathless. Why is it that the cleares
| promises Of God are not believed
4 With the peace of God in the heart
| the Christian can truly say:
Thou very present aid
4 In suffering or distress;
i iTha mind which EtfIl on thee 10 ofa vaA