The Washington herald., 1922-08-07
CHRISTIAN PEACE
IS GREATEST NEED
SAYS REV. DR.. MUIR
Poise Of Soul Antidote
For World Feverishi
ness, He Says.
~ Dr.. J. ,. MUIR.
Tesnple -Baptist Church.


Temple -Baptist Church.
Text; Philippians: 4:7-"And the
peace OF God which passeth all
understanding shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus" tA,N
Happy is he who knows by ex-
perience the blessedness of q se-
rene life. who. whatever comes.
maintains that poise of soul which
enables him to exercise an equa-
nimity Of spirit of which the most
turbulent conditions cannot rob
him.
Though It may not be necessary
to remind people generally Of the
intense strehuousness of our times.
1t may. however. be necessary to
urge upon them the greater i'm
portancs of cultivatins . calmness
Of disposition and q deiibsrateness
In speech and action. so that amid
the din, and confusion Of present
conflicting circumstances they may
be steadied with ; confidence and
a resourcefulness Of purpose which
this clamorous age cannot dissi-
pate.
In view, therefore, Of our ankle
ties and fears this scripture has its
ministry for us. 1t may serve as
a sedative to allay our feverish-
ness.
Quotes From Paul.
Hear the apostles words and re-
member they found expression in
a prison cell:
Two men looked through prison
bars.
One saw mud and the other saw
stars"
St. Paul saw by faith beyond the
stars. He saw God in whose wis
dom and love he unquali1edly
trusted. and hence he always re-
joiced in the Lord and encouraged
others to do likewise. Possessing
the peace of God as an abiding
realization. he could speak of 1t in
the terms here used.
Great peace" declares the psalm
ist. have they who love Thy law"
From the prophet Isaiah we learn
that God will keep at perfect peace
the man whose mind is stayed on
Him. Jesus announced peace as his
legacy to his followers: Peace l
leave with you, my peace I give
unto you," saith the Master to the
disciples ere He left the upper room
and it's sanctities to endure His
cross and passion.
And 1t Is this transcendant ex
cellency which Is described as
standing guard over our hearts.
minds and thought. according to
the revised version. 1t acts as SEN
tinel of the soul. When IT exer-
cises it's gracious prerogatives over
ones thought it bars the mind
against such as are dark with sus-
picion. or are unloving. impure or
unkind. "As a man thinketh SO is
he" His thoughts index his char
acter, they reveal his real self.
When the peace Of God garrisons
heed the apostolic injunction con-
tanned in the verse following the
text: Whatsoever things are hon
est, whatsoever dic
whatsoever things are of 1ood re-
port: IL there be any vfrtus and IL
there be any praise. think on these
things"
Heart Needs Protection.
But no life would be adequately
guarded IL the heart out of which
are the issues of life lacked pro-
lection. Foes Of most dreadful
mien and implacable malevolence
are determined on its capture. The
world. the flesh and the devil are
confederated to storm "Mansoul."
and subject 1t to their diabolical
tyranny. When the peace of God
guards the citadel and the Lord
himself is our defense We need
not fear the power of any enemy.
That heart is we'll and securely
kept which is stayed on God
through Christ Jesus.
And that life which is divinely
garrisoned is rendered efficient for
best service for God and humanity.
When hardened with care and full
of worry, or beset by manifold
temptations which incline us to-
ward self-contentedness. we can
not fulfil as we ought our appoint
ed work. We should serve God with
our best and at our best. And In
order to do this we should make
complete surrender of ourselves to-
His gracious domination and most
earnestly and prayerfully desire
that the grace which passeth all
understanding shall garrison our
hearts and thought through Christ