July 14

Trinity Sunday

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts. Isaiah 6:3.

EVERY Lord's day is a day of rest, this more than any. It commemorates not an act of God, however gracious and glorious, but His own unspeakable perfection and adorable mysteriousness. A day especially sacred to peace. Our Lord left His peace when He went away. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." He said He would send a Comforter, Who should give them peace. Last week we commemorated the Comforter's coming; to-day, in an especial way, the gift He brought with Him in that great doctrine which is its emblem and its means. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation." Instead of this world's troubles, He gives His disciples peace, and accordingly in to-day's Collect we pray that we may be kept in the faith of the eternal Trinity and Unity, and be defended "from all adversities;" for in keeping that faith we are kept from trouble. Again in the solemn form of blessing with which our public service ends, "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding," and the blessing of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. God is the God of peace, and in giving us peace He does but give Himself, He does but manifest Himself to us; for His presence is peace.

What then am I, my God, Permitted thus the paths of peace to tread? Peace, purchased by the Blood Of Him Who had not where to lay His Head! I, who once made Him grieve; I, who once bid His gentle spirit mourn; Whose hand essayed to weave For His meek Brow the cruel crown of thorns; O why should I have peace? Why but for that unchanging, undying love Which would not, could not cease, Until it made me heir of joys above.