June 30

We have peace with God. — ROMANS v. 1.

Peace be unto you. — JOHN xx. 19.

THE natal song of Christ sung by prophetic angels was "peace" and "glory." — "glory in the highest, and on earth peace." Yet when Jesus began his ministry, he said, "I came not to send peace, but a sword." Are these statements and others like them contradictions? No! sweet paradoxes. By nature, man is at peace with the world and at war with God. Christ came to reverse this, and by his atonement to establish a peace between God and man which involves war with the world. The Christian, then, is called to fight his way to eternal peace. But has he no peace until the end? Yes, blessed peace: war without, and peace within — "the peace of God that passeth all understanding." His turbulent passions are stilled; his soul's great anxieties are laid to rest; his sin is forgiven; he is cleansed in the blood of the Lamb; he has promises of final salvation, "a place" in the "house of many mansions," and "a crown of glory that fadeth not away." With a consciousness of all these in the Christian's soul, time, death, and eternity cannot mar his imperturbable repose.

Robert P. Herr

Grant us thy peace throughout our earthly life, Our balm in sorrow, and our stay in strife; Then, when thy voice shall bid our conflict cease, Call us, O Lord, to thine eternal peace.

JOHN ELLERTON.