October 18

"He will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly." P.S. 85:8.

How encouraging is this expectation, "He will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints."

Mark the blessing itself, peace. It does not mean outward ease and prosperity; he nowhere engages to speak this: but spiritual comfort; the composer of the conscience; the satisfaction of the heart, by which the "soul shall dwell at ease;" the effect of confidence in God: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." How relieving is it, under a sense of guilt, to believe in the blood that cleanseth from all sin. How soothing is it, in the various changes of life, to be assured that all things shall work together for our good. How confirming is it, in the prospect of every duty, to know that his strength shall be made perfect in weakness. This is the rest wherewith we are to cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing.

Observe the author of the communication: He will speak peace. And unless He speaks it, it will be spoken in vain. Friends may address us, but they will be found miserable comforters. Ministers may attempt to bind up the broken heart, but they will prove physicians of no value. Ordinances may be regarded, but they will be wells without water, and clouds without rain. But "when He giveth quietness, then who can make trouble?" We can only implore or announce peace, but his word produces, conveys it. He commandeth the blessing, even life for evermore. Nothing is beyond the reach of Him who turneth the shadow of death into the morning.

Observe the heirs of the privilege: He will speak peace to his people, and to his saints. These are not different characters, but different representations of the same persons; and the one is explanatory of the other. He has a people for his name; and if we ask who they are, we are told they are saints; that is, they are holy ones. They are not perfectly holy, but they are really so. The principles of sanctification, of which they are the partakers, will soon gain the entire possession of them; but even now they have the ascendency in them. The love of holiness is evinced even with regard to their remaining corruptions. These are their burden and distress, and for these they abhor themselves. They long, above all things, to walk so as to please God, and constantly pray, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." And what have others to do with peace? "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

Mark also the certainty of the assurance: He will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints. Every thing tends to confirm it. His name—he is the God of peace. His thoughts—they are thoughts of peace. The mediation of the Son of his love—he made peace by the blood of his cross. His dealings with us—had he a mind to kill us, he would not have shown us such things as these. The truth of his word— the Scripture cannot be broken.

And how reasonable is the caution, "But let them not turn again unto folly."

Here we see the character of sin: it is folly. Such the God of truth pronounceeth it to be now; such every transgressor will acknowledge it to be at the last. Should not this be enough to deter us from it, that it perfectly befools us, and will fill us with everlasting shame and con- tempt?

Here we are reminded that the people of God, though saints now, were once chargeable with it. The command not to turn again to folly, proves this. Their being made to differ, supposes former sameness. They were by nature children of wrath, even as others; and they are willing to own it, and often look to the rock whence they were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence they were digged.

We are also taught that they are still in danger, and need warning. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." We are always exposed to a subtle and invisible enemy; we live in a wicked world; we carry within us an evil heart. The best, in an hour of temptation, have turned again to folly.

But against this we should feel ourselves peculiarly concerned to guard, when God has appeared for us, and spoken peace to our souls. Were we not, we should be alike ungrateful and infatuated. Ungrate- ful, for the more he does for us, the more anxious should we be, lest we offend and grieve his Holy Spirit. Infatuated, for having known the evil of sin, and the bitterness of repentance, and the joy of God's salva- tation, shall we again cause him to hide his face from us, and wrong our own souls? For the backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.