Christ to disseminate truth to the utmost. Every Church is a missionary Church, its province is to evangelize its own neighbourhood, and to send the everlasting gospel to every part of the earth. But to do this constantly and effectually, we must shine in our own several spheres of action, that others seeing our "good works may glorify our Father which is in heaven."

Your time forbids our entering upon the other portion of the text, more than close with a remark or two.

The Apostle tells us that our duty is to "do all things without murmurings and disputings." How oft have murmurings and disputings weakened the graces of the Christian Church, and obscured the light of Divine truth. Let us never envy a

brother because he is more favoured than ourselves. When any disputes arise about who shall be esteemed the greatest, let the words of the Lord Jesus be remembered, "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant."

Again, the Apostle adds, in our text, "that ye may be blameless and harmless ;" not only do no injury to any, but so far as possible avoid raising the suspicion, "avoiding the very appearance of evil.”

Great consistency also should mark the Church of God, "That ye may be the sons of God, without rebuke." "Without rebuke," so that if they speak evil of you, it may be falsely, for Christ's sake; that the severest censurer may be able to find no fault with you. Brethren, let us aim at this. Let us not only seek to get to heaven, but to get there without a blot or a stain upon our Christian character. Let us be on our guard lest we disgrace our Christian profession. Let us aim to be like Demetrius of old, to have a good report of all men, and of the truth itself.

And now, dear friends, are you enlightened by the heavenly light of which we have spoken? The world is corrupt. We want a mighty influence to bear upon it-that is, the spirit and the truth of God in His Church. It is not the Church itself that can save man. Christ must do that. No Church can do it; no creed can do it; not even an angel can do it; but Christ can, and your business is to hold forth Christ-Christ's mighty power-Christ's glorious person-Christ's perfect righteousness

Christ's complete atonement. Tell men the grand truth that, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Walk in this light; let it shine clearly upon you; and may you reflect it brightly upon others; "Holding forth the word of life."

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XIX.

THE GOD OF PEACE.

(Preached on Sunday Evening, July 20th, 1845.)

Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.-PHILIPPIANS iv. 9.

HERE are two things-an example and a promise. The example was the Apostle Paul, the writer of this Epistle. He was not one of those who said and did not. I have read of a minister who preached so well and lived so ill, that it was proverbially said, "when he was out of the pulpit, it were a pity he should ever go in; and when in, it were a pity he should ever go out." And I one day heard of a preacher who wantonly boasted that be was the best preacher in the nation, for, said he, "I teach my people both negatively and positively : by my doctrine I teach what they should do, and by my conduct what they should not do." But who loves to take meat, however good in itself, out of a leprous hand? "Be ye therefore clean," says Isaiah, "that bear the vessels of the Lord." And, asketh Paul, "Thou that teacheth another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest evils, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dishonourest thou God?" Jesus, we are told, began both to "do and to teach :" so should it be with every minister: so should it be with every master of a family, who is no less than a minister of God in his own household.

No one was more humble than Paul. He knew by the grace of God he was what he was; and yet a consciousness must he have had of his own sincerity and Christian disposition, to be able to say, "Be ye followers of me. Those things

which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.' "We are not, however, going to enlarge upon the practice here but the promise, unless indeed as we see the one to be the condition of the other; unless as there is an indispensable connection, so that the one cannot be claimed without the others. Some of our Lutheran divines used the word "condition," but never would have done so if they had foreseen how it would be abused; for in process of time it has come to signify meritorious dependence, as if man could procure and purchase the blessings of salvation. Now, in this conclusion there is a gross error subversive of all the graces of the gospel. "If ye know," says the Saviour, "happy are ye if ye do them;" and says David, "In keeping His commandments there is great reward."

What then does the promise contain ? It contains two things: God's character, and God's presence. It contains first, God's character: "The God of peace." Secondly, God's presence: "shall be with you."

I. GOD'S CHARACTER: "The God of peace."

This is one of the names, and titles by which He chooses to be known. It is found in several places, though I believe it never occurs anywhere but in the Epistles of St. Paul. Each of the sacred writers has some favourite phraseology and some peculiar term of his own. This does not detract from Inspiration they thought as men, but the Spirit of God presided over their minds, to keep them from error and furnish them with matter, which they were allowed to express in their own manner. For instance, it is only John who calls The Saviour "The Word." The term "antichrist" is only found in his writings, and also the solemn asseveration which is so frequently employed by him, "verily, verily."

The name here given to God implies His being the Author of peace and lover of concord. Among men and Christians, oh, how valuable and precious is this, whether we view peace in a family, or in the Church, or in a neighbourhood, or in a nation! "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Therefore "depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Follow peace with all men, and if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."

Dr. Cotton Mather, of New England, had attached to his Church a few individuals called a "Society of Peace and Concord," the office of whose members was to hinder and heal any

breaches among friends, fellow-members of the Church. I daresay they had enough to do, but "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." The God of peace is their Father by adoption and by regeneration. At the revival of religion in America, President Edwards tells us that one Sunday morning, after he had finished his sermon at the Church, he saw two females remaining in the chapel at a remote distance from each other, as if from joint consent. He went and inquired the reason, and found that these individuals had previously lived in strife and animosity; and now feeling the power of religion, and being impressed with the importance of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, they had alike resolved they would not leave the place till they were reconciled to each other in the presence of God.

"The spirit, like a graceful dove,

Flies from the realms of noise and strife."

This Spirit, instead of inspiring us to hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness, will always induce us to esteem all who bear the image of the Saviour; to pray with the Apostle, "Grace be with all those who love onr Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;" and so resemble Him who stretched forth His hand to His disciples, and said, "Behold My mother and My brethren, for whosoever doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother."

"The God of peace." Though this title implies nothing less than His being the Author of peace and lover of concord among men and Christians, the main thing is referred to by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews, where he says, "Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ." It has, therefore, to do with the whole scheme of redemption. Let us enter a little into this.

God became the enemy of man as soon as man, by sin, became at enmity with Him. It could not be otherwise, How holiness such as His could not but hate the offender; how justice such as His could not but punish the guilty-this is the wonder of wonders. Though the offended Sovereign could as righteously, as easily, destroy the transgressors, His

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thoughts to them are thoughts of peace and love. And while He required an atonement, He Himself furnished it, and provided Himself with a Lamb for a burnt-offering. So we read of God being in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us," says the Apostle, "the word of reconciliation. Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." Thus God can save without the violation of any of His attributes. Yea, sin is condemned while it is pardoned. The law, instead of being trampled under foot, is magnified and made honourable. "Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have embraced each other." "Glory to God in the highest" is combined with "Peace on earth and goodwill toward men."

Persons talk of making their peace towards God. Why, our peace has already been made, by the atonement of the Son of God. If any professions, or almsgiving, or prayers, or vows, could have made peace, the world would never have witnessed the sacrifice of His dear Son, and it never would have pleased the Lord to bruise Him, and put Him to grief, and make His soul an offering for sin.

I remember, some years ago, a citizen of no mean city. He was poor but pious: he had met with a dreadful and fearful accident, and in consequence was conveyed to the hospital. The Chaplain was sent for, who immediately addressed him, saying, "My friend, I find that you have but a little time to be here. Therefore you had better make your peace with God without delay." "O sir," said he, "that is done already." "I am glad to hear it," was the reply, "but when?" "O sir," said he, "as long ago as when Christ died and made peace by the blood of His cross;" adding, with a smile, while the perspiration ran down his cheeks from the pain, "it is this, sir, that sustains me, and makes me think of death with confidence and pleasure."

To return, how wretched this state of the sinner is! Who has not tasted, as he passed through life, the bitterness of discord, and who has not felt the value of friendship? But to make a proper estimate of the blessings of reconciliation you must know the wrath to which we are exposed as sinners. is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God." If the wrath of a king is as the roaring of a lion, what must be

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