Chapter 7: Use 2
irritable, and rugged nature. And what was the reason for this? It was because he had departed from God, and God had departed from him.
Therefore, those of you who are quick-tempered and harsh have reason to examine your own hearts and consider whether this is not the root cause—that you have broken your peace with God. Now, being at peace with no one—not with your husband, wife, or neighbours—if you were to stay close to God and maintain the sweetness of your heart in the enjoyment of peace with Him, it would not be easy for you to be disturbed by anything that happens to you from outside.
This is the first thing that follows from the sweetness of our reconciliation with God: a gracious heart that understands this must naturally have a sweet, loving, and meek disposition towards others.
Chapter 7 Use 2 Secondly, oh, the blessed state of a believer—of one who has embraced the Gospel! He is reconciled to God; he is at peace with God, and that carries with it a great deal, as you have heard. The Jews were accustomed to express all kinds of prosperity and happiness with this word: "Peace." "Peace be to you," they would say, and in saying so, they wished every manner of good, for indeed, the word is a comprehensive one.
Therefore, God regards it as His glory to be called the "God of Peace," and the Son of God finds His glory in being the "Prince of Peace."
The Spirit of God, too, is glorified in that the fruits of the Spirit are joy and peace. It is the honour of the Gospel to be the "Gospel of Peace," and the glory of the Kingdom of God to consist of righteousness and peace. It is the Evangelical benediction: "Grace and peace." It is the glory of the Covenant of Life to be a Covenant of Peace.
Peace is a most amiable thing. But peace with God—how lovely, amiable, and glorious it is! Ask a wounded conscience that understands and feels the enmity that sin has placed between itself and God, what it would give for peace with God. Ask a dying man who understands what God is, someone who has no peace with God
—what would he give for that peace?
If you could possibly ask those damned spirits now in Hell what they think of peace with God, oh, what a commendation they would place on this peace! Well, may we be willing to endure some trouble in seeking after this peace with God. Well, may we be content to lie under the stroke of the Law as long as God wills, for this peace will eventually make up for all. Those who have endured the greatest terrors of the Law, when the Lord has come in with manifestations of this peace and reconciliation to them in Jesus Christ, have thought themselves well compensated. If it were necessary to endure a thousand times more than they have done, they would consider all to be worth it for this blessed peace.
This is truly a blessing in these troublesome times, in which we hear of nothing but wars and rumours of wars. We are taught by what we now hear, feel, and know to value outward peace. But if we think
outward peace is such a great mercy, what then is this reconciliation and peace with God, the soul's blessing?
Yes, you will say, there is indeed a great deal of blessing in this reconciliation with God that we have read about, and happy is the soul that is at peace with Him. But how shall we know that we are among those who are reconciled to God, so that we may enjoy those blessed fruits of reconciliation that are discussed here?
I admit, this is worth knowing and worth searching after. It is a good sign if your heart is sincerely eager to know how matters stand between God and your soul. This is something that does not often occupy people's thoughts, and perhaps there are many who, in all the days of their lives, have never seriously considered how things stand between God and their soul.
You go about in the world, busying yourself with this and that. But oh, my soul, how do things stand between God and you? Are all things well there? Are all things at peace there? Does God have anything against you? Does God have dreadful things to charge you with?
Yes, you will say, "God has enough to charge upon us all." No, but if you are at peace with God in Christ, God has nothing to charge you with. And it is possible to be in such a condition that you know God has nothing to charge against you, so that you can stand before the Lord, free from anything He might accuse you of. This could further demonstrate the excellence of our peace with God.
It is true, none can be in such a condition without having enough sin within themselves to be charged if God were to look upon them in themselves. And often, those who are most self-aware of their sins are the ones God has the least to charge against. In themselves, I