p. 10 | PEACE by E. G. Rust

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 18, 1867

PEACE.

By E. G. Rust

Permanent peace is a rare thing in these last days. There is no peace among the nations, no peace in large communities, no peace in small neighborhoods, no peace in families. Why is this so? Is it not because there are many hearts everywhere in which the Prince of Peace does not reign? Surely our lot has fallen upon evil times. But is there no antidote for this condition of things? no balm in Gilead? Thanks be to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, there is; and the wise shall understand. We are told that the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. It is written again, Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Ah, here is the key by which we may obtain peace. There is no peace, then, promised to those who do not love the law of God. Can any be said to love the law who worship self, their merchandise, their farms, or any other thing instead of the Lord God? or who are covetous, or selfish, or extortioners? or who desecrate God's holy Sabbath, even though they do presume to hoist another day, which God has nowhere commanded, into its place? Let us carefully examine our hearts and if we find ourselves in the violation of any one of these commandments let us not deceive ourselves with the vain hope of obtaining peace through Christ; for surely the Son of God will not justify us and thus give us peace as long as we knowingly continue to trample his Father's laws under our feet. Who will have the peace of God in their hearts? let them return unto God.

Is it to be wondered at that the present state of anarchy and confusion exists when we consider how far the people have departed from God's laws, and set at naught his counsel? “Oh, that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Isa. xlviii, 18. Let us bear in mind the promise, that “when a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Prov. xvi, 7. Paul sums up the matter on this wise: “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, and honor, and immortality—eternal life. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth,

but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good.” Rom. ii, 7–10. In contrast with the work of the flesh, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” So, dear friends, there is a way to obtain that peace that passeth all understanding, and it is by loving God and keeping his commandments. Says our blessed Saviour, “If ye love me keep my commandments.”

E. G. RUST.

Winfield, Mich.