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THE PEACE OF GOD

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 15, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 24.

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THE PEACE OF GOD.

“The sun is very hot on this side of the boat,” said a portly gentleman, who, with two ladies, was standing on the deck of a large steamboat.
“It is boiling,” said one of the ladies, fretfully raising a tiny parasol. “It will ruin my complexion, and on the other end of the boat it is blowing a perfect gale; for my part I don’t see any pleasure in it.”
“Nor I,” said the other. “It is hollow like all other so-called pleasures. I don’t believe there is such a thing in the world as happiness. I would be glad to find even peace; but the more you cry, ‘Peace, peace,’ the more you feel there is no peace.”
They were startled by a voice saying, “Oh, that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river.”
Turning, they saw an old man leaning on a cane; for he was evidently past his threescore and ten years. His garments were coarse and ill-fitting, though they were carefully brushed; and the ladies drew back with a dignified air. The gentleman was about to order the intruder away, but his gaze was fixed afar off on the calm flowing water of the river, and they contented themselves by drawing away.
The lady who had last spoken leaned over the side of the boat, and looked for a time down into the water; then she said:— “That wasn’t a bad comparison of the old fellow’s about peace flowing as a river. Just think of it; calm, but deep, never-ceasing, never-ending, lost only in an ocean of the same. I would give the world for such a peace as that.”
“There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.” The old man was still gazing at the blue waters, and perhaps was speaking aloud unconsciously; but an angry exclamation escaped from the lips of the gentleman, and they walked hastily away.
Meeting the captain, the gentleman said, “Captain, why did you take that crazy man on board?”
“What crazy man, Mr. Potter? Oh!” as his eyes followed Mr. Potter’s, “that is old Father Reid. He is no more crazy than I am. He used to be a wealthy merchant, but failed. He paid his creditors in full, but it left himself penniless. He says it was a blessed day for him; for it led him to seek for rest and peace where alone they may be found. He is the happiest man I ever saw, and I meet a great many men in my trips up and down the river,” and the busy captain bowed and passed on.
In the afternoon a thunderstorm arose, the lightnings flashed, the thunder pealed, the water foamed, while the boat shook as if it were a reed at the mercy of the storm. The passengers were terrified, ladies shrieked, and even sturdy men turned pale. Loud and clear above the tumult rose the voice of Father Reid:— “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled; though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof; . . . God shall help us, and that right early.”
The terror-stricken passengers almost felt as though he were a prophet; for even as he spoke the clouds broke, and though the rain fell gently, a beautiful bow spanned the waters.
“Behold!” said Father Reid, “behold the sign of God’s promise, and be at peace!” and he quietly slipped out of the cabin, followed by Miss Potter, who grasped his hand, and asked, “Sir, how can I obtain this rest and peace?”
He looked at her with eyes full of love and pity, and said gently, “Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’”
“I have heard that often before,” said she, “but it seems new.”
“Yes, it is the old, old story, yet ever new; but it is all you can do. Only trust Him and follow him; then, indeed, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your mind and heart through Jesus Christ.”—Sailor’s Magazine.