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Peace

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 23, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 32.

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Peace.

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

BY ELD. R. F. COTTRELL.
Peace is a quality most excellent. God reveals himself as the God of peace. “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly.” “The God of peace shall be with you.” One of the titles of the Son of God is, “The Prince of Peace;” and when the angel announced his birth in the city of David, the heavenly choir responded in full chorus, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.” And an apostle says of Christ, “He is our peace.” It was the object of his death to reconcile those that were divided, “so making peace.” The disciples of Jesus should be like him; hence he says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” We are taught to “follow peace with all men;” that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace;” and that “if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” The gospel is called “the gospel of peace.” It is designed “to guide our feet into the way of peace.” The fruit of the spirit is “love, joy, peace;” and an apostle exhorts, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts;” and, “Be at peace among yourselves.” Those who follow these exhortations to peace have the promise, “The God of peace shall be with you.” Real Christians have the Spirit of Christ; and any two that have this spirit of peace can live in peace together. They will both endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;” and success will attend the efforts of both. If there be a failure at any time with one, the long-suffering of the other will be called into exercise. But where the peace of God is not present, “where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”