INEFF

NEFFABLY sweet are these words of our Lord. They are His farewell benediction. What is the significance of these utterances ? First, What is peace? It is not primarily the absence of outward hostility, or a state of social friendship. Nor is it a mere exemption from internal conflict and commotion.

It is spiritual and Divine repose resulting from the presence of the Holy Ghost. This appears from the preceding verse. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Peace here is only another name for the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the refreshing remembrance of Jesus and His words which He will revive and expound. It is not temporary. It is left with us. It is not bought, but given. It is not given after the fashion of worldly bestowments. The world gives reluctantly-Christ freely. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” "Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." The world gives sparingly, and often with parsimony-Christ bountifully, and with overflowing abundance, "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over."

The world gives from interested and mercenary motives, expecting an equivalent -Christ from pure, disinterested love, expecting no compensative reward, and asking nothing in return but love and trust. Hence it is written, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,

became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. viii. 9).

This peace, which is the munificent legacy of Christ, and the permanent heritage of His disciples, is peculiar in two respects.

(John xvi. 20.)

I'VE found a joy in sorrow,

A secret balm for pain, A beautiful to-morrow,

Of sunshine after rain; I've found a branch of healing Near every bitter spring, A whispered promise stealing O'er every broken string. I've found a glad hosanna For every woe and wail, A handful of sweet manna When grapes of Eshcol fail; I've found a Rock of Ages When desert wells are dry, And after weary stages

I've found an Elim nigh,An Elin with its coolness,

Its fountains and its shades;
A blessing in its fulness,

When buds of promise fade.
O'er tears of soft contrition
I've seen a rainbow light,
A glory and fruition,
So near, yet out of sight.
My Saviour, Thee possessing,
I have the joy, the balm,
The healing and the blessing,

The sunshine and the psalm; The promise for the fearful,

The Elim for the faint, The rainbow for the tearful, The glory for the saint.

"Life in love is the noblest life: let that be our conviction; we will abide in this love: let that be our resolve; then God will abide with us: that will be our blessing."-Ranke.