eace in the hearts of enemies who lie together,
side by side, in the same trench of the battle-field, the animosities
of their souls silenced at length, and their hands no longer clenched
in deadly enmity against each other; but that is the peace of death.
If our peace be but the peace of the sensualist satisfying pleasure,
if it be but the peace of mental torpor and inaction, the peace of
apathy, or the peace of the soul dead in trespasses and sins, we may
whisper to ourselves, "Peace, peace," but there will be no peace;
_there_ is not the peace of unity nor the peace of God, for the peace
of God is the living peace of love.

The next thing we observe respecting this peace is, that it is the
manifestation of power--it is the peace which comes from an inward
power: "Let the peace of God," says the Apostle, "rule within your
hearts." For it is a power, the manifestation of strength. There is no
peace except there is the possibility of the opposite of peace
although now restrained and controlled. You do not speak of the peace
of a grain of sand, because it cannot be otherwise than merely
insignificant, and at rest. You do not speak of the peace of a mere
pond; you speak of the peace of the sea, because there is the opposite
of peace implied, there is power and strength. And this brethren, is
the real character of the peace in the mind and soul of man. Oh! we
make a great mistake when we say there is strength in passion, in the
exhibition of emotion. Passion, and emotion, and all those outward
manifestations, prove, not strength, but weakness. If the passions of
a man are strong, it proves the man himself is weak, if he cannot
restrain or control his passions. The real strength and majesty of the
soul of man is calmness, the manifestation of strength; "the peace of
God" ruling; the word of Christ saying to the inward storms "Peace!"
and there is "a great calm."

Lastly, the peace of which the apostle speaks is the peace that is
received--the peace of reception. You will observe, throughout this
passage the apostle speaks of a something received, and not done: "Let
the peace of God rule in your hearts." It is throughout receptive, but
by no means inactive. And according to this, there are two kinds of
peace; the peace of obedience--"Let the peace of God rule" you--and
there is the peace of gratefulness--"Be ye thankful." Very great,
brethren, is the peace of obedience: when a man has his