It is doubtful whether they understood at the time what their Lord meant; but if they did understand Him, they appear to have forgotten it when the period arrived for His departure out of the world. Instead of waiting patiently for His resurrection from the grave, to restore all things, and to send down the promised Spirit from above, they were filled with dismay when He was crucified, and all their hopes seemed to be buried in His tomb. His rebuke, then, after His resurrection, was deserved: O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? (Luke xxiv. 25, 26.)

And were they only deserving of rebuke for unbelief? Are not Christians still, in this respect, too much like them? Why is it that we enjoy so little of that peace which the Lord's promise was intended to impart? Just because we are slow of heart to believe all that He hath spoken. Too many, with a morbid sensibility, are swift to believe whatever is written or said to discourage them; while they put away, as not belonging to them, the words of peace which Jesus Christ spake expressly for their consolalation. Christians forget that this is the inheritance which the Lord has bequeathed to them. Why will they not receive it? Perhaps they feel that they cannot. It is their desire to compose their fears in their Redeemer's love; but a hard heart, a wounded conscience, the malignity of

Satan, will not let them rest. They feel like a poor man who hears that an estate is left him by a departed friend, but that his title to it is disputed by one who possesses a claim which no will can set aside. His suspense, and, ultimately, his disappointment, give tenfold poignancy to the miseries of poverty. So, when a Christian fears that he shall never enjoy peace in Christ, he cannot but think that he would have been much less wretched than he is, if he had never heard of His bequest. But consider,-the cases are not quite parallel. When Jesus bequeathed peace to His disciples, He engaged to be His own executor, and to put them in possession of the boon. My peace I give unto you. His will is power. His promise is the pledge of its execution. No being in hell or earth, has a right to dispute, or ability to defeat it. He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy. (Rom. ix. 18.) As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (John v. 21.) Therefore said He, Mysheep hear myvoice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John x. 27-29.) Assurances like these of His power and determination to bestow the blessings which He promised, ought to give peace to the Christian's soul.

Surely they can be in no danger of perishing for want to whom Jesus Christ has left such a legacy: for in Him, peace and safety are synonimous terms.1

For a Christian, then, to fear that he shall die without peace with God, is to doubt either the Saviour's right to bequeath it, or His capacity to execute His bequest. His right to bequeath it, we have seen that He has secured by purchase; and His power to confer it is proved by the experience of thousands, who, in all ages of the church, have lived and died in the enjoyment of the blessing. Then fear not, only believe.

Perhaps, however, you do not question, either His right to make the bequest, or His capability to give you peace. All you doubt is, your own title to receive it. You are not deserving of so great a mercy. True, you may justly confess, with the prodigal, that, having abused the bounty of your Heavenly Father, you are no more worthy to be called His son. If you felt otherwise-if you thought that you had the smallest claim to divine favour, then truly you would not be in a fit state of mind to receive it. "Not worthy!" This is always a suspicious expression. It shows that the ground of the sinner's pardon is not understood. Sometimes, indeed, it proceeds from an humble spirit, but even then, if spoken in despondency, it betrays an ignorance of the cause

1 In the Hebrew language they are expressed by the same words. (See 2 Sam. xviii. 29. Job viii. 6.)

of a man's peace with God. No where in the Gospel is pardon offered to the deserving, as if in payment for services performed, or in reward for merit acquired. It is invariably proffered to all that desire it, as freely as the Saviour promised it to His immediate disciples. Jesus Christ is the sole possessor, procurer, and dispenser of the blessing. It rises in Him as its source, and flows to us through Him, as its channel, wholly irrespective of human desert. It was mercy alone that dictated His will to make the precious bequest, and called forth His power to execute its provisions. When He said, My peace I give unto you, He pledged himself to perfect in His disciples that work which He came to complete. This pledge He redeemed when He sent the Holy Spirit from above, and filled them with peace. Nor did He show Himself mindful of His promise to them alone, but to all who have since believed on Him through their word. (John xvii. 20.) To be conscious that you need this peace, to believe that it is to be found in Christ, to seek it only on the ground of His meritorious death and passion, and to refer to His unconditional promise as your only plea, will assuredly lead to its possession.

Multitudes, though negligent of their souls before, yet when troubles arise, or the darkness of death gathers around, call, with feverish alarm, for the ministers of the Gospel, or their devout friends, to speak peace to their souls. Such persons are like the foolish virgins in the parable,

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whose lamps went out at the moment they wanted them to light the bride and bridegroom home. In the hurry of their surprise, they applied to the wise virgins who had been watching with them, saying, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (Matt. xxv. 8.) But they applied in vain for their companions answered, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. But it was too late, and their expectations were disappointed. Equally fruitless must prove all applications to any creature for peace, under the appalling circumstances of a dying hour for which no preparation has been made. Neither then nor at any other time, can the dearest friend, the most devout minister, impart anything to the soul: they can do no more than direct the unhappy sinner to the Redeemer of the world. In Christ alone did this grace originate, and from Him only can it proceed. He sent His disciples forth, indeed, to publish peace through the world, but He did not empower them to confer it. This prerogative He reserved to HimselfMy peace I give unto you. Though a preacher should proclaim peace through the Lord Jesus Christ with the eloquence and fidelity, the zeal and charity of St. Paul; yet, like him, he must direct his prayers to his Master in heaven, to give effect to his word. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. (2 Thess. iii. 16.) Desist, then, from the vain attempt to