his government and peace," or, as it might be rendered, of his peaceful government, "there shall be no end."

When the heavenly host that attended on the angel, who announced to the shepherds of Bethlehem the birth of the Saviour, raised their voices in the praises of God, their song was, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." And when in his last discourse to his mourning disciples, our blessed Lord affectionately prepared them for the approaching separation, one of the most effectual topics of consolation was afforded in the words, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

And most amply have these predictions and promises been verified and fulfilled. The one Mediator between God and man hath made reconciliation for sin by the sacrifice of himself, and therefore when "justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The

troubled conscience which throbs with a sense of guilt, and refuses to be comforted by the vanities of the world, or the vain devices to which it first takes itself for relief, feels the power of Him who stayed with a word the howling of the tempest. The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, rules in the heart of the believer. "The Lord of peace himself," his gracious Saviour, "gives him peace always by all means." He, by whose mediation we are entitled to expect "joy and peace in believing," requires his disciples to "follow peace with all men," and to "be at peace among themselves." And there is no real believer, whatever his circumstances, whatever his trials, who will not find Him faithful who hath promised, who will not have to acknowledge, that loving as he does his own which are in the world, he loves them unto the end. For the words of the grateful Simeon speak the sentiment of the dying Christian, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word."

It is almost superfluous to say that the

words of the text have not any reference to the experience and conduct of the believer, and that our Lord's remark is merely intended to state the effect which the preaching and the profession of the Gospel would have upon an evil world.

Our blessed Lord seems to have been ever anxious to put his disciples on their guard against expecting any thing but trouble and persecution from the profession of Christianity. They had grown up, like the rest of their countrymen, in the hope of a Messiah who should establish a kingdom of great temporal splendour. When his mighty works, and the evident accomplishment of prophecy, convinced them that Jesus was the Christ, that hope glowed more brightly than ever; and in spite of much which from time to time occurred to discourage them, they retained to the last a confident expectation that their Master would at length burst from obscurity, and stand forth before his admiring countrymen as the acknowledged deliverer of Israel. The discourse in which we find the words of the text was addressed to the twelve

when they were sent forth to "preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." That they might effectually discharge their mission, by awakening the general attention to the character of their Master, they were empowered to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils." The authority with which they were thus invested was such as might strengthen their ambitious expectations. Our blessed Lord therefore, in the address with which he dismissed them, is in a remarkable degree copious and explicit on the treatment which they were to look for in executing their mission. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves." "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" They were always to expect opposition and persecution. But the fear of that ought not to deter them from duty. “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him, which is able to destroy both soul

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and body in hell." Notwithstanding all the world's malice, they were safe under the providential care of their Father in heaven. And then for the future-" Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." They might not think that the opposition which He now foretold would be confined to themselves, or that it would be but occasional. It would follow as a constant and regular effect of the Gospel. It was well for them, and it is well for us, to hear from the lips of the Lord himself, the words of warning-" Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

It has ever been a favourite practice with those who reject the evidence of Christianity to point to the dissensions which have been produced by the Gospel, and inquire with exultation, how a system which has led to so much discord can possibly have derived its origin from a God of peace?