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SERMON XV.

THE PEACE OF CHRIST.

JOHN xvi. 33.

"THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT IN ME YE

MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION; BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."

It is very important, in reading the Scriptures, to consider the characters to whom each exhortation is respectively addressed; for otherwise, the children of this world may deceive themselves by promises which do not belong to them; while the children of God may be often unduly distressed by threatenings which exclusively attach to those who believe not.

For instance, it might happen, that an ungodly man, broken down in spirit by the adversities of life, should hear the words of the text; and if he considered not the persons to whom they were addressed, he might lull himself by this means into a delusive consolation, which the events of death would at once

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destroy. In his worldly and unrepentant condition, the peace of Christ is not applicable. His tribulation admits not of such a solace. To him repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, ought rather to be preached; for until a man believe and be baptized with the Holy Ghost, he cannot bring his sorrows with acceptance to lodge them in the bosom of Christ.

The prodigal could have

had no right to the comfort of his father's house, till he had confessed his alienation, and had come back to his Father. Union with Christ must precede fellowship with him. The words of the text belonged not to the multitude, but to the disciples, and do now belong to all those who have believed on Christ through their word. To these they present topics of deep and effective interest. These may draw near, and contemplate with rejoicing the blessings which they disclose.

It is often the urgent duty of the christian. minister to address the world at large, and to expand all the generous sympathies of his heart in the wide proclamation of his Master's mercy; to tell a world sunk in sin and suffering of the remedy of the gospel; and to invite the guilty at length to come to Him who shed his precious blood for every one who shall believe on his name. Oh! it is joyous to tell such that "God hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner;"

"but rather that he would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of truth;" "that he so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." It is joyous to tell of Him who can give life to the dead, liberty to the captive, pardon to the condemned, and a home with all its blessings to the exile and the outcast. It is joyous to proclaim the mercy of Christ in the sight of such, and to say of him, "This is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

It is however yet more joyous, and as momentous a part of the christian pastor's duty to speak the language of hope and of comfort to those who are no more wanderers in the wilderness, but who have "returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls." It is yet more delightful to tell the once mutinous and shipwrecked mariner, whom grace hath rescued from the waves, that the shore on which he has landed belongs to his Father and his Friend; that his name is written in his Sovereign's heart; that all his ingratitude is forgiven and forgotten; that there is yet indeed a desert between him and his Father's house; that many a pathway of tribulation lies before him; but that a safe conduct awaits him from the heavenly city; and that no foe nor difficulty can prevail to rob

him of his inheritance in the regions which lie around it! It is indeed delightful to bear the tidings of peace to such; to animate and to console them on their way; to bid them "be of good cheer," looking to their Lord and Guide, who has not alone for himself, "but for them, overcome the world."

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This blessed office I would execute in the name of my Lord and Master on the present occasion. I would speak to those "who know the Lord;" who have fled for refuge to the covenant of grace; who have believed in Jesus; who have "tasted that the Lord is gracious;' who though their faith should still be weak, "know in whom they have believed, and are persuaded that he is able to keep that which they have committed" to his care. To such I joyfully address, in the behalf of Christ, the words of the text. To such I repeat the gladdening accents, "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

My fellow Christians! let us then contemplate together,

I. THE DESIGN OF CHRIST IN OUR FAVOUR. "These things have I spokeh unto you, that in me ye might have peace," &c.

II. THE DIRECT INFLUENCE OF THE BELIEF OF THAT DESIGN UPON THE MULTIPLIED TRI

BULATIONS OF LIFE.

"In the world ye shall

have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

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I. In the first place, let us consider, THE DESIGN OF CHRIST IN OUR FAVOUR. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace." When I consider that Jesus Christ spoke these words to his disciples; to those of whom he said to his heavenly Father, "they are mine;""they are not of the world, but I have chosen them out of the world:" when I recollect this, I cannot think that the term peace "here refers to their state of acceptance with God, but rather to the refreshing conviction of that acceptance. By faith in him, they had already received pardon and peace with God; they had entered into a new and blessed relationship with God; to them there was 66 no more condemnation." The law was satisfied in the anticipation of the sufferings of Christ; and being "justified by faith, they had peace with God." The Lord was now however about to be parted from them, and they would be left as sheep amidst wolves. His religion was new to them; they were still young in the faith; they were surrounded by circumstances of perplexity; they were but partially instructed, while their trials were about to be augmented in number and weight. Their divine Master and Guide desired therefore to

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