reward of the
righteous, the blessing of the good, the crown of life's effort, and the
glory of eternity.

The prophets foretell the beauty of its coming and the psalmists sing of
the joy which it brings. Jesus Christ is its Divine Messiah, its high
priest and its holy prince. The evangelists and prophets proclaim and
preach it. From beginning to end the Bible is full of the praise of
peace.

Yet there never was a book more full of stories of trouble and strife,
disaster and sorrow. God Himself is revealed in it not as a calm,
untroubled, self-absorbed Deity, occupied in beatific contemplation of
His own perfections. He is a God who works and labours, who wars against
the evil, who fights for the good. The psalmist speaks of Him as "The
Lord of Hosts, strong and mighty in battle." The Revelation of St. John
tells us that "There was war in Heaven; Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon." Jesus Christ said: "I came not to send peace, but a
sword."

It is evident, then, that this idea of "peace," like all good and noble
things, has its counterfeit, its false and subtle versary, which steals
its name and its garments to deceive and betray the hearts of men. We
find this clearly taught in the Bible. Not more earnestly does it praise
true peace than it denounces false peace.

_There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked_ (Isaiah 48:22).

_For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly,
saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace_ (Jer. 8:11).

_If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things
which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes_ (St.
Luke 19:42).

_For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace_ (Romans 8:6).

There never was a time in human history when a right understanding of
the nature of true peace, the path which leads to it, the laws which
govern it, was more necessary or more important than it is to-day.

The world has just passed through a ghastly experience of war at its
worst. Never in history has there been such slaughter, such agony, such
waste, such desolation, in a brief space of time, as in the four
terrible years of conflict which German militarism forced on the world
in the twentieth century. Having seen it, I know what it means.

Now we have "supped full with horrors." We have had more than enough of
that bloody banquet The heart of humanity longs for peace, as it has
al