able to
many, without the prejudice and loss of every one. But none will believe
his report of his own estate.

If ye would consider, here is that which men toil for,--compass sea and
land for; here it is; "near thee in thy mouth." It is not in heaven, that
thou shouldst say, How shall I ascend to it? It is not in hell below, that
thou shouldst say, Who shall descend? It is not in the ends of the earth.
No. It is "near thee, in thy mouth." It is not beyond the sea, but it is
"near thee in thy mouth, even the word of faith," which Christ preached,
Rom. x. 6-8. And what says that word? Believe with thy heart, and thou
shall be saved; trust in God, and depend on him, and ye shall have peace,
and that perfect peace; and this peace shall be kept by God himself.
"Blessed, then, is the man that trusts in the Lord," Psal. xl. 4. Ye make
a long journey in vain; ye spend your labour and money in vain; all the
pains might be saved: it is not where ye seek it. Ye travel about many
creatures; ye go to many doors, and inquire for happiness and peace, but
ye go too far off; ye need not search so many coasts, it is nearer hand,
in this word of the gospel--the joyful sound; it is this that proclaims
peace. Peace is a comprehensive word, especially in scripture. It was the
Jews' salutation, "Peace be to you;" meaning happiness and all good
things; it is Christ's salutation, "Grace and peace." Grace is holiness,
peace is happiness, and these are either one, or inseparably conjoined as
one. This was the angels' song, "Glory to God, peace on earth," Luke ii.
14. Blessedness was restored, or brought near to be restored, to miserable
man, by Jesus Christ; and upon the apprehension of this, angels sing. It
was this Christ came into the world with; and when he went away, he left
this legacy to his children, "My peace I leave you," John xiv. 27. We lost
happiness, and all men are on a vain pursuit of it since, but it is found,
and found by one of our kin. Our Lord Jesus, our elder brother, he hath
found it, or made it, and brought it near us in the gospel for the
receiving; and whoso receives him by faith, and trusts in him, receives
that privilege, that peace. He endured much trouble to gain our peace; he
behoved to undergo misery to purchase our blessedness, and so it is his
own, and whoso receives him receives it also.

The news of such a peace might be seasonable in the time of war and
trouble, if we apprehended our need of it. It is not a p