are taught by the rod and
the word, the one speaking to the other, and the other sealing its
instruction,--if you believed that it were a fruit of his love, that "he
chasteneth every son whom he loveth," because he will not let you depart
from him, will not let you settle upon a present world, and forget your
country above, therefore he compasseth you about with hedges of thorns to
keep in your way, and therefore he maketh this world bitter and
unpleasant, that you may have no continuing city,--if all this were
believed would not the soul triumph with Paul, "What can separate me from
the love of God?"--not past things, for all my sins are blotted out, and
shall be remembered no more, not present things, for they work to good,
and are a fruit of his love, not things to come, for that is to come which
shall more declare his love than what is past, would not a soul sleep
securely within the compass of this power, this love, and faithfulness of
God, without fear of dashing or sinking?

Now, judge whether a perfect peace may not flow from all this. May it not
be a perfect calm, when the mountains that environ go up to heaven? Not
only doth the soul trust in God, but God keepeth the trusting soul in
peace. He is the Creator of peace, and the preserver of it,--"I create
peace, I keep him in peace." The same power and virtue is required to the
preserving of a thing, and the first being of it. Our faith and hope in
God is too weak an anchor to abide all storms. Our cords would break, our
hands faint and weary, but he is the everlasting God, who faileth not, and
wearieth not. He holdeth an invisible gripe of us. We are kept by his
power unto salvation, and we are kept by his power in peace. "Thy right
hand holdeth me," saith David, and this helpeth me to pursue thee. What
maketh believers inexpugnable, impregnable? Is it their strength? No
indeed. But "salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." Almighty
power is a strong wall, though invisible,--this power worketh in us and
about us.

Now, believers, pity the world about you, that knoweth not this peace.
When they lie secure, and cry Peace, peace, alas! they are a city open
without walls as the plain field,--there is no keeper there, nothing to
hold off destruction. Entertain your own peace, do not grieve the Spirit
who hath sealed it. If you return to folly after he hath spoken peace to
you, I persuade you, you shall not maintain this peace. There may be peace
with Go