Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. I. THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE. Man appears from the harmless make of his body, the tenderness of his affections, the sovereignty of his mind, and his dependence upon others' help, as well as by the rules of life prescribed to him by express revelation, to be formed for a social inoffensive creature. Now the natural state of each being is the happy one. And the happiness of peace is like that of health, it spreads through the whole of the civil, as that doth of the animal, constitution. We do not perceive the value of either until we have lost them. Therefore, to discern the advantages of peace, we must recollect the miseries of war. 1. The expense, which falls mainly on the poor. 2. The toil, hardship and suffering, and the loss by death. 3. The disaster done to commerce. 4. Its wickedness in its origin, in its progress, and in its effect. Nevertheless it is sometimes unavoidable. It was so in our own case. But we have made terms of agreement, and we rejoice that war is at an end. II. THE BLESSING OF PEACE IS GOD'S GIFT. He puts men's minds upon the seeking after it. He is the giver of all good. And such events as peace and war cannot but occupy a distinguished place in the scheme of Providence. III. To ENTITLE US TO THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE WE MUST BE HIS PEOPLE. What is our case? Are we God's people? Do we live as set forth in Titus 2:11-14? Do we know ourselves by this picture? Is it not rather as told in Jeremiah 4:22? How can we hope for the favour of Providence if we continue ungodly and regardless of religion and virtue as our nation too much is? What must follow? Read Jeremiah 23:14, 17, 19, 22. Remember, too, what Azariah said to Asa (2 Chronicles 15:1, 2). A tottering state cannot be supported or a sinking one raised without national reformation (Jeremiah 6:9, 14; Isaiah 57:21). And in this each individual must bear his own share. The fewer that' will amend, the more need we add to their number. Therefore we speak as bidden (2 Timothy 4:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 5:20). (T. Seeker.) Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. |
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