Have You Peace?

Have You Peace?
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ROMANS V. 1.
“Being justified by faith we have PEACE with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reader,
There is a word at the head of this page which ought to be very
precious in the eyes of Englishmen just now. That word is “peace.”
We are at war once more. * The land has had rest well-nigh forty years.
A generation of men had arisen who fancied there would be no more battles
and fightings in the world. They laughed at the so-called ignorance of
their forefathers. They boasted that nations were too wise now to settle
their quarrels by the sword. There is an end of such delusive notions. Human
nature is not yet changed. We are at war once more. And we are
learning by sad experience what a blessed thing is peace.
We are at war. We are tasting some of the tremendous evils which war,
however just and necessary, brings in its train. Battle and disease are doing
their deadly work among our gallant soldiers and sailors. Gentle and
simple blood is being shed like water in far distant lands. Many of the best
and bravest of our countrymen are lying cold in untimely graves. Hearts
in England are being broken by sudden, stunning, crushing bereavements.
Mourning is being put on in many a palace, and many a cottage.
The light of hundreds of happy firesides is quenched. The mirth of thousands
of homes is gone. Alas! we are learning by bitter experience what a
blessed thing is peace.
* Written in December, 1854.
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