He first met them after His resurrection. Twice over he addressed them with the kindly words, " Peace be unto you." We may dismiss as untenable, in all proba- bility, the cold and cautious suggestion, that this was nothing better than an unmeaning phrase of courtesy. He who " spake as never man spake," said nothing with- out meaning. He spoke, we may be sure, with special reference to the state of mind of the eleven apostles, with special reference to the events of the last few days, and with special reference to their future ministry. "Peace" and not blame, — ** peace " and not fault-find- ing,— " peace " and not rebuke, — was the first word which this little company heard from their Master's lips, after He left the tomb.
It was meet, and right, and fitting, that it should be 80, and in full harmony with things that had gone be- fore. " Peace on earth " was the song of the heavenly host, when Christ was born. Peace and rest of soul, was the general subject that Christ continually preach- ed for three years. Peace, ani not riches, had been the great legacy which He had left with the eleven the night before His crucifixion. Surely it was in full keep- ing with all the tenor of our Lord's dealings, that, when He revisited His little company of disciples after His resurrection. His first word should be " Peace." It was a word that would soothe and calm their minds.
Peace, we may safely conclude, was intended by our Lord to be the key-note to the Christian ministry. That same peace which was so continually on the lips of the Master, was to be the grand subject of the teaching of His disciples. Peace between God and man through the precious blood of atonement, — peace between man and man through the infusion of grace and charity, — to spread such peace as this was to be the work of the Church. Any religion, like that of Mahomet, who made