Ver. 3.-Tlie lionour o.f peace. The old world looked for glory in war ; the Christian ideal-anticipated in Old Te.;;tament teaching-is to recognize honour in peace. It is better to keep pe:ice than to be victorious in war, better to make peace than to win battles. Consider the grounds of this higher view of conflict and its issues. I. THE HONOUR OF PEACE MAY BE SEEN IN SELF-SUPPRESSION. It is much more easy to give the reins to ill will and hasty passion. Men find it harder to fight their own temper than to do battle with alien foes. It is the same with nations when the spirit of war has maddened them. Heedless of consequences to themselves, and blind to the rights of their neighbours, they hurl themselves headlong into the horrors of battle. But if men could learn to curb their own strong feelings, they would really show more strength than by raging in unrestrained fury. II. THE HONOUR OF PEA.OE MAY BE RECOGNIZF.D IN MAGNA1'TMITY. It may be that we nre in the right, and our foes unquestionably in the wrong. Still, it is not essential that we should fight to the bitter end. We may forego our right. It may be a generous and noble thing to suffer wrong without resisting it. We cannot but see how much more harm is done in asserting just claims by force than would result from silent sub- mission after a dignified protest. Often the more magnanimous conduct will result in the very end that would have been sought through violent measures. For it is possible to appeal to the generous instincts of orponents. III. THE HONOUR OF PEACE MAY BE OBSEnVED IN CIIARITY. We should ever remember that even those who behave to us as enemies are still our bretliren. We have their welfare to consider even while they may be plotting evil against us. Christ prayed for his persecutors (Luke xx.iii. 34). So did St. Stephen (Acts vii. 60). Indeed, our Lord died for his enemies. He came to make an end of the fearful strife between man and God. But while he did so, he suffered from the fray. The Peacemaker was the victim of tho passions of the rebellious. By suffering in meek dignity he made peace. If the mind that was in Christ is found in us, we shall be the earnest ad vacates of peace for the good of the very people who delight in war. IV. 'l'HE HONOUR OF PEACE MAY DE RECOGNIZED IN HUMILITY. The special form in which the recommendation of peaco is thrown is that of a cessation of strif~. This implies a case in which there has been warfare; but one of the parties refrains from prosecutin"' the quarrel any further, although he has neither been worsted nor won the victory. '!'his means a change of policy. Now, it is particularly difficult to effect such a change in the midst of a conflict. One's motives are likely to be snspected, and whl1t is done from love of peace is likely to be set down to cowardice. It needs 392 THE PROVERBS. [ou. xx. 1-30.
hu~\lity thus to withdraw and _sacrifice one's pretensions. Having taken a certain pos1t1?n we are tempted to bold 1t at all hazards from sheer pride. This is especially true m the soul's conflict with God. Here we are called upon to humble ourselves enough to confess ours~lves entirely in the wrong. When the "fearful striving" has ceased there 1s honour III repentance and the new life of peace with God.