The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 185

clircd nttention to tho higheut good in the universe-peace; highest because it implies tho existence a.nd development of every conceivable moral virtue. Theso wunl3 su;;;;es~ three remarks concerning Divine peace. I. ITs NATURE IS OF DIFFICULT INTERI'RETATIO~. "The peace of God, which passeth nil un<lerstnnding." "That is, which surpasses all that men bar! conceived or imaginell. 'l'he expression is one that denotes that the peace imparted is of the highest possible kind. 'l'ho Apostle Paul frequently used tenns which had somewhat of a hyperbolical cast, nnd the languago here is that which one wonld use who desi::;necl to speak of that which was of the highest order." Elsewhere Paul says, concerning t.he love of Christ, "it surpasseth knowledge;" that is, the knowledge of the understanding. You cannot put it i11to propositions. 1. Who can interpret peace as it exists in the mind of God! We may have negative conceptions of it, exclude from; it that which cannot possibly belong to it and which is opposite to its nature. It is not stagnation. Not the peace of the lake that has no ripple. He is essentially active. It is not insensiotlity. Not the quiescence or the rock which feels not the greatest violence of storms. He is feeling, the infinite Sensorium of the universe. But what is it? It transcends all intellectual understanding. We cannot measure the measureless, we cannot fathom the fathom- less. 2. Who can interpret Divine peace as it exists in the mind of the Christly? The peace of God comes from God; it is the gift of Christ. "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto ·you." In truth the highest states of mind, such as love, joy, peace, cannot be explained. These are matters of consciousness, not, logic. You can no more put the divinest and deepest err.otions of the heart into a proposition than you could put the ocean into a nutshell. They are things that "can- not be uttered." II. ITs EXISTENCE IN MAN IS A. TRANSCENDENT GOOD. "Shall keep [guard] your hearts e.nd minds [your thoughts] through[in] Christ Jesus." It keeps the heart and mind, it garrisons the soul from every distressing element. What are the disturuing elements of the soul?' 'l'he three chief may be mentioned. 1. There is fear. Fore- boding fears are agitating elements. Under the influence of fear all the powers of the soul often tremble and shake like the leaves of a forest in a storm. But "perfect love casteth out fear," and peace is the fruit of love. 2. There is remorse. Sense of guilt fills the soul with those feelings of self-loathing and self-denunciation which lash into fury. But in the case of Christly men this sense of guilt is gone. Being made right, er.justified, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 3. There are conflicting tendencies. In every soul.there are instinctive tendencies towards God and .the true. In every unregenerate soul there are tendencies towards the devil and the false. These are ever in battle on the arena of un-Christly minds. Hence the wicked are like the troubled sea. He. who is. Christly is delivered from this conflict. The corrupt tendencies are exorcised, and alL the corrupt passions and forces of the son! are brought into one grand channel, and will flow on tre.nslucently and harmoniously with .ever-increasing volume to the great ocean-God. III. IT.CAN ONLY BE REACHED BY.THE PR..I.CTIOE OF GOODNESS. "Finally, brethren, .whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest [honourable], whatsoever .thinas are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever .things are of good report." Whatever minute definition we may give of these term~, they all stand for the elements of moral goodness; and to these elements we are bidden to give a practical regard. " If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." The practice of the morality of Christ is the ladder by which alono we can climb through all that is dark and tumultuous in the atmosphere of the soul Into the. pure heavens of peace. It is the "doer" of the \Vord tkat is blessed, not the hearer. There are some, alas I who recommend other means to this glorious eud, but they are utterly worthless. Some recommend ritualistic observances and sacerdotal services. Some recommend faith in e.n event that transpired on Calvary eighteen centuries ago. They say you have only to believe on this and pe,,ce will come a& once. A philosophic absurdity nnd a monstrous delusion! Some recommend a. mechanical religiousness. 'l'hey say," Go to church regularly, join in the liturgy, listen tD sermons, partake of the communion, and all will be right." Ah me! The peace which such thinas give is like that peace in nature which cradles the thunder-storm. I tell you peace is only reached by the practice of that morality procbimed in. that  188 THE EPISTLE TO TllE PE:ltlPPIANS. [o!t, IV, 1-23.