THE GRAND SUBJECT OF HE GOSPEL PROCLAMATION. “Peace, peace! saith the Lord.” It implies a state of previous enmity and quarrel: a state of alarm and disquietude: and a remedy for both.
1. And does not the message of the Gospel find us in a state of enmity? We are not only “by nature children of wrath,” but by voluntary choice we have rebelled against our God.
2. And in a state of alarm and disquietude?
II. THE UNLIMITED OFFER OF ITS BENEFITS. “To him that is far off, and to him that is near, Peace, peace, saith the Lord.”
1. In respect of outward privileges, the Jewish Church was “near,” and all other nations were ‘ far off.
2. In respect of moral character, some may be thought nearer to God, some further off; and still no difference is made.
3. In respect of inward experience, again, some may feel discouraged by the idea that others have greater nearness to God than themselves.
4. In respect of local distance, “God is still no respecter of persons.” He orders that His Gospel be “preached in all the world.’
III. THE HOLY CHANGE INVARIABLY CONNECTED WITH THE RECEPTION OF THEM. “I will heal him.” (J. Jowett, M. A.)
The fruit of the lips
Our text tells us that God creates the fruit of the lips; but this must be understood, of course, with a reservation. He does not create the fruit of the lips as we commonly see it, but the good fruit, the true fruit, the fruit worth gathering. Because the natural fruit is so evil it needs the Creator again to step m, and make us new creatures, and our fruit new also, or else it will remain so bad that the verdict upon it must be “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” And what is that fruit which the Creator produces from a source which is naturally so barren?
1. The sacrifice of thanksgiving (Heb_13:15). The fruit of the lips which God creates should be, above all things, praise.
2. Prayer.
3. Testimony.
4. There is one renowned topic upon which the lips ought always to be able to speak, and that is summed up in the two words, “Peace, peace.” From the mouth of truth should come kisses of peace, words of peace, the breath of peace. This is the best lip-salve--“Peace, peace.” Nothing can so sweeten the breath as “Peace, peace.” Nothing can so flavour the palate and delight the heart as this “Peace, peace,” felt within, and breathed without. No teeth of ivory, nor lips of coral, are complete in loveliness till over all there glistens the brightness of peace. Fierce speech becomes not loveliness, and threatening and clamour destroy beauty, but the charm of the lips is peace. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Rare fruit
We shall employ these words--
I. AS THE CRY OF THE AWAKENED. When men are awakened by the grace of God into a consciousness of their true condition they find themselves at war with God and at war with their own consciences, and consequently they begin to cry, “Peace, peace:” longing eagerly to end the dreadful conflict in which they find themselves engaged. Then there visits the man one who knowingly whispers, “You need not disturb yourself. These things are not so. Do you not know that these are all bugbears of a past generation? We men of modern thought have made great discoveries, and changed all the fears of our benighted ancestors into a brave unbelief. You can live at ease. Do not fret yourself about sin, or heaven, or hell, or eternity.” Vain are these stale scepticisms, the man is too much in earnest to be drugged with such soporifics. Boastful unbelief has small power over an agonized soul. God Himself has convinced this man of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and though he tries to disbelieve he cannot. Mr. Worldly Wiseman calls upon him, with his friend Dr. Legality, and his assistant-surgeon Mr. Civility, and these try their Balm of Conceit and Plaister of Natural Goodness. But if God has been dealing with this man, he will say, “But I am not right. I feel that I deserve the wrath of God, and that goodness is not in me.” No, the leprosy lies deep within, and no outward form can cleanse away the deep-seated pollution.
II. THIS IS THE ANSWER OF THE SAVIOUR. It is the fruit of the Saviour’s lips. He comes to a soul and says, “Peace, peace.” Did you ever see Him as dying of sin? If you have never seen Him with the eye of faith you do not know what peace means. But did you ever see Christ as He is risen from the dead? Here is another vision of consolation, another fount of peace. Did you ever see Jesus as He sits there triumphant at the Lord God’s fight hand? A poor, tried spirit is greatly comforted by that sight. If I were to go on picturing our glorious Lord Jesus Christ in any and all of His relationships to us, we should in each case hear Him say, “Peace, peace.”
III. AS THE SONG OF THE TRUE BELIEVER. He who has really, seen Christ, and placed his trust in Him, can now sing, “Peace, peace, peace.
IV. THIS SHOULD BE THE MOTTO OF EVERY BELIEVER.
1. This should be his spirit and desire in the Church, “Peace, peace.”
2. We should labour to carry out the, same quiet spirit in the family. When you get home do not change “Peace, peace, ‘into scolding and nagging. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.’
3. When peace reigns in your own family, go into the world with the same watchword--“Peace, peace.’” Do not set dogs by the ears, but tame lions and tigers. Compose differences, and make people friends.
4. What a difference there will be when this is taken up among all Christian sects--when there shall be no more envying and strife between this denomination and that, but each one shall be saying in Christ’s name, “We are brethren--peace, peace.” (C. H. Spurgeon.)
