He maketh peace in thy borders.
Peace at home and prosperity abroad: a Missionary Sermon
The prosperity of the Church is described in this psalm.
I. What are the points which constitute the healthiness of the Church at home? To begin with the most important--the true piety of all her members. If we could to-morrow bring into the Church a sufficient number of ungodly but moral men to double our numbers, our subscriptions, our places of worship and our missionaries, it would be a curse and not a blessing. Next, the soundness of that Gospel which we proclaim and preach. When I have read the conflict between the mighty man who made these walls echo with his voice, Mr. Whitefield, and that other mighty man, equally useful in his day, Mr. Wesley, I have felt that they contended for the same truths, and that the vitality of godliness was not at issue in the controversy. But there are vital truths, and for these we must contend even to the death. The spirit of union. We must needs have divers communions, because we cannot see eye to eye in discipline, while nevertheless we are really and vitally one. I am sure the more we come to know each other, the better we love one another. Constant activity. The Church gets dull, listless and heavy at times. Abundant prayer.
II. The connection between a healthy home Church and the spread of Christ’s Kingdom abroad. It is clear enough. The whole missionary enterprise will fall to pieces, bit by bit, if we be not in spiritual health. There is a well of water springing up, and the people of the district flock to it. Suddenly the secret spring begins to fail; by some means or another the water is gone to another place, and the spring is no more there. Soon would it come to pass that where multitudes of men and women were wont to drink with joy and gladness there is not a single person to be seen. So with our missionary success should the Church at home degenerate. The inconsistencies of English Christians have proved one of the greatest barriers to Christ’s Kingdom in other lands.
III. Then if all this be true, then let us remember that it must also have a connection with our own personal standing in the sight of God. If one member be unhealthy in the body, the unhealthiness of that member does to a degree taint the whole. If every man mended one all would be mended. Responsibility to God for the souls of men is cast on each one of us. When you stand by the grave of some neighbour, can you look down into the grave and say, “I did all that was in the power of mortal man for that soul’s salvation”? No, you cannot. I am afraid that none of us, or but very few, when we hear of the death of friends, can say, “If that man perish, I did not leave a stone unturned.” Who has done all he might? (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The Divine efficiency illustrated in the blessing of peace
I. The peace of nations.
1. A blessing.
2. A promised blessing.
3. A blessing for the improvement of which nations are accountable.
4. A blessing in which the Church hath interest (Jeremiah 29:7; James 4:1).
II. The efficiency of the Lord our God in the peace of nations.
1. The peace of nations is within His all-comprehending purpose. The time in which the peace is concluded, the articles, the nations comprehended in it, and, in a word, every circumstance is according to the pleasure and purpose of the will of God, who hath foreordained whatsoever cometh to pass.
2. The Lord disposes the events of war in such a manner as to open the way to a peace. Victories and conquests on the one side, and losses and defeats on the other, are balanced by His wisdom and justice, and overruled for hastening and facilitating accommodations between the belligerent and contending powers.
3. Inclinations to peace, formed by His invisible and unperceived efficiency in the minds of princes and cabinet ministers, are called into exercise and motion by the operations of His providence.
4. Negotiations for peace are begun, and carried on, and con-eluded under His eye.
5. The conditions of peace are settled by His efficiency.
6. The success of negotiations for peace is of the Lord.
III. Praise the Lord’s efficiency in the peace of nations.
1. Believe His efficiency.
2. Confess it.
3. Rejoice in it. (A. Shanks.)
Filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
The blessing of plenty
I. The good mentioned. “The finest of the wheat” is--
1. A blessing (Zechariah 9:17).
2. A promised blessing (Joel 2:23-24).
3. A blessing which, without impeaching the goodness and faithfulness of the promiser, may be denied, confiscated, and cursed.
4. A blessing for which they who receive it are accountable. The Lord is our judge as well as our benefactor.
5. A blessing in which the Church hath interest. In the members of this holy society there is a bodily and a spiritual part. The Lord is the former and nourisher of them both.
II. The efficiency of the Lord our God in filling us with the finest of the wheat.
1. The discretion which prepareth the land for sowing the wheat is inspired and taught by the Lord.
2. The dying of the wheat under the clod.
3. The revival of the wheat.
4. The springing and growth of the wheat.
5. Wheat-harvest is of the Lord. He appointeth the weeks, and by His power in the atmosphere disposeth winds and clouds and rain to keep it back, or bring it forward, to make it prosperous or calamitous, according to His counsel and pleasure.
III. Conclusion. Use the finest of the wheat, and all the goods of the season--
1. Thankfully.
2. Wisely and discreetly.
3. Charitably.
4. Temperately.
5. Believingly. (A. Shanks.)