Such is the teaching of CHRIST’S remonstrance. And the time of its utterance, the delay to assuage the storm, teaches this further lesson, that in this life CHRIST will give us comfort in trouble, but not necessarily deliverance out of trouble. By and by He will indeed deliver us. But the best blessing here is not immunity, but trust and support. There is a peace in war, a joy in sorrow, a strength in weakness, with which the world and the Devil cannot intermeddle. Seek we this, and be sure we are wanting in what CHRIST delights to afford, if we have it not. But having it, bear we patiently, thankfully, all outward commotion, faithfully expecting the time, when openly, as already inwardly, CHRIST shall arise and command “Peace be still,” and there shall be a great and abiding calm. SERMON XII. UNITY WITH PEACE. EPHESIANS, IV., 1, 2, 3. _I_, _therefore_, _the prisoner of the_ LORD, _beseech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called_, _With all lowliness and meekness_, _with longsuffering_, _forbearing one another in love_; _Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace_. IT was the prayer of our Blessed LORD—what an earnest prayer it was, delivered in what solemn and affecting circumstances—that all His disciples might be one, even as He and the Father were one. He had laboured to secure this oneness, by teaching them that there was the same truth for all to receive, and the same work for all to do. Individual fancies and theories were not to be indulged, where the whole teaching was of GOD; pride was not to exercise itself where everything was received, and nothing earned; ambition was checked, by being told that, by seeking, it should lose, that he who would be first should be last. All were equal in position, all equal in privileges. In serving one another, in preferring one another—by this alone could they please GOD; in this way only could they reach unto eminence. Devoted to a common LORD, directed by a common revelation, enabled by a common grace, exercised in a common work, cheered by a common hope, surrounded with common trials and difficulties—what could there be within, without, past, present, or future, which should prevent them from all thinking the same thoughts and doing the same works, sinking the individual in the company, clinging to one another, labouring together, knit together in a holy bond—“One LORD, one faith, one baptism, one GOD and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in all.” To think for oneself, what was it but to reject GOD’S truth; to act independently, but to forsake their appointed work; not to serve and love the brethren, not to serve and love the LORD; to separate from the Christian company, to go away from CHRIST?