Two Soldiers; or, Peace With God, and the Peace of God.

Jesus only, He can give
Peace and comfort while we live;
Jesus only can supply
Boldness if we’re called to die.
If in Him you now believe,
He will then your souls receive;
And He will your treasure be
Here and through eternity
WE all seek for happiness; the little child seeks it in his play; the young man looks for it in Sports of many kinds; the old man often tries to find it in his money-chest; but, all will seek it in vain, till they have found peace with God through Jesus Christ. To know that all our sins are forgiven, that God approves of us now, and is going to bless us forever, this gives peace when nothing else can. So it was in the case of a poor soldier who fought at the battle of Waterloo, and there got a wound of which he soon after died. One who was with him when wounded, carried him some way off, and laid him down under a tree. Before he left him, the dying man asked him to open his knapsack and take out his pocket Bible, and read to him a small part of it before he died. When his friend asked what part he should read, he told him to read John 14:27,27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He said, “I die happy, I have peace with God, and I have the ‘peace of God, which passes all understanding.’” A little time after, one of his officers passed him, and seeing him in in such a weak state, asked him how he did. He said, “I die happy, for I enjoy the peace of God, which passes all understanding;” and then breathed his last. The officer left him and went into the battle, where he soon after got a fatal wound. As his brother officers stood around him, full of pain and distress, he cried out, “Oh! I would give ten thousand worlds, if they were mine, that I had the peace which made glad the heart of a dying soldier, whom I saw lying under a tree, for he said that he enjoyed the peace of God, which passes all understanding. I know nothing of that peace I die miserable! for I die in despair.” The dying soldier’s peace was indeed a blessing which ten thousand worlds could not purchase; it is beyond all price; our gracious God knows that it is so, and he offers it to us “without money and without price.” But where do we meet with this offer? It is to be found in the precious book which the dying soldier carried in his little knapsack; no doubt he often took it out and read, and loved his Bible. The dying officer, we fear, neglected the Bible during his life, and when this is the case, the Word of God will not give comfort in death.
If you have not peace with God, may you rest alone on Jesus Christ, then like the dying soldier you will not only have peace with God, but the peace of God which passes all understanding.” — Philippians 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).