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stone like many he knew on the stream that watered the valley of
Rothieden： on the top of the stone grew a little heather； and beside
it； bending towards the water； was a silver birch。 He sat down on
the foot of the rock； shut in by the high grassy banks from the gaze
of the awful mountains。 The sole unrest was the run of the water
beside him； and it sounded so homely； that he began to jabber Scotch
to it。 He forgot that this stream was born in the clouds； far up
where that peak rose into the air behind him； he did not know that a
couple of hundred yards from where he sat； it tumbled headlong into
the valley below： with his country's birch…tree beside him； and the
rock crowned with its tuft of heather over his head； the quiet as of
a Sabbath afternoon fell upon himthat quiet which is the one
altogether lovely thing in the Scotch Sabbathand once more the
words arose in his mind； 'My peace I give unto you。'
Now he fell a…thinking what this peace could be。 And it came into
his mind as he thought； that Jesus had spoken in another place about
giving rest to those that came to him； while here he spoke about 'my
peace。' Could this my mean a certain kind of peace that the Lord
himself possessed？ Perhaps it was in virtue of that peace； whatever
it was； that he was the Prince of Peace。 Whatever peace he had must
be the highest and best peacetherefore the one peace for a man to
seek； if indeed； as the words of the Lord seemed to imply； a man was
capable of possessing it。 He remembered the New Testament in his
box； and； resolving to try whether he could not make something more
out of it； went back to the inn quieter in heart than since he left
his home。 In the evening he returned to the brook； and fell to
searching the story； seeking after the peace of Jesus。
He found that the whole passage stood thus：
'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 did not leave the place for six weeks。 Every day he went to the
burn； as he called it； with his New Testament； every day tried yet
again to make out something more of what the Saviour meant。 By the
end of the month it had dawned upon him； he hardly knew how； that
the peace of Jesus （although； of course； he could not know what it
was like till he had it） must have been a peace that came from the
doing of the will of his Father。 From the account he gave of the
discoveries he then made； I venture to represent them in the driest
and most exact form that I can find they will admit of。 When I use
the word discoveries； I need hardly say that I use it with reference
to Falconer and his previous knowledge。 They were these：that
Jesus taught
First；That a man's business is to do the will of God：
Second；That God takes upon himself the care of the man：
Third；Therefore； that a man must never be afraid of anything；
and so；
Fourth；be left free to love God with all his heart； and his
neighbour as himself。
But one day； his thoughts having cleared themselves a little upon
these points； a new set of questions arose with sudden
inundationcomprised in these two：
'How can I tell for certain that there ever was such a man？ How am
I to be sure that such as he says is the mind of the maker of these
glaciers and butterflies？'
All this time he was in the wilderness as much as Moses at the back
of Horeb； or St。 Paul when he vanishes in Arabia： and he did nothing
but read the four gospels and ponder over them。 Therefore it is not
surprising that he should have already become so familiar with the
gospel story； that the moment these questions appeared； the
following words should dart to the forefront of his consciousness to
meet them：
'If any man will do his will； he shall know of the doctrine； whether
it be of God； or whether I speak of myself。'
Here was a word of Jesus himself； announcing the one means of
arriving at a conviction of the truth or falsehood of all that he
said； namely； the doing of the will of God by the man who would
arrive at such conviction。
The next question naturally was： What is this will of God of which
Jesus speaks？ Here he found himself in difficulty。 The theology of
his grandmother rushed in upon him； threatening to overwhelm him
with demands as to feeling and inward action from which his soul
turned with sickness and fainting。 That they were repulsive to him；
that they appeared unreal； and contradictory to the nature around
him； was no proof that they were not of God。 But on the other hand；
that they demanded what seemed to him unjust；that these demands
were founded on what seemed to him untruth attributed to God； on
ways of thinking and feeling which are certainly degrading in a
man；these were reasons of the very highest nature for refusing to
act upon them so long as； from whatever defects it might be in
himself； they bore to him this aspect。 He saw that while they
appeared to be such； even though it might turn out that he mistook
them； to acknowledge them would be to wrong God。 But this conclusion
left him in no better position for practice than before。
When at length he did see what the will of God was； he wondered； so
simple did it appear； that he had failed to discover it at once。
Yet not less than a fortnight had he been brooding and pondering
over the question； as he wandered up and down that burnside； or sat
at the foot of the heather…crowned stone and the silver…barked
birch； when the light began to dawn upon him。 It was thus。
In trying to understand the words of Jesus by searching back； as it
were； for such thoughts and feelings in him as would account for the
words he spoke； the perception awoke that at least he could not have
meant by the will of God any such theological utterances as those
which troubled him。 Next it grew plain that what he came to do； was
just to lead his life。 That he should do the work； such as
recorded； and much besides； that the Father gave him to dothis was
the will of God concerning him。 With this perception arose the
conviction that unto every man whom God had sent into the world； he
had given a work to do in that world。 He had to lead the life God
meant him to lead。 The will of God was to be found and done in the
world。 In seeking a true relation to the world； would he find his
relation to God？
The time for action was come。
He rose up from the stone of his meditation； took his staff in his
hand； and went down the mountain； not knowing whither he went。 And
these were some of his thoughts as he went：
'If it was the will of God who made me and her； my will shall not be
set against his。 I cannot be happy； but I will bow my head and let
his waves and his billows go over me。 If there is such a God； he
knows what a pain I bear。 His will be done。 Jesus thought it well
that his will should be done to the death。 Even if there be no