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Peace of Mind. 
“His calm and blameless life 
Does with substantial blessedness abound, 
And the soft wings of peace cover him round.” 
— Cowley . 
E EACE of mind—what is it ? in what does it consist ? It consists in 
an empire over the passions, the haste, the impetuosity, the excited 
movements of nature, in order to moderate them, direct them, and prevent 
them from troubling us. It consists in that sweet liberty of the spirit, 
which, doing everything at its proper time, with order and wisdom, applies 
itself to its object without entertaining any regret for the past, without 
feeling any attachment to the present, without having any anxiety for the 
future. 
It consists, also, in that calmness of the soul, which, communicating 
itself to the exterior, impresses on all the actions of the body a certain inex¬ 
pressible reserve, gentleness, and moderation which is edifying; which is 
peaceful without being given to slowness; prompt without being hurried; 
which does not agitate itself, like Martha, with that excessive activity 
which exhausts the strength; but is tranquil, like Mary, listening to Jesus 
and placing her action in the very repose with which she listens. 
All its movements are gentle, its operations moderate, its efforts 
without contention or discomfort; exterior objects do not rouse in it any 
excited or anxious emotions; or, if sometimes they take it by surprise, it 
pauses and waits for calmness to return; it is the image of God, who is 
never troubled any more in the outrages which He receives than in the 
great works which He performs. 
A Christian, therefore, who enjoys the great blessings of that most 
precious peace of mind can always say in truth with the English poet: 
“I feel within me 
A peace above all earthly dignities, 
A still and quiet conscience.” 
— Shakespeare. 
