You ask for safety and peace, but consider well what the apostle says: when men speak of peace and safety, sudden destruction comes upon them as travail upon a woman with child. This he spake of those who live in luxury and insensibility, thinking themselves secure while they give no heed to their souls. True safety is not the absence of trouble but the calm of a good conscience. The man who follows after virtue stands superior to all terrors, not in fair weather only, but when the storm is vehement and the temptations continual, he cannot be shaken ever so little. This is the strength of virtue even in the present life: to live in safety, to be easily subdued by no terror, to stand above all that despitefully use us. Not even he that wears the diadem can provide this for himself, but only the man who pursues holiness.
And what is this peace you seek? Peace is not a trifling matter, nor is concord in every case a good thing, for even robbers agree together. The peace that Christ gives is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace. This peace comes when the diseased is cut off, when the mutinous part is removed. If we will be at peace with each other, God too will be with us, but if we raise up war, the God of peace will not be with us. Nothing is so hostile to the soul as vice; peace and virtue place it in safety.
You pray for energy and strength. Then seek them where they are truly found. It is not greatness of power, not abundance of wealth, not strength of body that produces good spirits and joy, but spiritual success and a good conscience alone. He that hath this cleansed, even though he be clad in rags and struggling with famine, is of better spirits than they that live softly. Paul, living in continual hunger and nakedness and scourged every day, was joyful and went more softly than the emperors. But Ahab, though a king indulging in sumptuous luxury, when he had done one sin, groaned and was out of spirits.
If you wish to enjoy pleasure and true refreshment, above all things shun wickedness and follow after virtue. Bring forth fruits meet for repentance, not only forsaking former evil deeds but showing forth good deeds greater than those. Have you seized the goods of others? Give away even your own. Have you lived in self-indulgence? Fast and take care to drink water. Do not merely pluck out the dart, but apply remedies to the wound. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The angels proclaimed glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. This peace is the mother of all good things, the foundation of joy. Each believer hath an angel, and we ask everywhere for the angel of peace. But this peace is not merely spoken with the lips; it must be pursued with a sober and watchful life, as in the presence of tutors. For if we have angels, let us be sober. There is a demon present also.
Keep then a conversation worthy of the gift and hold on in peace and holiness. The gift of sanctification and adoption is not broken through even by death, but even here maketh men conspicuous and departs with us upon the journey to the life to come. He that holdeth on in the adoption and keepeth an exact watch upon his holiness is much brighter and happier than he that is arrayed with the diadem itself. He hath the delight of abundant peace in the present life, is nurtured up with goodly hopes, and hath no ground for worry and disturbance, but enjoys constant pleasure. This fruit let us keep growing by us, that we may be in the fruition of joy here and may obtain the kingdom to come.