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God's Way of Peace
Probably there has never been a generation more determined to achieve peace than our own. The multiplicity of organisations which have been formed in recent years to seek to deal with international and civil unrest, industrial strife, and conflicts within the home bear witness to this fact. And yet the situation appears to grow steadily worse. The reason lies in the fact taht men and women have failed as individuals first to make their peace with God, their Maker. From this alone will flow the much sought peace between man and man. Horatius Bonar's long life spanned most of the last century, and for well over fifty years he execised an active and powerful ministry in Scotland. Nowadays he is most remembered as a hymn-writer, but his tracts and books still prove their worth and enjoy a wide circulation.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1862
54 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Horatius Bonar
558 books42 followersHoratius Bonar (19 December, 1808 – 31 May, 1889) was a Scottish churchman and poet.
The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.
He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.
The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.
He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 13, 2022
An amazing book that shows how we as sinners can find true peace in God. It thoroughly explains how it is nothing we do inside of ourselves that brings about this peace, but it is all God’s doing. Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to save us from our fallen state and draw us near to Him.
May 8, 2024
“Faith is not a climbing of the mountain, but a ceasing to attempt it and allowing Christ to carry you up in his arms. You seem to think that it is your own act of faith that is to save you, whereas it is the object of your faith, without which your own act of faith, however well performed, is nothing.”
“The object of the Spirit's work is to make us acquainted with the true Jehovah, that in him we may rest; not to produce in us certain feelings, the consciousness of which will make us think better of ourselves, and give us confidence toward God.
That which he shows us of ourselves is only evil; that which he shows us of God is only good. He does not enable us to feel or to believe, in order that we may be comforted by our feeling or our faith. Even when working in us most powerfully he turns our eyes away from his own work in us, to fix it on God, and his love in Christ Jesus our Lord. The substance of the gospel is the NAME of the great Jehovah, unfolded in and by Jesus Christ; the character of him in whom we "live and move and have our being," as the "just God, yet the Saviors," the Justifier of the ungodly.“
A refreshing read and reminder of the truth that “He himself is our peace” (Eph 2:14)!! This book was referenced in a sermon I listened to - I researched and realized Bonar is the writer of the hymn “Upon a Life”, a favorite of mine ;)
“The object of the Spirit's work is to make us acquainted with the true Jehovah, that in him we may rest; not to produce in us certain feelings, the consciousness of which will make us think better of ourselves, and give us confidence toward God.
That which he shows us of ourselves is only evil; that which he shows us of God is only good. He does not enable us to feel or to believe, in order that we may be comforted by our feeling or our faith. Even when working in us most powerfully he turns our eyes away from his own work in us, to fix it on God, and his love in Christ Jesus our Lord. The substance of the gospel is the NAME of the great Jehovah, unfolded in and by Jesus Christ; the character of him in whom we "live and move and have our being," as the "just God, yet the Saviors," the Justifier of the ungodly.“
A refreshing read and reminder of the truth that “He himself is our peace” (Eph 2:14)!! This book was referenced in a sermon I listened to - I researched and realized Bonar is the writer of the hymn “Upon a Life”, a favorite of mine ;)
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February 21, 2025I’m not rating this book bc I listened to it on audiobook so I only halfway paid attention. I liked it tho
September 4, 2021
Chapters 8-12 are wonderful. At one point I think Bonar veers towards being unbalanced but that doesn’t affect the rating.
Brilliant analysis of the human heart but even better explanation of how glorious the gospel is. Read it.
Brilliant analysis of the human heart but even better explanation of how glorious the gospel is. Read it.
June 9, 2016
Horatius Bonar’s book is wonderful. I was hooked even with the preface that talks about how some pursue religion and religious activities because they have to, but inside they have no peace. Hence the title of this book, which Bonar explains from the Scripture God’s way of peace.
The first two chapters did an excellent job showing that our own efforts and works righteousness to self-justify ourselves with our own merits does not work in achieving peace from God. It was very well argued. I thought it was powerful to read Bonar’s point that if we trust in our works for justification, we actually don’t get any closer to assurance. Rather instead of trusting in our works, Bonar in chapter three argues that we need to trust in God’s attributes, and Bonar states it so beautifully how God’s attributes are amazing and lovely. For instance, God wishes and predestined sinners to come to salvation but yet does so in a way that beckons onwards towards him.
I was convicted to see Bonar’s point about not making “waiting” an excuse to not be obedient and that praying about something is not the same thing as being obedient about the thing we prayed about. He was quite nuanced here, making the point that it is true we have the duties to pray but ultimately it’s a question of whether we have faith when we pray or a spirit of unbelief when we pray.
I really enjoyed chapter 10 which was titled “The Want of power to believe.” It was really helpful dealing with those who use the excuse of God’s sovereignty not to themselves repent and trust in Christ and the Gospel. Bonar also consider the question of whether one should wait for feelings before coming to Christ. He masterfully answer that question, logically and pastorally. I like his point that some might even have more feelings than the reader does at the moment and yet these people did not repent so one should not wait for feeling or some other “preparatory work” but instead one should come to Christ right away. Bonar argues also that one should look towards Christ as the reason for coming to Him and not how much guilt you feel and He argues this in light of Zechariah 12:10 that the order is “looking at one who is pieced” and then “mourn.” Overall an excellent work that makes me want to read more of Bonar!
The first two chapters did an excellent job showing that our own efforts and works righteousness to self-justify ourselves with our own merits does not work in achieving peace from God. It was very well argued. I thought it was powerful to read Bonar’s point that if we trust in our works for justification, we actually don’t get any closer to assurance. Rather instead of trusting in our works, Bonar in chapter three argues that we need to trust in God’s attributes, and Bonar states it so beautifully how God’s attributes are amazing and lovely. For instance, God wishes and predestined sinners to come to salvation but yet does so in a way that beckons onwards towards him.
I was convicted to see Bonar’s point about not making “waiting” an excuse to not be obedient and that praying about something is not the same thing as being obedient about the thing we prayed about. He was quite nuanced here, making the point that it is true we have the duties to pray but ultimately it’s a question of whether we have faith when we pray or a spirit of unbelief when we pray.
I really enjoyed chapter 10 which was titled “The Want of power to believe.” It was really helpful dealing with those who use the excuse of God’s sovereignty not to themselves repent and trust in Christ and the Gospel. Bonar also consider the question of whether one should wait for feelings before coming to Christ. He masterfully answer that question, logically and pastorally. I like his point that some might even have more feelings than the reader does at the moment and yet these people did not repent so one should not wait for feeling or some other “preparatory work” but instead one should come to Christ right away. Bonar argues also that one should look towards Christ as the reason for coming to Him and not how much guilt you feel and He argues this in light of Zechariah 12:10 that the order is “looking at one who is pieced” and then “mourn.” Overall an excellent work that makes me want to read more of Bonar!
May 23, 2023
Though this book was written for unbelievers, it also accomplishes what Christians call “preaching the gospel to ourselves”. The gospel is the power to save the wicked and to sanctify the righteous. We should saturate our lives in these truths, as they never get old even after salvation. Anxiety is always a symptom, never the disease in and of itself. Often anxiety stems from the root of being unsaved, the conscience being fully aware of one's path to eternal damnation. There is no rest for the wicked and only by faith in Christ will one find pure peace that flows like a river even when life and circumstances are anything but peaceful.
[The Spirit's] office is to set all to rights within you; so that you never feel so calm, so true, so real, so perfectly natural, so much yourself—as when He has taken possession of you in every part and filled your whole man with His heavenly joy. Never do you feel so perfectly free—less constrained and less mechanical—in all your faculties, as when He has brought 'into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5). The heavenly life imparted is liberty and peace; it is the removal of the iron chain with which guilt has bound us."
[The Spirit's] office is to set all to rights within you; so that you never feel so calm, so true, so real, so perfectly natural, so much yourself—as when He has taken possession of you in every part and filled your whole man with His heavenly joy. Never do you feel so perfectly free—less constrained and less mechanical—in all your faculties, as when He has brought 'into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5). The heavenly life imparted is liberty and peace; it is the removal of the iron chain with which guilt has bound us."
May 30, 2015
A wonderful, wonderful book! Everyone needs to read it! If I had read it earlier, I think I would have become a Christian sooner. But God is sovereign over all things!! Definitely for everyone to read and reread.
November 8, 2011
One of the few books I return to repeatedly when I am struggling with my sin patterns. Also a great book for those wrestling with the gospel who come from a churched/religious background.
October 19, 2024
Lots of crisp reminders of what the Gospel is. We are so quick to think we can merit the grace of God in all sorts of sly ways.
July 1, 2024
In the Spirit of Calvin, Boston, Erskine, and Coloquhoun; Bonar synthesizes the doctrine of justification by faith alone in a very simple and biblical way. Essential for new and young believers.
December 24, 2025
So many good one-liners
“You are not satisfied with any of your religious feelings; and it is well that you are not; for, if you were, you must have a very high idea of yourself, and a very low idea of what both law and gospel expect of you… If the gospel is nothing to you till you have got your feelings all set right, it is no gospel for the sinner at all. But this is its special fitness and glory, that it takes you up at the very point where you are at this moment, and brings you glad tidings in spite of your feelings being altogether wrong.”
“You are not satisfied with any of your religious feelings; and it is well that you are not; for, if you were, you must have a very high idea of yourself, and a very low idea of what both law and gospel expect of you… If the gospel is nothing to you till you have got your feelings all set right, it is no gospel for the sinner at all. But this is its special fitness and glory, that it takes you up at the very point where you are at this moment, and brings you glad tidings in spite of your feelings being altogether wrong.”
October 9, 2008
Best Christian book I have ever read.
March 6, 2011
A must read for everyone, whether Christian or not.
June 23, 2014
I will read this over and over. God's way of peace is the cross of Christ. Period.
January 8, 2015
One does not simply read this book once...
October 15, 2018
Actually some good reminders for me about grace.
July 24, 2020
Bonar's signature pastoral style and voice shine through in this wonderful treatise on grace.
September 18, 2018
This book is not an ideal book for the anxious. I am not saying that this is the worst possible book for the anxious, but as a person who both struggles mightily with anxiety [1] and who somewhat predictably reads about the subject [2], this book is not ideal. Perhaps the biggest problem with this book is that a tough-minded to the point of being immensely judgmental Scottish Presbyterian felt that he was called upon by God to write an encouraging and comforting book about anxiety to an audience. Only it is not a comforting and encouraging book at all, instead serving as part of an extensive body of literature that condemns the anxious for being ungodly and unchristian, which merely adds to the struggles and difficulties that anxious people already have. Perhaps in general it would be good for those who consider themselves (and who likely are considered by others) to be Calvinist champions of the faith to automatically assume that they are not fit to write books that are comforting and encouraging, as it will prevent this sort of book from being written amiss.
Intriguingly enough, this version of the book was released by a Presbytrian church that laughably thought that book would help bring anxious and burdened souls to Christ. This tract of a bit more than 50 pages begins with God's testimony about man from the point of view of Calvinism (1). It then assaults the ground of people to find peace with God on their own terms (2), and points to God's character of our resting place (3). The author speaks of righteous grace (4), the blood of sprinkling (5), and the substitutionary work of Christ (6). The author speaks of the word of the truth of the Gospel (7), urges the reader to believe and be saved (8) just now (9) and then insults the reader for lacking the power to believe (10) and for insensibility to God's grace (11) and points to our finding peace only in Jesus (12), making the somewhat strange insistence that Jesus Christ is a savior and not a helper, not realizing that one can be both, and that being a helper is not necessarily being an assistant but also a mentor and guide. Even by the standards of Calvinist writing this book has some odd and very flawed logic.
And it is worth discussing this issue at some length because bad logic as well as a bad heart is at the bottom of a lot of this book's serious problems and make it a baffling choice for a church to champion in order to bring anxious and burdened souls to Christ. For one, the author makes the inexplicable choice to assume that his audience is made up of people who are anxious because they are not converted. Throughout the book the author appears to pose a false dilemma between the entirely confident and content Christian and the anxious unbeliever, assuming that anxiety and concern can only come from a lack of saving faith as opposed to a struggle with the full workings out of God within us. The framing of this book, picturing the reader as someone whose anxiety is a sign of spiritual failure and an unsaved condition, is not likely to ease the burdens of an anxious believer reading this work. In addition to that, the author's quibbling over words that are clearly applied to God (namely that of a helper) indicates a certain unwillingness to accept the Bible as it is and to hold to narrow and inaccurate views of certain biblical concepts, which only makes this book more contentious and pointed than it truly needs to be. Again, this book is a clear example of why Calvinist polemics do not make for comforting and encouraging books to anxious believers.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
Intriguingly enough, this version of the book was released by a Presbytrian church that laughably thought that book would help bring anxious and burdened souls to Christ. This tract of a bit more than 50 pages begins with God's testimony about man from the point of view of Calvinism (1). It then assaults the ground of people to find peace with God on their own terms (2), and points to God's character of our resting place (3). The author speaks of righteous grace (4), the blood of sprinkling (5), and the substitutionary work of Christ (6). The author speaks of the word of the truth of the Gospel (7), urges the reader to believe and be saved (8) just now (9) and then insults the reader for lacking the power to believe (10) and for insensibility to God's grace (11) and points to our finding peace only in Jesus (12), making the somewhat strange insistence that Jesus Christ is a savior and not a helper, not realizing that one can be both, and that being a helper is not necessarily being an assistant but also a mentor and guide. Even by the standards of Calvinist writing this book has some odd and very flawed logic.
And it is worth discussing this issue at some length because bad logic as well as a bad heart is at the bottom of a lot of this book's serious problems and make it a baffling choice for a church to champion in order to bring anxious and burdened souls to Christ. For one, the author makes the inexplicable choice to assume that his audience is made up of people who are anxious because they are not converted. Throughout the book the author appears to pose a false dilemma between the entirely confident and content Christian and the anxious unbeliever, assuming that anxiety and concern can only come from a lack of saving faith as opposed to a struggle with the full workings out of God within us. The framing of this book, picturing the reader as someone whose anxiety is a sign of spiritual failure and an unsaved condition, is not likely to ease the burdens of an anxious believer reading this work. In addition to that, the author's quibbling over words that are clearly applied to God (namely that of a helper) indicates a certain unwillingness to accept the Bible as it is and to hold to narrow and inaccurate views of certain biblical concepts, which only makes this book more contentious and pointed than it truly needs to be. Again, this book is a clear example of why Calvinist polemics do not make for comforting and encouraging books to anxious believers.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...
July 2, 2023
I will read this one again, but in a less hectic distracted manner than I did this time. I have the feeling that I missed some amazing Biblical exposition this time around. Even so, it was magnificent. God loves us and all He expects of us is to take Him at His word and by faith accept His offer of forgiveness. That’s a clumsy way of putting it. It makes peace sound almost complex when God’s plan is so very, very simple. That’s what this book explains so clearly. The simplicity of the Gospel, and the freedom and responsibility that brings.
It strips away any self-righteous pride, vain striving, cowering fear, or stubborn excuse. Once he is done carefully explaining God’s requirement (that we simply trust Him) you will be either free of anxiety through Trust in Him or free of the excuse of ignorance. Come to Christ he will take you as you are.
Again because of the speed and chaos of this reading, I can’t fully explain his thoughts on free-will or Calvinism, but this book offers the Gospel to everyone.
Read it, please. If you are saved, you will come away joyous. If you are an unbeliever, you will know God’s offer of salvation.
It strips away any self-righteous pride, vain striving, cowering fear, or stubborn excuse. Once he is done carefully explaining God’s requirement (that we simply trust Him) you will be either free of anxiety through Trust in Him or free of the excuse of ignorance. Come to Christ he will take you as you are.
Again because of the speed and chaos of this reading, I can’t fully explain his thoughts on free-will or Calvinism, but this book offers the Gospel to everyone.
Read it, please. If you are saved, you will come away joyous. If you are an unbeliever, you will know God’s offer of salvation.
June 17, 2017
This book is a great reminder of what the Gospel really is about. I would definitely recommend it to those who are struggling to come to Christ because they feel like they need to do something (whether it be to feel a certain way, pray harder, repent harder and so forth) beforehand. I find this important because I have often in the past, based my peace with God on the works that God has done through me. This is dangerous because my peace would fluctuate depending on my feelings derived from works God has done through me. What Bonar reminds us however, is that there is absolutely nothing we can do on our own strength to bring us true peace; we can only get peace if we rest on Jesus' finished work on the cross. So I would definitely recommend this short book even though it can be quite difficult to read at times.
May 15, 2023
Refreshing and quick read. Almost every sentence in the book is referenced with scripture. Very biblically sound, great reformed gospel primer for what Christ has finished to bring peace to all of us sinners. I personally do not struggle with anxiety, as I have been blessed very early on in my walk to just slow it down, trust in Christ, but in my unregenerate state I did struggle with it. This book does very well explaining what that is, and why you must repent of it, find calm, slowness, peace, and rest in the person and work of Christ. I highly recommend it for people that may have just let things slip by and maybe have lost focus of what actually matters. I also recommend Kevin DeYoungs book "Just do Something" to go along with it for a modern approach.
March 19, 2021
Great book to bring to conversion and assure the believing
This book describes the objections many have to believing the gospel. He corrects misconceptions about the nature of faith. This book is a great source for those struggling with doubt as well as the weight of their sin. Highly recommended. This book has aged well. There are very few if any references to the time in which it was written, so it remains as relevant today as the day it was written. Wonderful book. I’ll read it again and again.
This book describes the objections many have to believing the gospel. He corrects misconceptions about the nature of faith. This book is a great source for those struggling with doubt as well as the weight of their sin. Highly recommended. This book has aged well. There are very few if any references to the time in which it was written, so it remains as relevant today as the day it was written. Wonderful book. I’ll read it again and again.
September 26, 2024
Very good book that pleads with you to trust in what God has done through Jesus, instead of trying to become acceptable to him by your own efforts. It splendidly describes salvation by grace through faith, and how it relates to repentance. (Calvinistic teachings is hinted at a few times, and more explicitly in chapter 10, but otherwise I could agree wholeheartedly with the author).
I listened to this as an audiobook from Scroll Reader in Spotify (repost of a Librivox recording read by Loren Eaton). I can highly recommend that channel for uplifting Christian literature!
I listened to this as an audiobook from Scroll Reader in Spotify (repost of a Librivox recording read by Loren Eaton). I can highly recommend that channel for uplifting Christian literature!
March 20, 2019
No more confusion. God owns me. The great propitiation: Christ did it all. My joy is not my sin but my sin has been paid therefore I am joyful. Not to be so would be my sin. God means what He says and His grace through Christ is my salvation.
Get to know the character of God. Read this book or listen to it. I loved that there are scriptures that point me in the right direction. Not just a man saying it but the word of God, like a great revival.
Get to know the character of God. Read this book or listen to it. I loved that there are scriptures that point me in the right direction. Not just a man saying it but the word of God, like a great revival.
August 13, 2018
How to make the simple hard.
November 13, 2019
Excellent, accessible and clear treatment of how the sinner finds peace with a righteous God. Short must read
December 30, 2023
One of the best books I’ve read - extremely clear explanation of the gospel for the seeker and for the seasoned believer!
January 27, 2025
Read this one slow! So many good scriptural truths in this, showing that the Word does stand the test of time. 💛
May 29, 2025
Def in the top 5 books I’ve ever read. I would come back to this.
February 28, 2017
Classic language and a great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews