The Lord Jesus enjoins on us a spirit of universal love and charity. We ought to put away all malice. We ought to return good for evil, and blessing for cursing. We ought to "love even our enemies." — Moreover we are not to love in word only, but in deed. We are to deny ourselves, and take trouble, in order to be kind and courteous. If any man " compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." We are to put up with much and bear much, rather than hurt another, or give offence. In all things we are to be unselfish. Our thought must never be, " how do others behave to me ?" but " what would Christ have me to do ?"
A standard of conduct like this may seem, at first sight, extravagantly high. But we must never content our- selves with aiming at one lower. We must observe the two weighty arguments by which our Lord backs up this j)art of His instruction. They deserve serious attention.
For one thing, if we do not aim at the spirit and tem- per which are here recommended, we are not yet children of God. Our " Father in heaven" is kind to all. He sends rain on good and on evil alike. He causes "' His sun" to shine on all without distinction. — A son should be like his father. But where is our likeness to our Father in heaven, if we cannot show mercy and kind- ness to everybody ? Where is the evidence that we are new creatures, if we lack charity ? It is altogether wanting. We must yet be " bom again." (John iii. 7.)
For another thing, if we do not aim at the spirit and temper here recommended, we are manifestly yet of the ivorld. Even those who have no religion can " love those who love them." They can do good and show kindness,