Matt. V. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger a)id thirst after righteous7iess ; for they shall be filled.
MEN naturally desire happiness : but they know not in what it is to be found. The philosophers of old wearied themselves in vain to find out what was man's chief good. But our blessed Lord has informed us wherein it consists : it is found in holiness alone ; which, when embodied, as it were, and exercised in all its branches, renders us completely blessed. In
this sense we understand the words of our text ;
wherein are set forth^
I. The distinctive character of a Christian —
It is a gross perversion of Scripture to interpret this passage as relating to the righteousness of Christ : for though it is true that every Christian desires to be clothed in that righteousness, and shall, in conse- quence of that desire, obtain his wishes, yet it is not the truth contained in the words before us : they cer- tainly relate to that inward righteousness which every Christian must possess, and to that " holiness, with- out which no man shall see the Lord."
Now the character of every Christian is, that he desires holiness,
1. Supremely —
[Other desires are not eradicated from the human breast : the natural appetites remain after our conversion the same as before, except as they are restrained and governed by a higher principle. In proportion, indeed, as religion gains an ascendant in the soul, those words will be verified, " He that eateth and drinketh of the water that Christ will give him, shall never thirsts" But from the very commencement of the divine life, all earthly things sink in the Christian's estimation, and are accounted as dung and dross in comparison of the Divine image. In this sense " Christ is all" to him^: and he can say, " Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee."]
2. Constantly —
[While other desires remain in the heart, they will of course occasionally rise in opposition to the better principle : but the prevailing desire of the soul is after holiness. " The flesh may lust against the Spirit," and seem for a moment to triumph over it : but *' the Spirit will lust and strive against the flesh '^," till it has vanquished its rebellious motions. The needle may be driven by violence from its accustomed position: but its attractions are ever towards the pole ; and it will never rest till it has resumed its wonted place. Its momentary diversion serves but to prove its fixed habitual inclination. In like manner, temptation itself, in rousing up the soul to action, calls forth its heavenly tendencies, and displays the holy energies with which it is endued.]
a John iv. 14.
" Col. iii. 11. Christ here means the image of Christ. See Disc. on that passage. '^ Gal. v. 17.