Matt. V. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see
God.
THERE is nothing in which mankind more ge- nerally imagine happiness to consist than in the uncontrolled indulgence of their passions. It is probable that among those who looked for the esta- blishment of the Messiah's kingdom, many pleased themselves with the idea, that his victories would open to them a way for multiplying captives to any extent, and consequently for the unlimited gratifica- tion of their corrupt appetites. To counteract such absurd notions, and to evince the spiritual nature of his kingdom, our blessed Lord declared, that hap- piness was to be found, not " in assimilating" our- selves to the brute creation, but in purity of heart and life : " Blessed are the pure in heart ; for they shall see God."
I. The character here mentioned, is that which Jirst claims our attention —
Purity of heart may be considered as opposed to hypocrisy : in that sense it denotes a freedom from base and selfish ends in the whole of our transactions, both with God and man. Strange as it may seem, the duties of religion itself may be performed from very unworthy motives. Pride, ostentation, self- righteousness, self-complacency, may lie at the found- ation of those very services whereby we pretend to honour God ; and may render them, not only worth- less, but hateful in his sight ^. Our conduct also towards man may be very specious, and yet be full of dissimulation and craft. It is no uncommon thing, as all who are conversant with the world know, to see men, under the guise of friendship, aiming only at the advancement of their own interests. Such duplicity is hateful to a true Christian. He that is "an Israelite in- deed, is without guile." Purity of heart, in this sense, is beautifully exemplified in the Apostle Paul, whose ministrations had no other object than to advance the glory of God in the salvation of men*". O that all of us possessed the same integrity ; and could, like him, appeal both to God and man for the purity of our intentions, and the simplicity of our minds !
a Zech. vii. 5, 6. ^1 Thess. ii. 3 — 6. and 2 Cor. ii. 17.