aversion. To prevent this, we should strive to make up the matter " while we are in the way with him." Instead of sepa- rating immediately, as is usually the case, and avoiding all means of friendly communication, we should labour to prevent matters from coming to an extremity : and set ourselves in the first instance to procure a reconciliation, precisely as we would to extinguish a fire that threatened to consume our house : we should not stop till the flames had gained an irresistible ascen- dant; but should set ourselves first to quench the fire, and after- wards guard against the occasions of future conflagration.]
2. The consequences may be fatal —
[Our Lord supposes a person so irritated as to have deter- mined to prosecute us in a court of law : and he supposes that the offence has been such as, when judgment is given against us, will terminate in our ruin ; the compensation awarded him, and the costs of the suit, exceeding our power to discharge, we shall be cast into prison, and be liberated from thence no more. This is a consequence which not unfrequently happens for want of timely humiliation in the offending party. But where measures are not pursued to such an extent, the disagreement may yet be attended with most calamitous effects. And it will be well for us to remember, that, though the persons we may offend may not be able to avenge themselves in that precise way, there is no person who may not at some time or other have it in his power to do us an essential injury : and therefore, though it is but a poor motive for a Christian to act upon, we may not improperly bear it in mind, as a subordinate consider- ation, to keep us from giving offence to any, and to stir us up to adopt the most prompt and effectual means of reconciliation with any whom we may have chanced to provoke.]
That our subject may be more generally interest- ing, we shall consider the text,
II. In a secondary and accommodated sense —
Notwithstanding the Apostles occasionally quote the Scriptures in a secondary and accommodated sense, we would be very cautious in taking such a liberty with the word of God. But we can scarcely conceive that our Lord had not some reference to the future judgment, when the Supreme Judge of all will execute on every unhumbled sinner the punish- ment he deserves. Though our offences be primarily against our fellow-creature, he will take cognizance of them at the last day, if we have not sought forgive- ness in this life, as well at the hand of our offended