[There would then be no scope for the exercise of these difficult graces, since no injuries would be committed upon earth O that God would hasten that blessed time !]
Matt. V. 42. Give to him that asketh thee ; and from him that tvould borrow of thee, turn not thou aivay.
TO render good for evil is a duty of indispensable obligation ; and many commentators consider it as particularly enjoined in the words which we have just read. If we take the passage as connected with the directions which immediately precede it, its meaning will be, that we must not be contented with a patient submission to injuries, but must actively exert our- selves to render to our enemies any service which they may require. But, as this is plainly enjoined in the verses following our text, we rather understand the text as expressing in general terms the duty of liberality, without confining it to any particular de- scription of persons : and in that light we propose now to insist upon it.
We shall inquire, I. What is that spirit which is inculcated ? —
Were we to adhere strictly to the literal meaning of the words, they would apply only to those whose circumstances in life empowered them to give and lend to their more necessitous brethren. Moreover, they might, as to the letter, be obeyed by a person of opulence, whilst he was far from yielding to God any acceptable obedience. We must therefore inquire, what that spirit is which they inculcate? They enjoin,
1. A spirit of compassion —
[It is to be supposed that those who make applications to us for a gift or loan, are themselves in necessitous and distressed circumstances. And towards all such persons we should exer- cise unfeigned pity and compassion. We should consider them, not merely as children of the same heavenly parent, but as members of our own body ; and should have the same sympathy