3, For the benefit of mankind ?
[To this there is a special respect in my text. The Pha- risees maintained, that we were at liberty to hate our enemies : but our Lord said, " If you love your friends only, what do ye more than others?" The loving of enemies is an attainment far above the reach of the world at large. If they abstain from revenge, it is quite as much as they ever aim at. And as for endeavouring to " win the souls" of their enemies, the thought never so much as enters into their minds. But the true Chris- tian has a far higher standard of duty in reference to these things. He feels, indeed, that it is no easy thing to " love his enemies, to bless them that curse him, to do good to them that hate him, and to pray for them that despitefully use him and persecute him'';" but he labours to do it, and implores grace from God that he may be able to do it; and determines, through grace, " not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good." Nor is he forgetful of his obligation to seek the eternal welfare of mankind. Hence he labours for the diffusion of the sacred oracles throughout the world : he tinds delight in aiding every effort that is made for the salvation botli of Jews and Gentiles : and in his more immediate neighbour- hood he strives to promote, as far as in him lies, the spiritual and eternal interests of all around him. In his relative duties also especially he endeavours to shew the influence of true religion : as a parent or child, as a husband or wife, as a master or servant, as a ruler or subject, he makes a point of fulfilling his duties, so that the most watchful enemy shall have no reason to speak reproachfully.
Once more then let me ask, is it thus with you? Is there amongst all of you such government of your own tempers, and such a victory over all your evil passions, as that you adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and exhibit in the whole of your deportment his blessed image ? As followers of Christ, all this is required of you : you are called, " as the elect of God, holy and beloved, to put on bowels of mercies, kind- ness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering ; and to be forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if you have a quarrel against any man, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you® :" and if you mil approve yourselves to be Christ's, " your righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Plia- risees." You must take even God himself for your pattern, and seek to be " perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect^."]
See then,
1. How vain is that plea, that you are as good as others !
d ver. 44. « Col. iii. 12, 13. f ver. 20 and 48.