The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 183

mind, it separates a soul from God so utterly, with such fearful rapidity, that it occurs first to our thoughts when we meditate on this Beatitude. The pure he1nt is clean, for in some measure even here it sees God. "The world eeeth me no more," the Lord se.ict, "but ye see me." It is that blessed vision, the vision of God, which keeps the heart of the Christim pure. For this purity is a Christian grace; it comes from the abiding presence of God the Holy Ghost, who purifies the heart in which he deigns to dwell. That presence cleanses, refines, illuminates; it shines through the dark places of the heart; it shows the plague-spots, and through confession, contrition, repentance, it cleanses them away. Then blessed are the pure and the purified; those who were once impure, unclean, but who, having confessed their sins, have found the truth ol that most gracious promise, so full of sweetness to the peuitent, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Once they sat in darkness and the shadow of death, now they walk in the light; and if we walk in the blessed light of his presence, then "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin." It is cleansing us daily, hourly, if we are living in the faith of the cross, in the faith of the Son of God, "who loved me, and gave himself for me." How many souls, now at rest in the paradise of God, were once impure, unholy I But the constraining love of Christ drew them to himself; and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. There is a Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness. It is open always. The impure, the sin-defiled, come daily. Not all of them, alas! but the penitent, the sorrowing-they Wallh, and are clean. (2) The reason. "They shall see God." They see him now by faith. Purity of heart cleanses the mental vision; the pure in heart see mysteries of grace, mysteries of love and holiness which are hidden from the eyes of the unclean. He manifests himself to those who keep his Word. But the promise opens out a more glorious vision. "When he sha.11 appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." They who hope to see him as he is, in his glory, must purify themselves; they must take the Saviour's spot- less purity as their high example. The pure in heart shall see the King in his beauty; they, and they only. He is of purer eyes than to behold evil. The impure cannot bear his all-seeing, heart-searching glance. 7. The seventh Beatitude. (1) "Blessed a.re the peacemakers." God is the God of peace; the Messiah is the Prince of peace, his birth was welcomed with the angels' hymn, "Peace on earth." He is the great Peacemaker. He made peace through the blood of his cross. They that are his must follow his example. If they are truly his, they have his peace; it keepeth their hearts, it ruleth there. Those who have peace themselves are the best peacemakers. It is not an easy thing to be a peacemaker; it requires tact, wisdom, _courage, love. TJ,ere is so much party spirit of various kinds in every town or village, so much ill will, so much envy and jealousy, so many little feuds dividing men from men, that it is very hard to win the blessing of this seventh Beatitude. But it is one of the elements in the truly Christian character; we must practise it if we would be children of the kingdom. (2) The reason. (a) Peacemakers are happy in themselves. Which are the happiest-the cross-grained, the irritable, the conceited, always ready to take offence, perhaps even loving to Btir up strife? or the gentle, the kindly, the affectionate, who love peace, who do all they can to make peace in their family, in their parish, among all their neigh hours and friends; and that for Christ's sake, out of love for Christ, in humble imitation of Christ's example? "Blessed a.re the peacemakers." (b) But especially blessed in this-that "they shall be called the children of God." They shall be called his children, because they imitate his only begotten Son; because they keep the first of all the commandments, and the second, which is like unto it; because they bring forth the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace. Only those who are led by the Spirit are, in the deepest and holiest sense, the sons of God. 8. 'l.'he eighth Beatitude. (1) "Blessed are they which a.re persecuted for righteousness' sake." Christ prophesied that hie f~llowers should suffer persecution. It came ~ pass ~B _he ha.d aaid. We know how, smce the days of Stephen the first m11rtyr, valiant Chnet1an men and noble women too have a.gain and again endured for Christ's sake the prison and the torture, the sword, the fire, the lion. They are blessed ; they were persecuted for righteoll!lness' sake; theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The offence of the cross bas not ceased; there is persecution still. It exists still in many households, schools, oH. v.1-48.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. MATTHEW. 175