The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 205

the kingdom ever on the growth, the kingdom in which "dwelletl1 righteousness." Note also the caution necessary respecting the application of the word" persecution." It must not count in those occasions of sufferiug due to a variety of very mingled cause, wbioh have really been largely the result of individual fault-perhaps as much so o.s of the animus of persecution and the persecutor. In corresponding manner, the work of great reformers has sometimes been grievously tarnished by the personal faults of the reformers. The clear significance of the closing verses of the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews guides us well in the discrimination required here. CoNCLUSION. Dwell again (as under first Beatitude) upon what lies in and under the pronouncement, "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." By such sufferinu men are, so to say, made baptized members of that kingdom, Because they are hu~bly in sympathy with it, they may throw themselves back upon all the sympathy it has to offer, and most effectually to give to them. A.nd they are entitled to remember and to prize the faithful saying, "If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him." And this is indeed the very essence and glory of all" kingdom."-B. Vers. 11, 12.-The Beatitude of suffering for tM sake of Jesw. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil auainst yon falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your rew~rd in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." It cannot be denied that we have here before us a Beatitude, and one warm with life and comfort and love, It is, however, particularly addressed to the disciples present, face to face, with Jesus . .As the foregoing Beatitude seemed to be in the mind of St. Peter (1 Pet. iii, 14), so his words, as written in the sa.rue Epistle (iv. 14), seem the very reminiscence of this ninth and closing Beatitude, which his ears had heard more than thirty years before. Notice how, by this kind, direct appeal, Christ betokens his forethought for those on whom should fall the first severity of trial, temptation, and suffering " for his sake." Notice-- I. TB:E THREE F0BHS OF TBUL PBEDIC'TED FOB THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, They are, reproach or railing; persecution; and " falsely saying every evil thing about them," i.e. all kind of slanderous abuse. Even so in all these respects " Christ suffered for us in the flesh." The parallel suggestions in the second, third, and fourth chapters of the First Epistle of St. Peter are frequent (ii.12, 19-23; iii. 9, 13, 14, 16-18; iv. 12-19). They are great types of the wounds the world inflicts. They are very liable to be snccessful assailers of our peace and of our principles, of our temper and of our stead- fast endurance. To be forewarned, in order to be forearmed, was never a wiser precaution to take, nor a more gracious one to give, A.s St. James says," If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body; " so in most manifest harmony must it be true, that if any man can silently, patiently, forgivin~ly stand against and withstand the sort of darts described above, he has not in vain learned of the Lord Jesns, whether of hie word or his deed-that one perfect :Man! lL THE FIBBT RECORDED USE ON THE PABT OF JEBUB CHRIST OF THAT SUPBEMB OLAlll OF HIS, WITH ALL ITS SPLENDID SIGNIFICANCE," FOB MY BAKE," Note: 1. How sovereign this claim is I 2. How the more remarkable from the known "lowliness and meekness" of Jesus ChriHt I 3. How deeply imbued it is with faith in the force and fidelity of affecti1,n-what a condescending bond as between Jesus Christ and any man I And, once more : 4. How wonderfully it has shown itself equal to all whatsoever that it ha.s been called to bear or to do! Granted that love is a strong principle in human nature, the mightiest of its forces, yet what surpassing strength, continuance, inse- parableness have through Christ been made all its own, for all its service of him and for all his requirement of it I So still the gift from him has exceeded infinitely all the gift to him, though he speaks of those that are "reproached, persecuted falsely, evil spoken of, for biR sake." Ill. THE ENERGY OF JOY WHICH THE CABE JUSTIFIES AND WHICH CHBIBT ENCOURAGES. Bow few things to be had on earth, or even to be begun on earth, do warrant Ruch energy of joy; and how utterly averee the verdict of the world from this of Jesus Christ I But the grounds of this joy are real, and they look far, far on ; thoy command a prospect bounded by no earthly horizon, And the bright joy and succeeding glad- cu. T, l-48.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. MATTllEW. 1!)7