The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 217

ia in earned. (1) This is evinced in his" unspeakable Gift." Ilad be given a world for us, there would have been millions of worlds left. He, the Maker of all worlds gave himself for us. (2) It is evinced in the glories of heaven. He must love perfect righteousness with all the strength of his being. He is himself that righteonsness. He must love his saints correspondingly in proportion to the measure of their righteous- ness. This viewed in Christ is great. Heaven is the expression of that love. (3) It is evinceu in the horrors of perdition. Hell is no scarecrow. It is the antithesis of heaven. (4) By all these arguments we should "hwnger and thirst after righteous- ness." 2. Satan ia in earnest. (1) Thie is evinced in the number of his agents. They are numerous as swarms of files. He is called Beelzebub, "lord of flies." (2) In the order in which he marshals them. "Legion" (cf. Rev. xvi. 13, 14). (3) In the variety of his "devices." His subtlety and ingenuity are surprising. ( 4) In his indomitable perseverance. If thwarted, he changes his front. He pursues us to tbti very gate of heaven. 3. True repentance is earnest. (1) Its earnestness is here likened to the strongest instincts of our physical nature. (2) What is the world to a man who is in the n.rms of death? To save his life, the mariner will throw overboard bales of richest treasure. Bo will the true penitent give up everything for the salvation of bis soul. (3) His hunger and thirst are stimulated by his convictioil3. He is convinced that God is righteousness itself. Sin is seen to be hideous aau odious. Ill. THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS MOST BE SOUGHT IN THE SPIRIT OF MERCY. 1. The righteousness of God cannot be compromised to his mercy. (1) Time was when man had no need of mercy. He was created in innocency. Hut he transgressed the Law, and became obnoxious to judgment. Mercy can have no place until righteousness be vindicated. (2) Righteousness is vindicated in the vicarious su.fferiags of Christ. These sufferings therefore opened an avenue for mercy. (3) Righteousness must still be viudicated in the conditions of mercy. Repentance is there!ore indispensable. In it the sinner confesses the righteousness of God. So is faith. In this the sinner r.enounces false righteousness. 2. Hence the spirit of mercy is re1J11,ired in the suppliant. (1) If we would be forgiven we must also forgive. 'l'his is insisted upon in the Lord's Prayer and in the comment which be added (see eh. vi. 14, 15). This is the moral of the parable of the debtors. (2) Beneficence is another form of mercy which is required by the beneficent God. The sinner must repent of his covetousness. The sinfulness of covetousness is not duly estimated. No sin is, in Scripture, more severely denounced (cf. Ps. x. 3; 1 Cor. v. 11; vi. 10; Eph. v. 3, 5). (3) Have you sought without success tbe righteousness of justification before God? Have you sought it in the spirit of earnestness? Have you sought it in the spirit of mercy? ".He will have judgment without mercy that hatb shown no mercy."-J. A. M. Ver. 8.-The vision of the pure. Properly to understand this great subject it is Decessary to consider- !. THAT HAN IS ENDOWED WITH SPIRITUAL SENSES. 1. The body is the material image of the soul, (1) 'fhe Scriptures suggest this truth when they speak of the 11 natural man" and the II spiritual man;" of the "outward man" and the "inwurd man;" of the "hidden man of the heart" as opposed to the ostensible mau of the body (1 Cor. ii. 14, 15; 2 Cor. iv. 16; 1 Pet. iii. 4). (2) It is involved in the doctrine of the image of God in man. Man is not an incorporeal but an incarnate spirit. After this definition, he is" in the image and after the similitudes of God." In these II similitude&" God revealed himself to man in corporeal human form. (3) If the spirit be the counterpart of the body, there must be spiritual to cornespond to corporeal senses. 2, We ea;perien ce spiritu.al sensation. ( l) This is acknow !edged in current language. We talk of ideas, or things seen, viz. in the mind. Of soul-per- ceptions we say, "I see,'"' I feel;" "He is a man of taste;" "His scent is keen." (2) These senses are generally recogoized in Scripture (see l'hil. i. 9, margin; also Heb. v. 14). They are spiritu.al senses whose function is to discriminate in moral subjects. (3) They are mentioned in detail. Thus: Feeling (Acts xvii. 27; Eph. iv. 19). Tasting (Ps. xxxiv. 8; Heb. vi. 4, 5; 1 Pet. ii. 3). Smelling (Ps. xiv. 8; Cant. L 3; eh. xvi. 23; 2 Cor. ii. 14). Hearing (Isa. 1. 4, 5; John x. 3, 4; xviii. 37). Seeing (Acts xxvi. 18; Eph. i. 18). (4) W o experience them in dreaming when the mind imposes upon itself tho spiritual for the corporoal sensations. Thi.s is imaginatiou? IIATTHEW."P r 210 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTllEW. [on. v. 1-4~.