The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 228

return blow that makes the quarrel 2. When M suffers wrongs to property. (1) Thia cl~ss of injur)es i_s represented in the case of the coat. We may forfeit property through smts at law mst1tuted by knaves who make no conscience of forgery and perjury (see Eccles. iii. 16; v. 8). (2) Suffer wrong rather than go to law, If the sufferance should lead to further greater loss-the loss of the cloke in addition to the coat-suffer it still. The cost of both may be less than the cost of litigation. The loss of both is less th~n the loss ?f. th~ sI?irit of meekne~s. 3. W7ien M suffers outrag~ upon liberty. (1) This class of mJunes 1s represented ID the case of lhe compulsion to go a mile. This also should 1:'8 ta~en patiently. Go "twain,'' rather than contend. (2) History ~eaches that ~ur _hbert1es have been won_ by suffermgs rather than by resistance. This 1s the very pnnc1ple of the cross of ChrISt, by which we are liberated from the slavery of sin. So in the interests of liberty is the cross of patient self-denial to be taken up. 4. Moreover,our beneficence must be active. (1) We must be free to give. The request of the poor should be taken as an opportunity for the duty of almsgiving. We may see the hand of God in the hand of the poor. Who would refuse God? (2) We must; be free to lend. '!'hereby we may relieve a present exigency. We ehould not" turn away" from or shun the poor whom we know to be needing our help. (3) But bene- ficence must be with discretion (Ps. cxii. 5), else the idle and worthless may carry away what should have been reserved for tbe worthy. All must be consistent with the claims of creditors, of family, and of the household of faith.--J. A. M. Vers. 43-48.-Perfection. Here is an attainable perfection, for it comes to us as a promise as well as a command. But what is it? I. IT CANNOT BE THE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION OF Go». 1. There is an infinite dif- . f erence between God and man in their being. (1) Man is originated. He had a begin- ning. His immortality had a starting-point. God's eternity had none. (2) Man lives a moment at a time. His immortality is an interminable succession of points. God lives an eternity at a time. "His being no succession knows." 2. There is an infinite difference in their presenc6. (1) The presence of man is limited. He occupies a few cubic feet of space. The presence of God is universal. (2) The presence of man is localized. If he would be elsewhere he must vacate his present place. God is perfectly present everywhere. When we say he is in heaven, we mean that he is there in every perfection of his nature. When we say he is here, we mean precisely the same. So in respect to every conceivable point in immensity. In the infinitude of these con- ceivable points he is sin..-:lta.neously perfectly present. 3. There is an infinite difference in their power. (1) The power of man is limited. Circumscribed by the laws of God in nature. Circumscribed by the force of conflicting wills. The power of God is an irresistible wilL (2) The power of man is formative. He can mould, he can combine, he c:in disjoin. He cannot create. He cannot destroy. God can create. He can reverse the act of creation. 4. There is an infinite difference in their holiness. (1) The holiness of God is necessary. It is simply the natural harmony of all his perfections. This harmony is the standard of holiness. Man has no natural holiness. His sinful- ness is the discord of perverted attributes. His holiness is of grace, derived, dependent. (2) So might we proceed with all the attributes of God and man, so far as the former are made known to us, and the conclusion must be evermore that for man to become absolutely perfect as God is quite out of the question. JL IF THE PERFECTION BE NOT ABSOLUTE, THEN IT MUST DE RELA.1'1VE, As God is perfect in his relations to us, so must we be perfect in our corresponding relations ta him. 1. Our Father i, perfect in hi, relation to us as Creator. (1) How admirably are we fenced with bones, arranged as levers, curiously fitted into sockets and hinges I How surprising is our muscular structure, our nervous system, our organs of sense I How noble are our intellectual endowments I How wonderful are our affections, appetites, and passions I (2) As creatures do we render fully to God the homage of these powers? Has he our undivided hearts? Has he the best. services ~f o~r brai~s? Has he the vigour of our nerve and muscle? 2. Our Father is perfect in hts relation to m as King. (1) His providence in nature is beneficent. "His sun," "his rain." All creatures are hie. "He maketh his sun to shine;" "He sendeth his rain." The forces of nature a.et under his controL His Word lets us into the secrets of his pro- vidence. (2) As subject& are we correspondingly perfect in relation to him? Do we CH, v. 1-48.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. ~'21