Vere. 3--5.-The confronting question. The question or questions of these verses arise only too directly out of the matter that immediately precedes. The habit, so human, of sitting in judgment on our fellow-beings is almost invariably aggravated by other satellite habits, also very human, and that fail to amaze and to shame us only by reason of our too intimate familiarity with them. Thus- I. LITTLE FAULTS IN OTBEBB WE BEE VERY LABGE 1 AND LARGE FAULTS IN OUB- BELVEB WE BEE VERY LITTLE, II. LITTLE FAULTS IN OTHERS WE BEE VERY LARGE, FOB THE BLAMABLB REASON THAT LARGE FAULTS IN OURSELVES WE BEE VERY LITTLE. III. THE LARGE FAULTS OF OURSELVES ARE IN A CERTAIN WAY MEASURABLE, AND THIS THE MEASURE OF TIIEM-THEY ARE OF JUST THE SIZE TO BLOCK OUR VISION OF ALL THAT IS OUR FIRST DUTY TO "OONSIDER," i.e. OF ALL THAT 18 AB NEAR TO UB AB OURSELVES, IV. THEY DO AB A MATTER OF FAOT BLOOK THAT VISION BO BADLY EFFECTUALLY, THAT '1'11:0UGB LABOURING UNDER ALL OUR OWN PERSONAL DEPRIVATION, WE PROFFER PATRONIZINGLY TO DO THAT OFFIOE FOB OUR NEIGHBOUR WHICH NONE BUT THE PUREST VISION 18 QUALIFIED TO DO, AND NOTBIN(J BUT THE Dll'URITY OF PBARISA.IO BELF-OONOEIT WOULD PRESUME TO VOLUNTEER OB DABE TO ESSAY EXOEPT ON SOLIOITOUI' ENTBEATY,-B,
Ver. 6.-<Jhristian economy, and gospel frugality. This verse, apparently solitary and detached, depends for its effect certainly on no verbal connection with what precedes it, but throws itself fearlessly on its intrinsic virtue. It provides all ne~ful counteractive, and counteractive very efficacious, to the verbally unqualified prohibition of the first and second verses of the chapter. Che.rity, moderation in our own inner judgments of others, and restraint of lip in the expression of them, are not to degenerate into lavish latitudinarianism, nor to presume on pleading the exhortation of Christ for sanction of any such perversion. To rule in one's own mind that any are "dogs" and "swine" sufficiently postulates, surely, an unemasculated judgment, and snffers none to tax it with want of vigour in expre,sion. The language is, indeed, figure.tive under any circumstances, but it is some of the most trenchant of all left on record e.s pro- ceeding from the lips of Christ. It may be termed another great direction of conduct, but probably in this case, if not in the last, specially of apostolic conduct. A certain wisdom, and restraint of judgment, and temperateness of language are an imperative necessity for those in responsible office, both for safeguard to themselves and example to others. To throw "holy " food to dogs must be counted a monstrosity of profanity, and certainly would very promptly be apprehended such by a Jew in particular; and to "ce.st pearls before swine" must be counted a monstrosity of prodigal wastefulness and insane folly pretty well all time and e.11 the world over. But if these directions be plain for their meaning and very plain for their force, they are perhaps not so plain 300 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S1~ MATTHEW. [o!t. v1t. 1-29.
11s regards the question to what possible conduct they apply. It may be necessary herein to guard their intent. They do not meau, e.g., (1) that the gospel itself, even from the rudimental original of its expression ou earth, 8hould be prohibited to Gentile ean; nor (2) that genuine ignorance should be visited with a denial or withholding of it; nor (3) that deep depravity of life should similarly have that punishment meted out to it; nor (4) that in the development of time an esoteric and exoteric treatment of it should p)ead here any foreshadowed sanction or justification. But the passage in its unity- I. FORBIDS THE DISREGARD (WHETHER THROUGH INDISPOSITION TO TAKE THE RIGHT PAINS, OR THROUGH UNSKILFUL INDISCERNMENT, OR THROUGH THE SPffiIT OF DEFIANCE) OF THE PERSONS TO WHOM, THE TIME WHEN, THE PLACE WUERE, THE PRICELESS BLESS- DIGS OF REVEALED TRU'l.'ll ARE OFFERED IN ALL THE WORLD. Before Christ himself it was ordained that the way be prepared by John the Baptist. Again, in every city and village whither he would go, be did himself appoint that two disciples should prepare the way. And we are told that once and again, where the field of operation was manifestly unhopeful, manifestly obstinately set against impression, he withdrew alike his doctrine and himself. Perhaps it may be said that an instinctive, an almost unconscious appreciation, and approving from the heart of this powerful direction of our Lord, has through all the ages since guarded sacred, at any rate, the administration or even offer of the holy sacraments of the Lord Jesus Christ. lL FORBIDS THE RECKLESS OR THE UNADVISED AGGRAVATING OR ENRAGING 01!' A HUMAN WICKED!fESS ALL THE APPEARANCE OF WIIICH PROCLAIMS IT IN VERY NEAB ALLIANCE WITH THE D!FEBNAL WICKEDNESS ITSELF. JI!. FORBIDS A1'-Y AND ALL EITHER MANIFEST OR BUBTLY-OONCEALED WASTEl!'"UL SACRlFICE OF HUMAN EFFORT, ABILITY, OPPORTUNITY, WHICH, THE LESS THEY ABE, DO RATIIEI\ NEED ALL TO BE RELIGIOUSLY TREASURED AGAINST THE DAY OF INCON- TESTABLY 1'""ECESSARY EXPE~'lllTUBE AND UNAVOIDABLE CONFLICT. JV. EMPHATICALLY FORBIDS THE PRESUMPTION OF COURTING MABTYBDOM. Y. STILL MORE CERTAINLY FOBBlDS WITH CONDEMNING EMPHASIS THE OOUilTING OF IMPERFECT MARTYRDOM, i.e. THAT IN WHIOH THE GOAL D!VOLVES A VERY POOB ORANCE-A HERE TRAVESTY---OF THE ACTUAL WITNESS OF BLOOD. The blood of ths martyrs is the seed of the Uhurch. Granted, with deep-drawn "Amen" of accl&ma,- tion. But the blood of pseudo-martyrs is very different seed I 1.'his seeds tares, and is another of those "devices of Satan. of which we are not ignorant." And the pseudo- martyr is not only the man who might from a guiltily presuming ambition dare a bid for the real martyr's crown hereafter, but also the man whose literal wreck of himself and of useful work has been paid as the tribute to despair on the one hand, or on the other to the unholy bravado of unspiritual and mere sentimental or even physical inflation. Such examples stand along the line of history not altogether infrequently. But they are to the discredit of human reason and heavenly prudence; of Christian devotion and gospel frugality; of the Word which we have received, and of that all- gracious Personage from whom we have received it. 'l'hey are not to the glory of God; they are not to the weal and service of the Church of Christ.-B.