Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 5 · Verse 41
Verse 41.
And whosoeuer will compell thee to goe a mile, goe with him twaine.
Here Christ propounds the third example of wrong doing, by Superiours3. Example. towards their inferiours, wherein the partie wronged is likewise forbidden to make resistance by way of priuate reuenge. For the vnderstanding whereof, wee must knowe, that as in this our common wealth we hauehave Post—masters, so in other countries, especially in Persia, there were the like officers, who by authoritie frō their Kings or Emperours, might take mens cattel, nay men themselues, and vse them for trauell & carriage, at their pleasure: and it is like, the Iewes had got this custome among them after their captiuitie, as may in part appeare, by their bMat. 27. 32.cō pelling Simon of Syrene to beare Christs crosse when they met him. Now Christ speakes here of the abuse of this authoritie; saying, That if a mā compell thee wrongfully, vnderunder colour of the Magistrates authoritie, to go with him one mile, goe with him twaine: that is, …ather then by resisting thou shouldest reuenge thy selfe, goe with him two miles: whence hee giues to all inferiours a commandement, to beare patiently the wrongs that are done vntounto them by their Superiours, and rather to suffer a double wrong, then seeke to reuenge themselues by priuate resistance.
Here then we see a iust ground of …eproofe of inferiours for sundriePractises of impatience i… …feriours. practises of impatience towards their superiours; as first, when a man is attached by an Officer, to make violent resistance. This practise swarueth1 from the Rule of Christ, for say thou art attached wrongfully, yet thou oughtest to acknowledge Gods ordinance in Magistracie, and to2 obey the same, without offering priuate reuenge. Secondly, it often falls out, that Land-lords, and men of wealth, oppresse the poore, by inclosing of common lands, and such like; now hereupon the poorer sort vse to raile against them, and to curse them: but this practise is also here forbidden by our Sauiour Christ; for albeit the rich men sin grieuously in oppressing the poore, yet the poore must suffer rather a double or treble wrong, then by cursing speeches seeke priuate reuenge.
Againe, in this example we may see a third kinde of wicked men; toA …te of euill superi…. wit, all such as beeing superiouts, doe wrong and violence to their inferiours, as cruel Magistrates, oppressing Land-lords, cauelling officers, vsurers, & such like: these are here called euill ones by our Sauiour Christ, and therefore they must learne to shew merciemercy, and leaue off wrong & violēce, if they look to escape to be iudged as euil ones at the last day.
Thus we see the three particular examples of wrongs, wherein menChristianity a state of suffering. may not reuenge themselues priuately. Now from them all ioyntly considered, we may note two points; First, that the calling of a Christian is a state of suffering, 1. Pet. 2. 20, 21. If ye take it patiently when yee suffer wrong for well-doing, this is praise worthie, for yee are hereunto called: & therefore if wee would declare our selues to bee the true members of Christ, wee must shew forth patience in bearing wrongs, without seeking reuenge. This was Christs lesson to his Disciples, for hauing tolde them of afflictions to come, hee bids them to cLuk. 11. 19possesse their soules with patience: so when the spirit of God sets downe the afflictions of the Church, he addes this as an Item, dRe…. 1…. 10. & 14. 12.here is the patience of the Saints. We therefore must labour to repell all malice and rancour when we suffer vniustly, remembring this rule of Christ, that rather then wee offer priuate reuenge, we must suffer the doubling and trebling of the wrong. It is true indeed, this is hard for flesh and blood to doe; but if wee bee but flesh, that is, naturall men, why doe we professe our selues to be Christians? for he that hath not the spirit of God, is none of his, Rom. 8. 9. And if we be in the spirit, wee must obey the motions thereof, and learne of Christ who was meeke and humble, and following him wee shall finde rest for our soules.
Secondly, when Christ sets downe these three examples of suffering wrong, he applies himselfe to the present outward estate of the Iewes, which was this; For one man to suffer wrong of another in his bodie, and in his goods, and yet to rest contented, without reliefe or amends: Now the cause of this their miserable condition, was their seruitude to the Romane Emperour, who a little before Christs comming, had remooued the Scepter from Iuda, & made Iuda a Prouince tributarie vntounto Rome, so as they were ruled not by a Prince of their owne, but by a forraine enemies Deputies.
In this estate we may see the miserable condition of any people thatForraine regiment a grieuous thing. are in bondage to a forraine enemie, their liues are eueryevery way miserable; for besides their personall bondage, they are constrained to suffer losses and wrongs, in goods, and in their names, without all remedie or reliefe. The consideratiō hereof must teach vsus, First, to be heartily thākfull vntounto God, for the happie outward peace, which with the Gospel of Gods grace we now enioy vnderunder our dread Soueraigne, being free from subiection vntounto any forraine power. Secondly, to praie earnestly vntounto the Lord, for the good estate, life, and health of our Prince, by whom vnderunder God, we enioy such ioy and prosperitie; as also for the continuance of Gods holy hand of protection to preserue the whole land against all forraine power whatsoeuer. Thirdly, to repent vnfainedly of all our sinnes, that so we turning vntounto God from them, he may continue vntounto vsus those happy daies of peace, wherein we hauehave freedome from subiection to forraine tyrannie: for our sinnes are our greatest foes, they lay open the ports of our lands, and the gates of our cities to the spoyling enemie; they will put downe our strong walls, and take away the strength of our armed men: no enemies can doe vsus so much harme as our owne sinnes: and therefore we must humble our selues for them, and if we hauehave not repented, now we must beginne; and if we hauehave begunne, we must proceede and renew the same more and more. If we had felt the miserie of subiection to foraine power, as these Iewes now did, it would touch vsus: and therefore before these euills come vponupon vsus, let vsus meete our God by true repentance, that so he may keepe from vsus this fierce wrath.