Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 5 · Verse 48
v. 48.
Be ye therfore perfect, as your father which is in heauē is perfect:
Here Christ inferres an excellent consequent from the former reasons, wherein he exhorts his Disciples to perfection in all the duties of louelove. In it obserue two parts: a commandement to be perfect; and a patterne thereof in God. For the first, why doth God command that whichWhy God commands men to be perfect. no man can performe, for who can be perfect? Ans. God giues this and such like commandements for diuers causes: first, in regard of his elect, for to them Gods commandements serue as meanes of obedience, God by his grace enabling them to doe that which by command ho requires: for as in the creation Gods commandement gaue beeing to the creatures, so is it after a sort in the regeneration, as here, be ye perfect, is a meanes to make Gods children perfect. Secondly, in regard of the wicked, as well to restraine corruption in them, for the peace of his Church, as also to leaue them without excuse, seeing the best workes they doe are short of that which they are bound to performe.
To come to the vertue commanded, which is perfection in duties of Of perfe… on. Leg II.louelove. Perfection in generall, is twofold: of the Law, and of the Gospel. Perfection of the law, is when a man loues God and his neighbour, according to the rigour of the law. This is in no man in this life, but this shall be in Gods elect in the life to come. Perfection of the Gospel, isEuangelical. that endeauour of obedience which God accepts in Christ, at the hands of his children. This distinction the Apostle maketh, Philip. 3. for first he saith, he hath not attained to perfection, v. 12. meaning, the perfection of the law: and yet after he speaketh of himselfe and others, as beeing perfect, v. 15. Let vsus (saith he) as many as be perfect be thus minded; that is, as many as be perfect according to the Gospel. Thus were Noah, Abraham, Iob, Zacharie, and Elizabeth perfect, that is, syncere and vpright before God both in heart and life: and this is that perfection which Christ here requireth.
Further, this Euangelical perfectiō hath 2. parts; either of mans nature, or of his actions. The perfection of mans nature is by regeneration; for as in original sinne, is both guilt of Adams sinne imputed, & corruptionParts of Euangelicall perfection. inherent, which is the seed of all sinne: so in regeneration, which is the renuing of mans corrupt nature, there is an abolishing of corruptiō, & a1 restoring of grace in eueryevery part & sacultie of the soule: for look how far coruptiō spread it selfe by Adams sin, so far doth grace extend by regeneration. Of this perfection there be three branches; First, an vpright 3. Branches of Euangelicall perfection in … ▪ nature.iudgement in the minde, whereby a man vnderstands and beleeees not onelyonly the grounds of religion, but eueryevery other doctrine truely grounded in the word, and is ready to receiue it, as it is further reuealed; this1 is sinceritie in iudgement: whereby it is plaine, that to hold onelyonly the grounds of religion, and for other points, to follow the time, is a great imperfection and want of sinceritie. Secondly, a pure and honest heart, 2wherby a man is free from any purpose to liue in sinne; and on the contrarie is inclined to eueryevery thing that is good. Thirdly, a good cōscience,3 giuing testimony according to the word, & so excusing, that a man may say with Paul, a1. Cor. 4. 4.I know nothing by my self: meaning, for which he should condemne himselfe. And look, where nature is renued, there these three are neuer wanting.
Perfections of mans actions, standeth in two things; First, in bewailing2 his wants and imperfections, knowne and secret; for it is a degreePerfection of mans actions. of perfection, to bewaile our imperfection. Secondly, in setting himselfe from a sincere heart, to obey God in all his commandements, as occasion is offered: Psal. 119. 6. I shall not be confounded, when I hauehave respect to all thy commandements: and this indeed, is the perfection of a Christian: halfe obedience is nothing; for as bIam. …. 10.Iames saith, hee that failes in one commandement of purpose and custome, is guiltie of all, because if like occasion were offered, he would breake all the rest.
But it will be said, a man may hauehave both these, and yet want much ofPerfection in parts, and in degrees. perfection. Answer. A thing is said to be perfect two waies; either in parts, when it hath all the parts of perfection, though in weake measure; or in degrees, when it hath a full measure of perfection in eueryevery part. A child newe borne is a perfect man in regard of his parts, hauing all the parts and members of a man; but it is not perfect in degree, till eueryevery part grow vp to his perfection. Now the child of God when hee is regenerate, hath all the parts of perfection in soule & bodie, though in weake measure; but in this life, he is not perfect in degrees, which is that full measure the law requireth. 2. Chron. 15. 17. The heart of Asa is said to be perfect towards God all his daies: and yet the high places were not taken away; yea he failed in seeking to the Physition, and not vntounto God, chap. 16. 12. Asa then had perfection of parts, but to perfection of degrees he attained not in this life, & therfore he failed in these particulars, through the weakenesse of sanctification, which here is not finished till death.
So then it is plaine, there is a perfection in the child of God, though ioyned with much weakenesse, euen in this life; his nature is perfect being renued in soule to sound iudgement, to an honest heart, and a good conscience: his actions are perfect in Gods acceptance through Christ, while he bewailes his imperfection, and endeauours sincerely to please God in all things. This is that which Christ enioynes to his Disciples, this we must labour for, if we wil resemble our heauenly father, we can get no higher in this life; but let vsus attaine to this, and in the life to come we shall bee perfect in degrees, for then our regeneration shall be accomplished.
But herein men faile and come short of their dutie; as first, all those1 Who faile in seeking perfection.that spend their strength and wit to get the things of this world; these men little thinke of this perfection which the Lord requires in his children; it may be they will heare the word, but yet their hearts are so glued to the earth & earthly things, that they sauour not of regeneration, they know not what it meanes: but if they will be Gods children, they must follow Iehosaphat, 2. Chro. 17. 6. who lift vp his heart to the waies of the Lord; for that is the meanes to come to perfection.
Secondly, those also are reprooued, that content themselues with a2 small measure of knowledge, and doe not striue after perfection, as Christ requireth: how can they hauehave a sound iudgement, which studie not to know the doctrine of the Scripture?
Thirdly, that generall want of Christian perfection is here reproued,3 when men content themselues, to yeeld respect to the outward dutiesThe general want of Christian perfection. of the first Table, that concerne Gods worship, and yet neglect the duties of the second Table, that concerne their brethren in generall, and pertaine to their functions and callings in particular. This is a common fault in Magistrates, Ministers, Parents, Masters, Seruants, &c. they will be Christians in the Church, but they neglect to shew the power thereof in their callings; but this is a grieuous want of sincerity, which makes them farre vnlike their heauenly father: for hee is euer like himselfe, and therefore looke what men professe in Gods worship, that must they practise in their callings. A magistrate must be a Christian vponupon the Bench, as well as in the Church; in the administration of iustice, as well as in the Congregation: and so must Ministers, Masters, and all estates. God allowes not of their seruice in the Church, that serue their wicked lusts at home, Ierem. 7. 9, 10. Gods sacrifices vnderunder the law must be whole and sound, not halt and lame, or maimed; and such should our obedience be vnderunder the Gospel, with sincere respect to all Gods commandements. It profited Herod little to heare Iohn gladly, and to doe many things, so long as he kept his brothers wife; nor Iudas to follow Christ, while his heart was vponupon the bagge. Let our practise of religion therefore, shew forth the truth of our publike profession, and so shall we in some sort resemble our heauenly Father.