Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 5 · Verse 6
Vers. 6.
Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousnes, for they shall be filled.
Here is the fourth Rule touching blessednesse, which is also mentioned4. Rule by Saint Luke, yet some thing different from this of Matthew: for according to Luke, Christ directeth his speech to his Disciples, and speakes of bodily hunger, saying; Blessed are ye that hunger now, for yee Luk. 6. …1.shall be satisfied: as if he should say, You my Disciples doe now suffer hunger and thirst, but this shall not preiudice your happie estate, for hereafter you shall be satisfied. Now Mathew goeth a degree further, and laieth downe a cause and Reason▪ why they beeing hungrie are blessed; not simply, for that they were pinched with bodily hunger, but because withall, they did further spiritually in their soules hunger after righteousnesse. Thus then the two Euangelists do agree; S. Luke laies downe this Rule generally, but Matthew propounds therein the reason of this blessednesse.
This Rule, as the former, containes two parts: first, who are blessed: secondly, wherein this blessednes doth consist▪ For the first, the parties blessed are such, as hunger and thirst after righteousnes. The exposition of these words is diuers; Some giuegive this sense: Blessed are those that areDiuers expositions. grieued with the iniquities that abound in the world, and withall doe1 in heart and soule, long for the amendment and reformation thereof. Others expound the words thus: Blessed are those that by wrongs and2 iniuries are depriued of their right … this world, and so are constrained to hunger and thirst after that which is their owne, wayting by patience3 to obtaine the same. But there is a third exposition which dothThe right meaning. more fully open vntounto vsus the meaning of Christ; to wit, by righteousnes we may well vnderstand in the first place, the righteousnes▪ of faith, whereby a …inner is iustified through grace in Christ, and so stand… righteous before God▪ hauing the pardon of all his sinnes …besides this, we may here also vnderstand inward righteousnes, whereby a man …s sanctified and made holy, hauing Gods image renued in him by the spirit of grace, which was lost by the fall of our first parents. And that this imputed and renued righteousnes may here be vnderstood, will appeare by these reasons: First, in such places of Scripture where like sentences are repeated, we must vnderstand not Ciuill righteousnes, but iustification, sanctification, and regeneration: as Isa. 55. 1. Hoe, eueryevery one that thirsteth, come to the waters, and buie without siluer: and, Ioh. 7. 37. If any man thirst, let him come vntounto me and drinke: and, Reuel. 21. 6. I will giuegive to him that is a thirst, to drinke of the waters of life freely: all which places are one in substance: for by waters, we must vnderstand righteousnes, which is that spirituall grace of God the fountaine of all blessings, whereby sinners are iustified and sanctified. Secondly, that which is most of all to be desired, must needes be the most excellent righteousnes: but this righteousnes here mentioned is most to be desired; for Christ saith, men shall hunger and thirst after it, thereby expressing a most earnest and vehement desire: and therefore by righteousnes, we must vnderstand Gods grace and merciemercy in Christ, absoluing a sinner from the guilt and punishment of his sinnes, with sanctification the fruit thereof, whereby he is purged from corruption. Secondly,Spirituall hunger and thirst. by hungring and thirsting, we must vnderstand two things: first, a sorrow and griefe of heart in regard of a mans owne sinnes, and vnrighteousnes; secondly, an earnest and constant desire of the righteousnes of God, that is, of iustification and sanctification in Christ. Answerable to these two things which are in bodily hunger and thirst, to wit, first a paine in the bottome of the stomacke for want of meate and drinke; secondly, an earnest desire and appetite after meat and drinke, to be satisfied therewith. And blessed is he that is so grieued for his owne vnrighteousnes, and withall hath an earnest desire after reconciliation with God in Christ, and after true regeneration and sanctification by the holy Ghost: for this is true spirituall hunger and thirst, whereto belongs this gratious promise, that in due time he shall be satisfied and filled with plentie of Gods merciemercy and grace, wherein this happinesse doth consist, which is the second branch of this Rule. This I take to be the true and proper meaning of these words, whereupon the two former expositions depend; for he that is thus spiritually an hungred, is oft depriued of his owne right among men, and▪ so is said to hunger and thirst after that which is his owne in this world. Againe, such a man doth vnfainedly grieue at the iniquities that bee in the world, and withall, his heart doth most earnestly desire reformation thereof, both in himselfe and others.
First, this sentence must be remembred, as a storehouse of true comfortThe vse. Comfort in Temptation. 1. from want of faith. in all grieuous temptations, but especially, against these three; the want of faith, the smallnesse of sanctification, and despaire. For the first, many in Gods Church hauehave a true care to please God in all things, and to liue in no sinne against their conscience; and yet they finde in themselues much distrust and despaire of Gods merciemercy, they feele more doubting then faith: whereupon they are brought to doubt of their election, and state of grace before God. Now how may such bee releeued, and be well perswaded of their good estate? Answer. The way is laid downe by our Sauiour Christ in this Rule; Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse. For here he teacheth, that those are blessed, who are displeased with their own doubting and vnbeleefe, if they hauehave a true earnest desire to be purged from this distrust, and to beleeue in God through Christ. Indeede this desire of faith, and to beleeue, is not true faith in nature, but in Gods acceptance; for God respects them for this true desire, as if they had faith. And they are blessed, because they shall hauehave plentie of faith, and assurance of grace and fauour with God in Christ: for it is merciemercy and grace with God, to hunger after grace and merciemercy, when the heart feeles the want thereof: But yet such persons must be admonished, that they shew the truth of this desire, by a constant endeauouring in the meanes which God hath sanctified for the obtaining of a true and liuely faith in Christ▪ wherewith they may be satisfied.
The second temptation is, from the smallnesse of sanctification. Many2. from want of sanctification. there be that endeauour to please God, making conscience of all sinne, and yet they finde in themselues an exceeding measure of rebellious corruption, much ignorance in their minds, peruersenesse in their wills, and frowardnesse in their affections; yea, a continuall pronenesse vntounto all manner of sinne: and on the contrarie, they can perceiue but small fruits of sanctification; the olde man they feele rushing in them like a mightie Gyant, but the newe man so weake and seeble, that they can hardly discerne any spirituall life: and hereupon they are sore troubled with temptations, yea oftentimes driuen to doubt, whether they hauehave any true grace at all: This cannot but be an heauie case, and yet here is true comfort for them; for Christ calleth them blessed (not that are filled with righteousnesse) but who hunger and thirst after it; that is, who feeling the want of righteousnesse in themselues, doe earnestly desire it in their soules. These persons therefore, that feele in themselues a sea of corruption, and scarce a drop of sanctification, must truely examine their owne hearts, how they stand affected to these things; for if they be truely grieued for their corruption and rebellion, and withall doe earnestly desire grace and sanctification, vsing the meanes constantly, whereby they may be freed from the one, and indued with the other; then they hauehave wherewith they may comfort their hearts, for Christ calles them blessed: and so they are, for in due time they shall be satisfied: and in the meane time, their will and desire is accepted of God in Christ for the deed it selfe.
The third temptation is, to despaire; when a man after the breachComfort against despaire. of conscience by some grieuous sinne, is plunged into this gulfe, that he thinkes verely hell is prepared for him, and he must needes be damned: what remedie now in such a case? Answ. Some thinke the onelyonly way is to propound vntounto him, the grounds of vniuersall grace; as that, because he is a man, Christ died for him, for Christ died for all: but this is a slender comfort, for the despairing conscience will thus replie; God indeed hath done his part, but I refused Gods grace, when it was offered. Therefore another way of comfort must bee sought; which is, by proouing vntounto him out of Gods word, that he is within the couenant, and that the promises of grace and life doe belong vntounto him: for the effecting whereof, one maine ground is here propounded; to wit, that though a man want all righteousnesse, yet if he truely hunger after it, he is blessed: and the right applying of this ground, is this; search must be made, whether the partie thus despairing, hath in him any sparke of true grace, or no; and this will be knowne by these two demands: first, whether he dislike his sinnes, because they are sinnes? secondly, whether he truely desire to be reconciled vntounto God, to repent and beleeue in Christ? Now if his conscience tell him, that these things bee in him indeede, then is he brought within the compasse of this blessednesse here pronounced by Christ, and hath title to this promise, that he shall be satisfied: for he that is grieued for his sinne, because thereby he hath offended God, and withall hath an earnest desire of merciemercy and grace, to repent and beleeue, is truely blessed. And therefore it may bee said vntounto him, seeing thou findest in thy heart, this griefe for sinne, and desire of grace, thou art blessed and shalt be satisfied. Thus may the distressed soule receiue comfort; but as for them that liue in sinne, here is no comfort, for they hauehave no true dislike of sinne, no purpose or desire to repent thereof.
Secondly, as this rule of Christ ministreth comfort to some, so it dedeclarethThe miserie of the full. the miserable estate of others; to wit, of all those that want this spirituall hunger after righteousnesse, for they hauehave no title to the promise of heauenly satisfaction by Gods merciemercy in Christ. And yet generally this is the state of men eueryevery where: for after riches, pleasures, honours, and preferments men hunger and thirst, as the drought in summer doth after raine; but rare it is to finde a man that sauoureth the things of God, and thirsteth after his righteousnes, and yet such onelyonly are blessed.
Thirdly, this rule of Christ serues for sure direction, whereby weHow to know who are happie. may know our estate before God, in regard of true happines: if we hunger and thirst after righteousnes, we are surely blessed: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Now this spirituall hunger is knowne by two things: first, by an vnfained heartie sorrow and griefe for sinne past; where this is wanting, true spirituall hunger and thirst is not: secondly, by an earnest desire of Gods merciemercy in Christ, for the pardon of sinne, and for sanctification, testified by a constant endeauour in the vse of meanes to come thereby: he that hath these things in him, may assure himselfe that he is blessed, for these be the motions of Gods spirit, and the true pledges of his grace. Hereby then we must trie our estate, if these things be in vsus we hauehave wherein we may reioyce; but if our hearts be dead, and hard, so as we hauehave no touch for our sinnes, no hungering after the blood of Christ, nor desire of sanctification, then are we voide of grace, and so most miserable: for the smallest measure of true grace that can be, is to hunger after grace in the want thereof.
Lastly, this rule of blessednes must admonish vsus, as we tender ourLabour for spirituall hunger. saluation, so to labour for this spirituall hunger in our soules, after reconciliation with God in Christ for all our sinnes past, and for the sanctification of our hearts and liues by his word and spirit: we may heare, read, and talke of Gods word, and yet all to no ende, vnlesse we be in heauines for our owne vnrighteousnes, and from our hearts doe sende forth sighes and grones after merciemercy and grace in Christ. For what auaileth it to hauehave wit and learning, honour and riches, if the soule be voide of merciemercy and grace in Christ? which doubtlesse it is, while this spirituall hunger is wanting in the heart. And to mooue vsus to labour for this hunger, the reason annexed is very effectuall, namely, the Lords promise that they shall be filled, which also shewes wherein this blessednes doth consist. Now they that thus hunger are filled, partly in this life, by receiuing the testimonie of the spirit, touching their reconciliation with God in Christ, and some fruits of sanctification, whereby the old man is mortified, and the new man renued in them; but principally at the ende of this life, when they shall be fully iustified and sanctified, and hauehave Gods image perfectly renued in them.