Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, Commentary 1 · Chapter 5 · Verse 47 – Verse 48
Verse 47. What doe ye more then others?]
Singular things are expected and required of such as have received singular grace and mercy. As to be eminent in good works, to get above others,. toforeign l it. 3 14. … our feet where other mens heads are. The way of the righteous … on high, saith Solomon: he goes an higher way to worke thenEphes. 5. 15. foreign. ordinary, and walkes foreign, accurately, exactly: he gets even to the very top of godlinesse, as the word importeth. He knows that more then the common stint is required of him, and that he must doe that, that the world will never doe: as to be hot in religion, Rev. 3. 16, The carnal Gospeller saith, Religiosum oportet esse, non Gellius.religentem, It is fit to be Religious, but not so consciencious. So, to be zealous of good works, Tit. 2. 14. but with discretion, saith the …. The King of Navarre told Beza, he would launchPelago … non ita commissurus …, quin quando liberet, pedem referre posset. no further into the sea, then he might be sure to return safe to the haven. Though he shewed some countenance to religion, yet he would be sure to save himself. So, to abound in Gods work; to have a heart full of goodnesse, as those Romanes, Chap. 15. 14. a life full of good works, as Tabitha, Acts 9. 33. But this is to be Eccles. 7. 16. Cicero.wise overmuch, saith the flesh. Philosophandum, sed paucis. What need this waste? said Judas. It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, to worship, said … to the people: take a shorter cut rather to the golden calves. They are idle, they are idle, said Pharaoh of Gods busiest servants. So, God would have his to walke precisely. This the mad world mocks at: To pluck outEphes. 5. 15. their right eyes: this is a hard saying, saith the sensualist: To offerMat. 5. 29. violence to Gods Kingdom; Fair and softly goes farre; and its good keeping on the warm side of the hedge, saith the Polititian: to … Gods … as the apple of thine eyes; … how few are … that will not break the hedge of any Commandment, so they may … a peece of foul way? Lastly, To love an enemy, doe good to them that hate us, & c. But this seems, to the most, … and impossible. What? love those that … and … them? … daily rage and rail at them, with such …, as if they … been as far as hell, for every word that … cut of their mouthes against them, &c? Love this man? Nay … love the … himself. They will rather die a thousand deaths, then endure such a one: If they could love him, yet they would not. They are prime Christians in these mens opinions, that … to Sauls measure, I will doe thee no hurt, my son David: If they passe him by, when he is in their power, as the Priest and the … did the wounded man: if they fall not … upon him …, and retaliate injuries, they have gone farre and …: and such a measure of charity, they hold little … then …, … here attainable. This is the voice and guise of … and …. The spirit that is in us lusteth to envy, and prompteth us to … taunt with taunt, suit with suit, blow with blow, and holds them fools that doe not. But this is the wisedom from beneath, and is earthly, sensuall, devillish: whereas that…. 3. 1. …. from above, is first pure, and then peaceable, (well assured of pardon of sinne, and peace … God, and thence) gentle or equable foreignto men, and easily perswaded, full of mercy (to an offending brother) and good fruits, (friendly expressions,) without wrangling foreignor lawing, and without hypocrisie: such as can be heartily reconciled, and love again without dissimulation, not in word, and in Rom. 12 9. 1 Joh. 3 ….tongue, but in deed and in truth. Not covering a pot-sheard with silver drosse, a wicked heart with burning lips. Seven abominations Prov. 16. 23, 24, 25, 20.are in such a heart, and his wickednesse shall be shewed before the whole Congregation, as Absoloms usage of Amnon. A godly man carries neither cruell hatred, a desire to hurt whom he hates, as Esau; nor simple hatred, where there is no desire to hurt,Prov. 19. …. & 14. 20. but a disdain to help: he forgives not only, but forgets, as Joseph, Gen. 50. 20. (For injuries remembred are hardly remitted.) And although he loves not his enemies sinnes, yet he doth their persons: striving to seal up his love, by all loving usage, both in word and deed. And herein he doth more then others; that which is singular, and in the worlds account, seraphicall: that which (in truth) is extraordinary, and above vulgar possibility, it is an high point of Christian perfection: and let as many as are perfect, be thus minded. Benaiah was honourable among thirty, but he attained not to the first three. A naturall man may be renowned for his patience and benificence; but the childe of God must herein go before all the wicked men in the world, and strive to be conformed to the first three, the blessed Trinity.
Verse …. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father, &c.]
TheM. Harris on Mat. 5. 9. childe (saith one) is the father multiplied, the father of a second edition. Of Constantines sonnes Eusebius reporteth, that theyforeign Euseb. put on their fathers fashions, and did exactly resemble him. And of Irenaeus, the same … telleth us, that he expressed to the life the learning and vertues of his master Polycarp. It were happy for us (and we must labour it) if we could passe into the likenesse of the … patern. Our … bonum consists in communion …, and conformity to him; in keeping inward peace with God, that he abhor us not because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters, …. 33. 19. and in seeking and keeping (as much as may be) peace with all men, and holinesse; purifying our … as he is … (in quality, though we cannot in an equality)1 Joh. 3. 3. … the love of every … (the ground of all our wranglings, I am. 4. 1.) but especially from the passions and perturbations of the heart; possessing our selves in patience. For if patience have her … worke, we shall be perfect and …, wanting nothing.Jam. 1. 4. For (…) St Luke hath it, Be mercifull, &c. Cap. 6. 37.