pure, when that which is "of the earth earthy," is clarified by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, and the inward man delighteth in the law of God, and the pressure from without, hindereth not the running in the way of his commandments, that is to say, in holiness of life and charity with all men; for, as one well says, "purity of heart includes purity of hands,”—and it is one of those great circumstances that consummate charity, for "the end of the commandment is charity, OUT OF A PURE HEART, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." And Tim. i. 5. thus we may understand our Saviour's words in a fuller sense, "Now ye are CLEAN through the word which I have spoken unto you," for He it is John xv. 3. "who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and PURIFY unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Jer. Taylor. Tit. ii. 14. The reward is, "For they shall see God." And how is this? Saith not the Scripture, "No man hath SEEN GOD at any time?" that He dwelleth John i. 18. "in the light which NO MAN can approach unto; 1 Tim. vi. Exod. xxxiii. 20. whom no man HATH SEEN, or CAN SEE?" Saith He 16. 3 "By our seeing God," says South, "is meant, and under it comprised, the whole enjoyment of the felicities of another life, as by seeing the sun, is set forth the entire, total enjoyment of Ezek. xvi. 14. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. what is to be hereafter, when they that are such,("perfect through my comeliness which I" have "put on" them, "saith the Lord God,")-shall see no more "darkly, but then face to face." Full sure, as Augustine saith, "seeing God is the reward of faith; to which end, our hearts are made pure by Acts xv. 9, faith: as it is written, Purifying their hearts by Aug. faith." And faith being "the substance of things Heb. xi. 1. hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Moses Heb. xi. 27. " endured, as seeing him who is invisible." And so in Caten. doth the very Christian on this side the grave. Glorious things are revealed unto him by the Spirit. His eye glances far, even from earth to heaven, even through the grave and the gate of death to Rev. iv. 3. the "rainbow round about the throne," where that everlasting chaunt is heard, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS Rev. iv. 8. TO COME." Ps. li. 1012. Then, as in his light we shall see light, who giveth shine unto the world, let us join in the Psalmist's prayer, thus moulded to our hands in the Liturgy of our Church, "O God, make clean our hearts within us, and take not thy Holy Spirit from us!" 66 The next Beatitude is, "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE Matt. v. 9. CHILDREN OF GOD." this life," Eccles. vii. 11, &c. See Sermon on this Beatitude, vol. vii. p. 170. See also the excellent one of Beveridge. Works, vol. vi. p. 108, &c. ed. Horne. VII. And how beautiful a title is this in the midst of worldly tumults, and worldly preparations for the battle! For what else is the world but a battle-field? full often an aceldama,-a "field of blood." 66 Such, at least, is the natural end of those Acts i. 19. wars and fightings" which originate in "the lusts that war" in the "members" of the unsanctified. James iv. 1. Rom. xii. But, the Christian who is pure in heart hath concern only with the blood of Christ that cleanseth from all sin, not with man's blood that crieth from the ground. When such things are, he knoweth Gen. iv.10. the Word hath not free course; and, in quietness and peace, he looketh to Him that "maketh wars to cease in all the world." And not only so, but, if Ps. xlvi. 9. "it be possible, as much as lieth in him, he liveth peaceably with all men." In fact, and in accordance 18. with what is written in the Scripture of truth, peacemakers are they who, being themselves of a peaceable temper, endeavour to promote peace among others, in this showing themselves likest God, who is "not the author of confusion, BUT OF PEACE, as in all the churches of the saints." Even 33. as we read the apostolic exhortation, "Be of one mind, live in PEACE, and the God of love and PEACE shall be with you." So to live appertaineth to the 11. Christian; for "PEACE" is of the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22. one token certainly that Christ is "formed" within us. 4 Peacemakers also are they who preach the This is not pressed upon literally, for, as Hammond says, 1 Cor. xiv. 2 Cor. xiii. Gal. iv. 19. Gospel of peace, reconciling sinners to Christ, who Ephes. vi. is their PEACE. So far is the Christian temper from wishing to divide and rule, that "to hold the faith 15; ii. 14, and Schoëtt. in loc. in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life," is its constant aim! "PEACE, Isa. lvii. 19. PEACE, to him that is far off, and to him that is near," is the watchword of the lowly Nazarene from the Lord. The Prince of Peace is not unto him a Saviour only, but also an ensample of godly life. The early Christmas carol is ever ringing in his ears, which tells, that "suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Luke ii. 13, PEACE, good will toward men ;" and it is his chiefest comfort to recollect the legacy consigned to all the faithful ones in the New Testament, irreversibly Heb. ix. 16, their own since the death of the testator, "Peace 14. 17. I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your John xiv. heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." 27. The reward of the peacemakers is, "They shall be called;" that is, they shall be, and be owned as, (such being the sense of Kλn@noovrai,) "the children of God;" sons of the adoption, and like, in their in his Practical Catechism, "The word peacemakers signifies no more than peaceable-minded men. The notion of making in Scripture phrase belonging to the bent of the soul; as to make a lie, is, to be given to lying, to practise that sin, to be set upon it," &c. &c. ut supra, p. 34. Rom. viii. Luke xx. smaller mortal comings, unto Him who is the "PRINCE OF PEACE." And to this holy and heavenly similitude they are led on by that Spirit of grace that worketh within them, being "followers of God as dear children;" loving their Ephes. v. 1. enemies by the way, and doing good to them that hate them. And what greater blessedness than to be the children of God, unlinked from the couplings of the world," and, if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ;" and, as such, 17. (for "the breaker," as saith Micah the prophet, "is come up before them," their king has passed before, "and the Lord on the head of them,") "the children Rom. ii. 13. of the resurrection." Cometh it not home to each 36. one of us? Sure, full sure, "ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." As one sums up, 23. "The reward is no less than the adoption and inheritance of sons: for 'He hath given unto us power to be called the sons of God;' for He is the Father of peace; and the sons of peace are the sons of God, and, therefore, have a title to the inheritance of sons, to be heirs with God and co-heirs with Christ, in the kingdom of peace, and essential and never-failing charity "." Good is the salutation written in St. Paul's own 66 hand, Now the Lord of peace himself give you 6 Jer. Taylor. Rom. viii. |