Day 8

After the example of this only Son, the children of adoption must take on them the character of their Father, and show themselves true sons of God by their love of peace.

This grace of being children of God will have its perfect fulfilment in heaven, according to our Lord’s saying that they c are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection,’ — that is, born anew by the resurrection .3 Let us then be truly peace-makers ; let us always have on our lips words of forgiveness and peace to soften the bitterness that our brethren may display towards ourselves or towards others. Let us even do our best to bring together those who are on bad terms; to prevent enmities, coolnesses, indifference ; in short, to reconcile all who are divided. This is to do the work of God, and to show ourselves His children by imitating His goodness.

How far -from this spirit are people who like to fall out with each other ; who, when their neighbours are already disturbed and weakened with angry feeling, add to their irritation by 1 Ephes. ii. 14-17. 2 Coloss. i. 20. 3 Luke xx. 36.

encouraging misunderstandings: — often entirely unfounded 5 and often increased by exaggerating circumstances, by saying what should be left unsaid and so reviving the remembrance of what should be forgotten, or by the utterance of sharp and contemptuous words.

IWntb 2>as EIGHTH AND LAST BEATITUDE To suffer for Justice, — Matt. v. 10.

[LESSED are they that suffer persecution for Justice’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ All those who suffer for having done right — for having set a good example — for having obeyed with simplicity — or for having put people who live irregularly to shame, so that the blame of causing others to be justly reproved is laid upon them, suffer persecution for Justice’ sake. Those also who daily carry their cross, and constantly persecute their own evil desires, suffer persecution for Justice’ sake.

This is the last and most perfect of all the Beatitudes, because it is the one that most vividly reproduces the character of the Son of God Himself.

Hence it is that He dwells on this one. Not content with having spoken of it like the rest,