Day 17

Now He pushes the obligation yet further, so as to entirely eradicate the very spirit of revenge.

4 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth .’ 1 This is what the old law allowed, and there appeared to be a kind of justice in it ; but Jesus Christ will not allow the Christian to carry out such justice for himself, or even to seek it for his own satisfaction. If public justice puts down crimes of violence, the Christian does nothing to hinder it, and he respects public decrees ; but, on his own account, if somebody strikes him on one cheek he will rather offer him the other than revenge himself ; 2 and if a man takes his coat he will give him his cloak also, sooner than go to law for a slight thing, or give way to a carping or resentful spirit. He will rather, of his own accord, go two other miles with those who shall have forced him to go one than seek to do justice to himself, or dream of taking vengeance for any violence that may have been offered to him. Peace of heart is dearer to him than the possession of whatsoever things may have been unjustly snatched away ; and as to failing in charity for 1 Exod. xxi. 24. 2 Matt. v. 39, uq.

E [ 65 ] the sake of getting back anything he has been deprived of, he would not have it at the price. Oh, how pure and lovable is Christian and Evangelical doctrine ; and how badly do Christians correspond with it — how little do they deserve their name !

c Give to him that asketh of thee ; and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away,’ 1 as people commonly do ; but do what you can to comfort him : be liberal and beneficent. Not all the riches in the universe can ever equal the value of those two virtues, or the reward that they will get for us.

Here, then, we find three degrees of charity towards our enemies — to love them, to do them good, to pray for them. The first of these produces the second ; if we love, we give. The last is commonly believed to be the easiest, but as a matter of fact it is the most difficult, because it has to be done purely for the sake of God $ and nothing ought to be more sincere, hearty, or genuine than what we offer to Him Who sees even to the very depths of the heart.

1 Matt. v. 42.

Eighteenth 2>ap Extent of Christian Perfection . — Matt. v. 46-48.

XAMINE yourself on these three degrees : — to love, to do good, and to pray.

‘If you love them that love you what reward shall you have ? Do not even the publicans this ? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more ? Do not also the heathens this ? ’ Remember, that is, that you have not been offered an eternal inheritance, with indestructible happiness, for nothing : not that you may remain merely the equal — or, perhaps, the inferior — of the heathen. Let the Christian soul remind itself of this with regard to every point of conduct. What reward, O Christian woman, do you deserve for merely despising vain ornaments ? The heathen have despised them. And what great glory will you have for despising riches ? The philosophers did so. So also with chastity. It was heartily observed by the Vestals: — the Pagans and the wise of this world have gloried in practising it. Raise your thoughts higher ‘ and be perfect/ But like whom ? Like the philosophers ? Like the heathen ? No. Like the Jews ? or like the Scribes and Pharisees, who were the most perfect amongst the Jews? No. Jesus Christ has told you that ‘unless your justice surpasses theirs you shall have no part in the Kingdom of Heaven/ 1 You are to be perfect ‘as also your heavenly Father is perfect / 2 And because you can never equal Him, you are to grow constantly, that you may approach His perfection. The undertaking is great ; but the help is equal to the labour. God, Who calls you up so high, reaches His hand to you ; His Son, Who is equal to Him, comes down to you that He may carry you up. Say, then, with St Paul, Courage , my soul ! ‘I can do all things in him Who strengtheneth me/ 3 Ah, when will you Christians who are so far from the true perfection of your state begin to conquer your indifference ?

Let each one say to himself in his secret heart, ‘ Yes : I will learn to be a Christian / Stop short at these words : ‘ It was said to the ancients, and I say it to you/ Who gave us this new 1 Matt. v. 20. 3 Ibid, v. 48. 3 Philip, iv. 13.

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