But lasting charity’s more ample sway,
Nor bound by time, nor subject to decay,
In happy triumph shall for ever live,
And endless good diffuse, and endless praise receive.”
So shall the merciful obtain mercy: not only by the blessing of God, upon all their ways, by his now repaying the love they bear to their brethren, a thousand fold into their own bosom: but likewise by an exceeding and eternal weight of glory, in the kingdom prepared for them from the beginning of the world.
18. *For a little while you may say, Wo is me that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech, and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar! You may pour out your soul, and bemoan the loss of true, genuine love in the earth. Lost indeed! You may well say, (but not in the antient sense) “See how these Christians love one another!” These Christian kingdoms, that are tearing out each other’s bowels, desolating one another with fire and sword! These Christian armies, that are sending each other by thousands, by ten thousands quick into hell! These Christian nations, that are all on fire with intestine broils, party against party, faction against faction! These Christian cities, where deceit and fraud, oppression and wrong, yea, robbery and murder go not out of their streets! These Christian families, torn asunder with envy, jealousy, anger, domestic jars, without number, without end! Yea, what is most dreadful, most to be lamented of all, these Christian churches!—Churches, (tell it not in Gath—but alas, how can we hide it, either from Jews, Turks, or Pagans?) that bear the name of Christ the Princeof peace, and wage continual war with each other! That convert sinners by burning them alive: that are drunk with the blood of the saints!—Does this praise belong only to Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth? Nay, verily: but reformed churches (so called) have fairly learned to tread in her steps. Protestant churches too know to persecute, when they have power in their hands, even unto blood. And mean while, how do they also anathematize each other! Devote each other to the nethermost hell! What wrath, what contention, what malice, what bitterness, is every where found among them? Even where they agree in essentials, and only differ in opinions, or in the circumstantials of religion. Who follows after only the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another? O God! How long? Shall thy promise fail? Fear it not, ye little flock. Against hope believe in hope. It is your Father’s good pleasure, yet to renew the face of the earth. Surely all these things shall come to an end, and the inhabitants of the earth shall learn righteousness. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they know war any more. The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains: and all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of our God. They shall not then hurt or destroy, in all his holy mountain: but they shall call theirwalls salvation and their gates praise. They shall all be without spot or blemish, loving one another, even as Christ hath loved us.—Be thou part of the first-fruits, if the harvest is not yet. Do thou love thy neighbour as thyself. The Lord God fill thy heart with such a love to every soul, that thou mayest be ready to lay down thy life for his sake! May thy soul continually overflow with love, swallowing up every unkind and unholy temper, ’till he calleth thee up into the region of love, there to reign with him for ever and ever!
SERMON XXIII.
UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
Discourse III.
Matt. v. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.