Page:SermonOnTheMount1900.djvu/24

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neighbour in speech, this will be a natural consequence of the gentle and 'peace-making' spirit to which the kingdom and rank of a child of God are promised.

You are not to look at a woman with an evil thought — that is, 'Blessed are the pure in heart'; and your heart will be pure when you have purged it of all sensual desires. Hence, those are happy who spend their lives in mourning and in a saving sadness rather than in pleasures that intoxicate.

'Swear not.,. let your speech be " yea, yea; no, no.”' This, again, springs naturally from meekness; for he who is meek is humble, and not too much attached to his own view, so as to be too positive; he says what he thinks simply, in a sincere and gentle spirit.

When we are filled with that spirit of mercy which shall draw down on us yet more abundant mercy than our own, we easily forgive injuries; and when we are meek and peaceable we readily yield to others, who may show violence, even more than we have promised.

It is not only because a man is meek, merciful, and peaceable that he loves his friends and his enemies, but because of that hunger after justice spoken of above, which makes him wish to