SERMON XX.

CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.

MATTH. 5. 48.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

THIS is, we must acknowledge, a difficult saying; one of the most difficult to flesh and blood in the whole compass of the Scriptures. It is however repeated by St. Paul, as part of his concluding exhortation to the Corinthians, "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect." (2 Cor. 13.11.) And the text occurs in the sermon on the mount, one of the most plain of all our Lord's discourses, and one which He most evidently intended for the daily practice of all his disciples. He had immediately before been teaching that we should love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do

them that despitefully use and persecute us. These would be felt by all to be very difficult things to do. But to these our Lord adds the words of this text; as though He should say, Deem ye that it is too much for you to become the children of your heavenly Father, in respect of doing good to them that hate you? I tell you, that not in this point only, but in all, must ye take his ways for the pattern of your own. I bid you not in this respect alone to do right, but in all things, " Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

This command, we should observe, is addressed without distinction to every one, even to ourselves. Far be it from any of us then to pass it over, as a text with which we have no concern; even though we feel that to fulfil it is impossible. It is nevertheless very plainly commanded to every Christian. And as long as it is sure that Christ spake these words, it must be our bounden duty to endeavour to fulfil them. He certainly must best know both what is possible for man to do; and how

far also it is good for us to attempt that which we feel all the while is impossible.

Now certain it is that we do of our own accord very frequently desire, and very commonly strive after, things which we know to be out of our reach. It is impossible, for instance, that we should enjoy perpetual health and strength. Yet do not we daily take pains for this end? And is it not by taking pains, that we secure such measure of these blessings as we actually enjoy? Again, it is impossible that we should be free from trouble, and pain, and affliction. Yet do not we continually imagine to ourselves that we might be so? Do not we watch and exert ourselves, to avoid all sorrow and suffering, as eagerly as if we could indeed utterly escape them? Why should we not as well desire never to sin, as never to be in want, never in distress? Why should we any more endeavour to be always prosperous, always well, always happy here, than to be perfect, even as our Father which is in hea

speaking, impossible. But we prove in our own conduct, that for a thing to be impossible, is no hinderance at all to our desiring it, or trying for it. Among the many things impossible which we undertake for our own pleasure, let us then try this one of Christian perfection, out of regard to the command of Christ. Certain it is, He has thought it good for us to try. Let us not then discharge his counsel from our thoughts, as a superfluous height of devotion; but lay it to heart, and take it also in hand to obey, with all diligence and pains in our power.

For consider now if any one of you which is a father should bid his children do for him that which is beyond their power, whether by way of exercising their strength, or by way of trying their obedience; he would expect surely that they would endeavour to obey. He would praise them for so endeavouring. He would count himself to have done nothing hard in so bidding them. He would reckon it most unnatural for them, at that tender age, instead of undertaking what

we order, to begin to reason, and remonstrate, that they think the thing impossible. And are not we as little children, before our Father which is in heaven? Hath not He for us at least as much consideration and love, as we for our offspring upon earth? And is it not to prove our willingness in obeying, and to exercise our souls in progressive improvement, that He bids us be perfect as Himself. Shall we dare then to reply that we will not attempt it, because we reckon it impossible? No; rather, as dutiful children, let us receive all his commands, with the full purpose of performing them to the uttermost. Let us without excuse or gainsaying, derive even from the most difficult of them all, that spiritual edification, which they are all designed to afford.

I. First, then, in this text we may see how the Scripture hath concluded all under sin. Our rule is, "Be ye perfect." And if none fulfil it, then have all fallen short of the will of Christ, then have all sinned against the law of God. Such is the per