11 Sept 1811

Jug. Util.

§3 +

14

B.II. Under Revelation

Ch.

1

§.3. Meekness

III. Dicta inculcation of meekness

Resist not evil (Mat. V.39) but whosoever shall smote thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

'Ye have heard that it hath been said thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy Mat. V.43. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.'

For a conduct thus extraordinary, immediately after follow his reasons.

One consists in the propriety of taking for a model the conduct observed in this respect by God himself. Between the evil and the good, between the just and the unjust God makes no distinction: therefore neither ought you: to both alike he sends his sunshine: to both alike he sends his rain.

On The other reasons assumed the propriety of doing /on all occasions/ the contrary of what is done by the class of man called in these biographies the publicans: i.e. the collectors of the taxes; a set of men whom necessary as they are in every /civilised/ country Jesus found unpopular in that /his/ country, and in this particular life left them /at least as badly off/ as found them, if not worse.

45. 'That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.'

46. For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect.'

1.

III. Dicta inculcation of meekness

Love enemies &c.

2.

Reasons. 1. God's rain sent to just and unjust.

2. Publicans have their friends.

Finding tax gatherers unpopular he makes them more so.

3.

3. Be perfect as God is. But for God's benevolence see Straight Gate parable &c