XXVIII.

MATTHEW v. 5.

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

It is said: "If biblical science were necessary to make a good Christian, the case would be different; but there is no necessary connection between this kind of knowledge and a useful and holy life." Such may be the result of observation,—that there may be a biblical science, whatever it means, and no holy life; and there may be those who know not the Bible, yet live a better life than many who glibly quote the sacred Scriptures. But who shall say there is no necessary connection between a knowledge of God revealed and a holy life, since "Man lives by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

The beatitudes of the Gospel are the blessings of those who obey the truth-who realise what is already given, freely bestowed, upon all. He who is poor in spirit possesses the covenant-the Kingdom of the heavens. He that mourns shall be comforted: to whom Christ is all and in all. And of the meek it is written, "He shall inherit the earth;" which can be only in the possession of the divine life, consequent upon putting away sin in Christ. Thus mourning and meekness are the expressions of that condition signified by poor in spirit.

Meekness is no mere natural gentleness or patience under injuries, nor suffering for the benefit of others; but the manifestation, the outcoming of righteousness, implying a

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condition that has put off sin. It would scarcely belong to unfallen angels, but would to restored man. The Lord was meek, because He was humble of heart. Thus meekness is a grace in advance of true humility.

Some would place this beatitude before that which precedes it. Such an arrangement, though it be according to the "Vulgate," would clash with God's order: whereas that in which they now stand is according to truth. There must be, as there ever will be, first planted in the heart that principle which mourns sin, before there is this holy meekness that shall inherit the earth. Where it is, there is a patient abiding in the grace of God; and it is a beautiful expression of the holy love of the Spirit. The Hebrew word is applied to those who patiently endure, rather than return to that from which they have escaped; who have already suffered in the flesh, have ceased from sin. Wherefore "they shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Jehovah, for they shall seek Him, and their hearts shall live for ever." They keep His covenant, enter into the full blessings of His grace, and find all His paths to be mercy and truth. So honourable and distinguished are they that, when the judgment of God shall go forth, the meek shall stand and be saved, and delight themselves in abundance of peace' (Ps. xxxvii.)

With respect to the two elements of a living faith: to which is meekness allied? We answer, to righteousness. We are to show meekness to all men, because we have the water of regeneration, and have received of the Holy Ghost, which God hath shed forth abundantly on us, through Jesus Christ our Saviour (Tit. iii. 2).

Again, is it truth or righteousness to which meekness is allied? To the latter. In Ps. xlv. 4, there are two pairs of

truths-majesty and righteousness, truth and meekness. In truth, we witness to Christ our King; in meekness, to righteousness in the Son of God. Truth is the Father revealing Himself in redemption, in the overthrow of all evil, of all that offendeth or maketh a lie. And to do truth, then, is, as the Lord says, to come to the light. Meekness exhibits itself, by the law of righteousness, even to those who oppose themselves to the truth. Truth respects the judgment, and meekness the righteousness of God. As the prophet says, The meek have wrought the judgment of God; they possess Jehovah; they seek Him; they seek righteousness-they hunger and thirst after it. Being meek, they seek meekness.

Righteousness and meekness are, as epithets, used indifferently. The prophet speaks of the King coming to Zion as righteous; Matthew, as meek.

Peter, speaking of the true adorning, says, it is not of the body, the outward man; but of the soul, in a meek and quiet spirit. Meekness is thus identified with the life of God in the soul. Jehovah lifteth up the meek. If they humble themselves under His mighty hand, He will exalt them. He taketh pleasure in them. He beautifieth them with salvation; and they increase their joy in Jehovah.

The Gospel is preached to the poor and to the meek. They testify to it. Again, it is commanded, "Arise, consider the spiritual poor and the spiritual meek." The goodness and philanthropy of God unto all men, through Jesus Christ, hath appeared. If, then, we possess this meekness in the Son of God, we are bound to exhibit it unto all men, that our Father may be glorified in us.

It would be impossible, from the nature of things, for the meek to render evil for evil. They cannot. If they do, it is because they have put off their meekness, and all that con

stitutes it. Whereas, in the spirit of meekness, of holy love, they do the will of God; for they are not insensible to the indwelling corruption of a depraved nature, and to the mercy and love of God in setting them free. They suffer the cursing of the Shimeis, while their peace thus expresses itself: “It may be that Jehovah will requite me good for his cursing this day."

How, then, are we to put on this meekness? Only as the elect of God. This holy and lovely character is inseparable from holiness and righteousness. The elect have wrought judgment and walk in the ways of Jehovah, for they seek Him. If, indeed, there be one characteristic of the truly meek, it is that of earnestly seeking the things which are above -the life which is in God. And this with Christ. Such are the seed of Jacob. They count all things else as loss, and contend not for the perishing things of time, be they power, position, wealth, or appearances. Possessing the heavenly treasure, they can, and do, part with these things and forgive those who trespass against them. They eat, says the Lord, and are satisfied. Peter lacked meekness when he said, "We have left all and followed Thee: what shall we have, therefore?" He had the penny, he partook of the divine nature: that is, he did eat but was not satisfied.

This is the teaching of James, who regarded strifes and contentions as indicating a condition that belied the truth; but meekness, as bearing testimony to that wisdom which is first pure and then peaceable. To particularise acts of meekness is unnecessary. It is most truly gentle, and easily to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Amid the feverish excitements and unsatisfactory ambitions of this world, it is, indeed, a blessed enrichment to possess

this heavenly treasure. With all the varied schemes and systems of religion, the numberless parties and sects, the arbitrary dogmas of a faith apart from practice and in opposition to it, the so-called religious world is but little prepared to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts, and give a reason of the hope that is within them with meekness and fear.

The reward confirms what we have advanced as the essential nature of this meekness, "The meek shall inherit the earth, and he shall delight himself in abundance of peace." The earnest desire of his soul is the things of the Kingdom. He partakes of that feast, of that spiritual banquet, of which it is said, "All things are now ready." And desires that all wrongdoers would but share with him of the grace of God, which never fails, and which in its overflowing fulness ever abounds to all.

The reward, then, is no earthly treasure, nor is it what is designated the kingdom of David, though, indeed, it be no earthly kingdom.

What then is the psalmist's description of those who inherit the earth. That, indeed, which has been already seen to characterise the meek. They are unshaken in their earnest desire for things that are above. They willingly give up much. They endure with submission what, in a perfect Providence, is their lot. They have executed judgment, and are blessed of Jehovah. And they profane not the holy name of Father. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. It is only in Jehovah that the righteous have an everlasting possession, for there is but one inheritance, and that is uncorrupt, undefiled, and fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us. It is written, "Wait on Jehovah and keep His way-the way of judgment; and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land." Can we make this an earthly,