Eighteenth Day
Extent of Christian Perfection. — Matt. v. 46-48.
EXAMINE yourself on these three degrees: — to love, to do good, and to pray.
‘If you love them that love you what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? ’ Remember, that is, that you have not been offered an eternal inheritance, with indestructible happiness, for nothing: not that you may remain merely the equal — or, perhaps, the inferior — of the heathen. Let the Christian soul remind itself of this with regard to every point of conduct. What reward, O Christian woman, do you deserve for merely despising vain ornaments? The heathen have despised them. And what great glory will you have for despising riches? The philosophers did so. So also with chastity. It was heartily observed by the Vestals: — the Pagans and the wise of this world have gloried in practising it. Raise your thoughts higher ‘ and be perfect.' But like whom? Like the philosophers? Like the heathen? No. Like the Jews? or like the Scribes and Pharisees, who were the most perfect amongst the Jews? No. Jesus Christ has told you that ‘unless your justice surpasses theirs you shall have no part in the Kingdom of Heaven.' [1] You are to be perfect ‘as also your heavenly Father is perfect.' [2] And because you can never equal Him, you are to grow constantly, that you may approach His perfection. The undertaking is great; but the help is equal to the labour. God, Who calls you up so high, reaches His hand to you; His Son, Who is equal to Him, comes down to you that He may carry you up. Say, then, with St Paul, Courage, my soul! ‘I can do all things in him Who strengtheneth me.' [3]
Ah, when will you Christians who are so far from the true perfection of your state begin to conquer your indifference?
Let each one say to himself in his secret heart, ‘ Yes: I will learn to be a Christian.' Stop short at these words: ‘ It was said to the ancients, and I say it to you.' Who gave us this new law? Christ, the Son of God in person, the eternal Light and Life, the Master sent from heaven to teach us; but also, and equally, the Saviour who comes to our help and Who, as we have just seen, measures His graces by the task He sets us to do. Let us therefore consider like St Paul ' if the word, spoken by angels, became steadfast, [and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward,' how we shall avoid it if we neglect so wholesome a doctrine as that taught by Jesus Christ; Who, having begun by explaining it to us Himself, ' was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. God also bearing them witness by signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost according to his own will.' [4]
And again, with the same saint: — ' If a man making void the law of Moses' — which was but the pedagogue — ' dieth without any mercy under two or three witnesses, how much more do you think he deserveth worse punishments who hath trodden under foot the Son of God; and hath esteemed the blood of the testament unclean, by which he was sanctified, and hath offered an affront to the spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth to me, and I will repay. And again: The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’ [5]