Further orders

Sermon on the Mount. St Luke.

(The Gospel History, Section 43)

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloke withhold not thy coat also. Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful. And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

Further orders

(The Saviour of the World, Vol II Book III Poem XXXV)

And He spake:—
Behold the day’s instruction—see how strait!
No outlet find ye here for natural hate:
Who love you not, e’en they your love must share,
And those who hate, be objects of your care.

Curse they? Bless ye. Offend they? Ye must pray;
Solicit God to show them worthier way:
Smite they in malice unoffending cheek?
Then turn the other in rebuking meek.

What if they take thy cloak and leave thee cold?
Offer thy coat to him hath been so bold;
Well, if thy kindness open that man’s eyes
To see the blessedness of sacrifice!

Not thine own rights or wrongs—thy brother’s part
Is that must urge itself upon thine heart;
That he offends, not that thou suffer loss,—
In this the anguish of a brother’s cross.

I send you forth, the brothers of all men;
From him would take thy goods, ask not again;
Doth any beg of thee? Then freely give;
As brothers loving brothers, shall ye live.

And doth your natural heart cry out in pain,
That smitten, grieved, ye needs must grieve again?
I tell you, nay; what ye would have men do
To you, the rule your conduct must pursue.

Who thanks a man for loving his own friends,
For gifts to those who, giving, make amends?
For lending to the man, lends him again?
E’en sinners so much common grace attain.

But ye go forth to show the Father’s Name,
Never despairing, lending; still the same
Though they you bless turn on you but to curse—
Yet, love alway, through better as through worse.

’Tis thus your Father loves; and ye must show
The pattern of His Kindness as ye go;
The unthankful, evil, at His hand receive;
And these shall ye be ready to relieve.

Lo, sons of the Most High, shall ye go forth
To witness of Him to His thankless earth;
Would ye, reward? To be like God, the best
Of all those gifts with which His sons are blest.

Be merciful as He, nor think hard things
Of him who wrongs thee; or, occasion brings
Against the Church: nay, judge not thou his case;
For, what were thy behaviour in his place?

E’en as it is, be sure he hath no plea
To make to God the Father against thee:
Who judgeth men, into God’s judgment comes;
Who blames another, his own reckoning sums!

Give, and men give to thee; forgive, they’re kind;
Release, and no man hastens thee to bind;
The measure that thou met’st is thine again,—
Pressed down, heaped up, and running o’er, the grain.

In heaven is thy reward, and it is great;
Wide fiefs within the kingdom, thine estate;
And men make haste to fill the measure up—
To overflow with bounties thy full cup.

St. Luke vi. 27-38