But pray for, wrestle with God, for those that do not repent, that now despitefully use thee and persecute thee. Thus far forgive them, [79]_not until seven times only, but until seventy times seven_. Whether they repent or no, yea tho’ they appear farther and farther from it, yet shew them this instance of kindness: _that ye may be the children_, that ye may approve yourselves the genuine children _of your Father which is in heaven_, who shews his goodness by giving such blessings as they are capable of, even to his stubbornest enemies; _who maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [80]For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the Publicans the same?_ Who pretend to no religion: whom ye yourselves acknowledge to be without God in the world. [81]_And if ye salute_, shew kindness in word or deed, to _your brethren_, your friends or kinsfolk _only: what do ye more than others_? Than those who have no religion at all? _Do not even the Publicans so?_ Nay, but follow ye a better pattern than them. In patience, in long-suffering, in mercy, in beneficence of every kind, to all, even to your bitterest persecutors: [82]_Be ye_, Christians, _perfect_ (in kind, tho’ not in degree) even _as your Father which is in heaven is perfect_. III. *Behold Christianity in its native form! as delivered by its great Author! This is the genuine religion of _Jesus Christ_. Such he presents it to him whose eyes are opened. See a picture of God, so far as he is imitable by man! A picture drawn by God’s own hand! _Behold, ye despisers and wonder and perish!_ Or rather, wonder and adore! Rather cry out, Is this the religion of _Jesus_ of _Nazareth_? The religion which I persecuted! Let me no more be found even to fight against God. Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?――What beauty appears in the whole! How just a symmetry! What exact proportion in every part! How desirable is the happiness here described? How venerable, how lovely the holiness?――This is the _spirit_ of religion: the quintessence of it. These are indeed the _fundamentals_ of Christianity. O that we may not be hearers of it only! _Like a man beholding his own face in a glass, who goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was._ Nay, but let us steadily _look into this perfect law of liberty, and continue therein_. Let us not rest, until every line thereof is transcribed into our own hearts. Let us watch and pray and believe and love, and _strive for the mastery_, ’till every part of it shall appear in our soul, graven there by the finger of God: ’till we are _holy as he which hath called us is holy, perfect as our Father which is in heaven is perfect_! SERMON XXIV. UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT. DISCOURSE IV. MATT. v. 13, 14, 15, 16.