'As much as in you lieth, be at peace with all.' These words are, I
think, unduly limited when they are supposed to imply that there are
circumstances in which a Christian has a right to be at strife. As if
they meant: Be peaceable as far as you can; but if it be impossible,
then quarrel. The real meaning goes far deeper than that. 'It takes
two to make a quarrel,' says the old proverb; it takes two to make
peace also, does it not? We cannot determine whether our relations
with men will be peaceful or no; we are only answerable for our part,
and for that we are answerable. 'As much as lieth in you' is the
explanation of 'if it be possible.' Your part is to be at peace; it
is not your part up to a certain point and no further, but always,
and in all circumstances, it is your part. It may not be possible to
be at peace with all men; there may be some who _will_ quarrel with
you. You are not to blame for that, but their part and yours are
separate, and your part is the same whatever they do. Be you at peace
with all men whether they are at peace with you or not. Don't you
quarrel with them even if they will quarrel with you. That seems to
me to be plainly the meaning of the words. It would be contrary to
the tenor of the context and the teaching of the New Testament to
suppose that here we had that favourite principle, 'There is a point
beyond which forbearance cannot go,' where it becomes right to
cherish hostile sentiments or to try to injure a man. If there be such
a point, it is very remarkable that there is no attempt made in the
New Testament to define it. The nearest approach to such definition
is 'till seventy times seven,' the two perfect numbers multiplied
into themselves. So I think that this injunction absolutely
prescribes persistent, patient peacefulness, and absolutely
proscribes our taking up the position of antagonism, and under no
circumstances meeting hate with hate. It does not follow that there
is never to be opposition. It may be necessary for the good of the
opponent himself, and for the good of society, that he should be
hindered in his actions of hostility, but there is never to be
bitterness; and we must take care that none of the devil's leaven
mingles with our zeal against evil.
There is no need for enlarging on the enormous difficulty of carrying
out such a commandment in our daily lives. We all know too well how
hard it is; but we may reflect for a moment on the absolute necessity
of obeying this precept to the full. For their own souls' sakes
Christian men are to avoid all bitterness, strife, and malice. Let us
try to remember, and to bring to bear on our daily lives, the solemn
things which Jesus said about God's forgiveness being measured by our
forgiveness. The faithful, even though imperfect, following of this
exhortation would revolutionise our lives. Nothing that we can only
win by fighting with our fellows is worth fighting for. Men will
weary of antagonism which is met only by the imperturbable calm of a
heart at peace with God, and seeking peace with all men. The hot fire
of hatred dies down, like burning coals scattered on a glacier, when
laid against the crystal coldness of a patient, peaceful spirit.
Watch-dogs in farmhouses will bark half the night through because
they hear another barking a mile off. It takes two to make a quarrel;
let me be sure that I am never one of the two!