If we are forbidden to be abusive, why this example
with its ordinary and harmless epithet ; why this
terrible threat against those that utter abuse so fee-
ble as that implied in the word raea, which means a
good-for-nothing ? All this was obscure to me.
74 MT religion:

I was convinced that I had before me a problem
similar to that which had confronted me in the
words, '■'■Judge not." I felt that here again the sim-
ple, grand, precise, and practical meaning of Jesus
had been hidden, and that the commentators were
groping in gloom. It seemed to me that Jesus, in
saying, " be reconciled to thy brother " could not have
meant, "be reconciled in idea," — an explanation
not at all clear, supposing it were true. I under-
stood what Jesus meant when, using the words of
the prophet, he said, " I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice; " that is, I will that men shall love one
another. If you would have your acts acceptable to
God, then, before offering prayer, interrogate your
conscience ; and if you find that any one is angry
with you, go and make your peace with him, and
then pray as you desire. After this clear interpre-
tation, what was I to understand by the comment,
" be reconciled in idea " ?

I saw that what seemed to me the only clear and
direct meaning of the verse was destroj-ed by the
phrase, "without a cause." If I could eliminate
that, there would be no difHculty in the way of a
lucid interpretation. But all the commentators were
united against any such course ; and the canonical
text authorized the rendering to which I objected.
