The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-11-25
a Picture.

Such was the group which, upon the banks
of the Lake OF Tiberias, pressed around Jesus.
The arstocracy was represented by q tax
gatherer and by the wife of a steward. The
rest consisted OF fishermen and simple people.
The beautiful climate OF Gallilee made the ex-
istence OF these honest fishermen perpetual
enchantment. They prefigrIred truly the
kingdom of God, simple, good, happy, rocked
gently upon their delightful little sea, or sleep
ing at night on its shores. We cannot con-
ceve the intoXication of life which thus
glides away in the presence of the heavens !;
the glow, mild yet strong, which this perpetual
contact with nature gives, the dreams of the
night passed amid the briiliancy Of the stars,
beneath the azure dome of the illimitable
depths. 1t was during such night that ia
cob, his head pillowed upon stone, saw in the
stars the promise of an innumerable posterity,
and the mysterious ladder by which the Flo
him came and went from heaven to earth. In
the time of Jesus the heavens were not vet
closed nor had the earth grown cold. The clouds
still opened over the son ofman angels ascend
ed and descended on his head; visions of the
kingdom OF God were everywhere, for man
carried them in his heart. The clear, mild
eye of these simple souls contemplated the uni
verse in its ideal source; perhaps the world
disclosed its secret to the divinely lucid con-
science of these fortunate children, whose p1ri-
ty of heart made them one day worthy to see
God. r c - -AI Al a t1f- 5
Jesus lived with his disciples almost always
in the open air. Often he went into boat
and taught his hearers crowded upon shore.
Sometimes he sat down upon the hills which
border the lake, where the air is so pure and
the horizon SO luminous. The faithful flock
went also, cheerful wayfarers, receiving the in
spirations of the Master in their first flower
An innocent doubt sometimes arose, gently
sceptical question; Jesus with a smile or look,
silencedi the objection. Atevery step, in the
passing cloud, the growing grain, the yellow
ing ear, they saw the sign fthe kingdom at
hand; they believed that they were soon to
see God, and be the masters of the world I;
their tears turned into joy; it was the advent
upon earth of the universal consolation.
Blessed" said the master, "are the poor
in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
"Blessed are they that mourn for they shall
be comforted. As-ys-ts > - "a
BLESSED are the meek; for they shall inherit
the earth. 100 & fs 5AFe A68H1
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst
after righteousness; for they shall be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful; for they shall OBJ
tain mercy. sftr, tttrr r75y. -sr
"Bessed are the pure in heart; for they shall
see God. 1a3 la -a s1o7sa st'le ssa 2n~y
'1Blessed are the peace-makers; for they
shall be called the children of God. ~
NBlessed are they which are prosecuted for
righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. 1sugr al ftsg aaa s.ldi .1ia
His preaching was sweet and gentle, full Of
nature and ofthe perfume of fields. lie loved
flowers, and he took from them his most
Charming lessons. The birds of heaven, the
sea, the mountains, the plays of children were
used by turns in his teachings. .JL2 w