The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-08
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
SJNDAT-SCHOOL
LESSON FOR TOMORROW.
Interesting Description of tho Famous
Discourse of the Master by Rev. Ed
ward l.. Peil.


Luke Vi, H-ia.
Following Jesus through the first cigh-
teen months Of his ministry, one might
easily imagine that IL WAS MS original
intention TO carry his message IN person
70 the ends OF the earth. Bu1 it was
not i'm the Masters plan to do anything
that his disciples could do ana ma JOY III
the doing: the Gospel should be spread
as the i've thousand were fed, Wheh ne
blessed and brake. and save the ioaves
10 his disciples and his dis
ciples to the Z multituds-' lie
would not 20 through the world pulling
men out Of the ditch and leaving them
OF dry ground to stare at him as he went
on with his work. and 10 wait untb me
angels should come and take them
home. lie would not sow cold, scientific
facts I'm mems minds. and leave every man
TO himself to build his own tower 10 hes-
ven ihoreupOn, be would put burning
truths I'm mems hcartS--truths
thai would burn like Goals until
those who received them should
impart them to others. Every res
cuod one should turn roscuor: every one
who received should give. No sponges
were to be grown i'm the Kingdom OF God.
And. therefore, we fad him a. the end
Of a year and a half drawing around hlm
an inner circle Of discipics-men I'm whose
hearts tho leaven of the new Kingdom
might be hid: mon who should keep
close about him, inconstant touch with
him. while he remained upon earth that
they might receive the truths he came
10 teach. and be saturated with his
spirit. aud be inspired by his example.
and be able TO tell the world after lie was
gone that his inner life was as good
as his outward profession. OF these
twelve men il is enough for our present
purpose 10 know that while they were
for the most part poor ana obscure.
they were not, as some good people have
imagined. the riff-raf Of creation. Not
many wise men after the flesh-not many
men Of boated brain and shrunAen
heart with reputation for learainS-dic
chosen. but the men who have stood al
the front in the Church of God have al
ways been The wisest men Of their day.
Not many mighty-iike Alexander or
Caesar or NapOleon-are called. but tho
men God has chosen TO confouud the
AleAanders and Caesars and Napoleons
haye always been giants in character
and great ip the sight OF the Lord
Tho setting apart OF the twelve was
preceded by prayer and followed by a
sermon such as only one who had spent
q whole night ia prayer could be eN-
pectcd 20 preach. The Sermon on the
Mount may be called the inaugural adj
dress OF Jesus. In this ad,Tcss he pre-
sents the platform Of principles which
the members of his Kingdom are not only
10 profess. but live By. That these pin
ciples should be the highest that could be
put IN human language was 90 be eN-
pected: 10 does not follow mat because
the ideal Is 50 high we are not expected
TO try 10 attain unto 1t.
The sermon cor, rather the reporters
notes OF the sermOB) begins by pointing
out the pathway 10 blessed NE.
Note that the pathway here described Is
a very different picture from the beautiful
boulevard that the world is given 10 paint
ing Then the preacher points out In
warning the pathway 10 woe. Then
we are given 10 understand that tho king
dom now being set mp rs 10 be supported
not by force as other Kingdoms are, but
by loye--a love thet is TO hind not only
every subject to his King. but every man
10 his nelghbor. Following this arc seye-
raj striking paragraphs which give Us
further glimpses OF the spirit ana man
ner OF the new reign.
The unselhsh love which Is 10 charac-
tcrize the members Of his kingdom Is
something entirely different from that
spirit which makes Il man more interest
ed ia his neighbours fault than in his
own. 1t is not a spirit that sits IN judg-
ment upon another, says Jesus. Don't
be given TO judging men. he Insists. In
the first place, we are unfit 10 be judges
for the reason that we look on the out
ward appearance. and not on the heart
In the second place. the habit Of Judging
people destroys the spirit Of charity. and
feeds the lame Of hate within us. In
the third place il blinds us more and
more 10 our own faults. In the fourth
place r. il utterly futile for
the reason that We look FOR
faults I'm others. hoping thereby
90 minify or blot az our own. After all.
why should we judge others when we
have so many faults ourselves? II Is no.
torious that those who are 20 quick TO
speak Of the notes in other peoples eyes
have great binding Leans In their own
eyes. II IS the Pathfinder who is fullest
OF faulF. Why should We be 80 deeply
concerned about other peoples notes and
80 little concerned about our own beams?
VIII pulling notes out OF other peoples
eyes get the beams out Of our own? Nay
nay; let Us be Little selfish until we
have swept before our own doors. Let
us get the beam out Of our own eye, and
then shall we see clearly 10 pull the mcte
out OF our brothers eye though ii IL
likely that when we are able TO see how
small the mote Is, we VIII not be 80 bent
on gettlng IL Gus.
But Jesus would not have as go 90 the
other extreme OF exaggerated charity
which some superior saints affect. lie
would not nave as so charitable that we
VIII rcfusa 10 see tho wolf that comes 10
us half-hidlen in sleeps clothing. lie
would not have us hide our eyes from the
cloven foot when the devil comes to US
ss an angel Of light. lie does not ask
the good mother to imagine that The v.lo
scab who wants TO visit her daughter is
every Inch a gentleman. Re would not
have us feel under obligation 20 show
our charity for actresses Of doubtful name
by giving them the encouragement, Of our
presence. even If the ticket cost us mo-
thing. lie does not moye the heart Of
q fair woman 10 send bouquets and per-
fumed notes TO condemned mur1erers.
We are not 10 turn away from our own
faults 20 look for the faults OF others,
but. on the other hand. we must not turn
away from the fact thar fl the fruit is
not good The tree IL corrupt We DO
rot gather ligs (earths blessings) from
thorns tearth's CURSE, neither shall the
world gather good fruits from had
mans life. To Use another illustration:
- good man out Of the treasure OF his
heart bringeth forth that which Is good"
II his heart IS right. his words will be
right If his heart Is full Of blessing, his
lips will not utter foul bsasphemies Not
that We can tell a man by his occasional
speeches, but ''out OF the abundance OF