The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-05
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
MANNER AND METHOD OF THE
GREATEST PREACHER OF, HISTORY.
An Interesting Extract from Mrs
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps WARDS
..The story of Jesus Christ"

Jesus began that morning in low pene-
trating voice. 1t was music, pity and power
in one The lightest listener in the audience
sobered before the sound, and the lowest
shriveled but the most miserable wept Tor
very comfort. Before their slow minds had
begun to grasp the significance OF what he
said his hearers were fascinated by the way
in which He said it. 1t was one OF the
voices that predestine the career OF an ora
tor 1t took but a few moments for a Gull
tivated observer of the throng, rejecting
dspassionately as he studied the scene, 10
decide that a man with that voice and that
presence was created to be the most ia
nous religious orator of his time. How
could the imagination of any Hebrew or
Roman Greek or Persian of that day COM
pass the knowledge that he was listening 10
the greatest preacher of history? Such the
rabbi from Nazareth has proved hlmseI 10
be. His discourse that morning on the rocks
outside of Capernaum has gone 1ar 10 give
him the claim to this title.
1t was and remains, seen across the span
of civilization, and judged by the standards
of the severest modern criticism, the great
masterpiece of religious address,
Contrasted with his first youthful and in
terrupted sermon in the Nazareth syna-
gogue. this discourse indicated a natural but
obvious growth in the preacher. All hesi-
tation, experimentation, were behind MIN.
He preached like a man sure of himself and
of his subject His faculty of expression had
become more marked. His increased INTEL
lectual force had ar iron grip. His logic
closed like lock and key. His style had be-
come polished and brilliant. His persuasive
power was Irresistible. Who, reading the
Sermon on the Mount with anything ike
attention. wonders at the exhaustive night
of study that preceded 1t?
Jesus was what we call an eXteinpor NJ
Gus speaker: but, strictly speaking, TINS
was no extempore effort. The evidences OF
careful construction and nnish apo . ~
the discourse itself He was destitute OIL
tricks of speech. His methods were never
sensational. He used the best or grammar:
HIS rhetoric ,s Was Inv oa an appearance Of
ignorance. He avoided vulgarlsms. he
+ spoke like q gentleman This educated
and is the greatest instance of the eternal
truth that a superior mind need never
abuse itself to reach an inferior. his SIM
were a compliment to the most ignorant
person among His hearers. who responded
TO them without knowing why; ana the
more help responding than the ignorant
The sermons of Jesus indicate that lie was
an habtual student. and this OF no easy
type. Days and nights of severe applica-
ton marked His career as preacher he
was no half-taught halI-reaay. Pop taI1a
Him through the hour. He was thoroughly
FOR THE APOSTLES.
On the occasion of which we speak, He
addressed himself particularly to twelve
men. Twelve hundred, or twice, or thrice
that number were in the audience; but His
disciples, with their fresh VOWS scarcely
parted from their lips. We're in the fore
IL v,lD nd
close proximity to himself, while He made
Of the private ceremony through which He
had just initiated them solemn public
event. He had now reached stage in HIS
life when organization was necessary to
the advancement of His principles, and
when He began TO feel their advancement
an urgent thing. This conviction he wished
II possible, to share with the witnesses of
the scene. Formally, as a rule, he avoid
ed. No other great leader OF men has
scorned Il as He did. His methods were
simple and modest; He was incapable of
display; He always acted like man who