The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-22
january 2s, 1sos.-Matthew v, 1-12.

January 23, 1s9S.-Matthew v, 1-12.
When the Sermon on the Mount is contrast
ed with other forms of eloquence. its superiority
is az apparent. They were for crises Their
fame and usefulness. comparatively, passed with
the occasion that gave them birth. They have
gone to the oblivion Of congressional and par
liamentary records. A few of them only find
place in neglected volumes of masterpieces of
eoquence." The glory Of Jesus inaugur-
a. sermon is that it addresses itself to the uni
versal human heart. 1t has development of it's
own running parallel to that OF the race. 1t
folds itself in practical helpfulness Of every
emergency. Its principles are 80 fundamental
to be always practicable That is the secret of its
perennial power. 1t spoken, nearly
two thousand years age to the unsynagogued
congregation. That assembly dissolved, but in
each successive generation a new and ever-in-
creasing throng has come together As from the
sounding board of the open heavens, the old SER
has struck the ear of each new congrega-
ton. The sermon Jesus preached is no dream
of ideal eloquence. 1t lives In every dialect. 1t
is the most potent composition in written speech
Millions know it by heart. Millions live by it.
Tie likeness of some of Jesus sayings
to the aphorisms OF the rabbis may be admitted
But when such rabbinical maxims are put back
into their context they usually found to be
on lower plane, and often moving in a direc
ton opposite to the teaching of Jesus. He used
modes Of speech current in His day, but made
them vehicle Of diviner wisdom. Jesus
stands the original and unceasing teacher of the
race. He speaks with authority to the universal
human heart, Illuminating, inspiring, empower
ing it. He could say, not only II speak truth"
but II am truth He is original source not
transmittcr; fountain, not conduit: Impossible
that the stream, it proceeded from His lips
should be perturbed O. corrupted He is
not the institutor Of system of doctrine or the
formulator of ritual He inspires life in the
soul, sets up kingdom within consisting not in
sacrifice and oblation but righteousness and it's
concomitants, peace and joy. So He said, THE
words l speak unto you are spirit, are life"
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Sermon on the Mount: Platform of the new
dispensation.
magnificent porch to the temple of
Lords minstry.-Olshausen.
Designed to set forth the fundamental prin-
ciples Of the covenant.-Eddy.
Heavenly summary of the life and practice of
Christianity Ellcott.
Charter of the kingdom of God.-Pressense.
Seeing these multitudes He went up into the
mountain: mountain, a lofty part of the
earth nearer to heaven, is suited to the most
holy actions.-Bengel.
Opened His mouth: Man is the mouth of crea-
ton; Christ is the mouth of humanity.-Lange.
The evangensts have Transcribed at length two
discourses OF Lord models of all-that
which was delivered practically at the
mencement of His ministry, and another Gelv-
cred privately at its cose.-Bengel.
Blessed: This first word, so often repeated, in
dictates the scope of Christ's teachings.-Ibid.
Seven absolute beatitudes depressing state Of
pious as such) Two relative lin their relations
to menu All in most beautiful order-Ibd.
Four benedictions on proper receptiveness Of
RI benPdiPfODS nOSifVp M
character triad of benedctions on Christian
doing.-Whedon.
subsequent life and discourses may be called
commentary on this sermon.-Olshausen.
Blessed The fundamental formula of the Cos
pel.--Ster
Exordium: Sweet Invitation to the fellowship
of true righteousness, and of blessedness in it,
Ibid.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
Our great familiarity with the beatltudes is in
a sense u disadvantage. We have them too
much by rote They words with a pleasing
sound. We need to find the spirit under the
letter.
Jesus purpose in this sermon to unfold
the principles of the kingdom Of heaven. Each
beatitude. therefore. has specific meaning per-
tanning to that kingdom. 1t is not the poor in
general, or those who account of be-
reavement. or those who in sense are
humble-not such that felicitated.
Only those in particular are congratulated who
are conscious of the emptiness and poverty of
their souls. In such there is room for the king
dom. Those who account of this are sorrow
full and penitent in the way of divine
fort. Still another subjective phrase is depicted
in the word meek" The contrast is to the self
satisfied pharisaicaI spirit, which makes the
Savior's work supererogation. Again, holy
appetite is Indispensable. Emptiness, penitence
humility, desire-these the conditions of the
entrance of the kingdom; watch comforts
riches and fills.
Again, the sutton for divine mercy must him
self be disposed to show the quality tow
ards his fellows.
Heart-purity is the sine qua non of seeing God
Seeing. which is the Hebrew equivalent of pos
sessing.
Jesus passes from partly wholly sub
jective phases to objective activity The
children of God initiate their Elder Brother
whose greatest achievement reconciliation
They have holy ambition to bring their fellows
into peaceable relations with their Heavenly
Father and to make them all one in Christ.
The final felcitaton is of those who endure
persecution and falsely grounded reproach for the
Masters sake. Their reward in heaven is
assured This is the martyrs Identification Thus
as Pressense says. The beatitudes begin with
weeping, and are closed with Blood