The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-03-29
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL I.

%. "Great multltudes." Attracted by
| Hts great miracles THIS even according to
| the jews was one proof OF the days OF tho
Messiah. "Decapolis." A country east OF
| tho sea OF Galllee, containing ten cities.
Thus we see that His fame had spread,
and the people were coming TO Him from
all directions
1. "Seeing tho multitude" He was im.
pressed with their great need. "IntO a
mountain" Nenr the center of the west
const Of tho sea OF Galilee, n few miles
bnck from the seashore, now called the
"Horns of Hattin." He could be heard
mucn better in the mountain. "When He
was set" The usual position for teaching
among the Jews. They stood to read the
Scriptures but sat to teach. "Hs dlscl-
PIES came unto Him. they occupied
position near to Him and the multitude
was farther away.
9. "opened His mouth" The expression
marks the solemnity and Importance OF
the discourse. The Lord has given us q
mouth, and we must open 1t and confess
the truth without fear. And taught them"
Tue moment has come whom the principles
OF the new covenant are to be enuncia.ed.
3. "Dlessed." Happy. The dispositions
here recommended are not only the way to
future blessedness. but they also imme-
diately confer the tiuost and most noble
happiness. Poor In spirit" All the
beatltudes arc affixed to unlikely condi-
tions, 10 show that tho judgment OF Christ
aud OF the world are different. One who
is deeply sensible OF his spiritual poverty
and wretchedness Tho general opinion is
happy Is the person who Is rich, and
great, and honorable in the world. The
philosophers did not reckon humility
among their moral virtues, but Christ puts
its first "Thelrs Is" Now, at this pres
ent time. "Ihe kingdom OF heaven"
The kingdom OF heayon aud the
kingdom OF God mean the same thing,
and have reference to that spiritual king.
dom which Chrsts sots up IN the hearts of
| His children. Paul defines the kingdom OF
| OF God as being, righteousness, peace
and Joy In the Holy Ghost" Rom. 14.t7.
| But why called II kingdom2 1. Because 1t
has Its laws--the procepts OF the Gospel.
| 2. Its subjects-all who believe In Jesus
Christ. 3. Its Klng--tho Sovereign OF
heaven and earth. 1t is called tho king
| dom of heaven because God designs His
| kingdom of grace here to resemble the
kingdom of glory above.
I. "rhey that mourn" That ia, those
| who, conscious of their spiritual poverty,
mourn. /. On account OF sln aud 1t conse.
| quences. 2. Because of having offended u
holy and righteous God. "They shalt bo
comforted." The Lord comforts by speak
| Ing the words OF pardon aud peace to their
henrts. True Joy Is frequently the fruit of
| sorrow. This promise is positive. "shall
| be-" comforted. Our Lord In prouOuneing
THE poor and 'the mourners" happy
| docs not say that Il state OF poverty
| and mourning Is to be desired; but they
are pronounced happy because. seeing
their spiritual poverty and mourning ON
! account OF their Sins aud blrronuoss OF
| soul, they have the promise of the "king.
dom OF heaven" and 1.-The comfort OF tho
| Holy Ghost"
s. "rhe meek" They who suffer in
love, or love in patence they who. In the
! strength of love, boldly yrt iueekly, meek.
| ly yet boldly, bear Injustice, and thereby
conquer. When this due eomposure OF
| mind has reference to God, 1t IL termed
| "resiRnation;" when 1t Is exertod towards
men, 1t Is "mldness ana gentleness;" when
| we consider 1t with regard to ourselves we
style 1t patience" The meek can be cool
when others are hot, and have the rule Of
their own spirits. "Inherit the earth" The
land; an expression frequently used by the
| prophets to signify the land OF Canaan.
| Under this figure our Lord promises the
abundance OF spiritual good provided for
In the Gospel. The Canaan OF perfect rest
and JOY and peace Is tho Inheritance OF
those who are truly meek.
| D. Hunger and thirst" A lgurative
! expression. Hunger and thirst are the
strongest OF bodily appetites. after right.
eousness." The state, or quality, OF being
! right with God: exact rectltude; holiness,
comprehending holy principles and affec.
tions OF heart, and conformity OF life to
the divine law. Righteousness here Ia
taken for nll the blessings OF the New
Covenant; full restoration to the image
| OF God. "Shall be filed" With right
eousness. Everything else falls to satisfy.
God has Himself created the desire and Ho
VIII satisfy the soul. Spiritual hungerlng
and thirsting Is an evidence of spiritual
| health.
Z. "The merciful." The merclful are
those who weep over the calamities OF
others, who feed the hungry and clotho
| the naked, ndmonish those IN error and
pardon the offending. The merclrul brave
iy address themselves to tho wants of tho
| world. "Obtain mercy" As we deal with
Others God will deal with US. Mercy is
purchased ut the price OF mercy itself.
3. Pure In heart" The heart is the seat
OF the affections, the desires, tho motives,
tue wilii with the pure heart these will all
| DO pure. The heart Is purified by faith.
Acts 1863. True religion consist In heart
purity. "See God" That Is. possess and
ENJOY God. None but the pure are capable
OF seeing God.
0. "Tho peacemakers d" Those who avoid
contention themselves, and labor to restore
peace wherever 1t Is brokon. "The chill
dren OF God" God IL tho Father OF peace
and those who promote 1t are said to bo
His children.
10. "Persecuted" Those who are pur.
sued by IN enemy. Fined, Imprisoned,
banished, scourged. tortured, always de-
livered unto death and accounted rs sheep
for the slaughter" "For Righteousness
sake" Because of right doing Kingdom
| OF heaven" See on verse 8.
I'll "Revlle" To SANDER; "to be abusive
IN speech or act" "Falsely for MY sake"
1t must not only be fnlse, but "for His
sake;" because we are Christians and are
| bringing forth fruit unto holiness.
/ ~. "Rejoice." Even reylers contribute
| to our blessedness. To be- prosecuted for
Christ's sake Is to be- crowned. Rsy. 2l0.
"Be excaedng glad" Leap for Joy. There
ara cases on record whore this has literally
been done. "The prophets" We are to
have an Inheritance with the prophets.
Persecution has been tho portion and tba
| proof OF the most eminent saints In all
nges.
| TEACHINGS. When Jesus opens His mouth
we should open our hearts. Jesus Christ
never saved soul that Ho did not govern;
nor is He precious,to any person who does
not feel a subsection to tho Divine win.
| The seven Beatitudes form an ascending
line, In which the new life Is traced from
! stage to stage, from its commencement to
| its completion. Il Is impossible to feel
| poor In spirit without, at the same time,
longing for the riches OF the Spirit OF God.
The meek inherit the earth.
Holy Rite Depended on Toss OF Penny.
BY the toss of penny Il was under