The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-31
MATT. V: 1.12.

or from defect in sensibillty and firm.
ness, a timid and plant temper, easily
deferred from good and persuaded to
evil. The meekness commended by
Jesus is not negative but positive: not
natural. but gracious. Men Of the
most, vehement and implacable dispO-
sitions, when they have viewed them
selves with sorrow and looked Is
Jesus with trust have learned to curb
their anger, to cease from resentment,
to make concessions, and to forgive
injuries. Such people Jesus declares
shall inherit the earth (Psaln,
xxi13). They will be beloved and re-
spected by their fellow men. and they
will extract from life it's real sweets,
being free from many serious vex.
ations.
R1GHTNESS.-Out Of all that has
thus far been enumerated there ought
to come genuine desire to be con-
formed to the will Of God. It was the
broken law that awakened the sense
of pain described under the terms of
poverty and mourning and led to meek.
ness. Further consideration of that
law will reveal its perfect psalm
Of life, the just standard of character.
He who meditates upon 1t psalm i:2)
will perceive that under obedience to
Its requirements an absolutely perfect
society might be established in the
earth. Hence the prayer that the will
Of God may be done Matt. vi:10) is a
desire for the highest good of the race.
1t Is therefore to be expected that
man will become exceedingly anxious
for personal righteousness. desiring it
as much and truly as food and drink
Matt. vi:33). To be right, absolutely
and always, is the highest ambition of
a noble man, the source of constant
blessedness.
MERCY.-No man may absolve an
impenitent sinner without becoming
party to his offense. We are only re.
quired to initiate God who forgives On
confession CLuke xvii:3). But mercy
Is that attribute which restrains anger
and prompts to those deeds that secure
repentance (Rom. xii:2O). 1t overcomes
the evil that is in an enemy, through
desire to reclaim him from error
He who has found mercy ought to
cherish mercy to others (Matt. xviii:32)
A sinner whom God has pardoned, re-
membering the experiences through
which he passed and realizing the Joy
that came at the end, ought to LOOK
with pity upon all who do him an in
jury and earnestly desire that they
may pass through the same states rf
mind. BLESSED are the mercfful" be-
cause of the richer life into which the Y
are ushered Verse y. Blessed also
because Of the clemencv that will be
shown toward them both by God AMI
man Uames ii:13). Nothing can he
! more delightful than to know that
others weigh not our transgressiors
except for the purpose Of releasing US
from their power.
PURITY.-Sin is frequently men,
toned in the Scripture as a deflement
Il Cor. viii:O, probably because by it
the soul becomes loathsome in the
| sight of a holy God (Hab. i:13). Hence
every act by which sin is removed is
called purifying (Acts xv:9). And
when the sin is taken away the person
is said to be pure. that is, clean U John
iii:3). Alas, no man in this life is alb
solutely free from sin U John i:S). But
through repentance and faith the heart
may be cleansed. so that the motives
shall be right and good. Jesus pro-
nounces blessing upon such. He does
not bestow it, but declares that they
have come into possession of it. This