The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-31
Sunday School Lesson for April /.
The Beatitudes.
BY REV. J. e. GILBERT, LID,
Secretary Of American Society of Religious Education

must be evident to all who have strug.
gled in vain with their baser natures
(Rom: vii:2D. But Jesus signs q rea-
son for this beatitude, these persons
shall see God" Verse 81. They shall
see Him everywhere in nature, in prov
idence, in history, In the word. For,
as sin blinds the eyes (Matt. xxiii:1O
30 Its removal restores the sight.
PEACE-MAKERS.--The world Is full
of strife because of sin (James iv:1).
The pages Of national history are
stained with human blood. Families
and communities have been disturbed
by innumerable fueds. What enmity,
discord and misery have come to the
race, to mar the best interests Of all.
Who Is not panied with this spectacle?
Who more deserves praise than he who
promotes peace? blessed are they"
said Jesus. Happy in all their inter-
positions between contesting parties
Il Cor. xii:1S). Happy in the conscious
ness that they are doing good ser
vice. Happy in the prospect of a bet
ter day. But happy because they shall
be held in high esteem by all, being
'called the children Of God" (Verse %.
The peace-maker is benefactor to
both OF those who were at strife, ami
knew not how to compose their differ
ences. He Is a benefactor Of the race
for he has conserved energies that may
be used for the good Of all. He Is
Christ-like who is called the Prince Of
Peace lisa ix:6) and he helps to bring
in that good day when wars shall
fN,.
PERSECUTIONS.--A mentioning
the seven qualities our Lord refers to
conditions which may result from con-
tact with a wicked world. It is a fact
that some are 80 sinful as to hate
goodness in any form. Jesus told His
disciples that they might expect per-
secutions Matt. KID the same in kind
as that which had been visited upon
Him. In our lesson He assures them
that this would be no misfortune. but
rather a blessing oversees 10 and lD.
For all such treatment would only
show that they were part of the King
dom Of Heaven. the members Of which
have suffered through the whole his
tory of the world (verse 12). The
prophets were put to death, although
servants of God sent to turn the people
from their sins Matt. xxiii:31). Surely
a man may rejoice to be counted one
of the noble band worthy to suffer for
the right (Acts v:4D. But what ought
most to sustain the heart in ouch n
trying hour Is the fact that the reward
is sure in the world to come UI Cor
iv:1O. Heavens long age of bliss
shall repay"
REFLECTIONS.--T features Of
this lesson are to be noted: First. our
Lords words are paradoxical; he
places happiness in those dispositions
and circumstances which men gener.
ally deem incompatible with it. This
shows that human wisdom forms a
very inadequate and incorrect view Of
life. Men go in the wrong direction
for the highest good to drink at the
fountains where the living waters may
not be found. Second. 1t will also be
seen that Jesus in the beginning Of His
sermon sketches the various stages Of
spiritual life. showing the progress
from sinfulness out into the purity and
usefulness. In this He has displayed
an intimate acquaintance with the
laws of the higher nature. His words
are adapted to universal man. They
mark that only pathway along which
one may tread with certainty that at
the end he will come into the most
exalted and blessed manhood.