The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-02-26

pers ecutcd they the prophets which
were before you.
Jesus a Preacher Of Happiness.
Tho theme Of Christ's FIRST sermon was
happiness. He began His mission with
bonodicilon Thoroughly understand
ing the needs OF the human heart He
sat about answering IT'S supreme quea-
tion. What Is Happiness and Where can
it be foundY Today I'm the DAYS Of
Christs earthly mission, the supreme
quest Of man is the uuesl Of happiness.
HspptnesI Hard TO Define.
Happiness Is a relative tenn. what
would make one person happy might
rot bring about the same result h the
life OF another. Jesus deals with the es-
scntial conditions OF happiness -condi-
tion which are not peculiar or limited
70 any one class OF society, but which
may be characteristic Of them an. These
conditions are not social and physical.
but moral and spiritual. and thus are
within the reach OF an men.
Who Would BE Happy
What surprises us as We read the
sermon on the Mount Is the fact that
Jesus makes happiness TO spring from
such an unexpected source Tho very
persons whose names we would naturally
expect 10 find In "a catalogue OF harpy
people are not mentioned htrc. The
great Teacher did not say: blessed
are the rich. the noble. the mighty, the
famous, tho gifted. the crowned, tho
titled" Jesus did not pronounce thcue
people happy for the simple reason that
bring much misery in their tran, anu
there is al-uisant evidence 10 prove than
myriads " uar'q are happy who possess
none os N',se el-,etiled dgnlles. Christ
struck at h1 very root OF bcssedncss.
The True sesret Of Happness
In the FIRST place Jesus speaks Of Ills
people as being blessed" not happy.
Blessedness Is a deeper word than hap-
piness. Uunliy we, Who arc short
lighted, SPEAK Of people as being happy
when the world goes well with thcm.
Yet even we would hesitate very often
before pronouncing such people "blcss-
ed" Happiness is outward and lransi-
tory; blessedncss is inward and abid-
ing. Outward conditions. such as pros
perity or adversity cannot take IL away
Good fortune is not blessedness but
good character H.
Happiness Consists In Being, No,
Having.
What man is not what he has
what he is In himself. not what he does
his character, not his possessions. deter
mines his happiness. Blossedness, the
kingdom OF Heaven, Is founded upor
character The good man is the happy
and blessed man.
The Poor in Spirit Are Blessed.
Jesus did not say. Blessed are The
poor Poverty Is not In Itself no NOR,
than riches, a blessing. Indeed, It may
be a curse and the source of much un
| happiness. No benedlction is her'
placed uron poverty as such. It Is no
| the beggar that Is blessed 1t Is tn
poor IN spirit" the humble man IN,
man who places no confidence in his owi
good works, but pleads spiritual poverty
The man who comes to Christ for saliva
tion with this plea upon his nps
Nothing IN my hands bring,
Simply TO Thy cross cling,
Naked come 20 Thee for dress,
Helpless, look TO Thee for grace"
Those who mourn" because OF thcl
spiritual poverty arr blessed Sue
mourning shall hpd comfort from God
This does not mean. Blessed Is cteryun
that weeps The blessing is for thoa
who weep oyer their sins. Of coursa
God comforts Ills people when The,
mourn Tor other causes. too
The meek" too are blosscd. Tn
man submissive 10 the win and purpos
OF God for h,m in the world viii Away
be happy Indeed. nnhapplness come
because we rebel against that viii. Th
'moek" man Is the man who Is 'brox en-
in TO do the viii OF Cod
The man who is "pure IN heartf "a
wen as in life win lind happiness T.
that condition. Purity IA thought ae'
ia secret, as wcli as in act and IN pub
lie is demanded fos happiness. The i'm
pure man rs never the happy man. I'm
purity is hell and no man Is happy i
hen.
The man who Is constantly "cmving
after life OF personal holiness. VIII
has q passion akin 10 hunger am
thirst after "a gody lifs viii Doe blessed
Indeed n we seek righteousness mthc
than happiness We shall certainly nn
happiness through our righteousness.
Tha capacity for pity; The ability
sympathizo, the practice Of "showln
mercy" is nn essential for happincs.
The hard-hoartod man IS not happ
man,
The "peacemaker," the paaccable mar
the man who would rather suffer- tha
cause strife. or SOW seeds OF dlscord
pronounced blessed" Ths mischic
maker Is never happy. Nor does be brin
happiness 10 others
The ability and capacity "to suffer 10
righteousness sake" Is one OF the con
dltions OF happiness. The apostles re
ioiced that they were worthy 10 sufe
for His names SAGE Suffering for th
right should not BRINK sorrow. but con
trariwise happiness. We rei0ice q
know that thereby we are following
the train Of Christ Himself