The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1906-03-02

GOLDEN TENT.-BleSSed are the puT'
SIS
The Teacher. Jesus Christ, who
had now gained such a hold on the
people, and had so trained some of
them, that he could wisely enunciate
some of the great principles of his
kingdom.
The Teachers Preparation. From
Luke 6:12 we learn that the new
epoch in the development of Christ's
kingdom was preceded and pshered in
by night of special prayer. Al
though TO Jesus prayer was daily
bread. vital air. the gate of heaven,
yet there were times when battles
were to be fought. great questions TO
6e settled. guidance given, power to
be received, when eternal issues de-
pended on the decisions Of the hour;
at these seasons Jesus would be a
long time alone with his Father. in
closest communion and earnest pray
err duke 1921, %; Mark 1850.
The Scholars were of two grades.
% From Luke G:12-16 we learn that
Just before this Jesus selected ana
set apart the twelve apostles TO be
with him permanently. They were
thus to be prepared for their great
work in upbuilding his kingdom. (2)
And seeing the multitudes" (v. u,
those who had been attracted to Jesus
by the Gospel of love and the minis
try of healing. Like the doves that
flock in countless numbers to st.
Marks Square. in Venice, when the
daily feeding time comes, so the peo-
pie, hungry for spiritual food and dis
tressed with bodily dispse, flocked to
Jesus for the blessings he so freely
bestowed.
The Place of the School. "He went
up" From the level place on the
mountain duke 6:12, ~, where the
people were gathered, to a higher
point, from which he could more cas-
lily be seen and heard by them. Into
a mountain" The mountain, a well.
known place. when he was set"
This was the custom Of the Jewish
teachers. There were no seats unless
Jesus found some stone or small hum
mock which would enable him to be
more easily seen and heard.
Lesson |. The First Beatitude.-V.
8. Blessed" 'Blessedness is the
express symbol of happiness identified
with character" 1t is more than
happiness" the Joy that happens to
us, that comes from without. IL is
the joy that grows out of the soul
itself, a part of it's very nature, in
creased by happy outward surround
ings, and perfect only in them as in
heaven.
THE poor in spirit" The word for
poor" in the Greek is derived from
verb meaning ito cover in dispirit-
ment and fear; hence destitute. Pow
erty of spirit is the opposite of pride.
self-righteousness, self-conceit. 1t is
the same spirit that is required when
we are told that we must become as
little children if we would enter into
the kingdom: willing and anxious to
learn, to ask, to seek.
For theirs is the kingdom of
heaven" The character or state, no
matter where the locality, where God
rules entirely, and where all feelings,
all deeds, all hopes, all purposes, are
heavenly, where every perfection is
at home. Pride, conceit, self-esteem,
selfishness, lock and bar the door to
heaven and heavenly blessedness.
Lesson II. Second Beatitude.-V. 4.
Blessed are they that mourn" To
understand this, note that sorrow, bur-
den, trouble, are essential to the best
training and development of imperfect
things like ourselves. The curse on
the primal sin held a blessing in it's
heart for sinners. The child sheltered
from these things is being ruined.
Governor Seymour of New York. years
ago, said that If he could live his life
over again, and could choose which
Of the things in his past he would re-
tain, he would not dare to leave out
one of his sorrows or burdens. Hence
there is always the opportunity for
those who mourn to "be comforted"
by a higher, nobler life, richer expert
ences, and large usefulness.
Shall be comforted." The Greek
word for comfort means called to
ones side for aid, strength, encour-
agement, consolation. 1t is the word
from which one title OF the Holy Spir-
IL is derived, "The Comforter" Our
word comfort" is derived from two
Latin words. con, together, and fortis,
strong, made strong together. 1t is
not the taking away altogether of sor-
row, but transforming and transfigur-
ing 1t, and compelling II to bestow
blessings otherwise impossible. 1t is
not so much soothing as strengthen
ing, inspiring, invigorating. 1t is the
imparting of courage and fresh life.
Lesson III. Third Beatitude.-v. 5.
blessed are the meek" The men
who suffer wrong without bitterness
or desire for revenge. Exp. Greek
Test. Shall inherit the earth" One
would expect just the opposite, that
they would inherit the kingdom of
heaven, as being the only thing they
are likely to get"-Exp. Greek Test.
But "a self-controlled temper" and
-