The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-03
IL WIILIA1F 2. ELLIs

4latt. o-o.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
e hear a great deal in
these days about the ser
AZ mon on the Mount. Reform
NHRN ers editors and social econo-
Wmists are fond OF referring 10
it as the supreme standard for
the guidance of human relations, There
as a suspicion, however, that the Ser
mon on the Mount Is more generally
talked about than understood. Z ais
week its first section appears IN me
REGULAR course Of Sunday School les
sons. The occasion IS q fitting ono for
making the great teachings familiar TO
me nine Beatitudes which open the
Sermon are frequently spoken OF as the
platform Of the new kingdom. Here
they are. together with the verses I'M
unediateIy following, in the rendering
into present-day English OF the IWen-
'tdeth century New Testament
A Platform for Society.
At the sight OF the crowds OF people,
Jesus went UP the hill and when he
had taken his seat, his disciples came
lup to him; and he began TO teach them
faG follows:
Happy are the poor-in spirit, for it
% to them that the Kingdom of Heav-
en- belongs
Happy are the sorrowful, for it Is
they who win be confOrted-
Happy are the gentle, for it is they
who viii inherit the earth.
Happy are those that hunger and
EthirBt-for the Right, for it is they who
Twill be plenhfully fed.
Happy are the merciful. for it is
they who VIII have mercy shown them.
Happy are the pure-in heart, for
g Sc they who viii see God.
Happy are the peacemakerss for it
81 they who viii be called sons Of God
Happy are those who have been per
fgecuted-in the cause Of Right, for it
So to them that the Kingdom Of Heav-
en- belongs.
Happy are you when people abuse
you, and persecute you, and say every
thing bad Of you-untruly, and on my
Recount. Be glad and rejoice, because
your reCOmpense in Heaven Is great;
st was indeed, in just the same way,
that people prosecuted the Prophets
who preceded you.
1t is you who are the salt Of the
earth; but should salt lose It's strength,
what VIII you use to restore its saltt-
ness2 1t Is no longer good for any
thing, but is thrown away and tram
pied under foot. 1t IS you who are
the Light of the world. 1t is impos-
Eible for a town that stands on q hill
TO escape notice. Nor do people light
a lamp and cover it over, but they put
81 on the lamp-stand when It gives
light to every one in the house. In the
same way, let your light shine before
the eyes Of your felloWmen. so that,
seeing your good actions, they may
praise your heavanlys Father.
The Few and the Many.
These pregnant words, so utterly at
variance with the practices of the
times, were first heard by a multitude
Of people massed in front of Jesus as
He sat on the slope of the hill back
OF the villages along the western shore
Of the Lake of Galilee, or else from the
height Of the Horns of Hattin. further
TO the southwest. 1t was an Open-air
discourse. and the largeness of blue
skies. the sOftness of summer breeze,
the gentleness Of nodding flowers and
waving grain all flavor its tone and
teaching. Humanity in it's reality was
represented before the eyes of the
Teacher by that composite crowd OF
eager listeners with so many hundreds
OF pairs or eyes peer1ng at him, and
demanding a message for their own
time and condition Jesus could hardly
utter, If he would, a purely abstract OF
esOteric doctrine. His word was for
Aife-present-day, complex, human
life
While the multitude heard, never
theless the words were not primarily
Tor them, but for the chosen Twelve
whom the Teacher was instructing ir
the law of the kingdom, that they
might extend His principles and con
tinue to teach them after His decease
1t was to them that these germina
truths we're delivered; yet there is ne
LglU44FGueSS ABOUT the privileges eX-
tended by Jesus. Whatever he Offerl
to his nearest disciple is also the posi-
bic privilege Of whosoever viii accep
st. This sermon was an obligation tC
the apostles an opportunity for The
multitudes.
The twelve men to whom was &C
corded the rare honor Of watkins
closest to the Master, and Of doini
greatest and pioneer service for Him
were as follows:
Simon who is called Peter, first, AM
his brother Andrew;
James. the SON of zebediah, and hi
brother John;
Philip and Bart holomew;
Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gath
erer;
James. the son of AIphaeus, an
Ihaddeus.
Simon the zealot, and Judas Iscario
the one who betrayed him
What Would Jesus Do.
There never before were so man
men and women as now sincerel
striving to translate into every da
conduct these lofty principles of Jesus
The present ethical revival that
sweeping over the world strikes 1t
root down into the Sermon on tn
Mount; the relation of present reforr
10 these ancient utterances is direct an
vital. Only a few years ago the Eng
llsh-speaking world became enthusfas
tic over a little book which had ii
point in its title, What would Jesu
Do2' That question was repesfe
millions Of times around the eartF
The book had a larger circulation tina
People who are oleal
R sre See