The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-03-02

Copyright. 1906 by Joseph q B5w..-
Theme: Jesus tells us the sean, 4,
happiness.
Scripture Lesson: Matthew l.fe
Golden Text: Blessed are me pur.
In heart for they shall see God.
Jesus a Preacher Of Happiness
The theme Of Christ's inst sermon
was happiness. He began Ills rs.
sion with a benediction. Thorar.hiv
understanding the needs OF the M.
man heart. He set about answerine n,
supreme question, What is Happiness
and. Where can IL be found? To-Day
as In the days Of Christ's earthly mia.
sion, the supreme quest Of man Is Inc
quest OF happiness.
Happiness Hard to Define.
IL is clear that Jesus attemrtal Z,
define happiness. Indeed. it is a qses.
ton whether it can or cannot Rs Ia.
fined. Happiness is a relative term
What would make one person happy
might not bring about the same rosit
in the life of another. Jesus leals
with the essential conditions OF hs.i
ness-conditions which are not ueea.
liar or limited TO any ma elias o ST.
ciety. but which may be character Il.
OF them all. These conditions Sire n0.
social and physical, but moral nl
spiritual, and nus are within the reach
Of all men.
Who Nav Be Happy
What surprises us as we real N.
Sermon On the Mount. is the faet lat
Jesus makes happiness 10 spring f..m
such an unexpected source Tile yery
persons whose names we would nalur.
ally expect TO find in a catalogue O,
happy people are not mentioned here.
The great Teacher did not ay
Blessed are the rich. the noble. The
mighty. the famous. the gifted. tie
crowned. the titled" Jesus did not
pronounce these people happy for the
simple reason that q great part Of the
time these things bring much misery
IN their trail. and there is abundant
evidence TO prove that myriads % peo
pie are happy who possess none q
these so-called dignities. Christ struck
at the very root OF blessedness.
The True Secret of Happiness
In the first place, Jesus speabs q
His people as being blessed lai
happy. Blessedness is a deeper wofi
than happiness. Usually we. who 4re
shortsighted. speak Of people as 1ers
happy when the world goes wei With
them. Yet even We would hesitate
very often before %pronouncing such
people blessed" Happiness is ont
ward and transitory; blessednoss 4 n
ward and abiding. Outward c,aA
tions. such as prosperity or adversely
cannot take it away. Good fortune Is
not b~lessedness; but good character Is
Happiness Consists in Being. Not
Having.
What a mar Is, not what he has
what he Is in himself. not what hs
does; his character. not his possessions
determines his happiness. Blessedress
the kingdom OF Heaven. is founlet
upon character. The good mar is te
happy and blessed man.
The Poor in Spirit Are Blessed
Jesus did not say. Blessed are ne
poor, poverty in Itself. 10
more than riches. IS a bless
ing. Indeed. II may be a curse and
the source OF much unhappincs ~
benodiction is here placed uron r'r
erty as such. II is not the beEgas nat
is blessed. II Is the poor in sp.t
The humble man; the man who r
no confidence in his own good wor
but pleads spiritual poverty. the man
who 70 Christ for salvation with
this plea upon his lips:
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross ! cling:
Naked. come to Thee for dress.
Helpless. look 10 Thee for grace
Those who mourn" because ~ 'f
spiritual poverty are blessed ~i.1
mourning shall find comfort from gu
This does not mean. Blessed is every
one that wceps. The blessing Is ff
those who weep over their sins ~
course. God comforts His people whel
they mourn for other causes. too.
The meek" too. are blessed. Ih'
man submissive TO the will and l1r
pOSt VI hph loi MN III tn' WIZ
always DO happy. Indeed. u~nhapp'nesi
because we rebel against nat
will. The meek" man Is the man
who is '~broken-in" 10 do the vii o.
God.
The man who is pure in hear n
well as in life will find happinc "
that condition. Purity IN thought ana
in secret. as well IS in act and in r
lic. is demanded for happiness.
impure man Is never the happy man
Impurity is hell, and no mar is hapY
in hell.
The man who Is constantly
ing after a life Of personal holit'
who has a passion akin 10 hunger
thirst" after a godly life VIII n
blessed. Indeed. II we seek riEht,o
ness rather than happiness VIZ s'i
certainly find happiness thro.ah ol
righteousness.
ALL. HN..fN