The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-05-07
gbort gernrous
For
5unGap Dalf-Dour
THEME:
@eekness,
Aot Weakmess
THEME:
By REV. JOHN J. DONl1N
tTr.nshguraton Church, Brooklyn, N. VI
Blessed are the meek, for they shall
possess the land.-Matt., ", 4.

The world does not esteem meek
ness. This virtue is looked upon as
impracticable, because it is held as a
negative quality among the forces re-
quired of practical living.
The error most persons make is in
identifying meekness with weakness.
But Jesus Christ would not have
counselled meekness as one of the
finer qualities of life if it were to
be a drawback to legitimate endeavor
in our workaday struggles. 1t is not
reasonable to suppose that He would
have placed a heavy handicap on
those who seek to follow after Him.
No indeed. Christ left us in His own
life a beautiful example of what meek
ness may accomplish and yet He was
one of the bravest of men in that He
lay down His life for His friends. The
Scriptures, too, tell us that Moses
was a man exceeding meek above all
men that dwelt on earth," but he
stands out prominently as a man who
did things.
rhe meek man is a type Of great
moral force among us, for he is capa-
BILE of self-control and self-denial. AT
all times he is master of himself and
is able to limit his activity within the
bounds of solid principles. This is
the acme of perfect strength, to be
able to do and yet exercise restraint.
The meek man may be compared with
the stole, but with this difference, that
while the stole made passivity of emo
tions the end for which he labored
the meek man exercises or restrains
his passions out OF love of God. He
but follows the example of Christ, who
said Learn of me, for / am mee,. and
humble of heart" and for this came
the promise OF reward in the words
land you shall find rest for your
souls"
i The weak man, on the other hand
never has chance of exercising
meekness. lie never overcomes, but
| yields to the opposing currents oi
nature. THE sings and arrows OF
outrageous fortune" behold him bend
ing as the willow before the storm
But as only he who bears the brunt OF
battle really knows the danger of the
fight, so also it is only the man OF
strong impulses that knows the diff
Guilty OF conquering them. DO thy
works in meekness," says Ecclestias
ticus, land thou shalt be beloved
above above the glory of men," 1t is
moreover, a mistake to fancy tha
meekness can come by flying from
your fellowmen or by living life o
do-nothing, for meekness is not to bt
found in conditions, but in the hearts
and characters OF men-in a hear
that palpitates with a fellow-feelint
and in a character that grows broade
with loving activity.
In the acquiren ent of meeknes
neither submission, surrender nor self
effacement count unless these ar,
forcified by the enduring grace Of en-
lightenment reflected in the Gospel
teaching. To be like clay in the pot
ter's hands, to assume worm of tn,
dust" attitude, to become door ma
for all men-this Is not meekness
but a degradation that affronts God
who made men to His own Image
OO the TASK VI Iue uSSh ludu ID uOI u
crush the thought of his mind, t.
train it; not to bieak his will, but i
strengthen it; not to drag out Of hin
his affections, but to purify them. Ant
in tLls way he shall grasp the colder
cup of opportunity and drink of
whenever it is passed. In this name
the meek shall possess the land" be
cause such a man shall command
every resource within reach; he shal
compel permanence of perfection; h
shall house superabundant energy TO
proper moments, but with all ther
shall be a perfect unfolding of hi
soul in the calm of fixed purpose, &C
operating win Him who was the pei
sonification o. meekness, who was in
deed
Meek and lowly, pure and hor,
Chief among the blessed three.