Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-23
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BIBLE STUDIES.
He PALACE OF BLEsSEDNESs.
Matthew V. 1-12-April %.

Text: Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God."-Yerse S.
OF the Great Teacher we read. He
spake as never man spake.'' He was
the Man Christ Jesus, but He was not
a fallen man, not sinner. His life
was transferred from an heavenly to
an earthly condition: hence, as a Man.
He was holy. harmless. undefiled and
separate from sinners"
The eight Beatitudes illustrate the
difference between the teachings of
Jesus and all other teachings, from
every other quarter. He had new
view of what to present. His is a
different Message from all other mes
sages to this day. While other teach
ers instructed the people to hold up
their heads, to remember noble anees-
tors. etc, and thereby be blessed, Jesus
encouraged His hearers TO realize that
the poor in spirit, the humble minded.
would receive the great blessings.
While other teachers held forth the
rich, the great, the learned, the mighty,
the influential amongst men as the
patterns to be copied, if happiness
would be attained, Jesus, in these
Beatitudes. sets forth the reverse. His
prescriptions for happiness have in
deed been followed by few. and these
alone appreciate their merit and are
finding the blessings promised, both
for the present life and for that which
is to come.
Called to Be the Elect.
The Mission of Jesus and His teach
ings, at His first advent, were not to
the world, but to a special class: He
that hath an ear to hear, let him
hear" The Message for the world
will go forth at His second advent, and
we have the assurance that then all
the blinded eyes will be opened and all
the deaf ears will be unstopped, and
the knowledge of the glory of God
will fill the whole earth.
In todays study, Jesus was address,
ing such of the Jews as had the hear
ing ear. such as had an inclination to
be His disciples. He was addressing
the class to whom He said, If any
man will be My disciple, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and fol-
low Me, and where | am there shall
Ny disciple be- 1t was to this class
that the Beatitudes were spoken, not
with thunderings of Sinai. not with
threats of vengeance and death il the
lessons were not learned.
The Master was addressing such as
believed on Him, the class for whom
He was about to appear in the pres
ence of God, after finishing His sacri-
fetal work. to impute to them His
covering for their blemishes and inn
Projections and to give them stand
ing with the Father, and to make
their sacrifices holy and acceptable to
God" tRomans xii. ID He was in
structing these as to how they could
sure, how they could the more sue
which they were called. Others may
gather precious lessons from these
Beatitudes, but only the spirit begot-
ten can appreciate them fully.
The Palace of BIessedness.
The foundation of the Palace OF
Blessedness is Humility. None can
ever hope for share in the Messianlc
Kingdom except as he is humble
minded: Blessed are the poor in spirit
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
To such and such only will this great
blessing come. 1t would never do for
God to accept as a member of the
Kingdom class one possessed OF the
spirit of pride and selfish ambition. In
Satan's experience we have an Illus
tration of what pride might accom-
plish. God proposes that humility
shall be a primary test as respects the
Bride class.
The Palace Reception Room, upon
the foundation of Humility. on the
ground noor of the Palace, is the
chamber of Sorrow-mourning. only
such as know what it is to be touched
with the feelings of human infirmities
can be members of the Royal Priest
hood, which by and by is to deal with
and assist back to harmony with God
whoever wills of all humanity This
Reception Room of sorrow seems ne
cessary for our complete separation
from the things of the world, the f1esh
and the devil. Blessed are they that
mourn, for they shall be comforted.'
The Palace Library is Weakness
None can be successfully taught of the