The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-26

IT was st. Augustine who frst gave
the ordination address of Jesus, after
choosing the twelve, the title Of The
Sermon on the Mount" a title now uni.
~versally accepted. 1t Is better perhaps
THE Gospel Of the Kingdom" telling
us OF the characteristics of these mem
bers OF tho new kingdom Jesus came
to establish. the influence OF these
members upon the world, and La 4 com.
mentary upon the laws OF this king
dom. 1t Is this, and more, for 1t 10 a
prophecy OF the church at work and
also a test whereby we are to know
who belong to this kingdom.
Their Spiritual Meaning.
There are In reality only seven Of
the Beatitudes, the "blessednesses"
and seven is always typical of perfect
ness. They are written In Old Tesla.
ment language. but give the old form a
new and spiritual meaning. The re.
wards are not arbitrary, but are the
logical outgrowth OF the character de-
picted.
The first four are passive virtues.
Happy are those who are poor In spir-
it, not the p~oor-spirited but the humble
minded one conscious OF their need.
1t Is the poor, as to this world, that
are to be rich In faith and to be heirs
of that kingdom which Christ has
nrnmjEnt In fhnya ghnt lave hin, Ta1
2:5). Happy are those that mourn, for
they mourn not as those who have no
hope, they shall be comforted, yea,
they shall be strengthened. Paul tells
us Of that sorrow which is unto saliva
ton and need not to be repented of,
but the sorrow Of the world worketh
death. Happy are the meek, those who
are not proud. The pride of man is
soon cut of as grass. In him, the
meek and lowly, We are to find rest to
our souls. We are exhorted by the
meekness and gentleness of Christ to
receive instruction and Peter tells us
that our ornamentation that shall be
of the greatest price is to be meek and
NuiCt III SplIlL.
AT this point the master begins to
make his practical application Of the
lives OF those having these character
istics, upon the world about them.
Happy are the merciful. The with
holding of mercy tends to poverty, but
the liberal soul shall be made fat, for
to the merciful he will show himself to
be merciful. Forebearing, and forgiv-
ing we enter into this happiness, being
kind, forgiying, tender-hearted, even as
Christ hath forgiven us.
Righteousness Defined.
Happy are the pure for they may
draw nigh unto God in full assurance
of faith for themselves and on behalf
OF others. Indeed the writer of He
brews tells us that without holiness
(purity) no man can see God, not our
own Righteousness wherein we might
boast but the righteousness Of Christ
which is by faith.
Happy are the peace-makers, the re-
ceivers and the diifusers of this king
dom. Not merely p~eaceable men, nor
pieces OF men, but rather as Tyndale's
version is, the m~aintainers of peace
Led by the spirit of God they are not
only called the sons OF God, but are (
The s2ns Of God (Rom. $40. THE
cause not the pain, makes the {
martyr" said st. Augustine. Those
who are presented for righteousness
sake, not those VINO seek persecution, /
ire possessors OF this kingdom; pos
'essing 1t they are prosecuted. ]
Being is d~oing-doing does not pro-
luce life, and we have here a linking
If the old law and the new gospel. His /
brings b~lessedness. happi. {
satan's kingdom turns to the ap.
lies Of Sodom, God says, speak out,
for others. His kingdom is dis
inguished by altruism. The kingdom r
t darkness says: Keep still, live for f
ourself." This kingdom knows not r
he essence of brotherhood.
Man eve asks this old question:
How may | be happy?" Those whom S
ssus selects as the happy ones are k
1oked upon by the world as the most c
Unfortunate. but time has proven and
will Justify these declarations
( Christ. The good Of this age be- y
,ngs to the selfish and self-assertive, r
good of the coming g to the self h
.enouncing, 1t Is better to have sor-
owed and to have received his COM
)rt than never to have sorrowed at b
i. The message Of the meek will get o,
hearing as against the ce~nsorious, o.
nd the s%upremely happy are those
no shall see God.
Jesus saw the multitude when he ci
ave US this sermon, which is not a is
'rmon at all. He understood their d,
eed, the state of their hearts and
hat was in their minds. He did not
se them as 80 many pawns upon the th
less board of life; he saw their life, III
Iei. sorrows, their sins. He read the va
DRY OF human need and human des.
ny. He looked into their sad eyes
i'd saw their longing after happiness ia
I'd immortality. He knew that the ar
Est heathenism could offer was OBJ. ar
ZION or else sensuous ease and 10
I'M his heart he spoke to them OF the
Heart Of Happiness" Light, liberty, Of
owth, altruism rather than any tn
OF soul or supreme selfish go
&c
Hunger for the highest and the
'blcst can find a supply for ar its
eds In Jesua the Son of God and rh
ly according to the principles he on
re sets forth. dr.
Why rejoice over our reproach? Re. be
use this Il the path into this new MI
And when we walk "for