The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-04-26

II was st. Augustine who first gave
the ordination address OF Jesus, AFTER
choosing the twelve, the title or the
Sermon ON the Mount" a title now uni
yersally accepted. 1t is better perhaps
1.-THE Gospel of the Kingdom" telling
US Of the characteristics OF these mem
bers OF the new kingdom Jesus came
to establish, the influence Of these
members upon the world, and is COM
mentary upon the laws OF this king
dom. 1t is this, and more, for 1t Is a
prophecy OF the church at work and
also test whereby we are to know
who belong to this kingdom.
Their Spiritual Meaning.
There are In reality only seven OF
the Beatltudes, the "blessedHesses"
and seven is always typical Of perfect
ness. They are written in Old Tesla
ment language, but give the old form
new and spiritual meaning. The re-
wards are not arbitrary, but are the
logical outgrowth of the character de-
plcted.
The first four are passive virtues.
Happy are those who are poor In splr-
1t, not the poor-spirited but the humble
minded ones 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
promised to those that love him GAS.
l2:5). 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 off 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
quiet in spirit.
At this point the master begins to
make his practical application Of the
lives of those having these character
lstlcs, 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, forgiving, 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 diffusers OF this king
DOM Not merely peaceable men, nor
pieces Of men, but rather as Tyndale's
version is, the maiHtainers Of peace.
Led by the spirit of God they are not
only called the sons of God, but are
the sons of God from. 8:1D. THE
cause, not the pain, makes the
martyr" said st. Augustine. Those
who are presented for righteousness
sake, not those who seek persecution,
are possessors of this kingdom; pos.
sessing 1t they are prosecuted.
Being Is dolng-doing does not pro
duce life, and we have here linking
Of the old law and the new gospel His
kingdom brings blessedness, happi
ness; satan's kingdom turns to the ap
pies of Sodom. God says, speak out
endure for others. His kingdom is dis
tinguished by altruism. The kingdom
Of darkness says: Keep still, live fol
yourself This kingdom knows moi
the essence of brotherhood.
Man ever asks this old question
How may be happy?" Those whom
Jesus selects as the happy ones are
? looked upon by the world as the mos
unfortunate, but time has proven anC
eternity will justify these declarations
Of Christ. The good of this age be
2 longs to the selfish and self-assertive
the good OF the coming age to the self
renouncing. 1t is better to have sor
rowed and to have received his com
2 fort than never to have sorrowed a
all. The message Of the meek will ge
a hearing as against the censorious
and the supremely happy are thos'
who shall see God.
Hunger for the highest and tn,
noblest can find a supply for all 1t
needs in Jesus the Son of God AM
only according to the principles b
here sets forth.
Jesus saw the multitude when h
v gave us this sermon, which Is not
sermon at all. He understood thel
p need, the state Of their hearSs an
what was In their minds. He did no
v see them as so many pawns upon tn
= chess board Of life; he saw their life
" their sorrows, their sins He read tn
D story Of human need and human DEF
tiny.
J., Why rejoice over our reproach? b
cause this is the path into this nel
kingdom. And when we walk 80
- Christ's sake" we shall enter therei