The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1912-04-25

the ordination address of Jesus, after
choosing the twelve, the title of 1.-THE
Sermon on the Mount" title now uni
THE Gospel of the Kingdom" telling
US of the characteristics of these mem
bers of the new kingdom Jesus came
10 establish, the influence Of these
members upon the world, and is q 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 a test whereby we are to know
who belong to this kingdom.
Their Spiritual Meaning.
There are in reality only seven of
tho 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.
Tho first four are passive virtues.
Happy are those who are poor in spir-
it, not the poor-spirited but the humble
minded ones conscious OF their need.
1t Is the poor, as 10 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.
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 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 ornamentatlon 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
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, 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 peacemakers, the re-
ceivers and the diffusers of this king
dom. Not merely peaceable men, nor
pieces OF men, bSt rather as Tyndale's
version is, "the maintainers of peace"
Led by the spirit Of God they are not
only called the sons OF God, but are
the sons OF God (Rom. S: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 it they are prosecuted.
Being is doing-doing does not pro-
duce life, and we have here linking
of the cid law and the new gospel. His
kingdom brings blessedness, happi-
ness; satan's kingdom turns to tho ap-
pies of Sodom. God says, speak out,
endure for others. His kingdom is dis
tingushed by altruism. The kingdom
Of darkness says: Keep still, live for
yourself" This kingdom knows not
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 most
unfortunate, but time has proven and
eternity will justify these declarations
Of Christ. The good of this age be-
longs 10 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
fort than never to have sorrowed at
all. The message of the meek will get
hearing as against the censorious,
and the supremacy happy are those
who shall see God.
Hunger for the highest and the
noblest can find supply for all its
needs in Jesus the Son Of God and
only according to the principles he
here sets forth
Jesus saw the multitude when he
gave us this sermon, which is not
cermon at all. He understood their
need, the state OF their hearts and
what was in their minds. He did not
see them as SO many pawns upon the
chess board OF lie; no saw their life,
their sorrows. their sins. He read the
story OF human need and human des-
tiny.
Why rejoice over our reproach? Be.
cause this is the path into this new
kingdom. And when we walk for
Christ's sake" we shall enter therein
and rejoice greatly for we shall have