Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-25
SARAH y. LOWRLE,S
SATURDAY EVENING TALK
What II Really Means to Be Pure in Heart

MAN, wise in the ways Of the past,
y once pointed out to me n curious
met concerning the beliefs Of the Jews
shout God, as they are recorded in the
Old Testament. No. writer of that
great race Of believers In Jehovah ever
claimed that he had at any time seen
God. Even after their great national
heroes. Enoch, Noah, Abraham. Jacob.
Joseph, Moses, David and the Prophets.
had cast of mortality, it was never
assumed Of them. even in material.
spiritual sense. that they were at last
face to face with the Almighty.
One forgcts this. because compared
With our own prophecies. srCrlrss age.
the prophets and sccrs Of the Bible ages
@em so near and intimate with God.
But when one sets out to find II specific
instance Of one or another oi them SEQ
ing God. there is nowhere trace of a
claim to such an experience. They had
visions and dreams of God. the glory.
or the fire. or the voice. or tho miracle
symbo!iz,ng the Deity they did rxpe-
ricncc, but the very name Jehovah
which was not a name at all. only the
broken, disjointed syllabies Of name
that none dared 20 much As pronounce
TOR fear Of bringing death on himself
tor sacrilege, the very word Jehovah
bore testimony TO the awe with which
the Jews regarded the Almighty
Nor did Jesus contradict this awci
oeliet, lie is reported to have said spc-
officially:
"No man hath seen Cod nt any
time adding this concerning His re-
lationship and participation in this
mystery: the only begotten Son which
- In the bosom OF the Father, lie hath
declared Him
HNHOSE of us who have been brought
4 up on the stories Of the Crock and
Si"rmanic myths as we'll as on the Old
Testament have got used TO the i,ica
OF men seeing their gods. but oven IN
Greek and other pagan lore the ability
20 see the god implied a kind ot super.
human power, Somc trnnscendcut quail
tty in the seer. more than mortal beauty,
or valor, or wisdom or birth.
In an age when this was tho Gen,l,c
beliet and when his fellow corntrymcn.
the Jews. held that such an idea was
sacrilcge. Jesus announced great sp.r.
itual fact. lie said:
blessed nrc tho purn in heart. for
they shall see God.
One cannot feel that lie hcl!tt'"l To
awe. or ignored the world tradition.
rathcr did lie sam up all the groplny
belief in ono cncompGssinc belief nf tho
attainment inherent in ln"rtnI man. an
attainment possible only by the dclica.
tion Of life.
IN THAT brief statement ovory,h,Ya
L is implied. immortal vigor. co,rn!cts.
ness. perfection Of purpose. Infinite sat
isfaction beyond tho posSip;ltiv of
safety. love triumphant. eternal life
Here t. transccndcn. reason fo- life
a triumphant goal. n just fcation for a,,
high ondravor--spcing God
Men hav" endured untold prirntior
to find and 500 the truth. and tn" his.
toriGnS. rubl!cists. statiSticlans. nh!los-
ophcrs. soriologists rcformrrs. cynlor.
ers, scientists, artists and pocrs hayr
been the heroes Of the race who searched
for truth that they might see it. Yc, here
Ia the Source Of all Truth-God. II
valor and zeal and untlnching purpose
are required of those who seek 70 know.
the mind of God. what Of those who
would look on God Himself?
=. blessed are tho pure in hear, for
they shall SEQ God -
To be nur" o. heart IL not onIv "a
BE valiant and stcadfast ami zcalouS. II
II 20 he that fnr more dihicu.t thing
selfesS.
"Not my will. bu, Thine.