February 12

Isaiah 61:1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called Trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Matthew 5:1. And, seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain; and, when he was set, his disciples came unto him. 2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This wonderful discourse was delivered, in all probability, from one of the hills that border the Plain of Esdrachon, and in the vicinity of the Lake of Galilee. Such a site would be central to the multitudes that thronged to Jesus from that whole region; and the marvellous beauty of the scenery might well suggest the allusions to Nature in the sermon. But the religion of Christ was so spiritual in its character and aim, that no sacredness was attached to the places where his words of truth and life were spoken. He opened this sermon with a series of benedictions, bestowed upon all who shall put themselves in character to receive them: the poor, not simply in condition, nor because of this, but in spirit, humble in their own esteem, humble before God because of sin, - these, and not those who pride themselves upon their gifts, or are ambitious of place and reward, shall have the kingdom of heaven; those whose hearts have been touched with sorrow - above all, with the sorrow of repentance - shall find heavenly comfort; the

4. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. 5. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. 7. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. 9. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God. 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

meek, hiding their time, shall see the triumph of goodness in the earth; they who long for conformity to the will of God, as the hungry for food, and the thirsty for drink, shall be satisfied with his likeness; they who are compassionate toward the needy, merciful to enemies, precious to all, shall find mercy in their time of need; they who strive after inward holiness shall attain to the vision of God; they who study to promote peace and good will among men shall be acknowledged by God as his children; they who are so upright in their walk, so devoted to righteousness, so loyal to truth and to Christ, that for this they incur the malice and abuse of men, shall receive the reward of their faithfulness in the peace and blessedness of heaven. These characteristics are not isolated virtues, to be taken up as meritorious works; they are all the fruits and signs of one inner spirit of loving, filial devotion to God. He who has this has within himself the fountain of all blessedness for time and for eternity.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 9, 53, 187.

O Lord Jesus! we do hunger for thy Word; we do thirst for thy Spirit. Weak, empty, perishing in ourselves, we cry unto thee for the bread of heaven, for the water of life. With longings for good that this world can never satisfy, we turn to thy fulness that we also may be filled. Confessing our folly in forsaking thee, mourning our sin in grieving thee, we come with broken and contrite hearts, and entreat thee to grant us forgiveness, comfort, and peace. Oh! strengthen us to resist temptation, to overcome evil, to renounce the world. We beseech thee, show us the Father; make us pure in heart, that we may see God.

Most merciful God, who in Jesus Christ thy Son hast revealed thyself as our reconciling Father, grant us grace, we beseech thee, to be followers of God as dear children. [May the children of this family love and obey the precepts of thy gospel, and

follow the example of their Lord and Saviour!] And, oh, may the numbers of thy children be multiplied throughout the world, until the whole family of man shall be made one in Christ Jesus! Bless the peace-makers, and let the nations learn war no more. Have compassion, O Lord! upon the poor and the sorrowing; deliver the persecuted and the oppressed; have mercy upon all prisoners and captives. Grant us grace to endure with patience any trials and afflictions that may come upon us for thy cause, and to conquer the world by faith. And do thou, O Lord! forgive our enemies, and forgive us as we forgive them. O Lord our Preserver, who hast kept us through the perils of the night! keep us from evil this day and always; and finally bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.