April 8

We that hath mercy . . . happy is he. — PROV. xiv. 21.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. — MATT. v. 7.

THIS text expresses a common truth, emphasized with countless illustrations. Kindness pays. Those who are considerate of others in trial are themselves generally remembered in their own times of need.

But our Lord here means more than this. He means that the merciful shall obtain mercy at the last day. Notice. —

1. That the Beatitudes present but one character. This character begins in humiliation and godly sorrow, is marked by spiritual meekness, longing after righteousness, and kindly feeling for others, and grows into purity of heart. Such a character cannot be a fruit of nature. It is that of an ideal child of God.

2. That our Lord does not teach that any man shall at last obtain mercy as pay for being merciful. What he says is that the man of these Beatitudes is blessed (happy), because he shall obtain mercy. He only states a fact, without giving a cause for it. We must look for the cause of all mercy at last in the free grace of God, and in our Lord's own atoning and saving work.

If we have, already begun in us, the character outlined in the Beatitudes, we have already entered into, and shall be ever growing in the blessedness of the blessed man.

Let grace our selfishness expel, Our earthliness refine; And kindness in our bosoms dwell As free and true as thine.

JOHN H. GURNEY.