January 16

"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 5:3.

THIS is the first sentence in that memorable sermon which our Lord delivered on the mount. Note

THE CHARACTER. "The poor in spirit." Such an one has

A low opinion of himself. The high and lofty looks are brought down, the proud spirit is broken. We can never rise in the favor of God till we sink in our own estimation. Henry observes, "Those who would build high must begin low." It is with Christians as with a vessel, the more it fills the deeper it sinks.

Eralted views of Christ. We are saved, and sanctified, enriched and ennobled by him. As a sight of the deformity of sin lays the proudest rebel low; so a sense of salvation by grace, makes the highest saint humble.

A contented disposition with his lot. The world must be regarded as the scene of our journey, not the seat of our rest. The traveller makes use of the accommodation which the inn affords, not to divert him from, but to refresh and prepare him for his journey: the comforts he obtains on the way will not satisfy him without going home. Just so is it with the Christian; he exclaims concerning temporal comforts, and agreeable connections,

"Thanks to thy name for meager things, But these are not my God."

THE BLESSING. "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven," that is, they are interested in all the blessings of the Gospel dispensation.

He will enrich them with his grace. Nothing but this can adorn the soul, or rejoice the heart.

He will receive them into glory. They shall be exalted in due time beyond the reach of every evil. Heaven is theirs by promise, title, earnest, and foretaste, and ere long it shall be theirs by possession. Let me cultivate this poverty of spirit, and thereby become a possessor of the Christian's rich inheritance.