Page:SermonOnTheMount1900.djvu/22

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First Day

SUMMARY OF THE SERMON


Eternal happiness set forth under divers names in the Eight Beatitudes. — Matt. v. 1-12.


The sole end of man is to be happy, and Jesus Christ came only to give us the means of being so. The source of all good is to place happiness where it ought to be; and the source of all evil is to place it where it ought not to be. Suppose, then, we have said, ‘I wish to be happy,' we have next to see how we may become so : — to see in what end happiness consists, and what are the means of obtaining it.

Now, we shall find the end set forth in each one of the Eight Beatitudes, for Eternal Happiness is the subject of them all, but described by various names. Thus, in the first it appears as a kingdom, in the second as the promised land, in the third as true and perfect consolation, and in the fourth as the fulfilment of all our longings.