Page:SermonOnTheMount1900.djvu/52

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Tenth Day


The true Christian character, as shown in the Eight Beatitudes, and its opposite characteristics. — Matt. v. 3, 12; Luke vi. 20, 27.


THE week has gone happily by, and given us a beautiful octave, in going over seven Beatitudes and coming back to our starting-point in the eighth. We have tried to impress upon ourselves eight characteristics of a Christian, which form an abridgment of Christian philosophy: — poverty, meekness, mourning — or disgust with the present life — mercy, love of justice, cleanness of heart, love of peace, and suffering for Justice’ sake.

Three of these qualities may appear to be much alike — meekness, mercifulness and love of peace 'nevertheless, each of them has its separate character. It is one thing to be peaceable and able to put an end to quarrels either with ourselves or amongst others; another thing to be gentle and meek, so as not to offend or