THE K I N G ' S BUS I NE S S v. 6. Hunger and thirst. These are not only healthy appetites which bring enjoyment and satisfaction when they are met, but they are torments if they are not satisfied.— Comber. The more we receive, the more we crave. Blessed hunger and thirst.— Swan. They shall be filled. Those who are foremost in the craving for good find it most. The promise reaches beyond the present. Its true fulfillment belongs to the here after.— Duckworth. v. 7. The merciful. Christian mercy is that state of heart which is created by experience j of the mercy of God. This differs from mere tenderness of heart. Unlike natural sensibility which is unreasoning impulse, it is ac tuated by principle and unlike leniency ■which is often vicious, it is always just. —Woods.. Shall obtain mercy. Mercy cannot get in when mercy goes not out. The outcoming makes the way for the incoming. The reward of the merciful is that by their mercy they a re .ren dered capable of receiving the mercy of God— yea, God Himself who is mercy. —MacDonald. v. 8. Pure in heart. By some tnys- terious law of our nature, impurity has a more universal effect on the soul than any other vice. Spiritual blindness is especially produced by the habit of sensual imagination. It lowers the tone and corrupts the whole tissue of character.— Vince. Shall see God. In this life spiritually, by the eye of faith. (Heb. 11:27.) In the life to come. This will be the heaven of heavens.— Thomas. v. 9. Peacemakers. Peace is used in a deeper sense than'merely healing dissension. “ The peace of God.” (Phil. 4:7.) “ The peace of Christ.” (Col. 3 :15 .)—Carr. Called children of God. It was not till Christ “ made peace” by the blood of His cross that God could manifest Himself as “ the God of peace.” When we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the peace re ceivers become transformed into peace diffusers and the family likeness be ing reflected in them, they are recog nized as children of God.— Jamieson. v. 10. They which are persecuted. This crowns the series of beatitudes. Prom poverty to crucifixion, the Savior’s lif§>, unfolded.— Richards. Every saint of God offends the pride as well as dis turbs the peace of men. It is no small hatred that envious evil feels to good ness.— Sel. For righteousness’ sake. Obse.ve the limitations. The cause in
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which one suffers is everything.— Camb. Bible. v. 11. Revile you. Jesus Is not summoning men to dominion, honor and victory but to scorn and suffering. His own crown He knew was first to be twisted of thorns and copies of it were to wound His followers’ brows.—Mac- lareu. For my sake. We cannot be the servants of Jesus without suffering. The world proceeds on opposite principles. You are witnesses for Christ. If in de claring the divine message, you make men feel its urgent character, you are sure to“ meet first with disdain, then with hatred, and lastly with persecu tion.— Pressence. v. 12. Rejoice. Men consider them selves unfortunate when reproached and persecuted for Christ’s sake, but Jesus says this is the time to rejoice and be exceeding glad.—-Torrey. I am get-, ting rather proud for I see that my character is more and more defamed for Christ’s sake.— Luther. Rewardl in heaven. Note that it is not on the earth, another evidence that the beatitudes have to do with the heavenly people es pecially rather than the covenant peo ple whose blessings will center in the new earth.— gel. What the Heavenly Father Wants Us To Be. Matt. 6:7-9. Memory Verse.— “ Blessed are the pure in heart.” Matt. 5:8. Approach.— Boys and girls, what is this in my hand? A walnut. Isn’t it a fine big one? Now we will crack it and get the kernel that grows inside of the shell. O my,- BEGINNERS what a disappoint- AND PRIMARY ment to find only a Mabel L. Merrill d r i e d up, brown looking kernel when the shell looked so fine and big. We can not always tell by looking at the outside whether the heart is good, can we? (Pick the finest English walnut you can find and with a knife cut the shell in half and remove the kernel, re placing with a poor kernel. Just a touch of glue will fasten the shell to gether again). Now here is another walnut that is much smaller and the shell looks rather brown, and we will
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