be filled, for God's people shall be all righteous (Isa. 60:21), and he himself wake in the likeness of the All-right- eous (Ps. 17:15). 6. Verse 7—"Blessed are the .mer- ciful." Bead the parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16). " The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes; * * * * * It is an attribute to God Himself." 7. "Verse 8—"Blessed are the pure in heart - for they shall see God.'' To see God is to know Him; to know Him is eternal life (John 17:3). We see Him now through a glass darkly (1 Cor. 13: 12) at best, and therefore we must keep the glass pure and clean. Remember the reason the window pane remained cloudy was because the stain was on the in- side. Keep pure within if you would see God; if you would understand Him. The veil with which Satan blinds the eye is woven of a woof of duplicity and impurity on a warp of sin. Tear it away that you may see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). 8. Verse 9—"Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the chil- dren of God." How can we but be such as "make fqr peace" if we but reflect on the miseries and wretchedness strife has wrought in the world, the church, the family? Strife is Satanic, for Satan is the instigator of all wars (Rev. 20:7-10). Peace marks the dis- tinction between the children of the devil and the children of God. God is the God of Peace (Rom. 15:33). He bestows the peace of God (Phil. 4:7) and Christ made it (Eph. 2:15). We are called to peace (1 Cor. 7:15) and we should follow the things that make for peace (Rom. 14:19). 9. Verse 10—"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you." This is most remarkable among these paradoxical statements. To count it joy to be regarded and treated as the offscouring of the earth is a strange reckoning. To be accounted among those who have made a failure of life and brought down on themselves the hatred of men, is made the basis of reward. Contempt now is to be fol- lowed by praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Pet.
1:7), for if we suffer we shall also reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12). When the . spirit of the world discrowns us, then ' the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon us (1 Pet. 4:14). None of the % Beatitudes has been more manifestly realized in history. Men have taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods (Heb. 10:34); have rejoiced that they % were counted worthy to suffer (Acts 5:41), and hundreds of thousands have A laid down their lives with eagerness and gladness of heart. SOME CURIOUS CONTRASTS. 1. Here we have a poor man who .;* owns a kingdom. 2. A meek man who has a proud title 't to the earth. 3. A good appetite for good things M sharpened for a fat feast. 4. A needy man showing mercy, who v will get wha;t he needs because he gives what he gets. 5. Men who have eyes in their hearts that can see more than the eyes in their heads. 6. Men glad because they are cursed, A and honored because they are slandered. SEVEN LAWS OF THE KINGDOM. Theme: CHRIST'S CONSTRUCTION OP THE LAW OF CONDUCT. OUTLINE. (1) The Prophetic Fulfillment o f ' the Law .i7-20 (2) Precepts Concerning Personal Life . 1-26 2¡T-32 (3) Precepts Concerning Purity of L i f e f l (4) Precepts Concerning Profan- , ity 30-37 (5) Precepts Concerning Private Vengeance 3^-42 (6) Precepts Concerning Perfect Love 4S-48 The whole section is essential tb a right understanding of the teaching of the Lord. The passage is full of esisen tial truth. To be handled successfj in a class only the .prominent points be touched upon. (1) THE PROPHETIC FULFILL- MENT. "I am not come to stroy, but to fulfill." The Lord had assumed the posil ion blly can de- LESSON" V. JANUARY 30, 1910. Matt. 5:17-48.
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