The mourning of David, which is recorded in the fifty-first psalm, was blessed: he was comforted and restored to the Divine favour. The mourning of Manasseh was of a different origin, when "the king of Assyria bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon." But that too was "blessed;" for it caused him to know that the Lord he was God. (See 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11-13.) And he also was comforted. God "heard his supplication."

In a religious view, any state is more hopeful than a light, self-complacent spirit, which passes through the world as if the only object was to banish serious thought or reasonable fear.

5. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness is one of the qualities in which our Saviour's own example is peculiarly suited for our imitation. He himself has enjoined us to "learn of him; for he is meek and lowly of heart :" and his apostles have prescribed us the same lesson. "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus." (Phil. ii. 3—5.) Again, "This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." (1 Pet. ii. 19—23.)

The promise here given to the meek may seem extraordinary; for in a world of which the general character is, that "all seek their own," it may be thought that meekness is likely to miss its share. This, indeed, is not always the case; meekness is sometimes found to have "the promise of the life that now is," as well as godliness. The phrase, however, must be considered as a general assurance of blessing, taken from the language of the Old Testament, and referring to the land of promise, the land of Canaan.' And as Canaan was but a type of "a better country, that is, a heavenly;" so the blessing pronounced upon the meek, that they shall inherit the earth, may justly be extended to that land in which "violence shall no more be heard, wasting nor destruction within its borders; but they shall call its walls salvation, and its gates praise." (Is. lx. 18.)

6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

What it is to hunger and thirst after righteousness cannot be better shown than in the conduct of Mary, the sister of Lazarus; who, when our Lord had entered into her house, "sat at his feet and heard his word." Other things might have occupied her mind, and her sister was occupied with other things; but the hunger and thirst after righteousness was uppermost in the breast of Mary, and she received an encouragement which explains the promise here: they shall be filled; they shall be satis

1 Ps. xxxvii. 11, "The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."

fied; they shall not hunger and thirst in vain, and more and more, as those commonly do whose desires are fixed upon earthly gratifications. "Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke x. 39, 42.)

7. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

The parable of the unmerciful servant is the best comment on this verse; we hear there the circumstances under which the Christian appears before God; "I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me." And we see his corresponding obligation, "Shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?" (Matt. xviii. 32, 33.)

8. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.

In God, holiness and happiness are inseparably united; and our Lord here reminds us, that in order to partake hereafter of heavenly happiness, we must here cultivate heavenly holiness. It has been declared from the first, "Be ye holy, for I am holy."

But are there any, who, looking into themselves, do not feel their need of a further purification, that they may see God? A further purification is prepared: They that are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. vii. 14, 15.)

9. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.

Dispute and contention, which can seldom exist without dislike and enmity, seem to be the element in which many delight to breathe. Hence they are

ready to stir them up in public and private, in church and state, by exaggeration, misrepresentation, and fierce recrimination. But "the wisdom

which is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." (James iii. 17.) May the "Prince of peace" make us children of peace, and so prepare us for a kingdom where all shall be peace!

10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake.

12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

What was meant by persecution for righteousness' sake, soon became evident, when the apostles were beaten, and "commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus." (Acts v. 40.) What it was to be reviled, we see in the case of Paul, whose enemies alleged, "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world; and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, who also hath gone about to profane the temple." (Acts xxiv. 5.) From the same examples we may learn to rejoice and be exceeding glad in such persecution :- as the apostles did, who "departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts v. 41.) And St. Peter says, "If ye be reproached for the

fied; they shall not hunger and thirst in vain, and more and more, as those commonly do whose desires are fixed upon earthly gratifications. "Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke x. 39, 42.)

7. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

The parable of the unmerciful servant is the best comment on this verse; we hear there the circumstances under which the Christian appears before God; "I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me." And we see his corresponding obligation, "Shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?" (Matt. xviii. 32, 33.)

8. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see Go

In God, holiness and happiness are inseparabl united; and our Lord here reminds us, that i order to partake hereafter of heavenly happiness, w must here cultivate heavenly holiness. It has beel declared from the first, "Be ye holy, for I am holy.'

But are there any, who, looking into themselves,. do not feel their need of a further purification, that they may see God? A further purification is prepared : They that are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. vii. 14, 15.)

9. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.

Dispute and contention, which can seldom exist without dislike and enmity, seem to be the element in which many delight to breathe. Hence they are