seen, the cry of the mourner may be heard. Does this promise then include the whole mourning family of man? Has Jesus given forth the glorious announcement that all men shall be comforted? Ah! no. The wise man hath indeed told us that "sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better." But all sorrow is not necessarily of benefit to the soul. We are taught by the Spirit of God that there is "a sorrow of the world which worketh death."

If then we would explain the passage in perfect consistency with the other statements of the Word of God, we must limit the promise of blessedness to mourners of a peculiar description, those whom the apostle describes as "mourning after a godly sort," not on account of distress merely, however painful and aggravated that distress may be, but on account of the great source of all distress, Sin. Mourners of this description look beyond all the evils of this life, and trace them back to their origin. In Adam all have sinned, and therefore in Adam all have died, and become subject to those numberless diseases and disasters and calamities of every kind which terminate at last in death. When a man, therefore, is led by the Spirit of God to look upon all the ills that befall him and his fellow men as the consequences of sin; when he views every pain that torments his body, and every anxiety that disquiets his soul, as having its origin in

sin, his is a hallowed, a blessed mourning. He is weeping, but they are the tears of an humble penitent; he has found trouble and sorrow, but God will speedily deliver his soul. "For," says Jesus, "he shall be comforted." In the very brokenness of heart, which he has begun to feel, there is a sweet consolation, for with such a sacrifice God is well pleased. And that subduedness of spirit shews that the heart is opening to drink in the dews of heavenly comfort. Jesus is at hand. These tears are bathing his feet, and ere long the refreshing words will be heard issuing from his lips, "be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee." Then will the promise be fulfilled, they shall be comforted." The peace of God that passeth all understanding will shed its delightful calm over the once troubled spirit; and now the believer, rescued from the deep pit and from the miry clay, will be able to sing with sweet satisfaction of spirit, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the light of the living."

66

But it is in heaven that this promise will meet with its complete accomplishment. Thither "the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion. with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." They who

66

sow in tears shall then reap in joy. They who go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall then return rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them." The days of thy mourning, weeping believer, shall then be ended. Every tear shall be wiped from thine eye, and the full flowing river of heavenly consolation shall gladden thy soul throughout a blessed eternity.

V. 5. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." There is no feature of character which is less appreciated in our fallen world than that to which the Saviour here refers. In reference to this, as we have found to be the case with the others of which we have already spoken, there is a complete opposition between the mind of God and the mind of man. The peaceful, quiet, gentle, inoffensive person is usually despised by the undiscriminating mass, and yet the Spirit hath said expressly that "in the sight of God the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is of great price." And this is the quality in His own character to which above all others the Redeemer would point His disciples: " Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls." The worldly man is restless, eager, ambitious, passionate and proud. He is jealous of any encroachments on his rights, and he seeks only the honour that cometh from man. But "blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Their

minds are habitually calm, peaceful, and contented with their lot. They receive the gifts of God with humble, thankful hearts, and to the trials of life they submit with calm composure of spirit, saying, "We have received good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil?" And whence this calmness of soul? They have found rest in Christ, and being at peace with God they have obtained peace of conscience, and peace with all mankind. Such are the meek, and the promise of Christ in reference to them is, "they shall inherit the earth." This expression occurs in the xxxvii. Psalm; "For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth;" and again, "such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth." It probably implies that they shall possess all temporal blessings, all the good things of this life; "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." A promise of this nature is quite in accordance with the character and disposition of the meek. They are fitted to enjoy the gifts of providence with more relish than others from the serenity and composure of their minds; and while the worldling is easily fretted, irritated, and annoyed with every cross incident that occurs, the meek derives his happiness from a source which no earthly trouble can tarnish or impair. He has set his affections on the things that are above, and, therefore, he is all the better prepared to enjoy

with moderation the earthly blessings which he is permitted to receive. "He uses this world as not abusing it; knowing that the fashion of this world passeth away." Possessed of such a frame of mind it may well be said of all such, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

The three features of character which we have now considered as being pronounced blessed by the Lord Jesus, are beautifully blended in every true child of God. He is poor in spirit, deeply conscious of his guilt and unworthiness, and, therefore, he mourns and bewails his condition in the sight of God, and he gradually imbibes a meek, gentle, subdued frame of mind. And each and all of these dispositions is essential to true happiness, not in the estimation of ignorant, erring man, but of Him who judgeth righteous judgment.

Are you then, reader, possessed of the dispositions which the Saviour pronounces blessed? Are you poor in spirit, feeling that you are only a poor petitioner at mercy's door with the plea of utter destitution? Have the tears of a true repentance begun to flow from your eyes, and is that proud, unsanctified heart now brought low? In such a case you are truly blessed, for the life of God has commenced in your soul, and He who hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward, and perfect it in the day of Jesus Christ.

Cherish, we beseech you, the feelings