"And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain; and when He was set, His disciples came
unto Him; and He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit . .
. blessed are they that mourn . . . blessed are the meek," etc. (Matt. 5:1-12).

As all our natural thoughts of happiness are in perfect contrast with the Lord’s teaching on this
subject, it may be well for us to examine carefully, as in His presence, the true principles of real
happiness. Surely our hearts would desire perfect blessedness, which means perfect happiness
_the happiness of heaven, not the uncertain happiness, or rather the transient excitement, of
earth. From observation, habit of thought, general impressions, we have all shared largely in the
popular notions of what constitutes a life of happiness here. But now, with the instructions of the
Great Teacher before us, we shall do well to take our place at His feet and learn of Him the sure
and safe way to a life of holiness and happiness here, and of unmingled blessedness hereafter.

Mankind in general would say, "Blessed are the rich, who can surround themselves with every
comfort; blessed are the joyful, the high-spirited, the independent, who know nothing of hungering
and thirsting." But the Lord, who was from heaven, and knew the character that suited the
kingdom of heaven, says, "Blessed are the poor, the mourners, the meek, the hungering and
thirsting ones," etc. This is completely reversing the universal judgment of men, and contradicting
the cherished thought of every human heart. But what an unspeakable mercy for all classes that
happiness does not depend on our circumstances, nor on how much we possess of this world’s
goods, but on the state of the mind; or, in one word, on character_a. character conformed to
Christ; for the beatitudes are essentially the character of the blessed Lord Himself. Who so poor
in spirit, so meek and lowly in heart, as Jesus? Who so obedient and dependent as man? Who so
filled with peace, and uninterrupted in communion with His Father in heaven? He has left us an
example that we should walk in His steps.

But before speaking of the different features of that wonderful character_which ought to be our
own_we must notice some of the events in the Lord’s public ministry which led to this full and
formal proclamation of the kingdom and the revelation of its fundamental principles. And as we
study the character arid teaching of the Lord, His miracles, and His ways in grace and love, may
we by the Holy Spirit have our characters formed anew, that we may manifest while on earth the
heavenly principles of His kingdom. And may we, in meditating on these beatitudes, judge
ourselves in their light, that we may be a true reflection of Him in this self-seeking world. This
is clearly our place and privilege during the Lord’s absence.

But one may say, "Are not the disciples who are here addressed the remnant in Israel?" Most
surely; the Sermon on the mount was preached to His disciples, but in the hearing of all Israel,
and sets forth the principles of the kingdom in connection with that people, and in moral contrast
with the ideas they had formed concerning it. The character and conduct of those who are suitable
to the kingdom, and the conditions of entering into it, are also proclaimed by the Prophet King.
But, alas! through the unbelief of the people and the rejection of their King, the establishment of
the earthly kingdom has been delayed; and now the Church, which is heavenly, has been brought
in, and Christians are now the bearers of God’s testimony, and witnesses for Christ in the world.

This is the Christian’s mission; a truly blessed, but solemnly responsible one. "As my Father hath
sent me," says the blessed Lord, "even so send I you." Here we are told by the Lord Himself that
our mission in this world is on the same principle, and of the same character, as was His own.

We will now turn for a moment to the immediate circumstances which led Him to ascend the
mountain and address the multitudes. For purposes suited to the Gospel of Matthew, the whole
of our Lord’s history until the commencement of His ministry after the death of John the Baptist
is here passed over. He then comes before us, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah, as a great
light shining in the land of darkness and of death (Matt. 4:15,16). The whole country, even to the
extent of the ancient territory of Israel, it is said, was excited and aroused by His mighty deeds.
These were the faithful witnesses of His Messiahship. The tribes of Israel were thus summoned
to the standard of their Messiah. Unbelief was left without excuse. He was not only the light of
life shining on the darkness of death, but He was the mighty power of God in healing and
blessing. The need and misery of man, both as to his soul and body, were the great objects of His
mission of mercy. He was there to forgive their iniquities, to heal their diseases, to redeem their
lives from destruction, and to crown them with loving-kindness and tender mercies (Psa. 103:3,4).
Thus we read, "And His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought unto Him all sick
people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with
devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. And there
followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem,
and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan" (Matt. 4:24,25).

The attention of the whole country being thus attracted, and vast multitudes following Him,
eagerly desiring to hear His gracious words, He unfolds the character of the kingdom of heaven,
and of the people who would enter into it, in what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount,
which opens with the beatitudes. (To be continued.)