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ea； from Decapolis； from Idumea； away to the south of Judea； and from Tyre and Sidon； the Phoenician cities on the shore of the Mediterranean。 〃When they had heard what great things He did；〃 they 〃came to hear Him； and to be healed of their diseases： 。 。 。 there went virtue out of Him； and healed them all。〃 Mark 3：8； Luke 6：17…19。
The narrow beach did not afford even standing room within reach of His voice for all who desired to hear Him； and Jesus led the way back to the mountainside。 Reaching a level space that offered a pleasant gathering place for the vast assembly； He seated Himself on the grass； and the disciples and the multitude followed His example。
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The disciples' place was always next to Jesus。 The people constantly pressed upon Him； yet the disciples understood that they were not to be crowded away from His presence。 They sat close beside Him； that they might not lose a word of His instruction。 They were attentive listeners； eager to understand the truths they were to make known to all lands and all ages。
With a feeling that something more than usual might be expected； they now pressed about their Master。 They believed that the kingdom was soon to be established； and from the events of the morning they gathered assurance that some announcement concerning it was about to be made。 A feeling of expectancy pervaded the multitude also； and eager faces gave evidence of the deep interest。 As the people sat upon the green hillside； awaiting the words of the divine Teacher； their hearts were filled with thoughts of future glory。 There were scribes and Pharisees who looked forward to the day when they should have dominion over the hated Romans； and possess the riches and splendor of the world's great empire。 The poor peasants and fishermen hoped to hear the assurance that their wretched hovels； the scanty food； the life of toil； and fear of want were to be exchanged for mansions of plenty and days of ease。 In place of the one coarse garment which was their covering by day； and their blanket at night； they hoped that Christ would give them the rich and costly robes of their conquerors。 All hearts thrilled with the proud hope that Israel was soon to be honored before the nations as the chosen of the Lord； and Jerusalem exalted as the head of a universal kingdom。
Christ disappointed the hope of worldly greatness。 In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education； and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character。 Yet He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people。 He saw the misery of the world on account of sin； yet He did not present before them a vivid delineation of their wretchedness。 He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known。 Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God； He told them the conditions of entrance therein； leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature。 The truths He taught are no less important to us than to the multitude that followed Him。 We no less than they need to learn the foundation principles of the kingdom of God。
Christ's first words to the people on the mount were words of blessing。 Happy are they； He said； who recognize their spiritual poverty； and
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feel their need of redemption。 The gospel is to be preached to the poor。 Not to the spiritually proud； those who claim to be rich and in need of nothing； is it revealed； but to those who are humble and contrite。 One fountain only has been opened for sin； a fountain for the poor in spirit。
The proud heart strives to earn salvation； but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ。 The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until； convinced of his own weakness； and stripped of all self…sufficiency； he yields himself to the control of God。 Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow。 From the soul that feels his need； nothing is withheld。 He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells。 〃For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity； whose name is Holy； I dwell in the high and holy place； with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit； to revive the spirit of the humble； and to revive the heart of the contrite ones。〃 Isa。 57：15。
〃Blessed are they that mourn： for they shall be comforted。〃 By these words Christ does not teach that mourning in itself has power to remove the guilt of sin。 He gives no sanction to pretense or to voluntary humility。 The mourning of which He speaks does not consist in melancholy and lamentation。 While we sorrow on account of sin； we are to rejoice in the precious privilege of being children of God。
We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves； but this is not repentance。 Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit。 The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour； and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross。 By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh； and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced； we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him。 Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin。
The worldling may pronounce this sorrow a weakness； but it is the strength which binds the penitent to the Infinite One with links that cannot be broken。 It shows that the angels of God are bringing back to the soul the graces that were lost through hardness of heart and transgression。 The tears of the penitent are only the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness。 This sorrow heralds a joy which will be a living fountain in the soul。 〃Only acknowledge thine iniquity； that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God；〃 〃and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you： for I am merciful； saith the Lord。〃 Jer。 3：13； 12。 〃Unto them that mourn in Zion；〃 He has appointed to give
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〃beauty for ashes； the oil of joy for mourning； the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness。〃 Isa。 61：3。
And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort。 The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin。 Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters； that by His grace we may overcome our faults。 Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us； and the test comes； whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God。 When brought into trial； we are not to fret and complain。 We should not rebel； or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ。 We are to humble the soul before God。 The ways of the Lord are obscure to him who desires to see things in a light pleasing to himself。 They appear dark and joyless to our human nature。 But God's ways are ways of mercy and the end is salvation。 Elijah knew not what he was doing when in the desert he said that he had had enough of life； and prayed that he might die。 The Lord in His mercy did not take him at his word。 There was yet a great work for Elijah to do； and when his work was done； he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness。 Not for him the descent into the dust of death； but the ascent in glory； with the convoy of celestial chariots； to the throne on high。
God's word for the sorrowing is； 〃I have seen his ways； and will heal him： I will lead him also； and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners。〃 〃I will turn their mourning into joy； and will comfort them； and make them rejoice from their sorrow。〃 Isa。 57：18； Jer。 31：13。
〃Blessed are the meek。〃 The difficulties we have to encounter may be very much lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ。 If we possess the humility of our Master； we shall rise above the slights； the rebuffs； the annoyances； to which we are daily exposed； and they will cease to cast a gloom over the spirit。 The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self…control。 He who under abuse or cruelty fails to maintain a calm and trustful spirit robs God of His right to reveal in him His own perfection of character。 Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the followers of Christ； it is the token of their connection with the courts above。
〃Though the Lord be high； yet hath He respect unto the lowly。〃 Ps。 138：6。 Those who reveal the meek and lowly spirit of Christ are tenderly regarded by God。 They may be looked upon with scorn by the world； but they are of great value in His sight。 Not only the wise； the great； the beneficent； will gain a passport to the heavenly courts； not only
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the busy worker； full of zeal and restless activity。 No； the poor in spirit； who crave the presence of an abiding Christ； the humble in heart； whose highest ambition is to do God's will；these will gain an abundant entrance。 They will be among that number who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb。 〃Therefore are they before the throne of God； and serve Him day and night in His temple： and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them。〃 Rev。 7：15。
〃Blessed are they which do hunger and t