_And taught them._ THE DISCIPLES I. Who they are, not the rich, gay, self-asserting, satisfied. It. Their peculiar felicity. 1. Secure. 2. Manifold. 3. Ever-enlarging. III. Their beneficent influence. 1. One effect of such a character is to provoke resistance. 2. But there comes out a more p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Poor in spirit._ POOR IN SPIRIT I. Examine the character here spoken of. 1. We should not confound the poor in spirit with the poor in worldly circumstances. 2. We are not to associate the mean-spirited with the poor in spirit. 3. We are not to understand that the poor in spirit are poor in sp... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that mourn._ THE MOURNERS WHO ARE NOT ENTITLED TO THE BLESSINGS HERE NAMED I. Those who indulge the sorrow of discontent. II. The inordinate sorrow for worldly losses. III. Sorrow for wounded pride. IV. A despairing spirit as to their acceptance with God. Those who are blessed:- 1. There... [ Continue Reading ]
_The meek._ CHRISTIAN MEEKNESS I. A general idea of this Christian virtue. It is not that mildness of temper which is natural to some people. This amiable disposition is manifest (1) In the closet; (2)In the family; (3) In the Church; (4) In the sanctuary; (5) In the world. II. Reasons why w... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WHICH DO HUNGER AND THIRST. Righteousness desired I. A few features of the disposition here commended. The term righteousness is variously used. 1. Sometimes it signifies rectitude. 2. Sometimes imputed righteousness. 3. Sometimes personal righteousness. But here it means- (1) A death unt... [ Continue Reading ]
_The merciful._ CHRISTIAN MERCY I. What is Christian mercy? 1. Its nature. 2. Its objects. 3. Its author. 4. Its design. II. How is it exemplified? 1. In the forgiveness of enemies. 2. In various acts of kindness. 3. In deep concern and effort for the spread of the gospel. III. What is th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The pure in heart._ PURITY OF HEART I. Purity of heart demands our attention. 1. It implies a change of heart. 2. It implies that the faculties of the soul are purified. 3. It implies the purity of the affections. 4, It implies the purity of the thoughts and desires. 5. It leads to purity of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The peacemakers._ PEACEMAKERS I. How great a blessing is peace. 1. It is the preserver of life. 2. It is the preserver of prosperity. 3. It is the preserver of happiness. 4. They are not easily offended. 5. If offended they are not irreconcilable. 6. They exert themselves to reconcile conte... [ Continue Reading ]
_Persecuted for righteousness._ PERSECUTION I. In what religious persecution consists. 1. Negative persecution which falls short of violence. 2. Domestic persecution. 3. Private persecution. 4. Public persecution. II. The folly and wickedness of those who inflict persecution. 1. It is contra... [ Continue Reading ]
_For My sake._ FOR MY SAKE The supreme and commanding claims implied. Endeavour to understand the meaning of the words, “for my sake.” All intelligent creatures act from some consideration or other-for the “ sake “ of something. At the root of the life we are living there is a strong and dominant... [ Continue Reading ]
_Great is your reward._ THE REWARD OF THE SAINTS I. Consider its preciousness. It is shown- 1. By remembering who bestows it. 2. It is in heaven. 3. It meets and satisfies the yearning of the saints here. 4. It exceeds our power to measure. 5. It is connected with recognition of service. 6.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salt of the earth._ THE ELECT OF GOD I. Here is Christ’s sublime definition of the Christian life, and of those who compose His Church. The Church exists for the world’s sake more than for its own. Christ’s disciples are to be saviours of others. II. Is not this the doctrine of election as our S... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are the light of the world._ CHRISTIANS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD The Church can diffuse light. 1. By reflection. 2. By dispersing it. (_L H. Evans, M. A._) THE CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD I. These words as trey proclaim the redeemer. 1. These words proclaim the moral grandeur of... [ Continue Reading ]
_But to fulfil._ THE MORAL LAW ETERNAL AND IMMUTABLE I. Negatively-that Christ did not come to destroy the law or the prophets. This may be illustrated as follows. 1. If the cause be immutably good, the operation and effects must be the same; especially if the cause be infinitely wise; all this i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Break one of these least commandments._ THE PERILOUS HARMFULNESS OF LITTLE SINS Man is set free from the curse of the law, but not from its authority. I. Let us consider these minor violations of the moral law as they are considered in relation to the lawgiver himself. The least commandment has... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your righteousness shall exceed._ AN EXCEEDING RIGHTEOUSNESS I. What is the nature of the righteousness God accepts from us? It is a righteousness in excess of the most scrupulous moralist. 1. A Christian righteousness exceeds a natural or Jewish in that it is positive and not negative. 2. All... [ Continue Reading ]
_Angry with his brother._ -“Thou shalt not kill.” Are you sure you do not? How has Christ decided the point? He tells us plainly that if we have (1) any malice; (2) hatred; (3) ill-will; (4) scornful anger against our brother, we are guilty of a breach of this commandment. (5) God will accept... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be reconciled to thy brother._ MUTUAL CONCILIATION I. That a worshipper of God may be in a state of discord in reference to his brother. II. That public worship rightly used is one of the means to detect and remove this wrong affection. It leads to reflection. III. Conciliation is of superior v... [ Continue Reading ]
_Agree with thine adversary._ RECONCILIATION WITH GOD 1. Man by his sin has made God his adversary. 2. God has opened a way by which sinners, though they have thus grossly offended, may be brought back into a state of reconciliation with Him. 3. To show you that it is man’s duty and interest to... [ Continue Reading ]
_In his heart._ THE HEART OR WILL IS, IN MAN, THE SEAT OF VIRTUE OR VICE. I. Actions must be our invariable touchstone of truth whilst we sojourn in this state of imperfect knowledge and comparative obscurity, where expression is the only avenue to sentiment, and action the only publisher of inten... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy right hand offend._ I. Rather than anything, though ever so dear and precious to thee, should hinder thee in thy Christian progress, or prove a means of snaring thy soul and body, absolutely and totally forego it. 1. Whatsoever opposes God in the heart, or keeps Him out of it, must be abhored... [ Continue Reading ]
_Swear not._ I. Profane swearing is always the evidence of a depraved heart. II. No man is believed any sooner in common conversation because he swears to a thing. III. It is no mark of a gentleman to swear. IV. Profaneness does no man any good. It is degrading, etc. V. God will not hold the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Love your enemies._ FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES The duty of forgiveness does not forbid resentment, but the excess or abuse of it. I. Such resentment in excess is wrong, for anger produces anger; revenge, malice, and that without limit: an aggravation of misery; and such resentment is a painful reme... [ Continue Reading ]
_But I say unto you._ THE IMPERATIVES OF JESUS I. The range and extent of Jesus’ imperative speeches. He keeps up to His own superior level of command upon all occasions and before all men. Men like us only assume without offence an imperative mood in certain relations of life. Christ did before t... [ Continue Reading ]
_What do ye more?_ CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENCE I. What have we more than others? 1. You have forgiveness of sins. 2. Peace with God. 3. Fellowship with God. 4. You have in expectation a perfect deliverance from evil contact with sin. 5. You have in expectation the resurrection of your bodies. II.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Perfect._ I. What is not to be understood by this requirement, or what Christian perfection is not. Not perfection of knowledge, freedom from temptation, conflict, etc. II. What is the perfection here required? Perfect obedience to the law of God. III. That this perfection is a duty. For God req... [ Continue Reading ]