Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/371

 Christ, therefore,  commences  His  sermon  by  this  subject, as if  He  were  to  say,  you  all  desire  to  be  happy;  listen then, and  I  will  point  out  the  ways  that  lead  to  felicity. Do you,  therefore,  take  care  to  set  your  affections  on  this true happiness,  and  seek  for  it  by  the  means  which Christ shall  point  out.

II. How contrary  are  the  ways  of  God  to  the  ways  of man,  and  His  judgments  to  those  of  the  world. The world believes  that  happiness  exists  in  honors,  riches, and pleasures,  and  freedom  from  pain  and  grief. " They have  called  the  people  happy,  that  hath  these  things." (Ps. cxliii.  xv.)  On  the  contrary,  Christ  pronounces those happy,  who  are  poor,  meek,  and  humble,  who hunger and  thirst  after  justice,  and  who  suffer  reproaches and torments. " As  the  heavens  are  exalted  above  the earth,  so  are  My  ways  above  yours,"  (Is.  lv.  9.)  says  the Lord. Examine to  which  of  these  classes  you  belong, whether you  follow  the  principles  of  Christ,  or  the  principles of  the  world.

III. Christ honored  eight  virtues,  which  are  contemptible in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  with  the  titles  of  beautitudes. He has  made  these  so  many  steps,  by  which  we may  ascend  to  Heaven,  in  order  to  enjoy  our  ultimate and everlasting  happiness. These are  poverty  of  spirit, meekness, sorrow  for  sins,  hunger  and  thirst  after  justice, mercy, purity  of  heart,  the  making  of  peace  both  with God and  men,  and  the  suffering  of  persecutions  for Christ's sake. You must  ascend  these  steps,  if  you  wish to enter  into  the  joys  of  your  Lord. " Blessed  is  the man,  whose  help  is  from  Thee;  in  his  heart  he  hath  disposed to  ascend  by  steps." (Ps. lxxxiii.  6.)