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See God's own Son a preacher stands, With life and pardon in his hands; Hear him the joyful news proclaim! For never man could speak like him.

CHRIST'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

"Behold the Lamb of God," cried John,
The sins of man who shall atone;

While Christ proceeds, the mount ascends,
And blessing with instruction blends.

IT pleased our blessed Saviour to preach to the multitude that followed him, and his sermon on the mount was not only deserving of their attention, but claims the serious regard of all Christians to the end of time. Indeed, we have great reason to be thankful that so much is recorded for our instruction, of what the Lord himself did when he sojourned on the earth.

This is the longest and most important discourse of Christ that is written for our instruction. He went up into a mountain, to preach his law and doctrine of salvation to his followers; and in his sermon declares

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who are the blessed, in these words: "Blessed are the poor in spirit-blessed are they that mourn-blessed are the meek-blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness-blessed are the merciful-blessed are the in heart-blessed are the peacepure makers-blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake-blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake: rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven." (Matthew, chapter v.)

Here we learn who are the characters that are blessed of God, through Jesus Christ; and does it not much concern us to inquire whether we are ourselves described among the happy number? If we are, it is of the grace and goodness of God, and we may rest assured that the blessing pronounced on such

shall be our happy portion. Our Lord Jesus came into the world to bless and to save mankind. Adam, when he fell, entailed a curse on all mankind; and happy will it be for us, as we are all involved in the curse which the first Adam brought into the world, if we are enabled, through grace, to feel interested in the blessings procured by the second Adam "the Lord from heaven." Our Saviour in is sermon, informed his hearers, that he came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. He came into the world not only to die for sinners, but to teach us how we ought to live; and though good works in themselves will never carry us to heaven, yet we are assured in the Bible, that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord;" therefore Christ taught those who followed him to pay due regard to all the laws of God, not only as regarded the out

ward observance of them, but also in sincerity of heart.

In this sermon he warns them, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, is guilty of murder; whosoever encourages lust in his heart, is guilty of adultery; he cautions them against taking the name of God in vain; he admonishes them to love their enemies and to do good to them; and adds, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Observe from hence the great importance of a holy life, and strive to learn the need of God's grace to make us pure in heart; and as he has promised to give his holy Spirit to them who ask him (Luke xi. 13). let us pray earnestly for this inestimable blessing, that our hearts may be truly purified and sanctified.

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