what universal shouts and acclamations to the honour of the Lord Jesus ! none ascribing their recovery to an arm of flesh ; but all acknowledging Jesus as the sole author of their happiness ! And why should it not be thus with us at this time ? Surely, if this whole congregation would but vie with each other in their endeavours to obtain his blessing, they would soon have far more abundant cause for joy, than ever they had, whose bodily health was restored : for their souls should be freed from the deadly malady of sin, yea, " virtue should come forth from him to heal us all."]
Luke vi. 20 — 26. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor : for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now : for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now : for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of mans sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy : for, behold, your retvard is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But ivoe u?ito you that are rich ! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full ! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh noiv / for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, ivhen all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
MEN who dislike the doctrines of the Gospel are no less averse to its precepts. They may both approve and practice heathen morality ; but the morality of Jesus will appear to them unamiable and precise. The words before us will fully establish this assertion3: they lead us to consider,
I. The false notions which the world entertains of happiness —
Many have been the speculations of philosophers on this subject ; but there are general views in which the world at large are agreed —
a It should be observed that this passage has no direct reference to the deeper mysteries of our religion : it is altogether of a practical nature : and the terms are so full, that they scarcely need any eluci- dation, while they are at the same time so plain as to be almost incapable of perversion .