And wait until the angels come,
To bear me to the King.’
“’Oh! but I have my troubles.’ I know you have your troubles, but they are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in you, nor even with your present glory. I feel as if I could not think about troubles, nor sins, nor anything else when I once behold the love of God to me. When I feel my love to Christ, which is but God’s love to Christ, burning within my soul, then I glory in tribulation, for the power of God shall be through these afflictions made manifest in me. ‘I in them.’ God bless you with the knowledge of this mystery, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”
Our third example is the outline of that grand inaugural discourse of the Christian religion found in the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of St. Matthew. The Sermon on the Mount is too familiar to need reproduction here, but the outline will show how regular it is in structure, and how closely it conforms to the laws which govern discourses.
The subject is the distinction between the Spiritual Kingdom Christ then set up, and the Jewish State, of which His hearers were still members.
The object is to induce His hearers to enter immediately into this new and better Kingdom.
Plan of the Sermon on the Mount.
- Introduction.—1. Who the blessed (happy) ones really are; v, 2–12.
- 2. The position of the blessed; v, 13–16.
- 3. The Old Kingdom not to be destroyed by the New; v, 17–20.
- I. Contrasts Between the Old and New Kingdoms Concerning Things
Forbidden.
- 1. The law against Killing; v, 21–26.
- 2. The law against Adultery; v, 27–32.
- 3. The law against Profanity; v, 33–37.
- 4. The law against Injuries; v, 38–48.
- II. Contrasts Concerning Practical Duties.
- 1. Almsgiving; vi, 2–4.
- 2. Prayer; vi, 5–15. [Example—the Lord’s Prayer.]
- 3. Fasting; vi, 16–18.
- 4. Treasure-gathering; vi, 19–34.
- III. How Subjects of the New Kingdom should regard other
Persons.
- 1. With charity in word and action; vii, 1–12.
- 2. But with caution; influence of numbers and of false teachers deprecated; vii, 13–23.
Conclusion.—The whole subject illustrated by the evil consequences of building a house upon a foundation of sand, and the good consequences of building it upon a rock.