Ay, pain and grief, tyranny and
desertion, death and hell, He has faced them one and all, and tried
their strength, and taught them His, and conquered them right
royally! And, since He hung upon that torturing cross, sorrow is
divine, god-like, as joy itself. All that man's fallen nature dreads
and despises, God honoured on the cross, and took unto Himself, and
blessed, and consecrated for ever. And now, blessed are the poor, if
they are poor in heart, as well as purse; for Jesus was poor, and
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the hungry, if they
hunger for righteousness as well as food; for Jesus hungered, and
they shall be filled. Blessed are those who mourn, if they mourn not
only for their afflictions, but for their sins, and for the sins they
see around them; for on this day, Jesus mourned for our sins; on this
day He was made sin for us, who knew no sin; and they shall be
comforted. Blessed are those who are ashamed of themselves, and hate
themselves, and humble themselves before God this day; for on this
day Jesus humbled Himself for us; and they shall be exalted. Blessed
are the forsaken and the despised.--Did not all men forsake Jesus
this day, in His hour of need? and why not thee, too, thou poor
deserted one? Shall the disciple be above his Master? No; everyone
that is perfect, must be like his master.
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