The Beatitudes 4. Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit Having spoken of the general notion of blessedness, I come next to consider the subjects of this blessedness, and these our Saviour has deciphered to be the poor in spirit, the mourners, etc. But before I touch upon these, I shall attempt a little preface or paraphrase upon this sermon of the beatitudes.
1. Observe the divinity in this sermon, ...read
The Beatitudes 5. The Poor In Spirit Are Enriched With A Kingdom Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
Here is high preferment for the saints. They shall be advanced to a kingdom. There are some who, aspiring after earthly greatness, talk of a temporal reign here, but then God's church on earth would not be militant but triumphant. But sure it is the saints shall reign in a glorious manner: Theirs i ...read
The Beatitudes 6. Blessed Are They That Mourn Blessed are they that mourn.
Matthew 5:4
Here are eight steps leading to true blessedness. They may be compared to Jacob's Ladder, the top whereof reached to heaven. We have already gone over one step, and now let us proceed to the second: Blessed are they that mourn'. We must go through the valley of tears to paradise. Mourning were a sad an ...read
The Beatitudes 7. Sundry Sharp Reproofs This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts:
1. Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground whi ...read
The Beatitudes 8. Motives To Holy Mourning Let me exhort Christians to holy mourning. I now persuade to such a mourning as will prepare the soul for blessedness. Oh that our hearts were spiritual limbecs, distilling the water of holy tears! Christ's doves weep. They that escape shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity' (Ezekiel 7:16).
There are ...read
The Beatitudes 9. The Hindrances To Mourning What shall we do to get our heart into this mourning frame? Do two things. Take heed of those things which will stop these channels of mourning; put yourselves upon the use of all means that will help forward holy mourning. Take heed of those things which will stop the current of tears.
There are nine hindrances of mourning.
1. The love of ...read
The Beatitudes 10. Some Helps To Mourning Having removed the obstructions, let me in the last place propound some helps to holy mourning.
1. Set David's prospect continually before you. My sin is ever before me' (Psalm 51:3). David, that he might be a mourner, kept his eye full upon sin. See what sin is, and then tell me if there be not enough in it to draw forth tears. I know not wha ...read
The Beatitudes 11. The Comforts Belonging To Mourners Having already presented to your view the dark side of the text, I shall now show you the light side, They shall be comforted'.
Where observe:
1. Mourning goes before comfort as the lancing of a wound precedes the cure. The Antinomian talks of comfort, but cries down mourning for sin. He is like a foolish patient who, having a pill prescrib ...read
The Beatitudes 12. Christian Meekness Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
Matthew 5:5
We are now got to the third step leading in the way to blessedness, Christian meekness. Blessed are the meek'. See how the Spirit of God adorns the hidden man of the heart, with multiplicity of graces! The workmanship of the Holy Ghost is not only curious, but various. It make ...read
The Beatitudes 13. The Nature Of Spiritual Hunger Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness
Matthew 5:6
We are now come to the fourth step of blessedness: Blessed are they that hunger'. The words fall into two parts: a duty implied; a promise annexed.
A duty implied: Blessed are they that hunger'. Spiritual hunger is a blessed hunger.
What is meant by hunger? Hung ...read
The Beatitudes 14. Spiritual Hunger Shall Be Satisfied They shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6
I proceed now to the second part of the text. A promise annexed. They shall be filled'. A Christian fighting with sin is not like one that beats the air' (1 Corinthians 9:26), and his hungering after righteousness is not like one that sucks in only air, Blessed are they that hunger, for they shall be filled.' ...read
The Beatitudes 15. A Discourse Of Mercifulness Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7
These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported i ...read
The Beatitudes 16. A Description Of Heart-Purity Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8
The holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity' calls here for heart-purity, and to such as are adorned with this jewel, he promises a glorious and beatifical vision of himself: they shall see God'. Two things are to be explained the nature of purity; the subject o ...read
The Beatitudes 17. The Blessed Privilege Of Seeing God Explained They shall see God.
Matthew 5:8
These words are linked to the former and they are a great incentive to heart-purity. The pure heart shall see the pure God. There is a double sight which the saints have of God.
1. In this life; that is, spiritually by the eye of faith. Faith sees God's glorious attributes in the glass of his Word. Faith b ...read
The Beatitudes 18. Concerning Peaceableness Blessed are the peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9
This is the seventh step of the golden ladder which leads to blessedness. The name of peace is sweet, and the work of peace is a blessed work. Blessed are the peacemakers'.
Observe the connection. The Scripture links these two together, pureness of heart and peaceableness of spirit. The wisdom from ...read
The Beatitudes 19. They Shall Be Called The Children Of God They shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9
In these words the glorious privilege of the saints is set down. Those who have made their peace with God and labour to make peace among brethren, this is the great honour conferred upon them, They shall be called the children of God'.
They shall be (called)', that is, they shall be so ...read
The Beatitudes 20. Exhortations To Christians As They Are Children Of God 1. There is a bill of indictment against those who declare to the world they are not the children of God: all profane persons. These have damnation written upon their forehead.
Scoffers at religion. It were blasphemy to call these the children of God. Will a true child jeer at his Father's picture?
Drunkards, who drown reason and stupefy co ...read
The Beatitudes 21. Concerning Persecution Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10
We are now come to the last beatitude: Blessed are they which are persecuted . . '. Our Lord Christ would have us reckon the cost. Which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have ...read
The Beatitudes 22. An Appendix To The Beatitudes His commandments are not grievous
1. John 5:3
You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and ...read
The Duty of Self-Denial To the Reader
Christian Reader,
The weightiness of the argument here discoursed on justly merits a larger volume. But I have contracted it because it may possibly come into more hands. I must profess I do not know a more necessary point in divinity. Self denial is the first principle of Christianity. It is the life-blood which must run throug ...read
Thomas Watson