Welsh Journals

THE TREASURY. JSo. 26. FEBRUARY 1866. Pkige. 2d. Cb* l&mtxtiofotB. A SHORT SERMON.—MATTHEW V. 3—9. 5IRST. Look at them separately. 1$S$ ** r^ie P00r *n sP^rit- Many of God's people are poor,—the majority are so. But it is not poverty of temporal circumstances is described but poverty of spirit. Many who are poor as regards earthly goods are proud in spirit. The spirit of man is the seat of pride, of self-esteem, and self- righteousness. We see its rule in the Pharisee, " God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are." We see it in the Lao¬ dicean Church, "lam rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." To be poor in spirit is to have this self- estimation subdued and destroyed. When this is brought to pass the poor in spirit are influenced by a strong conviction that they are poor,—destitute of all spiritual excellency in the sight of God. The Publican represents such. "He standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." Poverty of spirit is necessary to the existence of the blessings that follow. This is the soil out of which they must all grow. 2. They that mourn. A sense of poverty, destitution, and exposure, will always lead to sorrow and moaning. So will poverty of spirit always lead the soul to mourn before his God. Spiritual mourning is a sense of sorrow, mixed with bitter¬ ness of feeling, over moral destitution occasioned by sin.