THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.
By William Carthy
WHAT a glorious thought it is to the poor pilgrim who does not at the present time possess a spot of earth that he can call his own, that when the Lord shall come to reign he will receive a possession which can never be taken from him. It seems to be natural for mankind to love the earth, even in its present degenerate state. Although pestilence, famine and wars annually sweep their thousands from the earth; though what they pretend to call theirs to-day, may be taken from them before to-morrow; though pain and sickness may prey upon their bodies; still they love the earth, they cannot bear the thought of leaving it. Yes, it is very dear to them with all its sorrows, pain and disappointments. They consider their present life the only life that they can live upon their beloved earth, and not only the people of the world but some professors of religion have the same idea, that when they leave this world they never will return; and perhaps this is one great reason why professors of religion at the present time are so anxious about the things of earth. One might almost be led to think they expected to take their possessions with them. But to the humble follower of Christ, to that person who takes the word of God for the man of his counsel, who is willing to obey all of God's commandments, who is looking for the coming of his Lord with an anxious heart, (for he knows that when the Lord doth come his reward will be with him), a different scene presents itself. He knows according to the word of inspiration, that the Lord will soon appear; that then the trump of God will sound, the dead in Christ be raised immortal, the living saints be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and ascend with Christ to reign with him a thousand years; and that after the thousand years have ended the earth will be purified, the new Jerusalem will come down from above, and the earth ever after will be the glorious home of the saints. O what a blessed thought is this! It is enough to raise the drooping spirits of the weary pilgrim. Why should we feel to envy the rich? Why should we strive to lay up corruptible treasure here, when we have such a blessed hope that the kingdom will soon be ours; for our Lord has gone to receive the kingdom, and we know, if we are faithful servants while he is away, that when he appears we will become heirs with him, and receive a possession, an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. We do not guess at this. No, we have it from our Lord himself. It is one of the most important premises contained in that greatest of sermons, the sermon on the mount. "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." There are several promises and several good qualifications which are necessary for the child of God to attain to, mentioned in the sermon on the mount; but they are all contained in this one verse, "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Undoubtedly our Lord had reference to that class of poor who were of a meek spirit; for if the poor are depraved, of a bad disposition and disobey God, they have no better right to the kingdom of heaven than the rich. Christ's kingdom is the kingdom of heaven, and when the will of God is done on earth as in heaven, then it will be the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." They that mourn in consequence of sin and wickedness, that are of a meek disposition; for29"he that governeth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." They indeed will be comforted on the new earth; for there they shall mourn no more, and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." If we are meek we shall be mild and gentle, easy to be entreated. This will lead us right into charity; and without charity we are nothing. If we possess these qualities we shall hunger and thirst after righteousness; and if so we shall indeed be filled when we inherit the earth; for the tree of life will be there, and we shall eat of its delicious fruit and hunger no more. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." My friends, if you were to see a person unkind to man or beast, without charity, judging rashly, driving the poor, the naked and the hungry from his door, unclothed and unfed and without means to alleviate their distress, would you think that such a person possessed a soft and gentle disposition? Would you think such a person was meek? Ah, no! But only the meek or the merciful shall obtain mercy; for if we forgive others their trespasses, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, our Lord will also forgive our sins, and clothe and feed us in his kingdom; for he says that he will gird himself and serve us. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." If our disposition is right and good, our hearts will also be good and pure. The true meaning of heart here is mind, disposition; for from the literal heart can proceed no sense of good or evil. But if the mind is pure, our thoughts will be pure; and if we are of a meek and pure disposition, we shall at last see God. We cannot now see him and live. But, *In his beauty we shall behold him there,
And bask in his smiling face.* May God help us all to have a meek and lowly disposition, that we may inherit the earth. We are almost there. Let us travel on without being weary, until we reach that celestial land. Little Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis.