"Blessed are the rich in substance."

"Blessed are they that mourn": but that is not the general opinion.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"--but who
amongst us really believes it?

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they
shall be filled."

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy": but to-day a
more popular maxim is, "Be not merciful unto them that offend of
malicious wickedness."

"Blessed are the pure in heart"--and how many of us are that?

"Blessed are the peace-makers": but in a time of war they are not very
favourably regarded.

"Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake"--is
that _your_ ambition, or mine?

"Ye are the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world"--then the
earth, it is to be feared, is a somewhat insipid place, and its light
comparable to darkness visible. "If any man will come after Me, let
him take up his Cross, and follow Me": but most of us make it a tacit
condition of our Christianity that we shall _not_ be crucified.

Is it not true that we habitually refuse to take seriously His
teaching about man; that we water down His paradoxes and