ON THE

MOUNT;

BEING

A SUMMARY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION,

Paraphrafed by SAMUEL CLARKE, D. D.

CHAP. I.

Chrifl's Sermon on the Mount, beginning with the beatitudes, ver. 1. Chrift's difciples to be examples to the world, ver. 13. The Gofpel fulfils and improves the Law, ver. 17. In the cafe of murder and anger, ver. 21. In the cafe of adultery and luft, ver. 27. In the cafe of divorces, ver. 31. In the cafe of fwearing, ver. 33. In the cafe of revenge, ver. 38. Of loving our enemies, ver. 43.

A

1. ND feeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain when he was fet, his difciples came unto him.

Jefus, being preffed with the great multitude of people, retired from them to the top of a hill, and when he was fat down, his difciples, and as many as were defirous to hear his doctrine, drew near and stood about him.

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2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, faying,

And he taught them in fhort the doctrine of the Christian Religion, faying,

3. Bleffed are the poor in fpirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Bleffed are thofe that are poor and humble, modeft and contented; who fet not their hearts upon this prefent world, nor too eagerly feek the riches and fplendour of it; who prefer righteoufnefs before wealth and honour, and can readily defpife, and contentedly part with these things for the fake of religion: bleffed, I fay, are thefe men; for they are fitly prepared to be members of the true Church of God here, and fhall be rewarded with eternal happiness hereafter.

4. Bleffed are they that mourn: for they fhall be comforted.

Bleffed are thofe who live not in voluptuoufnefs, but feriously lament the fins and follies, and patiently endure the hardships and afflictions of this prefent life: for they fall be comforted with the prefent peace and joy of the Holy Ghoft, and with the happiness of the world to come.

5. Bleffed are the meek: for they fhall inherit the earth.

Bleffed are those who are of a meek and gentle, a quiet and harmless fpirit; free from

paffion

paffion and violence, from haughtiness and turbulency for fuch men fhall generally be fecured in the quiet poffeffion of their rights in this world by the peculiar providence of God; or, however, fhall have an inheritance in that new earth, (2 Pet. iii. 13.) wherein. peace and righteoufnefs are for ever to dwell.

6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteoufnefs: for they fhall be filled.

Bleffed are those who earnestly defire to become truly virtuous and religious for the grace of God will never fail to direct fuch men in the right way, and to affift them with fufficient means to attain the fruition of true virtue, both in the fatisfaction of the prefent practice of it, and in the fulnefs of its future reward.

7. Bleffed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Bleffed are those who are merciful and compaffionate, ready to relieve the neceffities of thofe that want, and to forgive the faults of those who have offended them: for to fuch men God will be proportionably compaffionate in the more ready forgiveness of their fins, and in bestowing on them the greater abundance of his mercy.

8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they fhall fee God.

Bleffed are thofe who are truly pure and holy, free from hypocrify and uncleannefs;

from

from all filthinefs both of flesh and spirit: for to fuch men, God will make greater and clearer manifestations of himself in this life; and in that which is to come, they shall have a nearer and more immediate access to his prefence and glory.

9. Bleffed are the peace-makers: for they fhall be called the children of God.

Blessed are those who make it their business to promote the peace and welfare of mankind; to do all men all the good they can at all times; and to endeavour to fettle the world in univerfal quiet and love: for thefe men, being made like to God in the imitation of his most excellent attributes, his goodness and love; fhall be owned and received by him as his peculiar children, and fhall be made like him alfo in the participation of his happinefs.

10. Bleffed are they which are perfecuted for righteousness' fake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Laftly; bleffed are thofe, who undauntedly fuffer for the fake of virtue and true religion: for these men having given the greatest poffible proof of their fincerity and conftancy, fhall receive an extraordinary crown, and a particular degree of reward in heaven.

11. Bleffed are ye when men fhall revile you, and perfecute you, and fhall fay all manner of evil against you falfely for my fake.

When,

When, therefore, men fhall revile, and reproach, and perfecute you, and fay all manner of evil things of you falfely, and do all manner of injuries to you unjustly, only for the fake of virtue and the profeffion of the truth; then efteem yourselves doubly happy.

12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for fo perfecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Then rejoice, triumph, and leap for joy; for exceeding great fhall be your reward in heaven. For thus in old time were the prophets and the best of men perfecuted; with whom, if ye patiently endure fufferings, ye fhall alfo partake of their extraordinary

reward.

13. Ye are the falt of the earth: but if the falt have loft its favour, wherewith fhall it be falted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be caft out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Be courageous therefore, and conftant, and patient, ye are to be teachers and examples to the world. If by your found doctrine and unblameable lives, ye propagate true religion and virtue, ye shall preferve the world from corruption: but if ye, who are to be the inftruments of reforming mankind, fhall yourfelves degenerate into foftnefs and vice; wherewith fhall ye be corrected and amended?

ye