It was from the mountain slopes above Capernaum that our Lord delivered ths sermon of which the Beatitudes form the noble and sublime introduction. Now it is with mountains that we are wont to associate far reaching views which stretch to the golden horizon, and the streams which descend with musical roar, to water the plains.
In these respects, how remarkable the resemblance between this Octave of Blessedness, and the mountain on which the Lord was sitting, when these gracious words proceeded from His mouth. For sublimity, for comprehensiveness, and for the power of enriching the lowlands of human life, it is hard to find a parallel even in His words.
It is impossible to exahaust them, the maturing experience of Christian manhood is unable to explore all their wealth of meaning as the open-eyed wonder of the young disciple. And the simple purpose of this book it to show some of the pathways that conduct into the heart of these mountains of God.
- FROM THE PREFACE