And the seventh seal opens with: “Blessed are the peacemakers;” showing us Christ who made “peace by the blood of His cross” between Jew and Gentile, between God and man. Every sermon preached since that mighty discourse, which opened the life of Christ to man, what has it been, but a turning over of leaf after leaf in that most mysterious book? There is something very striking in the accidents of that first sermon, that fountain whence every rill of sacred eloquence has flowed to water the whole earth; delivered, not in the gloom of the temple, in the shadow of the ponderous roof, like the burden of the law to weigh it down, but in the open air, free and elastic like the Gospel, on a mountain-top, in the soft breeze beneath an unclouded sun; the Preacher standing among mountain flowers, meet emblems of the graces which should spring up from His word, sown broadcast over the world. We can picture the scene: the twelve around Him, bowed in wonder, like the sheaves of the brethren bending before the sheaf of Joseph; and beyond, a great multitude with eager uplifted faces, a multitude hungering and thirsting after righteousness, drawing in the gracious words which proceeded from Christ’s lips; whilst far below, gently ripples and brightly twinkles the blue Galilean lake, over the waters of which that Preacher walked, and the waves of which by one word He stilled. We may say with the angel, “The waters which thou sawest are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Rev. xvii. 15), and see in them a type of the world once tossing in the darkness and terror of a night of ignorance without God, but now to be calmed in the daylight of His presence, and lulled at the sound of His voice. The following analysis of the Sermon on the Mount, taken chiefly from Dr. J. Forbes, will give some idea of its arrangement:— _Introduction._ A. The character of the true members of Christ’s kingdom diametrically opposed to the expectations and character of the world. The Beatitudes, or progressive stages of Christian life (verses 3-10). The reward of those who keep the beatitudes in this world (11) and in the next (12). B. The duty of Christ’s servants towards the world (13-16). _The Subject._ “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.” I. (Ver. 17.) “Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets.” A. (Negative proposition) I am not come to destroy, B. (Positive proposition) but to fulfil. Negative proposition explained (18, 19). Positive proposition explained (20). Christ then shows how that the law is made of none effect by the Scribes and Pharisees, and not by Himself. II. A. The Teaching of Christ contrasted with that of the Scribes. Perfect form of the Second Table of the Law. 1. Law of Individual Life (VI Commandment, V Beatitude) (21-26). 2. Law of Family Life (VII Commandment, VI Beatitude) (27-32). 3. Central Law of Truth (IX Commandment) (33-37).