First of a series of services on the Beatitudes (St. Matthew 5, vv. 3-10); conducted by the Rev. John Marsh , of Mansfield College, Oxford
Introduction
Reading: St. Matthew 5, w. 3-10 Prayer
Crown him with many crowns (Cong.
H. 135; A. and M. 304; C.H. 136)
Reading: St. Matthew 4, vv. 1-11
Forty days and forty nights (A. and M. 92; C.H. 79)
Sermon
The Lord will come (Cong. H. 144;
S.P. 658; C.H. 151)
Prayers
Soldiers of the Cross, arise (Cong. H.
304; A. and M. 588; C.H. 341)
Blessing
' Oh. I've had enough of dogmas, and theology and church, and all that stuff: the Sermon on the Mount is good enough for me.'
That, or something like it, has been said by thousands of people: to many who read these lines it may have a familiar sound. To anyone who makes the statement, there are two questions to be put at once: (1) When did you last read the Sermon on the Mount? (2) Is it really as simple as you suggest?
Take. for instance, the famous Sayings with which the Sermon opens: they are in St. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 5. verses 3 to 10. They are often called The Beatitudes, because in them Christ pronounces a blessing, or beatitude, on different types of people. In modern language, they describe the Secret of Happiness. We probably have our own ideas on that subject: here, in these verses, are Christ's ideas. They are staggering, revolutionary; can He really have meant what He said?
For eight consecutive weeks, beginning today, the Sunday morning services will be concerned with these famous Sayings. John Marsh , F. A. Cockin. A. M. Hunter W. F. Flenniston, and C. H. Dodd will wrestle with them and try to dig down to their real meaning and challenge