The mighty sermon (Matthew 6) dealt with the human soul, and human destiny, and human life - with Hope and Charity, and Faith.

There were no definitions in it, or explanations, or "scholastic systems", or philosophic theorising, or implicated mazes of difficult and dubious discussion, but a swift intuitive insight into the depths of the human heart - even a supreme and daring paradox that, without being fenced round with exceptions or limitations, appealed to the conscience with its irresistible simplicity, and with an absolute mastery stirred and dominated over the heart. Springing from the depths of holy emotions, it thrilled the being of every listener as with an electric flame. In a word, its authority was the authority of the Divine Incarnate. It was the Voice of God, speaking in the utterance of man; its austere purity was yet pervaded with tenderest sympathy, and its awful severity with an unutterable love.

The Carpenter of Nazareth spoke as never man spoke. Other teachers have by God's grace uttered words of wisdom, but to which of them has it been granted to regenerate mankind? Straight as an arrow to the mark His precepts pierce to the very depths of the soul and spirit. All is short, clear, precise, full of holiness, full of the common images of daily life. There is scarcely a scene or object familiar to the Galilee of that day which Jesus did not use as a moral illustration of some glorious promise or moral law. He spoke of green fields, and springing flowers, and the budding of the vernal trees; of the red or lowering sky; of sunrise or sunset; of wind and rain; of night and storm; of clouds and lightning; of stream and rive; of stars and lamps; of honey and salt; of rent garments and bursting wine-skins; of eggs and serpents; of pearls and pieces of money; of nets and fish. Wine and wheat, corn and oil, stewards and gardeners, labourers and employers, kings and shepherds, travellers and fathers of families, courtiers in soft clothing and brides in nuptial robes - all these are found in His discourses.

He knew all life, and had gazed on it with a kindly as well as a kingly glance. He could sympathise with its joys no less than He could heal its sorrow, and the eyes that were so often suffused with tears as they saw the sufferings of earth's mourners beside the bed of death, had shone also with a kindlier glow as they watched the games of earth's happy little ones in the green fields and busy streets.( Dean Farrar)

A LITTLE POEM, by Arthur Hugh.

"Across the sea, along the shore, in numbers ever more and more/ From lonely hut and busy town, the valley through the mountain down,

What was it ye  went out to see, ye silly folk of Galilee?/ The reed what in the wind do shake? The weed that washes in the lake?

A teacher? Rather seek the feet of those who sit in Moses' seat. Go, humbly seek, and bow to them far off in great Jerusalem..

What is it came ye here to note? A young man preaching in a boat.

A prophet! Boys and women weak! Declare- and cease to rave - Whence is it he has learnt to speak? Say, who His doctrine gave?

A Prophet? Prophet wherefore he of all in Israel's tribes? He teaches with authority, and not as do the Scribes".