"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN: FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED." Math 5:4.
By these words above Christ does not teach that mourning in itself has power to remove the guilt of sin. He gives no sanction to pretense or to voluntary humility. The mourning of which He speaks does not consist in melancholy and lamentation. While we sorrow on account of sin, we are to rejoice in the special privilege of being children of God. We often sorrow because our evil deeds brings unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals the gratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that has brought anguish upon Him (Jesus). Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin. The people of the world out of ignorance and darkness of their hearts may pronounce this sorrow a weakness; but it is the st...