Article November 20, 1902 Issue

The Beatitude of Purity

J. R. Miller

Record of Christian Work

A little child was asked which of the beatitudes she would chose, if she could have but one of them. After reading them over thoughtfully she said she would choose the beatitude of a pure heart, for if she had this one she would have all the others with it.

There is an Old Testament beatitude which throws light upon this word of Christ's. It reads, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven." We would have filled in the sentence differently, "Blessed is he who has never sinned;" but the way it is in the Bible is far better. Our way of writing it would have shut out all the world; God's way leaves twelve pearl gates which are never shut by day nor by night, and there is no one so guilty that he may not come within the circle of blessing.

Then we remember that there is a word in an old book which runs thus: "Wash you, make you clean. ... Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." There is a New Testament word also which answers as antiphonal to this: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

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