"Ye are the light of the world," He said. The
Sermon on the Mount radiates sense and kindness and prayer.
The One understood that most glorious truth of all truths--that there
is some good in each of us, and that if that good only could be
recognized and encouraged it would overcome the bad in us. You will
remember the saying: "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
So don't be an orator of melancholy. There is enough sadness in the
world without your adding to it by either visage, conduct, or sermon.
Besides, it is not what you are directed to do. The people would be
very glad if you could say with Isaiah that
"The Lord hath anointed me to preach _good tidings_ unto the meek; ...
he hath sent me _to proclaim liberty_ to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim _the
acceptable year_ of the Lord ... to _comfort_ all that mourn ... to
give unto them _beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness_."
That is the kind of talk that will cheer the people, and it is the
kind of talk that will do the people good. There is nothing "blue"
about that. And it is what the Book bids you tell the people.
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