Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-03-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Int national Sunday School Lesson
for March 24-Manassch brought
TO Hepentance-Ea. Chron. 33: 8 III.
BY REV. e. p. RODGERS. d. D.


deiivcraUce of HeZekiah from the hosts
OF Assyria. He lived but ashort time
after this, and died about Il. c. 69S. His
son. Manasseb. then only twelve years
old. succeeded to The throne of Judah
IL is very sad to note what followed. In
spite OF the vigorous and successful pol
icy OF Hczeki;ih, AMI Gods interposilion
in his b. hall, tile great reform which he
instituted did not long survive him. Like
ii de IDLY cancer. which. removed from
one part of the body, breaks out in an
other, idolatry. that foul ulcer on the
good kings death. The snake was
scotched, not killed. The youthful king
did hot walk in the ways of his pious
father. His name means s.forgettiug.'
and lie did forget his fathers way. The
idols were set up again. and Manasseh
worshipped even the hOrrid Molocb.
making lis own children 10 pass through
The fl'e. lie even set up a carved image
Iii the holy temple. anu the whole. land
was soon filled again with all the ibom-
lnallops OF The raOst open and flagranf
ldolatry. Remonstrances were made by
he prophets, but they were OF no avail.
The king iiiled his bloody hand against
them, and put nany of them TO death.
among them the aged Isaiah. the sub
lime.t OF All the order, 1.-THE Dante OF
Judea." Ii was a horrible time in the
kingdom. Manas>eh seems to have been
more like Nero, or Diocletion. or Bloody
Mary oi Infamous memory, and il is said
that "he she'd Innocent blood very much.
ill be bad filled Jerusalem from one end
20 another"
Yet this bloody prosecutor, under the
sharp Judgments OF God. was brought 10
repentance, and ''humble,l himself great
| ~ before the God OF his fathers.n A
captive, and in prison. he thought on his
Ways, and turned To God for forgiveness.
God heard his prayer aud delivered him
| ircm captivity, This goodness WAS not
lost Gu Manasseh He turned away from
his To- mer sins. and, with his people, re-
turned TO the pure worship of Jehoyal,.
| PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
i. The guilt OF sin Is aggravated by
high position aud great influence.
Maliasseh was Il great king. He had a
! high position. and "a sphere of greet in-
| iAence cpelle.s before Aim. lie vas the
son of wise and goo,, father. and bad
he initiated him, his reign would have
been greet blessing 10 the people. But
lac used lis exalted rank and his power
iul influences. only for evil. And the con
sequences OF his conduct wee deStruet-
i've on tie broadest scale.
! The responsibilities of high position
| are very great, and The sins of men in
high places eXeri Il wide and disastrous
Influence. Men who abuse their capaci-
ties tor usefulness, whether these grow
out of position. wealth or great talents
VIII lave Il fearful account 10 render nj
the Judgment day. Ii is said of many Of
the Kings OF God's ancient peol IT,. noi
only that they were sinners themselves
but that ''they made Israel TO sill.r This
aggravated their guilt and increased
their condemnation.
2. AfillciiOns sanctif;ed are often bette,
than affiiciioils averted.
We shrink from sorrow and desire
ease and prosperity. But God ministers
to our necessities rather than TO our de
sires.
On no subject are the teachings of the
Bible SO clear and instruc i've than with
regard 10 saEctite1 affiiclions. The most
eminent saints have recorded here the
results OF their personal experience and
observation. David says: Before ]
was afflicted | went astray, but now have
| KEEP, Thy word" 1T is good for lne
/ that have been afflicted, that I might
learn Thy statutes" And Paul teache:
tie anne doctrine III many PLACES; whici
has also been the testimony OF good mei
III all ages.
Had Manasseh been permitted by Goo
TO go on unchecked in his sinful career
the results TO his kingdom would have
been appalling, and he himself wout
have soon filled up the measure of hi.
iiiiquities. 1t was IA great mercy-;h,
greatest Of his li!e-that God delivered
him Into the hands of his enemies. Tha
brought him 10 a tetier mind. He saw
his sin in It's real enormiiy, and repentet
and turned TO God. Those weary day.
of captivity were Lis best days. And hn
affiiction was tar more of IA beuedict ioi
than all his previous prosperity.
B. God is willing TO hear the prayer O
the very chief OF sinners.
ManaSseh's hands were stained will
much Innocent blood. but when lie lire,
them TO God, in humble confession of hi
great sin, and IN earnest PRAYER Tor par
don. God heard his cry. And if Mana>s
was forgiven, what sinner ne. ii dl.pair
How wonderful is Gods forbearanc
and tender mercy. He is holy Coz
lie hates sin. But hesis equally merci
ful God. and has compassion on sinners
Manas>eli's sin was very hateful in hi
sight. and had il been Persisted in woul
have at last brOu.h ht upon him IL dread
ful and hopeless doom. 1t was wonder
|. ful that God should have borne wit
: HIM SO long. But whatever God doe:
I he does il like Il God.
David ONCE put up very eytraor,li
: mary prayer: Pardon mine iiliquity.
{ Lord, for at is great (Ps. 70: ID Vine
: man desires lis fellow man TO forgiy
him for any offence, he often depreclale
n its nat tilre, and asks TO be forgiven on az
count of the smalness of the sin or ,
4 eXteullaiing circumstances. But ID wi
!. makes the very elorinity of his guilt
plea for the Divine forgiveness. Mana.
sch might have done the same thing
:. But what an Amazing testimony is sue
: "A prayer 10 the Infinite nature OF the ID
" vine compassion.
4 True repentance always leads to n
+ formation.
e Regret is not repentance. A man ma
d be sorry for the consequences of his si
n and not sorry for the sin itself. Mo
mrn regret their crime xhen they thin
a OF il in Il prison cell. Yet how many 5
ii forth from prison 10 sin again.
It Manass chs repentance Was more th;
N regret. 1t led 10 reformation. he Ca
l. down the idol temples and restored ii
walls OF Gods house. lie bad led II