Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-15

Central Truth The grace and pa
thence of God in his dealings with his
chosen people.
With the present lesson, the regular
studies of both the quarter and the
year are brought to an end. 1t will
be we'll therefore for teachers and
scholars to allow thought to run back
over the entire year to consider what
great truths have been learned, what
practical lessons have been mastered,
and what spiritual profit has been
gained. II cannot be pleasant re-
ilection for any of us that great oppor
tuniiies have brought us little good
Life's years are not many. To accom-
plish It's appointed work, and to secure
ian abundant entrance" into the rest
and unwearying activities of the life
to come, we need to make good use OF
them all. Are we, or any associated
with US, still without Christian hope !!
Having learned so much Of the supe-
rior happiness of the people of God,
do we still hesitate TO join the divinely
favored company? Must any of us
still saw "and we are not saved? ?"
The first quarter of the year took us
over the first part of the Gospel by
Luke and brought before us the sto.
~ of the birth, boyhood, aud preach
ing of Jesus, the healer OF the sick and
the sinners friend. God teih as was
the central truth which claimed our at
tention.
The second quarter was spent upon
the remainder of the same Gospel.
Following Jesus, The Good Samaritan,
Lost and Found, The Prodigal Son,
The Rich Man and Lazarus, PARALLELS
on Prayer, The Parable of the Pounds,
The Crucifxion, and the Walk to En-
,uaus were the principal topics of the
quarter; delighted all ofthem. ChriSts
iore for souls, aud eagerRess TO sarc
them, seemed to be the central truth.
With the third quarter We turned
to the Old Testament, beginning with
the first chapter Of the Book of Exc.
dus. The first lesson gave Us glimpse
of the cruel bondage of Israel in Egypt,
The Birth and Rescue of Moses, his
Call to be the Leader ofGod's People,
his Commission along with his broth.
er Aaron, The Story of Moses and the
Magicians, The Passover, The Escape
through the Red Sea, The Mamma in
the Desert. The Commandments Civ
en- amid signs aud wonders at Sinai,
and the Shameful Relapse into Idola.
try. filled up the quarter. The cen
trail and cheering truth, Of which
each lesson seemed to afford some H.
lustratiun, was that God Is able TO sdre
unto The uttermOst.
The fourth and last quarter is that
which is now coming to its end. II
began with Free GiUiRg. as seen in the
building of the Tabernacle; and taught
us the two great truths that God low
eth cheerful giver, and it is more
blessed to give than to receive.
Its second lesson was upon The
Tabernacle, built after the pattern
given in the mount intended to be
Gods earthly house and home his
meeting place with his people; also
tent of witness, where, through alIars,
sacrifices and consecrated priests, he
might testify his truth and grace.
The third and fourth lessons were
The Burnt Offering and The Peace
Offering. In both, it is seen that God
Is ready to be approached. but that
the way TO his favor is through sacri-
fccs of expiation. By his own act, or
his believing assent TO another's, the
sinner must appear with an atonement
for bis sin. But, besides this idea,
common to all the sacrifices of animai
life, The Burnt Offering especially ex-
pressed grateful selfsurrender, and
entire self.dedication to God and the
Peace Offering, the bIessedness of re.
Cancellation and communion with him.
Il should not be forgotten that the
person offering the sacrifice, placed his
hand on the victims head, and thus
made 1t the representative of himself.
50 our faith takes Christ to be our
representative and substitute in his
surrender Of himself unto death on
the cross.
The fifth lesson was Nadab and
ALihu, whose transgression in offering
strange fire before the Lord brought
upon them divine judgment Il i'm
pressively reminds and warns us, that
God will be worshiped in bis own way,
and not according to human fancy.
lie does not indiferently regard the
pride which SETS aside his revealed
wisdom and will.
The sixth lesson was The Day d
Alonenent the great day on which
The high priest entered the most holy
place, and there sprinkled the blood
If expiation for his own sins, and thosa
Of Ill the priests and the people. The
ceremony peculiar 20 the day was two