Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-22
Lesson l3.-Ths Babe and the
King.

ISAIAH ae-T.
aoIpKK Trxf .--sOf whom Moses In the Law, and
the prophets. did write. Jesus Of NAareth-John /;
Central Truth Jesus sympathizing
Brother, almighty Saviour, and eyerlast
ing King.
The round Of weeks has brought us TO
the closing Sabbath of the year. With
the present lesson the years studies are
completed. This fact can hardly fail TO
suggest thoughts of sober retrospection.
But, as this day Is the one which the
great body of Christians have agreed to
keep as the birthday cf our Saviour. IL
is well that We should think and talk
of him. II Is the memory of Christ,
once q babe and now King, rs 3 Sa.
viour from sin and nur foreruuner into
the heavens. which robs the thought Of
times swift fight OF its sting. and which.
TO the believer. makes even life's end
most welcome.
Isaiah entered on the prophetic Office
about $50 years before the advent Of
Christ. At that time he lived in Jeru-
salem. His uttersnces, so remarkable
for their great sublimity. were not all
predictions. Our modern popular use
Of the term prophecy makes Il refer al.
most exclusively to the foretelling of
future events. That was not the origi.
nal meaning Of the word The prophet
was Gods messenger Of counsel,
consolation, and rebuke. as well as pre-.
diction. But 10 Isaiah IL vas given 10
fofeself many events then in the dis
tance and especially some very remar.
kabie ones connected with the advent
and mission OF Christ. There Is so
much gospel in the book which bears
his name that he has been called the
evangelical prophet.
One question, likely to be suggested
By the Iesscn he!cre u, relates TO our
reasons for believing that the words re
fer TO Christ. What are some Of these
reasons7 7 For one thing. we are pre-
pared TO recognize such = reference by
the frequency with which the Evauge.
lists and our Saviour refer TO passages
In the prophetical books as fulfilled IN
himself. "All this was done that IL
might be fulfilled which was spoken Of
the Lord By the prophet" Is language
with which every Nov Testament rea.
der IL most familiar. Then, these words
most naturally apply to the Saviour I;
theS describe jnst such a person as the
Gospels show him 20 be. Nor was there.
or i there, anv one else to whom they
could apply. Moreover. the expressions
were not only fitted to excite in Jewish
minds the idea OF Messiah, but they
actually did this. They understood
them as pointing 10 such q personage.
Down TO the very advent OF Christ. and
until controversy with Christians drove
them from IL, they accepted this az the
onIv natural ana true Interpretation.
The reference 10 Christ IL clear. and 10
an unpreiudieed mind il i conclusive.
4 seeond point Of interest reIstes To
The meaning Of the expressions here
applied to the person referred To. Each
word hes : great meaning in itself.
aWhen il Il said that his name should
be called. II does not mean that he
shcuId actually hear these names In real
life. but that he should deserve them.
and that they would be descriptive Of
his character" First. 'hc government
shoald bs upon hs shoulders tha. is. he
should he . supreme ruler. Then, he
should be Wonderful. or wonder; a
person whose appearance and character
and life and deeds should excite sur
nTH#| anu AHtHf - WGAt - tttG 0f1fHN "
authority and power. was remarkably
illustrated in the case Of the Saviour
Die supernatural birth. and sInless life.
and mstchIess words. and miraculous
works, and agonizing death. ard resur
rection. and ascent 10 the heavens. are
fresh wonders still. He was to Be .
Csunsellor wise to instruct and guide.
an authoritative teacher, and trusted
leader. And those who heard him
wera sonstrained 10 confess. "Never
man spake like this man." More 70
mafkabIs still. be would be the Mighty
God. and re Etufasdng Fafhv. Only 70
Deity itself could such expressions.
with any approach TO propriety. be -.
applied. And ingenuity hes not been
able 10 shos that tbes are mol subslaD
italy correct renderinas Of The original
Aua. II tho reference be 70 Chfiss, there
ean be % need cf desiring % show his.
The language Is bold bul i not boI1eF
49, 45sMx ~ 80 NAt4 Ia44as44nszs tf5THa