The National tribune., 1886-04-01
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By Study OF the Int
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed 4
Anril IL Hahn

| L
One reading these notes should first carefully
| study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
| indicated above.l
This lesson gives account of Chrst's selection
of five of the Apostles the first to be chosen for
| such office, viz, Andrew John (the Evangelist,
Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel. These were all
called at the place of our Sayior's baptism,
| Bethabara (same as Bethany, in Perea, east of
the Jordan, about 20 miles northeast from Je-
rusalem, not a great way north Of the mouth
| OF the Jordan. The names as given above are
| in the order of their several calls. We find
John the Baptist true as a herald. He attracts
men from himself to the Lamb of God. (V.
36.l Andrew and John have personal inter-
| view with Christ at his temporary abode. They
are convinced of his Messiahship. Andrew is
so pleased and anxious about his brother Peter
that he seeks him at once, and finds him ready
| to join the nucleus Of the first Christian body.
Then Philip Is added, and he is SO in earnest
he sets out for Nathaniel and succeeds in gain
| ing him as one more to the number.
We notice Christianity does not shrink from
investigation. Come and seel" is its frank
! invitation. There is nothing to hide. There
is no esoteric circle. The Founder of our holy
religion did not have piOus exterior for the
pubic and lOoSeneSS OF morals in private.
There is something very modest in ST. John s
effort not to lug his name into the narration.
The Apostle Nathaniel was also named Bar
tholomew. Lu., 6: 14) He was of Cana in
Galilee John, 81 ~ Andrew, Peter, James
and John were probably of Bethsaida, or Caper-
| naum.
Nazareth was our Savior's home from two
years of age up to 80. mt, 2: % Lu., 2 A.
lt was place of no repute. No prominent
character had ever hailed from that city. (V.
46 Compare Z: Al, AZ, 52.) The fact of having
lived i'll Nazareth was not against Christ. Ma
tional or local preudices are as silly as errone-
| Gus. Every place has chance. Merit, not
the source, is the real question Mistakes have
often been made in this matter. Job came from
! the ldumeanS. Abram resided in Ur of Chal-
| dea. God can raise up children even from
stones The great philosopher Anacharsis was
of the barbarous Scythian nation Pindar
sprung from the BGotians, whom the Greeks
judged to he dull people. similar slur is
sometimes heard at certain trades, and yet
many of our most eminent men came from
! shoebencheS, tOwpaths, tanneries, etc.
| The following Old Testament Prophets (V.
| 49, foretell Christ: Moses, David, Isaiah,
Ezekial, Zechariah, Haggai, Malachi. E. G.,
secret of the general expectation Of the coming
of the Messiah.
We are ready to draw out the practical les
sons:
1. Look to Christ; look at or on Christ.
| (V 36) Look ntently. Keep your eye fixed
on him. Be not diverted by other guides. Be
sure the one whom you see is Jesus Single
Gaze with penetration, so as to satisfy your
selves of his personality authority, and sim
cGrity. Make the evidences Of Christianity
your study.
9 Anticipate the wishes of any to follow
! Christ. (Vs. 81 49, Our Savior discerned at
once an anxiety on the part of Andrew and
John to become acquainted with him, and so
with his doctrine. If you have reason, from
any peculiar action, or appearance of counte-
nance, or look, to believe a person would be
pleased to learn of Christ, do not be careless,
but turn and notice such individual. Seek to
engage him in conversation religious topics.
Persons now often wish Christians would turn
and help them introduce their concern for sal
walton.
3. Follow tho Savior. (Vs. 81, 49, Follow
his example and instructions and commands.
He is our teacher, our schoolmaster.
A. Becourteous. (V.38.) Andrew and John
gave an honorable title to Christ. They did
not speak out rudely, CURLY. They used the
language of respect and dignity. They saw
Jesus was on the move and, though DESTROYS
of addressing him, they do not ask him to stop,
but inquire as to where he is to put up, aud
where at leisure hour they could meet him
for an interview. If men be travelling, or
otherwise busy for the time, do not interrupt
them. Find where they reside and call on
them 1T their convenience. Never stop men
when they are engaged. Do not approach
merchants in the counting room or at trade.
Keep away from the doctor when he is COM
pounding his prescription. Be silent when
the lawyer is planning his argument. Do not
talk to an editor when at his proof. Find
where these men live Ascertain their most
unemployed hours.
s. Be solicitous to find out where Christ is.
". So Knowing, you can seek his company,
and advice, and comfort and help. Know the
way to the mercy seat. Learn the road of
prayer.
g. Strive so to live, you will not be afraid
to have persons come and see your acts and
ways, and hear your words at home. (V. 39.)
Z. Having learned of Christ, look up others
and tell them about the Messiah. (V. AL
Take special pains to seek out relatives. Let
brothers go to brothers. Bring them to Christ.
". 42.) Andrew went after Peter (Simon)
Philip sought out Nathaniel. (V. 45) The
first thoughts of a genuine convert relate to
the conversion of others. Let us go and tell
all persons whom we can reach that we have
found the Messiah. Much such work can be
done in the street, etc. The instances found
in our lesson occurred il the common routine
of life.
8. Be firm Christians. ". 42) Let the rock
symbolic your adherence to the Savior. Be
steady in character How can you be thus
staid? Peter was not worthy the name (stOne
or rocky until the Holy Spirit descended upon
him in the Pentecostal shower. Seek baptism
from on high and you will be bold for Christ.
y. Personally examine all the claims and
proofs of Christianity. Come and see," says
Nathaniel. ". 46) Do not take my word
alone Examine the evidences of Christianity,
and test its power in experience. Come and
see for yourselves. Above all, do not pronounce
against it till you have thus proved it, Be not
prejudiced; that is being small. Do not pre-
judge that is being large. Little minds are
governed by whims. Egotists can pronounce
opinion without the trouble of framing syllo-
gisms. Some men are SO smart that they need
not belabor themselves with any research into
the proofs of Christianity, but condemn it on
sight; yea, in some cases, even on hearing, or
by mere report. 1t is surely at least fair to
come and see.
TO- We have preparatory work to do in our day
and places. Each should be John the Baptist,
and so lay foundations for Christian prosperity.
Good work can be done in the Sunday school.
The Church looks to the parish schools for it's best
workers. Christ went back to st. john after
brief interval from his baptism, on purpose to
secure some disciples who had been trained and
were quite on the way religiously. Indeed, the
special mission of that ElUah-like man was to
prepare men for the reception of the Messiah.
To-day when the Church wants Ministers of the
Gospel it enters, in the large majority of cases,
our Sunday schools to select. Andrew, Peter,
James, John, Philip and Nathaniel became
Chrsts most eminent Apostles, and all these
he secured at Bethabara. They were all former
scholars of ST. John the Baptist.
II. Jesus is the Lamb of God. He takes away
our aims Go tn him then if Won he cinnera