The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-02
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By Study OF the Inter
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed 70

Practical Duties Taught BIZ Study OF the Inter- |
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for |
Sep. Is. st. John, 16 $50.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated Rbove.l
we.eontinue Christs farewell conversation
with his Disciples.
God sent Christ into this world. His advent
was made at Bethlehem about 33l years before
our lesson. He came from Heaven, and was
about To return. The next day he died. and so
in sense went back to the Father. His body
was put into the sepulcher, while his soul went
to Paradise. We are not to understand Christ
was sent as being an unwilling party. He was
eager to come, and sought his commission. His
way" was the way to the cross, the ria dol
Or0sd- His way was our way, for we are his
followers. He did not refuse to go-neither
must we decline the route, though it be rough
One sent returns to report, and so our Savior
would complete his mission and go back A
person sent hestates to return before the object
| Is accomplished for which he went.
Christ knew he was going to depart-his
Disciples were not conscious enough OF this fact
| to raise any queries. 1t was not indifference
1 to his going from them that caused them to
4 ask no question. 1t was indeed their thought
that the Master had come to stay. As soon as
| aware of the departure of their Friend, they
! took the matter to heart 1t was then Christ's
forth the utility of his going from earth. he
proved to them it was expedient.
| The great reason given for his departure was
that n consequence should be the coming of the
| Holy Spirit. Ii is evident Christ's going to
Heaven was the condition of the descent of the
Comforter Why the Holy Ghost could not
come without Christ going IS not explained.
We can rely on our SaviOr's judgment aud dec
| laration. When Christ reached Heaven he was
| to send the Holy Spirit. No reluctance Of the
Holy Spirit to come to earth is implied. The
Spirit was sent Nv. % as Christ was. ". s.
The third Person of the Trinity is as concerned
for our salvation as Is IL. Father or the Son.
1t was very necessary the Holy Spirit should
come to earth.
He is the Comforter. There were to be sad
hours to the Disciples. Their hearts were to be
crushed by sorrow. They stood in great need
of consolation. But more still, the Comforter
was to come and remain. Christ's stay here
was for only 33i years. but the Hsly Spirit was
to be- permanent resident here in the hearts
of men. Then Christ was local. He could
come in contact only with few people of any
certain community. He could comfort only
the few he CHANGED to meet here and there.
But the Holy Spirit was to be everywhere TOR
all time. Chri5t's promise Of comfort through
the third Person of the Trinity reached out to
US and includes us. 1t was expedient for US all
that Christ departed and sent the Holy Spirit.
} The want of this world is comfort, as an Offset
to sorrow. persecution, trial, toll, disappoint-
} ment. No places are too distant, no hearts too
crushed. no losses too great, no treachery too
cruel TO outmatch the consultations of Heaven
The Holy Spirit cheers Us in such measure as
to drive away dependency and melancholy
) and replace them by hope and JOY.
Another Office work of the Holy Spirit is to
convince the world of sin. He is the Agitat0I
of the conscience. lie will not let men sleep
in wickedness. He chides every evil He
forces Us to believe in Christ. 1t is gross sin
! not to trust Jesus. 1t is well the Holy Spirit
j so disturbs men that they must exercise faith
! in Christ. (V.9.) When men lose confidence
? in God they are sure to sin. Lack Of belief Is
! itself n sin.
The Holy Spirit likewise shows the world
! what righteousness is; gives US standard by
4 which to determine its existence and degree il
ourselves and others; so distinguishes between
, | good and evil that men can easily discriminate
4 Is TO what is and what is not righteous. WhsI
\ our Saviour was here in person he could point
out all deviations from righteousness; bu
| when he departed it was necessary some othe
4 Agent guide US into the right way. That
: the work of the Holy Spirit. (V. l0)
Then the world needs to be convinced of thu
= truthfulness of the Judgment Day. Men mus
!. know God Is not Indifferent to human cOnduc
: and that they will surely be brought TO account
+ (V. H. 1t is protection against evil to real
q ize we are responsible for our conduct and vii
Il be called on some day TO explain our deeds ant
h words. 1t is not such wonder that person
= who scout the idea Of a Judgment Day ar
quite careless as to the character Of their lives
a consciousness always that we must give &C
= count of all we say and do is needed correct
i've and preventive. We should be glad tn
, Holy Spirit keeps up in us q lively remem
y brance of future Judgment.
= We need information on religious subject:
- We must avoid the erroneous and hereto. w
4 Al ~ r al
= Comforter is the Spirit of Truth" He IL tn
i Teacher of correct dogma and the Inspirer {
!, holy JUNCTION. He guides into all truth. III
y helps the scientist as well as the religiOnis
. He makes science lend to religion. The seeke
Il after any truth may depend on his assistance
~ The astronomer, geologiSt, every scientist ma
- fifty ask his aid. Religion and science are nc
. antagonistie. The scholar in every brancl
will make a mistake If he ignores such Guide
The great work Of the Holy Spirit is to carr
on the MISSION begun by our Savior. So b
magni6es Christ, glori6es Calvary. introduce
ID Us TO our Redeemer, revives in our memoirs
y the acts and words Of Jesus. He is no rival {
ID Christ. He is not another Guide than Chris
y lie and Christ are as one in the salvation
d men. lie but does for Us what Christ woul
b do if present.
The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost day,
ID about 50 days after our Savior promised his n
70 vent ACTS, Chap. p, 10 days after the Ascei
q, sion.
y "A little while and ye shall not see me
b Nv. 49, These words are susceptible Of varie
s. explanation. They may refer to the death at
al resurrection of Christ. The Disciples were
r part with Christ in Gethsemane, and not s.
u, him again till Sunday evening. Little while
IT meant from Thursday evening to Sunday eyel
n ing. three days time.
Some believe Christ meant he would be a
st sent from the Ascension TO the destruction
70 Jerusalem. Little while" would then mea
n about 10 years. Titus RACED the Jewish Car
re tai A. ID. 20
e. There Is good reason to believe our Saw
IN would teach there is to be bat =" little time
Id from his death to the Judgment Day.
VI No wonder the Disciples did not fully 2
DC our Savior's idea. We do not have unifor
explanation Of his meaning.
lie Meantime, or during the "little while
k the Disciples were to live on faith. Life w
n to be full of trouble. The good are to lame
II, and weep over Christ's absence On the 9th
AP hand, the evil We're to rejoice over the trials
n tho righteous The good are sad till Chri
returns; the evil rejoice because he renal
in away so long. What call for the Comforter!
st Thank God for the grand future iowa
If which 10 look. Christ is to return. The wal
" ing time is sad. A few months of anxiet
he pain, hope. fear will be followed by the joy
a natal morning. The rejoicing then will mo
ly than pay for the distresses meanwhile.
ar One approaching the Yosemite Valley Is n
nd cesstated to travel by coach over narrow, dust
stony ways for many miles. He feels duril
Is. much of the time it hardly pays to go throu,
ne so much of fatigue. At length he reaches