The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for Auguct
12-"The Day of Atone
nent."
Tr,um the Chicago standard

lace is set toward life and salvation, what
ever may be lsrael's turnings. In spite of
their manifold defections. he still is seeking
20 redeem his people. Ii is in his heart 10
do IL. and he cannot be turned from his eter-
nal purpose. Behold him here calling the
Negligent people staightway 20 this great
lesson OF life and redemption. IL is like
God. After the fall came the promise TO the
woman; after the flood came the rainbow
In the clouds and the accepted sacrifice on
the hillside: after the insolence OF Babel
came the choosing Of Abraham and his de-
scendants; after the wilderness came Jor-
dan and the Holy Land; after the relapse un-
der the Judges came the revival under Sam
uel: after Saul came David; after the cap
uyity came Jerusalem rebuilt; after "a long
night'of Journalism at last came Christ and
the cross. Always was God answering
mans unfaith with his steadfast purpose TO
save. As sang Frances Ridley Havergal,
was il not?
And God has kept on loving US,
Loving us all the time.
They offered before the Lord and died.
An Offering there may be which is unto
death. The mere sacrifice will not save, nor
the mere access TO the temple. IL was in
the case Of the presumptuous approach of
Nadab and Abihu, a SAVIOR OF death unto
death rather than of life unto life. II was
meant for an ordinance Of life. but they used
IL TO their own destruction. solemn
thought il is for us that the ordinary means
death rather than 10 help 10 life everlasting.
Insulting the Spirit. dishonoring the word,
despising the temple, disobeying the divine
ordinance. or substituting some human
continuance for its sacred substance. the
very thing that was purposed for blessing
to the race may be turned 10 a curse. They
offered and died. In certain way il rep
resents the whole heather world. In "a true
sense also il indicates the condition of those
who have sought some other light than the
light of the Bible. bringing strange fire TO
the altar. There is but one Offering unto
life. Ii is through the Offering OF the body
of Jesus once for ALL"
Come not at all times. A time there is 10
come, as well as Il way and "a spirit in which
20 draw nigh. of which we presently read.
Yes, even though the veil be rent God
enables US TO catch the abiding lesson hid
in the words and TO last through all chang
ing conditionsl We are only fit 10 draw
nigh for our greater requests when there Is
a spirit-breathed desire in the heart. Why
For will appear in the cloud upon the
mercy-seat." Just because God will answer
our summons and hear when we cry, let us
not come thoughtlessly, aimlessly. Let US
be rcgardful OF these solemn audiences,
BE honest with the Lord. When we call
upon God 10 hear, let US not prattle and
humble but speak an earnest heartfelt
plea. our Father which art in heaven" we
cry and then alas how our thoughts wan
der! No" said the prayeriul woman of
India, requested by Mrs. cambridge 20 re-
member her and her husband at the throne
of grace: No; there are the sick that /
must remember, and the poor Of the next
parish and so many of the feeble brethren
here. l have promised TO pray for them.
and il is as much as / can do. You must not
ask me 10 remember you in prayer" That
woman had high conception Of what il
means 20 call upon God.
Thus shall aaron come. Here is the pat
tern of acceptable approach. The tine has
been spoken Of, now the manner of access.
Aaron was TO come with young bullock for
a sim Offering and a ram for burnt-offer-
ing; that is. with the symbols of blood atone
ment and of Standardization. To draw nigh TO
God we must go by the way of the affairs of
sim Offering and OF burnt Offering; we must
come through an acceptance OF the great
sacrifice and conservation OF our lives TO
God. Redemption and consecration-put
the two together and thus seek the gracious
Father. Come in mcckness, pleading the
love and mercy of God in the gilt of his Son.
a suppliant knelt at the feet of the first Ma
poleon. asking for the life Of her father. a
leader in the instruction. But this is the
second time he has been guilty" said Ma
poleon, touched by her cntreaty: Justice
demands his punishment" "Oh. sire!" she
cried. 1T is not justice / ask but mercy"
And she had her petition. God loves 20 be
besought in the name Of mercy and for
Christs sake.
God there is u proper time. and prescribed
way. and "a becoming attire. Here is the
dress OF approximately linen garments.
Simple, such as all wore, but holy. Tho
high priest put them on with the rest. Holt
ness, purity of life, is a prerequisite of COM
munion with Goa. We might point you TO
some of the men of high prerogative in the
Kingdom OF Christ. Bunyan, Wesley. Carey
Judson. They were all persons of eminent
piety. They had washed their flesh i'm water
and put on holy garments. What is il but
clothing ourselves with Christ in all man
ner OF conversation. Robert Hall, impet-
uous in debate. withdrew in a heated ar
gumcnt one time and was overheard ex-
claiming. Lamb of God, Lamb OF God
calm my perturbed spirit" IL is only as
We abide in the garb of the Master that we
shall render acceptable service 70 God. 1t
is a daily and hourly putting on Of Christ.
For himself. Priest and pcOple-all need
atonement, Christ alone is without sim"
When the preacher in the pulpit or the
teacher before his class speaks OF the atone
mcnt he speaks of that in which he has
had personal part. By grace are We saved.
Before the herald Of truth can instruct
others he must himself know the power Of
the blood. being regcnerated. Where were
you born" "a distinguished doctor Of divn-
lty asked of the gifted young Summertield.
Il was born, answered he, "in Dublin and
m Liverpool" Said the doctor: How can
that beT The boy preacher paused "A mo-
ment and then responded: Art thou mas
ter in Israel and knowest not these thngs?"
He was master in Gods Israel just in SO far
a. he did understand these things. Under
Martin Luther's picture some one wrote.
"WdgttHS NON est cHi .NdriiHuS Luther non
est mGgqas. He is not great 10 whom
Martin Luther is not great" Beneath the
cross write, He only is great TO whom
Christ il great"
For a sUt-o6eriaQ. There were two tokens
the goat for the sin Offering and the goat
for the wilderness. The first was brought
and slain. type OF life given as a ransom
for sin. Here see Christ and learn how our
robes are made white in the blood Of the
lamb" Magnify the sin-atoning blood of
the Lord Jesus. The blood OF Christ His
Son cleunscth us from all sin" stranger,
intelligent and well instructed i'm the Scrip
lures. but In great distress OF mind. came TO
"A man OF God for relief. He had simply TO
press home the words. Christ Jesus came
into the world To- save sinners" and her eyes
weled forth with joyful tears. Said she
afterward: Il always thought that Jesus
came into the world 20 save saints. and /
wept for JOY when / saw He came TO save
sinners" Friend, have you gotten hold yet
OF the joy-burning truth!