The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for September
p" The Spies Sent Into
Canaan
[From the chIcng, standard. |

~
divine counsel Faith said. in the words OF
Moses. Behold. the Lord thy God hath set
the land before thee: go up and possess IL.
as the Lord God OF thy fathers hath said
unto thee" Timid distrust said in the words
OF the people, we will send men before US.
and they shall search US out the land and
bring us word again." God said. Leap; my
arms shall hold you" Israel said. Not
so; we shall feel our way. we shall trust In
human strength and sagacity." IL was an
i'll exchange. They abandoned divine wis
dom. they preferred mans judgment; that
was ruinous choice.
Whether they be strong or ,ceuk. What
matters whether they be found strong or
weak? God was strong. Did not He put to
shame the pride and prowess of Egypt
Had not the strength OF Amalck been turned
TO weakness? The Israelites were turning
their gaze in the wrong direction. Their
inquiry should have been as to the strength
or weakness OF their own hearts. They
should have searched to SEQ what strength
OF divine promise was theirs at this junct-
ure. Some timid servant of the cross fell 10
i:quiring regarding the difficulties in the
way of certain aggressive missionary opera
tons. The English officer TO whom he di-
rected his interrogatories suddenly closed
the interview with the direct and pregnant
words: What. sir. are your marching or
ders?"
Good or bad. How could it be bad? God
had called it land flowing with milk and
honey lex. 3: 81 Was not his word suffi-
cient? All. the unbelief of which we are to
study in the next lesson began back here at
the sending Of the spies. All things are
good 10 which God invites his people. Only
that is bad which puts itself in the record OF
his prohibitions. "Opinion?" cried the
jealous missionary. Bishop Taylor. asked
regarding his views of the minds OF the
heather. Il have no opinion OF the heather.
But here is the word of God"
In tents or an stronghoids. They were
looking for something easy. They were not
willing to give God the glory of doing some
thing great and beyond man. The modern
church of God often halts before great
task. refusing. as it We're. TO let God do in u
godly and glorious fashion what Ii Is in his
gracious heart to do. We have spoken of
the notable Bishop Taylor. Said he in our
hearing the other day: Africa is said 10 be
IA hard field. Yes. il is TO those who do not
understand it. But God has had provision
in Africa for missionaries ever since the
days of Moses. They have q house and por
ton set aside in every village for strangers.
They never touch the strangers food. Ii is
sacred, and Ii is there waiting for him when
he comes. The Mohammedaa knows this.
He starts out alone with a two dollar outfit.
and never calls for further aid from home.
d, that the Christian church were ready TO
plunge with like faith into the work. To
those who manfully and Christianly set forth
obstacles and strongholds soon vanish.
BE ye OF good courage. Moses is kind
hearted. Meekest Of men they called him.
Here. although his course was overruled.
he, like Samuel when the people asked II
king, acquiesced and endeavored 10 yet Sc
cure the redemption Of the people. He
points out that which will be their better
policy in the exploit about 10 be entered
upon. Go boldly. he says, DO courageously
what you undertake.. There were men in
our late war who lifted up cries of lamenta-
ton and depreciation az the gathering clouds
of war. but when the shock OF battle was on
they showed themselves the bravest OF the
brave. Great men. even in their conces.
sions. or compelled conduct. show the stuff
OF which they are made.
The time Of the first ripe grapes. And
God was also kind. Although they had mis-
trusted him. he led them safely forth and
placed in their way the clusters of the early
fruitage TO raise their hope and ardor. We
find il so in our warriOrwork to-day. At
our moment of faintest fealty he sends us
tokens of graciousness by the way. Often
when we are doubling the goodness of his
land and tagging in the service we find an
early cluster ready 10 pluck. 1t is ever for
us the time OF the first ripe grapes. There
is ready earnest Of good things 10 come.
Some OF us came together the other evening
for formal prayer and social religious slim
illus. We looked for nothing more. Right
there the Lord gave us "A soul, asking the
way OF life. God is always ready. 1t Is
never else than vintage time with him.
Because Of the cluster. A beautiful desig-
nation. named for its fruitfulness. In all the
sad "reminiscences OF those days there was
this sweet spot of memory. In the days of
the desert wanderings that followed how
fondly the thought must have fingered here.
and how sacred the place in all the centuries
that followed the conquest OF the landi Here
and there. rs We look back upon days and
years of uniaith and waywardness. we find Il
brook Eschol OF gracious experience where
God in mercy made kindly overtures to us.
And. though mt that time we may have re-
fused him. the experience has taken on a
sweetness in our recollection for the love
displayed.
And sho,red them the fruit twas an i'm
pressive object-lesson. To strengthen their
narrative. here were the manifest tokens OF
the goodness OF the land. 1t is even rs
God promised. and. behold. here is the
fruit TO prove il. The truth OF Sam Jones
preaching and Of his ministerial call had
strong certi1cation in the happy face and
ringing voice of Sam Small, who accompa-
MED him rs one Of his converts TO the faith.
The evangelist never speaks with greater
power than when encompassed by cloud
of witnesses TO attest the saving character
of the gospel preached. God give us in
teaching and preaching the seal OF frutage
Nevertheless. Pitiful nevertheless" des-
picable nevertheless. 1t is a good land
but: it floweth with milk and honey-but.
GOu WOru mas Deen NerlHeu-Ou. "
wretched "neverthelessl" Faiths voice
ceases, the accents of timid distrust are
heard. Strong enemies. walled cities. and
very great; moreover giants-think of il
giantsl A fig for giants in the Lords bat
tlesl And yet this same nevertheless" has
emphasis in all our service Of God and oui
dealings with the world. 1t overbalances
and displaces often all the exceeding great
and precious promises. 1t is worth ones
| while TO dip into the great enthusiastic life
Of Chautauqua, If only to have borne In
upon ones mind the meaning of the three
notices Of the student circles. viz. I'VE
study the word and works OF God" Let US
keep our Heavenly Father in the midst.
Never be discouraged"
Let us GO GD at once. True courage and
| faith speak out once more. Alas. that II
should have been ineffcctuall There was
| victory in tho tone OF the words, and hao
they been responded TO there would doubt
less have been no chapter OF the wilderness
| journey to record. Caleb and Joshua wer,
simply ahead of their compeers. Theywer,
| on the side OF Cod, with whom abode vic
! tory. "On tho floor of Gods house.. saic
| Joseph Cook, that man Is tallest who /:
nearest 10 God" IA for giants. there wer,
| three on the side Of Israel-three only. Mo-
SEES and Joshua and Caleb. 1t is faith tina
singles out and makes great.
Next Lesson. The Unbelief OF the PEG
| ple."-Num. IA: Ito.
=-
THE manner OF dressing is becoming
more refined, because il is becoming NOR.