The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL


A Pleasant. Interesting. and Instructive
4 Lesson and Where IL May Bs Found-A
Learned and Concise Review Of the
Same.
The lesson for Sunday. Dec. 16. may be
found in Judges 10: 2f-3l.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
The Phiiistines took him and put out his
eyes. Samson represents to us the faith
principle IA We learn from Heb. IL: 81. He
stands for the church OF God In the old dis
pensation. But it IL faith captive and
crippled. "a church held in bondage and her
eyes put out. II Is the calamity that "Details
the spiritual principle In every age when it
wantons with sin. whenit takers counsel of
the world. You remember the old story
poem OF the church joining hands with tho
world in equal and agreeable converse at
the first. but presently becoming weak and
powerless. impotent. but she scarcely knows
II. because she ls ALSO blind. What n man
was Samson in his day. what an intellectual
giantl We are so amazed at the exhibi-
tons OF his physical power that we over
look Ms perhaps not less conspicuous
mental vigor. The story OF the riddle init
mates IT, And yet what n wreck IS Samson
In the Philstfnc cellar with his eyes put
out! 1t is where the world would bring the
church. To be robbed OF wisdom. the eyes
of her understanding blinded-tkis is the
destiny of a church subsorvient TO the
world. Had the Philistine- spirit naught to
Hound HIM NTH Jetters Of brass. II was
cffectual subsection. There is a point like
ttas TO which the world can reduce the
church. its mighty energies put in bands. its
divine strength so hampered and bound
that only miracle can liberate and free II
for such displays OF strength as are normal
ly Its portion. The day OF Deism was such
period in the history of England. when. in
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Christian men. many of them, were~dspos-
ed to settle down to suspension Of belief
In miracles and in a revelation. allowing
themselves 10 be shackled by the world
hand and foot. It'll the utter weakness OF
their faith cried out against them. Ration
alism Is n fetter OF brass than il securely
fastened will eifectually restrain the church
from the exercise OF Its higher. larger
powers aud consgn ii to dreary drudgery
! OF earthiness. as fruitess as il is comfort
less and joyless. George Eliot's gloom was
the gloom OF just such "A prison-house with
its braZen letters.
He did grind IN the prison house. A prince
In disguise. yea. more. in disgrace. The
good is made to serve the bad. and the great
principle OF truth and righteousness Is set
10 grinding 1.-THE house OF vanity and wick
edness. Some such condition of things, we
may say, existed on the British Isles lust
prior TO the Methodist revival under Wesley
and Whitfield. Says Lecky: 1T was the
leading object OF the skeptics of the time to
assert the suhiciency of natural religion. 1t
of the divines 10 prove that Christianity
was little more than natural religion accred-
tied by historic proofs and enforced by the
Indispensable sanctions Of rewards and
punishments. Beyond a belief I'm the doc
trine of the Trinity and a general acknowl-
edgment of the veracity of the gospel MARIA
tives. they taught little that might not have
been taught by disciples OF Socrates or Con-
fucius."
Hotcbeit the hair Of MS head began to
0roi1 again. An intimation of gathering
strength. a hint Of hidden power. token
that the Lord had not forsaken his servant
Strange that the Philistines did not foresee
and foreguard. 1t is the worlds short
sightedness. There was Moses in Pharach's
palaces. there was JoaSh, of Gods seed
royal. hid in the house, OF the Lord six
years. God had not forgotten Israel. and
her willy enemy was. by his behest. working
out her own rebuke. Thebes thought TO
make sure OF her supremacy over hacedon
by holding Philip. the heir apparent, as a
hostage. and she unwittingly gave him the
very weapons with which he. himself after
ward destroyed her. There was n Samson
hid in prison. his eyes half put out. his
limbs calloused with unrequited toll when
papal Rome ruled the world. Howbeit the
hair of his head was beginning TO grow
again. as il were. and there among the Pied
mont Alps and the Swiss ravines strength
was being nurtured that ere long would as
sert itself. t .a
Our God hath delivered Samson orr enemy
INTO our hand. Yes. as well as he could.
Satan gets Just about this far in the de-
livery of the Lords own. Something like
this cry OF Philstia's arrogant multitude
was raised once when they were taking u
certain monk in Tetzel's day along on me-
road 10 Worms. That capture was a dear
one indeed It's direful cost TO Rome has
not been fully reached They rolled the
wooden horse within the walls OF Troy with
shoutings. There were other shou tingS e..
long. but not OF rejoicing. 1t reminds even
of the arrogant cries in Plate court. GOD
overruled Samson's discontinue. We are
TO remember the spirit OF the times. God 5
help to Israel in the days of the Judges. as
in the days of Joshua. was in the overthrow
/ or intimidation of malevolent foes. Sam
sons delivery into the hands OF Philistia
had for rs higher end the punishment O.
Philistia's insolence. That end was draw
ing on apace.
He bo,ced himself acih all his might and
the house fell. Now. mark you, this is not
suicide. 1t is Samson. the Judge. Samson,
the deliverer. saviour" who is acting, anc
the Spirit of the Lord has returned upon
him. Neither is it merely personal VEN
geance. Ii is rather lf-sacrificing patriot
ism. he is like Arnold Winkelreid. who.
dashed himself upon the Austrian spears:
MAKE way,for liberty he cried,
Made way for liberty, and died.
Philistin has had another lesson similar to
that Taught her when. having essayed to
layVlolent hands upon the ark OF the Lord.
she found her idols PROSTATE and broken
and her people smitten with the plague.
Here. for a like offense, mingling sacrilege
with blasphemy, she brings down upon her
head the wrath of God TO the destruction OF
her mobiles. Israel is vindieated. and doubt
less for a time at least delivered from the
rapacity OF Philistia. Phistia is rebuked.
Let Philistine world lay it well TO heart.
God hath still His avenging spirits. and we
know not how soon the pillars of earth s
temple may totter toward the final demoli-
ton. ..l.t
More than U.ey 'ohich he slew in his life
Not improperly do we use this words when
we apply il TO the fruitful end of "a fruitful
| life. Samson was raised up TO abash Phil
istia and deliver Israel. He accomplished
! the same end with his death as with his life
and more. II is "A right ambition. Keep il
before you, seeker Of souls, servant OF the
| Master in tho dispensation of grace IN
| which we find ourselves. When the natives
slew their missionary who had preached as
yet to little effect. he fell with his arms
| spread. out like cross. And the recooec-
| ton of that meek. self-sacriflce for Jesus
sake and the souls snke wrought effectively
! where words and deeds had failed before
| so that all that was needed thenceforth &c
! bring tears to.the pcnitent eye OF the native
| was to shy. Remember the cross OF Abel.
bert" But. better still when we speak Of
the potent giving Of life let US fix our eve
| M Co. hot o nf.rl,