The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition of tho Lesson
Thoughts Worthy of Calm Refiec-
tion-HaIf an Hours Study OF tho Scrip
tures-Time Well Spent.

Thoughts Worthy of Calm kenec-
tion-HsIf an Hours Study OF tho scrip
tures-Time Well spent.
The lesson for Sunday. Dec. 20. may be
found I'm Ruth /: 1922
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
And Ruth said Ruth is like an untimely
fG. Born out OF duo season she yet testi-
hes OF what the tree is destined ultimately
to bring forth. For IL is 10 be noted that
she came forth. In sense out OF double
darkness: the darkness OF heather lgnor-
ance on the one side and OF Israe.tlsh dis
obedience on the other Elimelecn means
God my King but the departure OF this man
and his family from Bethlehem TO the coun-
try OF Moab was essentially an act OF dis
loyalty toward God. 1t but illustrates how
low in faith and spirituality Israel had
sunken in the days of the Judges that lack
OF bread should be allowed TO drive from
allegiance to God and 10 transgression OF
his law. 1t was lack OF trust rather that
troubled Israel; lack OF that bread that
cometh down from heaven. Yet God brings
good out OF evil. not TO the generating of
the culprits. for they are seen 10 have been
without evangelistic intent; but, in spite OF
their sin. TO the praise of his glory. Where
sin abounded grace did much more abound"
While we were yet sinners Christ died for
u.s.. Thus does God commend his love to
us; all goodness comes from him and him
alone.
Thu people shall be mn people and TIM God
mn Cod Very like the word of Rahab to
the spies. and. as with her, so here il was
counted OF God for righteousness. We have
little conception TODAY Of the intense moral
quality OF this act. Missionaries who are
confronted by the iron barrier of caste. know
something Of what Ruth's act signined. 1t
meant violent breaking with all that had
been counted dear or sacred in past life. 1t
meant throwing ones self forth upon a vast
and vacant sea. Sympathy and reciprocity
was thing unknown among the nations.
A man, as the Romans said, was a wolf TO
one not OF his own country. And yet this
heather woman made choice, deliberate and
final, and henceforth Israel was her people.
Jehovah was her God. Ain. that was for her
and for us all happy choice. Out from the
line OF this same Ruth. elf-helped in self
giving. came Christ the perfect sacrifice.
saying as he came, Ought not Christ To
have suffered these things. and TO enter into
his glory?" His glory. though sacrifice. is
our glory. as centuries ago it was Ruth's.
There is no real sacrifice outside this line.
and no lasting glory.
When she Sdtc that she trds Steddfdstly
minded. Ruth prevailed in the God sent
ordeal No doubt it was with some Ioy at
heart that Naomi left speaking unto her."
She showed herself steadfast No amount
of discussion ought TO be adequate to turn
ing the sinner back 10 the world. Amongst
the good old brethren of a former decade
il was the fashion to turn the tables upon
the seeker after salvation. and for the sake
OF proving his professions and desires TO
allow MIN 10 entreat MS own way. w nat
would you do if you were rejected?" What
II the Lord should still east you out?" 1t
was not altogether an unwholesome test. If
tho inquirer had the grace OF God in his
heart. the words Of the dear old hymn
sprang quick to his lips:
"I'll go 20 Jesus, though my sin
Hath like mountain rose,
know his courts. i II enter in
Whatever may oppose
perhaps he will admit my plea,
Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But IL perish will pray,
And perish only there
IT was a rugged and stalwart faith that came
over such road. Elder Thomas A. Shear
down tells US how when he first began to
preach, some one in the church would occa-
sionally accompany him and endeavor to
prevail on him 10 dcsist, adding that 1T was
the opinion Of some good men, in that day.
that II a young man could be induced to
give up trying TO preach, or by harsh means
be driven from II, 1t was proof that he was
not called of God TO this work" Hard it
was, but what heroes IL made of them!
The Lord hath dealt Ueyy bitterly lciM me.
1t is back sliding Naomi that is speaking
now. She should have praised God that he
still dealt with her. The misfortunes and
sorrows visited upon her might we'll remind
her Of the folly and unfealty of the departure
from Israel. and doubtless to come back and
face her OLD friends was something of an
added hardship. But there was "A hopeful
side TO ii all. The Christening hand upon her
proved that she was not abandoned of God.
but was still his child and the disposition
OF her own heart TO return showed that tho
love of Israel was still warm in her breast.
The peaceful fruits Of righteousness were.
being worked out though she knew it not.
The woman with the babe in her arms. but
half bcnumbed and sinking TO sleep on the
highway, was startled at finding her child
snatched from her by her would-be res
cuer. She aroused herself and ran crying.
mothcr-wise. alter her little one. and pres
emily they were both in the warm shelter of
home-saved. Afterward she said 1T
seemed so cruel. but. oh. it was most kind
Naomi came with tears but il was the kind
Shepherd bringing back his own She was
not Satan's. but Gods. Thank God" says
John Currie 20 his tempted brothers.
Thank God. there's two watchin'."
Itrent ont fuH and the Lord hath brought
me home again empty. So she thought.
But after all the emptiness was at the
going-out rather than here at the home 4.
coming. 1t was like tho return OF the proof
gal. rich in promises. With n chastened
heart and with Ruth at her side. and all of
grace, she is full now with the limitations
OF spiritual blessedness, whereas she was
empty before. We often say it grievously
over our dead. and presently the dear Lord
shows us our shortsightedness. In taking
he has but given. Said our friend, brought
through the deep waters: Read along with
hanaim. With my staff l passed over this
Jordan, and now am become two bands. .
Did not both. he said, "misjudge?" Yes. it
takes time for us TO see events. as God sees
them. Keep on trusting. We thank thee.
q, God" said the brother. in his prayer the
other day, for the prayers thou hast
answered by not answering them. Ameni
And they came 10 bethlehem. A good
place to come TO. At the noon-day prayer
meeting in Farwell Hall the other day q
worker rose and prayed for the aged SER
want at his side. that coming to Chicago on!
an Indifferent errand, without God and
without hope in the world. he might go on
his way rejoicing in the gift Of eternal life.
Presently. when the invitation was given
for those who would take Christ 10 rise. a
bent figure was visible up there beside tho
man who prayed. A little later we saw
them going out together. and there were
blessed tears in the old mans eyes. Was
he n backslider? II SO. it was "a good place
for him to return and begin over again.
Was he a man ignorant of Gods lover 1t
was the place for him to find. in order to