The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-06-14
THE GREAT COMMISSION.
LESSON XII, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATlOkAL SERIES, JUNE ~.

Text Of the Lest On. Matt. xviii. 1920.
Golden Text, Pa. xviii. II Mem
orize Verses is-so-Commentary by
Lev. H. s. Hoffman.
Condensed from Lesson Helper Quarterly. by
PERMISSION OF Fl. s. Hoffman. Philadelphia,
Publisher.
Y Is The eleven disciples appear as the
representatives of the entire band of Christ's
followers There were no doubt many others
beside them who had Travelled the long dis
sanca from Jerusalem to attend this meeting
which Jesus had appointed. He still ap
points places where He will meet His people
Let us be sure to be there. The precise
mountain in Galilee Ii not known. Some
think it Mount Tabor. or the mountain on
which He was TRANSPORTED 1t seems to
have been providentially arranged that every
important place where Jesus manifested His
glory should be obliteinted from the subse-
quent knowledge OF mankind. Enough re-
mains OF the places to attest the truth of
Christian records. but no one spot connected
Hith His life can be certainly identified
bstheiem still exists. but there is no trace of
the place where the manger Graded the Won
drous child. Nazareth is indicated, but the
carpenter shop and the home of Jesus cannot
be pointed out. One can no more 6nd the
house where the Last Supper was instituted
than the drops of water that wet the dis
ciples' feet Tourists are shown at least three
places In Gethsemane whore Jesus agonized.
The hill of Calvary and the tomb of Joseph
cannot bs surely identified There was to be
NO shrine to which idolatrous worshipers
might repair.
V II An immense assembly looked upon
Him He appeared before them. What
strange emotions of curiosity and of love
filled their hearts as they looked upon their
Friend who was dead, but now alive before
them 'Some doubted" not Of course the
eleven disciples who had doubted, but now
were convinced and yet though some doubt
ed. they worshiped Him. Their doubt was
honest, one that could he overcome by evil
dence Their doubt was not lasting, since
Paul speaks Of them twenty years after as
brethren. the most Of whom were yet living
witnesses Of the reality Of His resurrection
They were rash, fanactical enthusiasts
Their slowness to believe adds immensely to
that bold and unfaltering faith with which
thenceforth they gave witness of His resur
rection. 1t is well to prove things and then
bold fast
v TO- tucy ulay nave QOuDueu,
Jesus did not reject them, He only came nearer
to them, giving them convincing proofs
When they got a closer view Of Him, and
when His familiar voice fell upon their ears
how every trace of doubt must have fledl
Matthew gives US but the most condensed
epitome or substance Of yhat Jesus said on
this occasion He addressed all present and
all future believers in Him He asserts that
all power Of government. Of guidance, of in
6uence, Of authority is His, not only on earth
but in heaven Seated on His mediatoria
throne. He declares that He is the Head of the
Church, the Guide Of all the nations, the
Director of the course of human history, max
ing the enemies of religion subserve His pur-
poses He says that He would have power
over nature and its laws; power over tho in.
ventions of men, SO that commerce with its
railroads and steamships and telegraphs
should carry His Gospel Ha tells US that He
has in heaven the power Of God, being God
over all, the power to give life, pardon and
peace. the power to plant new graces in the
renewed heart; the power to comfort and
strengthen. the power to send the Holy
Spirit: yea all the powers that constitute the
divine nature and character were His to ex-
ercise Glorious truth, we have an ever liv
ing, all powerful Saviour.
V 49, Christ has brought His disciples to-
gether in order that he might disperse them
over the world to bear the good tidings OF
salvation to all men. He tells them that be-
cause all power in heaven and earth are His,
therefore should they go forth to the ends of
the earth to proclaim His name All His
power is pledged to each one Of His servants
for protection and help They had tho
promise OF Christ's eternal and unlimited
power to back them. Dangers, trials and
persecution awaited them. but they had
watchword such as conqueror never had to
quicken their zeal and to assure them of sue
cess Out Of weakness they were made
strong
v 90 The business of Christ's ministers
and people is to "observe all things that
Christ commanded" The word observe
means not merely to do them, but to keep q
watch over them. The doctrines and pre-
cepts Of Christ are to be protected and handed
down to other generations. The preachers
true fidelity consists in this, that be breaches
nothing but what Christ has taught While
there may be new methods OF teaching, the
truth is the same now that it was 1900 years
ago Nothing is new, nothing becomes obso
lete We want no new Gospel Christ prom
ises to His true Church His presence to the
end of time. lie does not say II win be- rbut"l
am" with you He is an ever present Saviour
By His risen Life by His Providence, by
His Spirit, Christ hes engaged To- be with
eaeh one and all Of His people for all time
To have His presence We must be united to
Him "Now is Christ with US, then tat the
end Of the worlA we shall bs with Him where
He is" SchaR "He may hide himself, but
He never absents Himself from us" "Al-
way" e., all days, every day, week days
and Sundays, fair days and tou, days
.'Though left along, nke orphan children in
a cold. unkind world, the disciples were not
to think they were deserted Their Master
would be ever with them Though oolp.
missioned to do work as hard as that OF
Moses when sent to Pharaoh, they were not
discouraged. Their Master would certainly
be with them Christ Is with us always,
wherever we go. He came to be Emmanuel
God with u.s. when He first came into the
world He is with Ms daily to pardon and
forgive. with US daily ia sspctify aud
strsngthan, vito Us daily to defend and ken
with US daily to lead and TO guide. with us In
sorrow and with us il Joy; with us in sick
ness and with US in health with us in lfo
and with US in death, with us in tins and
with us in eternity II It everything to be a
real Christian. None have such King, such
a Priest, such constant Companion and such
an unfailing Friend a. the true servants of
Christ" Ryie.
Let us say Amen to this blessed truth. and
With our hearts believe II 70 our great and
endless comforJ Amen.