Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-11-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
AN INTERESTING AND 1NsrRucr,v,,
LESSON CONSIDERED.

A>enections of an Elevatiny Charactcr-
wholesome Food for Thought - Study
ing the scriptural Lessons Intelirentlv
and Probably.
Inc lesson for Sunday, Nov. A. NAV Ina
round III Joshua vii. vs.. IN,
~, WHAT MIA THE LESSON TEACHES.
,o nne cht1dren Of Israel committed t,,ex-
p !. surely. then, We can believe that "in
Aaam fall we sinned all." Here was ali
israel suffering for tho misdemcanor OF ono
nan. Israel re-echoed the past as we'll as
loreshadowed the future OF redemption's
uililais. Snc represented. in more WAYS than
case it is Israel that has committed tresnass
~ ~ Is race responsibility for individual sin.
we read here again. though dimly. now nv
pile man 81. sin entered the world, and death
nN SIN There is something fearful in this
fraternity Of ill-descrt.
-ichan, the son Of Carmi. Punishment is
only for the responsible act. All Israel was
~ gllllt and tr;.nsgression through this one
VICIOUS deed, but penal severity fell only
upon the hand that had been put forth. We
nau ~ up the other day ut that ordination.
YOU remember or that ministers or teach-
out being punishable? How can man be
punishable before being actually and activc-
~ criminal! Let us not put it that Way ut
ali In mysteries we do not expect to sweep
.he whole circumference Of truth. We sim
ply. strike out in straight lines of verify
which sometime. if not now. will prove
themselves to us as true radii Of the circle
And these are the propositions we can safely
lay down: There is no man who was not in
VOWED in Adams transgression. There is
no man who is punished for other than his
own deeds done in the body. That is all tho
Bible and human experience gives us; and
it's enough. When We 20 up higher we
snail see the great truth in all its occult re-
lations.
Took of the accused thing. But it was
not accursed' until they took Of it. 1t was
| SIMPLY devoted: set apart at the outset
When the hand OF coyetousness was laid
upon 1t. then itbecame the accllrsed thing"
What made the forbidden tree" a curse that
Drought sin into the world and all our woe"
| but the hand of disobedience put out unto
1t? What makes any of the things of this
earth "accursed' but the sinful hand and
heart of man? Opium was not meant for Il
| curse to any nation. Alcohol was not IAN
accursed thing" until with fierce, ungov-
erncd appetite man turned it into IL menace
to all things good. Money is not evil, but
the love OF money is the root of all evil"
After all, this world and the things of the
| world are very much to Us what VIC make
| them.
And t,ro or three thousand men. That was
human adequacy. Judging from the sue
cess they have heretofore met with an as
| SttulllIls pitIlS vi ABOUT twenty-five nunutGU
picked men could readily reduce the fortress.
| Well. that would have been enough, had
| their God gone with them. Without him.
| it was buta meager handful. 1t is q mistake
we still make. o, yes. we say. the church is
equal to this ordeal or that, to the invest
stronghold, and in our worldly thoughtless-
ness we are sometimes found leaving God
| out of the account. That is a. dangerous
omission. This church equal unto this
community: this pastor with his sermon
before him sufficient for this congregation;
ton. Il match for the class before him.
This young man IL match for the demands
| OF the world. Believe it. each is no better
than the pitiful two or three thousand
men, before Al. Without God we are all
wcaklings.
| They fled before The men of Al. A fortu-
nate defeat it was. 1t appraised Israel of the
| seriousness of the situation and her own
| weakness. She may have been feeling
slightly eXultant over Jcricho's easy over
| throw and begun to think that it would be q
| light thing to take the whole land. And so
| perhaps there was u momentary relaxation
| of Watchfulness and energy. But it was not
| to last long. The sight of those fleeing sons
of Israel brought the Lords people to their
| right mind. You remember how it was at
| the opening of our civil war. o it will soon
| be over, Il three months levy is sufficient,
| just IL sight of the United States troops
and a taste of grape and canister on the part
| of our enemies, and tho war will be ut an
| end. Then came Bulls Run and u retreat
ing flag and u North in dismay. But, do
| conviction it wrought, did more for the
| national arms than two, six, ten petty vic
| tories.
The hearts of the people melted. So God
intended it to be. His hand was working
even here and the pursuers were unwilling
&c fo Of Tcronl'c
good The men of All brought Gods peo-
pic to their faces in conscious impotence
When tho heart has hardened into perverse.
ness. it must first be melted ere it can be
come Il vessel again unto honor and holl-
ness. 20. 1 believe I'm Il lost SOUL ht
cried. THANK God for that" responded
Lady Huntington, for now see that Goo
has begun good work in YOU" AnC
George Whitield's brother had set his face
toward the Kingdom. 20. my sins are
greater than can bear. said the prlsone,
In tears behind the bars. THANK God!'
exclaimed Moody, seeking in vain along the
Jail corridor for one who was willing to con
fess his sins Won't you lay them on one
who can bear thcm?" And he did.
o LORD e01ut shau say .ohen aspae. a" ,',
wonted sight, indeed. Israel in retreat. NJ
wonder it brought anguish to the heart
Joshua, their leader. Just before the bat
, tie OF Waterloo Wellington kept going bacl
| and forward before his troops, saving amos
! unconsciously, 20, what will England say i
Won fail her now? What will England s;.
il you fail her now?" And is there more
moving picture than the bowed head OF Ma
poleon after that to him, disastrous en-
gaeement? His heretofore invincible ranks
had failed him. Israel with back turned to
ward the enemy Alas, that it should eve
he 40 to-day Alas, that the man of Goo
wrestling in his closet should have cause t.
lift the cry, Lord, what shall say ana
Christian, before the world 8 scorn, 1chatco'
WHAT aciU thou do unto thu great name
Gods cause was in jeopardy. Ell 1elt IN
rending at his heart when they brought mn
word that the Philistines had been victor
ous. and then that his sons and successor
we're persisted, but when they said. THE ar]
; of the Lord is taken" then he fell backward
and his neck brake. 1t was natural. His
whole life was lived for the temple and tn
ark So Joshua here. Like Elisha, he j
oia-mod even more than is due for God'
welfare. Thine affairs down; l, l onl!
left" Not so. Gods name mas never ye
hcen in danger Of obliteration. An english
man one time saw Il poor simpeton trylhi
to rub a carved name from y metal door
nlate with Il piece of cloth. With all ms ruD
hing he but made it the brighter. His nam
shall endure forever"
Next lesson, "Caleb's Inheritance. =
Josh. IA: 5-15. ---------
ppurIANcy of color and artistic com