The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-03-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for March
18-"The Son Re-
jected"

in the twsnty-first chapter Of Matthew, from
the thirty-third to the forty sixth verses
DAILY READNGa
M.-The Connection Matt 81: lisa
THE Lesson.
w. "A Parallel Isa 5: IL
T.-Israel Rejected Rom IL: 1871
F-Contrary Israel ! 1hesa 2: l4-16.
h-lhe Top Stone. Zsch 4: IT:
h-The Precious Stone l Pet =: l-S.
BREAKrAsT vERsEs
M.--Build thou this walls." Psalm 81: l6
livery plant Matt Is: 80
W-.No fear of God" Rom 3: IS
T-sWhen the Son Of man comsth-" Luke
IS: 4
F-aDespissd and rejected" Isa IS: 8
h--Highly exalted" Phil 2: y
SHE shall have dominion" Psalm ~: 8
INTRODUCTORY.
They Will reverence my son" That was
the last word spoken as the envoy extraordi-
nary lert the court of heaven 3'rhis 10 the
heir; como let US kill him and let US seize on
his inheritance" This was the greeting he
received among his own Of earth 1t l. . les
son which, first of all, makes its appeal to the
jew, but which, with equal emphasis. calls
out to every son of Adam to whom the great
redemption is sent May this stone rejected
OF the builders OF old Be made for many
heart through the study of the lesson before
us, by Gods grace, the 4head OF the corner"
Then shall church and Sunday-school have
occasion, gladly, to say: This 10 the Lords
doing. and 1t Is marvellous in our eyes" The
scene is laid in Jerusalem; the time, shortly
after the triumphal entry
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Hear another parable Ii was truths con-
straint They had heard, blind leaders Of the
blind, more than suited their fancy already.
With lily suppressed indignation they had
heard themselves compared with the son who
had said insincerely, 4 go, SIR and went
not, forceful picture being sketched Of the
publicans and hsrlots going into the kingdom
before them Now comes the announcement
Of their complete rejection They were pos
sibly for turning away in anger; But that
mild yet stringent utterance held them,
@Hear ye another parable" 1t is q summons
to a scorning world. Another parable there
Ia for il, another scene painted in blacker
colors still to show its wretched guilt and
undoneness before God Heaven grant that
some who have passed by all other voices
may hearken at last to the serious admoni-
tons of this sother parable"
There Was a certain householder. Learn
lesson in teaching. 1t Ia the serviceableness
of illustration, the value OF story lessons.
Christ set US the plain example. When HIS
audience was restless, OF peculiarly dull Of
comprehension, or, as here, vindictive, He
told them story. and gave them the whole
some truth in t4e story. 1t was probably the
only thing that could have held those incensod
Pbariseos at this time. Had He said at once,
anticipating the conclusion, "Ye shall be mis-
erably destroyed their fingers would have
been in their ears. He said, instead, There
was once q man, q householder They stopped
to listen, and the lesson was driven home. 1t
- the practical testimony OF all successful
teachers and preachers. Count Tolstoi is as
tonishing two continents with his adroiiness as
an instructor. He enforces occult truth by
tales of simple life. We got in behind the
curtains with successful pulpit orator the
other day His study was full of clip
pings and markings. His every day book was
q thesaurus OF illustrations. Remember the
certain householder" you help it?
And let 10 out Certainty il weuld seem to
have been his to let He had planned and
planted the vineyard, had hedged it about,
had equipped 1t with appliances for work,
against loss, as ii were-he lets it out as his
own, fully furnished for working Suppose
we look al life in this aspect Whose planning
is ity whose planting? whose guarding and
protecting? whose furnishing and equipping'
Our own? BY no means. We have 1t rs ten
ants 1t has been slet" to us, and we are re-
sponsible for our use OF ii and for the returns
IL makes. For it 10 not simply rental, ten
ancy at will II Is stewardship, feudal in
cumbancy, You please We hold our so-calied
possessions simply as almoners and servants
of the real owner He may at any time call us
to account
Into far country. II is token Of divine
wisdom. The Lord Of the vineyard throws
lrs servants on their own responsibility. 1t
10 test but kindly one 1t gives opportu-
true faithfulness and loyalty. without dou BIT
the beat scheme for the development OF char
acter is this with the Master, so to speak, lin
far country" Monitors are not always the
happIest mentors. PateInalism In govera-
ment and sentinelism in schools are not The
most admirable OF schemes, judged from re-
suits. That teacher who inculcates goad
principles and then leaves the pupils to in
dIvidual conscientiousness, and that nation
which cultivates in its subjects individual
IN tv ra
nearly the divine ideal Yet be it al
ways borne In mind that the star country"
is never so far but that tho Master may at
any time return
fruit-time. Every gift, every talent, every
possession. God gives US the use Of those
earthly endowments, but at some time and in
some form he expects return. Every capacity
OF man should, in its due mode and measure,
make for righteousness Remember the
iruit-tims toward God, brother, and remem-
Der it cheerfully, not grudgingly,. and hber-
ally, not meanIy sWhere is the twenty :
five cents / gave you last weeky said the
surly curmudgeon OF husband to his meek
ly petiuoning consort Docs your not wholly
sanctified nature ever feel just q little that
way when the colecton-box looms upon you?
1t Is bad mood for fruittme Suppress it
Deacon Willard tolls OF an old brother, fight
ing grim battle with the demon Of covetous-
ness, who, when appealed TO for . worthy
will give s1OO." moment later his faith
failed him and no said $500" The grace
still farther declining, he reduced Ii TO $50
and ut last to 60 Then recovering himself,
with an apprehension of whittier he was
drifting. he put IT down 500, with the words:
Now old nature, you squirm-"
@That they might receive the fruits Of IL. I"
Very well, then, the minister has his creden-
tails He comes as the Lords fruit gatherer.
Even though he says with Paul, Il seek not
yours, but you,' he is gathering fruit still
fruit unto life eternal Receive the servant
for his Masters sake. Give unto him, even
Of earthly store, rs unto the Lord. The
writer had once a price-mark put upon his
humble ministrations in q rather unexpected
and bewildering way 1t was in frontier
community, where objection was made to the
ordinary collection, and periodical subecrip-
tons were taken instead A certain blunt
spoken and not overly pious squire was ap-
preached by the collector, and when asked TO
contribute to the maintenance Of divine ser
vice no blurted out s1herel take that; /
heard him once" And he put fifty cents i'm
to the petitioners band A sorry occupation
that OF the clergy, ON such an apprehension
OF it.