The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-10-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.
Reflections OF an Eievating Character
Wholesome Food for Thought = Study
ing the scripturai Lessons Intelligentiy
and ProhtabIy.


ing the scrIpturai Lessons Inteiligcntly
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday, Oct. H. may be
found in Joshua ill.,. LII
INTRODUCTION.
At the opening of last month we saw
Israel facing Canaanward from Kadesh
Barnea at the south. Now again Israel Is
on the borders OF the land the four decades
OF the wilderness having meantime been
passed. This time the people are looking
from the east. and. as there is every indica-
ton, with a more resolute face and trustful
eye. Now as then, spies are sent forward,
but this time not TO call in question Gods
word. or to put in the balance the alterna-
tives OF going forward or turning back. IL
Is simple accommodating party sent TO de-
termine on the best method of attack. the
entrance upon the land being now a fore
gone conclusion. Israel is ready for the
conquest. We are done with the old. timid
fault-hnding people OF the desert. We are
entering upon new chapter In the history
and development Of Gods chosen people.
With hopeful Israel to-day we cross the
borders OF the land.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Sdnctitg yourselves. You notice the in
tent of it. The people were thus TO prepare
for the woodworking God. Sanctify
yourselves o-dav that to- moTrOU God may
glorify himself. The place to begin in times
OF anticipated refreshing Is with the people
OF God themselves. In a true sense. before
God can work TO do his greatest wonders
man must work. There must be self-empty-
ing. heart cleansing. soul conservation; for
that is what it means TO sanctify ones SELF
Fellow teachers in the Sunday school, we
have brought our pupils up. as it were, to
the borders OF new land and to the brink
OF n new Jordan. We look forward hope
fully to weeks and months which we trust
will be seasons OF gracious revival. 1t is
Tor those who love the Lord time to pause
in devout determination that they may
sanctify themselves. Then shall the
churches and Sunday schools OF the land
DE prepared for Gods blessed visitation.
The Lord lctU do tconders for you. Here
Is faith; and here is Joshuas strength. At
the outset OF any great movement there
must be some mighty and stalwart believer.
some Great heart of faith. The German
Reformation was in the air. we may say,
long before the issue was made. 1t was
only waiting for "a Joshua to come forth in
utter confidence and speak the hearts of all
into action by the bold. trustful words. The
Lord will do wonders for you" Yes, and
Tomorrow" for genuine faith is fearless
of self-committal. And when Luther spake
the Reformation had leader. One who.
while lacking in some OF the qualities OF
Christian championship. united peculiarly
I'm himself these two graces, reliance upon
God, boldness for God. Sitting there In
his study he translated those last words
of Christ: And see, l am beside you every
day" Wonders from the Lord were the
lnlnHS tnat Iutncr looked IOf, ana inc
Lords own wonder working arm was made
bare.
Take mp the drk-PdSS Ouer before the
people. Another step of preparation. The
voice this time TO the priests, the spiritual
guides OF the people. They are TO take the
sacred symbols and lead the way. God has
placed i'm the world an ordained ministry 20
20 before in every good word and work. and
in their hands He has placed the Bible. the
rk OF His covenant, twice sealed. Let the
pulpit see here its place and power. Let
tde Sunday-SchOOl super, ntendent and
teacher find here his strength As we bear
this book and go forward we shall be doing
Jur part, and We shall see the people follow
ng. Huss took IL and the feet OF the Chris
ian army were set in "a new direction.
Roger Williams went forth with ii, and
lacked not companionship. Alexander Car
son came down from his prosecuted pulpit,
md, going down the aisle, said, Let those
that love this book follow" and out there
on the Irish heath he founded a true church
OF the Lord Jesus Christ
BegUi 10 magnify thee IN the sight Of all
Israel. Epauets and spurs. Every knight
must have his kings blade laid in honor-to-
ken across his back, every great leader must
have his credentials Of character. One large
result Of this miraculous and triumphant
crossing Of the Jordan was to be an APP
proved leadership for the conquest. IL WAS
the beginning OF Joshua's confirmation as
COMMUNICATIVE Of the Lords host.
no one gainsay his authority. IL Is token
lightly coveted by the servant OF God; the
sign OF heavens partnership, the seal OF
| the divine Endorsement. Says our friend on
! Inc other side the Indiana State line, Don't
Jc satisfied without fruit, The hand should
| pluck few ears. though the sheaves have
| 10 await the harvest" Yes, if only 10 prove
| our stewardship, may the Lord grant us the
gracious deed. In this sense, too, faith
| without works is dead"
The BRINK Of the ,rdter. We have come
| now 10 the performance or rather TO the
! dye OF the performance. And here is the
| place Of testing. The brink of the water has
manifold terrors for the timorOus sons Of
| Adam. There was rs yet no open pathway
no waled-up waters. IL was a straight
Jroad sweep Of awful flood, and right down
| INTO the teeth of those angry waters the
| priests were hidden TO go. But they did it,
hank God they did it. by the grace of God
| they did it! SO rode the Six Hundred
| into the Jaws of death. into the gates Of
ell" SO Esther, FOR her peoples sake: Il
! Sill 60 in unto the king. which is not accord
! ing TO law, and if | perish. perish" SO
| Paul. in answer to the Macedonian call and
| for Europe's sake "lOosing from Troas--
| came with a straight course to SamOthra-
! cia." SO the Lord Jesus Christ for the
world's sake. because obedient unto death.
"cvcn the death Of the Cross. IL was the
| brink of II fearful flood, but, being boldly
| crossed. the rest was sure.
| HEREBY Ue ShdU EHOtr. Know what! That
| the living God is among YOU. The people
~ well as the leader require n sign. They
are Il mighty host who are around with tho
conviction that the Almighty is with them.
| The strength of Charles Surgeons church
| Is i'm something more than numbers. 1t Is
! the strength OF conscious greatness with
God What can theynot do? Thirty-seven
mission stations. one hundred and thirty
local preachers, twenty-five Sunday and
| ragged schools, and last year two hundred
and forty souls were added. There is mo-
mentum for you. With such purchase and
possession il is to be expected that the course
| shall be from grace TO grace. The Jordan
that makes Us to know the living God gives
prophecy OF all Canaan subdued. Have you
found such Jordan?
Then shall stand upon an heap And they
so stood. The waters which came down
from above stood and rose up upon an
! heap" This confirms the miracle of the Red
Sea. No wind could have driven back this
! flowing current Only the hand OF God
could hold back the waters. They heard a
Masters voice and they tarried, Behold
the winds and the sea obey Him." 1t was
the same restraining hand and voice that
turned back Sennacherib's proud host; il
was the same Withholding providence that
stayed the vengetul might Of SPANS in
vinciblo Armada" and saved the Reforma-
ton from disaster. He who plants his
| footstens on the sea and rides above the