The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.
Reflections of an Eievsting Character -
Wholesome Food for Thought - Study
iny the scriptural Lessons IntclIigentiy
and Practically.

are sermons In names, because names inl-
ply character. We well remember "A SER
mon preached by that prince of eXpository
preachers, DIR. Hotchkiss. of Buffalo. IL
was on the preparation of Gideon as
sketched mainly in the chapter preceding
this. and the sage and suggestive teachings
he drew from the pages OF Israels history;
for the life OF to-day encourages US to be-
lieve that some everyday lessons from
the character Of Gideon may not prove I'M
acceptable or unserviceable here. That
word. Jerubbaal. brings up all the past
Read the sixth chapter and be stirred by IL.
IL was a day of weak submission TO an
alien government and of wicked sub
servloncy TO an alien religion, and the
name. Jerubbaal. indicates that some one
has broken with the ordinary life of the
people. Literally it means contender tcith
Bddi. or to preserve the compound form we
may say anti BaaL Here was n man ready
To stand out like the anti slavery men OF
old and the anti-license men Of to-day and
the anti-secret society men OF the colleges
He was "A reformer. indeed. and he had
strength TO carry his name to victory and
honor. Herrick in his Some Heretics of
Yesterday" mentions in his list of reform
ers Wiclif. Huss, Savonarola, Latimer,
Cranmer. Melancthon. Knox. Calvin. Wes-
ley What were these but -Antis?" And
does Professionalism mean anything else?
Rose up early and pitched beside the sceH
Of Hdrod. In seeking out the sources Of
lsraels victory. we must not overlook the
human element 1t was The Sword of the
Lord and OF Gideon" Gideon was a wise
and skillful general. He shows this in the
management Of the night attack and in the
maneuvering OF his forces so as 10 cut of
the retreat at Beth Barah and TO effect q
complete humiliation of the enemy at far
Karka. His polite skill is not less manifest
in his diplomacy with the Ephraimites
Here he shows his discretion in an early
and vigorous organization OF his army and
their Judicious disposition. God honors
prudence and foresight. and the men whom
he chose for leadership in his battles. n
Joshua. Saul. n David, were men OF excep-
tional military sagacity. They were men who.
like Napoleon, rose early TO catch the hap
Ply opportunity OF the day. and who, like
Grant. knew how 10 pitch their camps to the
best effect against hostile forces. And has
not this been true Of the most successful
leaders in the war times OF the church?
They have been quick. shrewd. clear headed
men. Prompt 10 suggest. wise TO adjust.
vigorous in the deed. They say that the
chairman Of the national committee. in a
successful political campaign can have any
Office in the gift of the incoming resident
that he wishes; and not as reward, though
that at first suggests itself, but because it is
believed that the man who can manipulate
such mighty political forces and bring VIC
tory out Of threatened defeat is capable of
administering high civil trusts. The man
who makes a success OF great pastorate.
or who can lead efficiently in "A large revival.
is OF no common mold. Spurgeon, Hall
Cuyler. Finney. Moody, what generals they
would make, what mercantile princesl
They are Of the stun that commands sue
cess anywhere.
Too many for me. II is God who is speak
ing. who requires not numbers: by whom
one can chase a thousand and two put ten
thousand TO flight. Not by might. nor by
power but by my Spirit. saith the Lord Of
hosts" What need hath he OF mans puny
SO m IbD m
depletion that binders at times the progress
OF the work. There are always too many
when numbers ate large and spirit is small
or perhaps wholly wanting. A revival of
religion not infrequently begins with a re-
visl of the membership list. IL seems to
us that the most spiritually hopeful man we
saw at "a recent gathering of ministers was
one who arose and reported instead OF ac-
cessions the reducing OF his church men,
bership by u half hundred or more. He was
getting ready for battle; he was doing il by
getting rid Of the drones and the drags.
Nine o,rn hand hath Sdued me. So speaks
pride, which goeth before destruction. Tn
doubleday there is weakness in arrogance.
WASHINGTON wished Bradiock to adopt diff
ferent tactics in fighting the Indians, but
the British General looked upon his mag
nitlcent army and said. These savages may
be u formidable enemy TO raw and undis-
ciplined American militia. but upon the
Kings regular and disciplined troops il is
sion" They annihlatcd them. When one
falls TO Wanting himself he begins 10 invite
defeat. The Lord meant this victory to be 70
helpful ono TO all Israel, and He guarded
against any forfeiture OF this lofty
purpose by reducing the lighting force
To the minimum of efficiency under Him.
1t was this fatal sclf-conceit that wrought
the overthrow of Saul. 1t was this
self glorying spirit that brought Gods
curse on Herod. 1t is perilvaguely pointed
out in that expression OF Deut. -: 10: "Jesh-
urun waXed fat and kicked" A sight of
God as he really is ought greatly to subdue
us. and n sense of our own weakness ought
10 turn US again 10 God for strength. just
fink" says the little one sketched by John
Habberton as discoursing In childish way
Oh the "infuence Of the Pleiades" and the
bands of Orion" "how little dat must have
made Job feel and how strong it made him
fink de LOrdl =. SO IL ever get TO havin'
bad times an fink de Lord isn't strong
enough TO make fngs right, / can just go
out and look ut de stars awhile. and get my
mind right again"
So he brought dorm the people unto The
mater. The Lord made 1t a place OF testing.
and i'm another way the waters edge marks
no slight or Ineffective test of the people at
the present. As to the plain meaning of tho
ordeal here. however, and with this we are
alone concerned. it may be said that be-
tween tho two modes of taking drink there
was "a not insignificant difference. and there
may have been real revelation OF charac-
ter in the posturcs assumed. Those who
kneelcd were certainly more lesurely not
so alert and intent upon the imminent
struggle. as those who merely dipped up
the water rs they passed. pausing not TO
break ranks. But il was "a discrimination
not anticipated by the marching Israclites.
How often in apparently insignificant times
and places. the Lord weighs us. Little
things show the temper ana disposition, and
the watchful eye sees it all. The student
who passed his professor on the ascent of
the college hill with his boots BACKED at the
toes and left rough and uncared for ut the
heels did not escape observation and the
critical comment. He's that way all Orer,"
was perhaps deserved. This STOPPING TO
drink had symptomatic significance. He who
left the line TO quench his thirst on the march
might leave the line TO save his neck in the
battle.