Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-04-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONSIDERED.


Thoughts Worthy OF Calm Renec-
tion-HaIf AN Hours study OF the Scrip
turcs-Timo Well Spent.
Tho lesson for Sunday. April %. may be
found in Lark 13: La
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
1. Went out. 1t was our Savior's last visit
to the temple. AS Matthew says. he went
out and departed from the temple. And
his last word was OF threatened destuc-
tion.---The temple Herod's temple in
strength and magnillcence was one OF the
wonders OF the world--Oae OF his dis
ciples. II matters not which. for as Mat
thew intimates CHS disciples came to him
for to show him the buildings"), they were
ali alike. one. perhaps. acting as spokes-
man.--Mdster, see l1hdt manner OF stones.
We are to connect this with the threat that
has just gone before, found impledly in
Mark. AMI more fully in Matthew C29.
Chr st has been predicting overthrow. His
disciples straightway cau his attention to
apparent strength aud stability OF all around.
2. ARsUerin0. He had been answering all
day long. Now, as eve approaches, he must
needs meet the wondering inquiries and
surmises of his disciples He was full OF
grace and truth. ."-Seest thou. The word
is 6lepo signlfying 10 look at or observe.
Christ says, 1T is great buildings you are
looking dt"--ThrolCn doIcn. The word
for dissolution thorough and final. The
destruction OF Jerusalem under the Roman
and Saracen was complete. One of the de-
tached stones OF this stately edlflce is said
to have measured 24x4 feet.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Tell as lohen shall these things be2 When?
Tell us when? In the privilege OF privacy In
our Savior's unspeakably precious solitudes
Peter and James and John and Andrew. all
OF them, are asking OF seasons and signs,
when, Master. when shall these things
beT" o. we are all very like. our early
brethren of the cross. The church has
troubled itself much over needless ques-
tions. We made the wrong inquiry. Dates
instead OF doctrines, doubts for deeds, the
Uhen rather than the lohdt and the tchO. Ac-
tually, when we arise to our better spiritual
moods, we are not asking this question. we
are letting the future take care OF itself. and
are asking only how we may please God
most in the present moment. Our Joy Is al
ready full. Already do we see the enemy
cast down and the truth victorious. Up in
heaven, even before the final denOuement
john saw them singing the song OF Noses.
a paan that belonged to the farther side OF
tlse Red Seas wrathful flood, whose waters
were yet to fall All at once in Psalm II,
while David is praying to be delivered from
his enemies. his eye OF faith sees them al
ready overthrown. and he cries out, MY
tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness
all tue day long; for they are confounded,
for they are brought unto shame that seek
my hurtl" He asks not "when?"
Take heed lest any man deceiUe you. This
Is Christ's first answer to the question.
"When?" just offered. Be careful. says he,
lest in your seeking to know the time-hid
den from mems eyeS-you be led astray.
And how many have been thus qnisLed!
centuries. many now. The word more than
once, openly as here tacitly, rebukes IL
disposition to pry into the secrets OF eter-
nifty. Watch" Christ says, and that is
enough. Watch In two-fold sense. Watch,
| st VIC be led astray by that which is false.
and lest we DC taken unawares. !. g., unpre-
pared, when the true Master comes. De-
cetred, led dstrdU. How prone we are to be
misledl The word is the same as that used
OF the sheep gone astray" in the noun
tains. o, how many there are. even in
picty's name, being led astray from the
truth to-dayi The warning Is applicable to
us of this age. Shall we take heed?
These are the beginning Of sorroUs. SO
then we are just in the beginning of the
great upheaval. The premonitions OF Gods
Overturning providences all about US,
but they are only the premonitlons. When
the final conflict and catastrophe shall
come. the violence Of overthrow will be as
much greater as the bursting OF the storm
cloud exceeds its faint predictive mutter-
ings. We must needs keep the book OF
Revelation open before US as we read this
lesson. 1t is noteworthy as the thrilling
symbolic images of the New Testament
book of prophecy pass before us how
slowly. and with what sober. stately step
pings the ultimate issue Is ushered upon
tho view. When the seventh seal Is about
TO be broken there is silence in heaven"
and the deliverance is for the time with
held. So also when the seventh trumpet is
about TO speak. Aud it is only when the
Seven angels having the soven last plaques"
are hidden, Go your ways and pour out tho
vals of the wrath OF God upon the earth"
that we know the full meaning of the sew
enth seal and the seventh trumpet. What
we SEQ to-day in history is but the begin
n!ng OF that war wherein tho Lamb shall
overcome"
And the gospel shall first De published
among all nations" And then cometh the
end" Matthew adds. The beginnings OF
sorrows" Tor palms, are very nearly passed.
We are drawing nigh TO that combination
OF events which shall mark the end of
things. Not necessarily the sudden ter
mination OF life or of earths history, but
the terminal epoch wherein shall be mani
tested the might OF God in precedented
ways, and wherein shall occur those vista
tions, iniictions and delverances pro-
phesied as belonging to that eliminating
era of mundane history. with its final exhi.
bitions OF Gods might and mercy. Let the
gospel go forth and find every land. Not
that every people must accept. They need
onlv hear. Published" is the word. The
testimony is to be made on every shore. in
every cline; male faithfully, whether men
receive or reject. Ours but to witness. God
does the rest, and the word of God shall be
fulfilled" Let us hasten his day, Christian.
by sending the people forth.
For IL is not ye that speak. but The Holy
Ghost. why is it," our friend has just
been saying to us. speaking OF certain
evangelistic conference. that those simple,
uncultured men have such power with the
word2" And then We both paused and looked
at each other and answered the question,
soberly, each for himself: rs II not the
Holy Ghostl" Christ has promised It. He
will guide you into all truth" He shall
testify Of me- HE shall glorify me- Over
in Acts they spake. -As the Spirit gave them
utterance. We can detect IL to- day. When
one speaks to our hearts OF Christ and re,
veals Christ to us, IL is we know. the work
OF that promised Spirit. ThesJ TO whom
Christ was speaking here were to be wit
nesses. That did not forbid culture OF
soul and mind and speech. 1t did forbid
needless concornmen ent as to rhetorical
finish. Prayer was to 10 their best prep
aration. They were men OF the Holy
Ghost.
But ne that shall endure unto the end.
Here was the second and final answer to tho
quory, when shall these things be?" Just
endure. This should be your chief care. TO
abide i'm the vine and so endure to the end.
God will take care Of the times and seasons.
Do you give heed to yourselves. Keep in
the faith. Draw nigh TO God. When the
disciples came saying exultantly. Why. even
the devils are subject unto us, Christ an-
swered Il saw Satan falling like lightning
from heaven" Hence, rejoice not that dew
lis are subject Rejoice in this, that your
names are written in heaven"
Next Lesson: The Command 10 Watch"
Mark xiii. 24-37.
Nuns veilings come with hemstitch-
ed borders in all the delicate evening