Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-05-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR MAY FIFTH.
THE COMMAND TO WATCH MARK xiii, 9l 81.

THE COMMAND TO WATCH--MARK xiii, 2+57.
NOTES.-But IN those days-It is better
to take these words in their brOadeSt
significance, allowing them to include the
travail between Christs death and his
final coming. In these days of woe the
destruction of Jerusalem is only part.
THE sun shall be darkened, and the
moon shall not giUe her Ight.-This Ian
guage is typical and cannot refer to actual
physical signs. We are apt in fOrcible
language to speak of dark skies when
there is trouble. The Oriental mind is
much more given to such apt and quick
Illustration than the more matter-of- fact
Western mind Coming IN the clouds.
Not as people are wont to think, max
ing terrific spectacle, but coming in
spiritual kingdom rather than earthly
The final triumph of Christianity is the
kingdom of Christ that will be glorious
beyond gination.-Verse q may not
mean literal gathering together. What
it does exactly mean is much disputed.
At any rate, there are angels who will
take care that finally all shall come to
Christ and be his. No quarter of the
earth shall escape their mission
This gelleFGtioR.-Twom meanings are sug-
gested. First, in the sense of those peO-
pie who were living then. But that gives
these prophecies peculiar and not easy
Interpretation. Second, in the sense of
race The Jewish race would not pass
away. That has been wonderfully fulfill
ed. Amid all the changes of scene and
territory that race endures as a race.
When they come together and blossom
and bear fruit like the fig tree then is the
Lord not far Off-KnOlCeth no man
neither the SOn.-Christ, on assuming
of his limitations. What Christ did not
know as man, let no one think he can
fathOm. Calculations can never reveal
the day of the second advent Watch
Christ was never weary of impreSSing
this duty by precept and parable. Wit
ness the parable of the ten virgins.
INsTRUCTION.-We do not think that
Christ means by his command to watch,
for one to throw up ones business in Or
der to climb ON top of house to watch
for his coming. The best test for watch
fulness is to keep the lamp of the soul
always lighted and trimmed, the oil of
good works by ones side and never to
sleep i'll sin.
When autOcratic and inSolent hierarchy
shall cease; when rulers who are filled
with lust and gain shall fall from their
high places like stars from heaven; when |
power for evil shall be turned toward |
good; when none among the nations can |
make the excuse, "I knew him not" then |
the coming is near, then the glad day is at
hand,
So speculation about the time is foolish |
and useless. Christ discouraged it. In |
stead of dreamers become sentries. In
stead of craping the neck for signs in the |
heavens take the muSket and do picket |
duty for Christ.
Watchfulness is wakefulness. 1t is |
alertneSs. 1t is the keeping of every |
power of the body ready for use.
Prayer, as COleridge says, "in its most |
perfect form is the very highest energy |
of which the human heart is capable"
Thus the two great energies, watchful- |
ness prayer, well supplement- each other.
Uncertainty is always an incentive; to
some minds the most powerful. Life has
not the uncertainties of game. One
Cllng we are sure OI-uedIn. lne queS-
tion is, When? Life should be so regula-
ted and ready that each one can honestly
say, "Come now"
Of course the first and most exhaustive
field for watchfulnesS is ones own terri
tory. In Russia soldier held his guard
amid falling buildings at the risk of his
life until recalled. He first guarded him
self. Self-contrOl extends along the line
of the feelings until it masters the evil
passions, the cOnceits and tempers. 1t is
well to rule ones country before annexa-
ton takes place.
We all understand that we are to watch
against moral danger from within and
without Some are self-created; others
are imposed Both are dangerous and
demand unexhausted attention and ex-
clusiOn.
But this habit of observation can keep
a rigid outlook for good points as well as
bad ones. 1t is easy enough to detect
harm. 1t is harder to detect the good.
One of the best characteristic of spiritual
growth is this tendency to appreciate the
best and not the worst.