Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-12-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON C0NsmERED.

ing the Scriptural Lessons Inteiligentiy
and ProftabIy.
The lesson for Sunday. Dec. Is. may be
found In Kings IL: Ais.
INTRODUCTORY.
We see here how wisdom, a sort OF world
ly wisdom, sometimes over.Teaches itself.
1t was doubtless good policy. from
secular standpoint, for Solomon to ealarge
the royal household. aking into his
kingly favor and protection the daughters
OF the surrounding empires. he strength
ened himself with each OF the petty princl-
palities. thus placated and became mighty
in his alliances. But this was a political
rather than a pious movement. and Solo
mon was thus putting himself under gratul-
tous temptations, Tor which ne had not
sufficient grace to enable him to stand
firm. Voluntarily stepping aside from the
divine counsel, aud choosing his own way.
he counted too much upon his own powers,
and presently met with discontinue. IL is
warning to all who would go world
pleasing and adopt the plan OF expedienccy
rather than OF simple righteousness. AS
Farrar says: "The devil tempts us when
he thrusts sin before US. but when we APP
proach it ourselves, it Is then We who
tempt the devil"
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
His heart was not perfect with the Lord.
Consecration was what Solomon lacked.
whole hearted sacrifice, complete devotion.
have you learned the secret OF success In
the Lords service, as In all other kinds OF
,ervice? 1t is In perfect self. giving. No
doubt we have all of us experienced the
humiliation OF failure in work. religious and
secular. Has 1t not been because OF imper-
feet self-development? The man who sue
ceeds Is the one who with thoroughness OF
endeavor goes straight to the work. saying,
This one thing I do" What was the
trouble with Solomon. that man OF the good
ate I'll 80. -
ties and. to large extent. blessed reallna-
tions2 L think says our friend. that
Solomon's wisdom was not all for God. IL
was partly for self and worldly pomp. Be-
ing mixed, IL became corrupt. What is 1t
James SAYS? There is a wisdom that de-
scendeth not from above but is earthly.
sensual. devilish." Avoid that. But the
wisdom that is from above. is first pure,
then peaceable. gentle, and easy to be en-
treated, full Of mercy and good fruits, with
out partiality. and without hypocrisy.
That seek, VIII OLE eartedly.
Went not fully after the Lord. You re-
member Caleb. or him it was said. But
my servant Caleb. because he had another
spirit with him, and hath followed me fully.
him Will l bring into the land Caleb
tion in Scripture imagery. And yet 1t has
not always been used, even there. in dero-
cation. The dogs eat Of the crumbs" you
know. And have you ever been reminded
OF the TACT that the dog Is the only animal
that comes instinctvely to follow man and
to evince something like self-sacrihctng
loyalty? Now turn over to Eph. v. l. BE
ye therefore followers OF God as dear chill
dren." There is the Caleb spirit. is II not
good policy? Certainly Caleb and his COM
panion Joshua found 1t so when they
sought to obey God rather than man at
their fret entrance into Canaan. Certainly
solomon realized the folly OF doing other
wise ere his days closed. In fact. is not just
this the conclusion of that book OF Eccle-
siastes. which Solomon wrote?
Which burnt incense. And the fumes OF
that idol incense would ever be upon their
garments, faint reminder and suggestion
OF ill., but growing fainter on the senses
day by day. So evil works. First endu ed.
then pitied. then embraced. Satan has no
better mode OF lnsinuating vice upon vir-
tue tran by bad associations. He sonds
companions to stand about with pleasant
ace and CHEEKY Tx. who ever and anon,
but so dexterously and cautiously. swing
from behind them their censers OF heather
incense. We get a scent OF It, and at first
it ofrends us: but. as with n smoke OF the
weed we presently grow half unconscious
of its presence. Before we know IL we
have surrendered TO the evil. Bewa OF
those that burn incense and sacrifice unto
strange gods. They are. Willingly or un-
Willingly. it matters not. Satan's ennis
saries.
Which appeared to him twice. 1t is the
sin against Christian experience. What
greater impiety than that which forgets all
former favors and blessings and acts cs II
they had not been? This was what gave
poiJnancy to Peters sorrow, He had de-
MED the one who had been his daily COM
panion for months. He had gone right for
ward as II he had never seen the Lord.
Indeed that was his assertion. And was
not that the tact declaration OF Solomon's
evil practices, Il never knew him2" And
ho hoh IA oil N nj hla rrivflaUa ~
twice communing with him In closest
fellowship. Alas. how many are forgetting
what manner OF men they be-; God-called,
God-anointcd menl Backslider. recall the
times when God appeared to you. Remem-
bcr the love that shone at conversion, the
voice that spoke in the heart at baptism.
the moments OF sweet communion since.
Tor David thy fathers sake. How much
depends upon the faith OF the fathers, who
can tell? But to this much OF traditional
ism we incline; faith lasts; prayers po-
tepcy does not cease with death. Not that
The trust and piety OF parent will take
.ae place OF the child's. That Is the Angli-
can heresy, the vice OF the elect infant"
article in the confession. But where does
the faith and spiritual yearning OF the de-
vout fathers end2 Continual strivings OF
the Spirit, special and moving providences.
divine forbearance. merciful interpositions,
gracious outpourinRs, these are ours to-
day, not simply because OF the faith OF to-
day but as n KIND OF resultant from the
cumulative faith of more than one genera
tion. godly ancestry is not to be de-
spised. and we Baptists need to have care
lest in our maintenance ofthe true doctrine
of individual choice In conversion we for
get the parallel doctrine of Christian in
huence and the everlasting potency OF
prayer. There Is many son, worse than
Solomon. who may yet be remembered o:
God for his pious fathers sake. But will
that piety save him?
And for Jerusalem's sake which have
chosen. Here are two grounds for the
divine long suffering. First, for the sake
OF the faithful servant: second, for the sake
OF the holy city. In other words for faith
and for grace, for Gods choice il was that
made tho city holy. God. who would have
s, ared Sodom for ten righteous men in IL,
Is gracious toward all communities for the
sake OF the loyal who are there. But the
higher ground of his forbearance Is his own
sovereign choice OF his people, and the
cause which they represent. We need
often to turn TO grand old Ezekiel. and
when more than in times OF slotn? and
read the stirring words, Therefore say
unto the house Of Israel. Thus saith the
ord God: do not this for your sakes, o
house OF Israel. | ut for my holy names
sake. which ye have profaned among the
heather. whittier ye went Be this our
prayer to-day: Lord. remember David
thy servant And this, Remember thy
congregation which thou hast purchased
Of old--this Mount Zion wherein thou hast
dwelt.'