The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-16
CHRIST AND THE YOUNG.
International Sunday school Lesson Cor
March II, 1889.

Especially arranged from S. S. QUARTERLY
LESSON TExT-Mark 10: 1922.
GOLDEN TExr--Suffer the little children
20 come unto me, and forbid them not, for
Of such is the Kingdom Of God.-Mark 10 IA.
| CENTRAL TRuTH-Eternal life is gained
by faith in Jesus which gives up all things
to Him
TIME-March, A. d. 80. Several months
after the last lesson. A few weeks before
the crucifixion.
PLACR-On Christ's last journey to Jeru-
salem from Ephraim along the borders OF
Ialilee and Samaria and down the Jordan
valley to Jericho. He had not yet reached
Jericho.
PARALLEL AccouNrs-Matt. 16;l322; Luke
lS:1523
INTERVENING HIsroRY-Mark 9:4s to 70:
| 12; Matt. 1876 to 1912; Luke 9:5l TO lS:14 |;
John Z q to IL "a.
| INrRoDucTIoN-Several months intervene
between the last lesson and this, filled with
important events, chiefly recorded by Luke
and John. One OF the greatest was the
raising Of Lazarus from the dead.
The excitement about that miracle raised
such a storm Of opposition from the leading
Jews that Jesus retired to the little village
of Ephraim, north OF Jerusalem. This was
! in February In March Jesus went north
ward to the borders Of Galilee and Sauna
ria, moved eastward to the Jordan, crossed
the river, and descended on its eastern side,
through Perea. 1t was on this journey that
to-day's lesson occurred.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-13. And His
disciples reb,Ited, etc. because bringing the
children interrupted an important discourse.
They thought Jesus would not wish to
bother with babies when He had men TO in
struct. H. Jesus tDds displedsed: because
they kept away from Him, az those who
wanted to come; (2) those who would bs
the hope Of the church; 90 those whom III
came to save; a. those whom He loved; "a
those who were the types OF what m
disciples should be. Of such Is the kingdom
of God: of such little children. And, as HI
explains in v. Is, those who come to God u
children to a parent.
BRINGING CHILDREN TO JEsUs-Childrer
are brought to Jesus Q) by daily. constant
earnest prayer on their behalf; C2) by teach
ing them the truth; (9 by consecratinl
them to God for this life and the life II
come; az by training them up for Christ
II. When He ,ods gone forth: from the house
where He was staying. LttO the way: thu
high road, by this time crowded with trav
elers TO the passover. There came one: I
ruler, probably of the synagogue Matt. }
| He was rich, moral, attractive, earnest IL
WIN caUest thou Me good: not rebuke 10
calling Him good, but an inquiry whether
he looked upon Him as common teac
usually called "good master" or as DIVINE
teacher, good in the sense that God IS good
| 49, Kno,pest the commandments. all in Heaven
who have eternal life, naturally keep TIKI
| commandments, which are summed up IL
one word, lopc 20. Al these have 1 observed
outwardly, in worldly view; and yet ut
was conscious of lack. He felt that HI
| did not possess eternal life. 81. one chm
thou ldckest: he lacked one thing, but it wa:
the main thing-that loving trust whicl
! consecrated all to God, which is the soul o
all good works Sell phdtsosper thou hast
use your property for God; give it all t.
| Him. What does this mean for usl In prin
ciple, the same as to Him. God does not ask
US to give all to the poor, as He did TIN
man; for He let John retain his home. Blu
whatever He docs ask US to do with 1T w
are to do. Not one dollar is to be kept asid
! from His will Follow me: note His possibl
future as a disciple, compared with Hi
obscure future as nameless rich man.
CoMMENTs-G God loves children, God love
all children, good and bad. How strang
that some people tell child: If you d.
that God will not love you" Who first in
vented that doctrine of Satanl The hardes
thing to make a man believe is, that Coo
loves him The Gospel preacher wearie
himself, almost in vain, in heralding tn
truth. God so loved the world, and point
to Calvary in proof Of it. But even while ID
! l.; rniapfS the nrOp.
and denies the assertion. Since Jesus wa
God manifest in the flesh, He is to US
proof that God loves children. But VIVA
return does love caAv for' A return o
love. "We love Him because He frs
loved u.s." Love should beget love, espe
cially when the first love was a disinter
ested one God loves us now, therefore "
should love Him now. Remember nov
thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
MANY of our scholars have probably ofts'
thought that if they could see Jesus as'th'
children of Jerusalem saw Him it would b.
easy to love Him. That may be so; but we
we can love Tim though He is not here il
bodily form. And one way OF showing tina
we do love Him is to keep HIS command
ments. He says: He that hath my com
mandments, and keepeth them, he it IS ths
lOVeJn me- (JOnn r. I'll Anu VIC dbeN
apostle John, shortly before he died, SAID
''For this is the hove of God, that we keel
His commandments" We need not fee
towards God or towards Jesus exactly a
we feel towards our parents, or those W
love in this world, but we must so love tn
Lord as TO be more ready to obey Him tina
any one else in the worh-Rev A.
Schauffier.
PRACTICAL sUGG EsTIoEs.
/. We here ee the love of Jesus for chi
dren.
9. Children should 60 to Jesus very earl
in life.
g. Older persons should go with the chl
dren to church, TO Sabbath-school, TO Jesus
4. Children may be hindered by neglec
by bad example, by wrong teachi ng, by th
habits and influences of their BONES
5. Eternal life the most important thin
TO seek after.
6. We should go 10 Jesus to find eterni
life.
z. 1t is possible to be very careful OF ou
ward works and wholly miss their spirit.
g. Outward morality does not satisfy tn
soul
g. Eternal life is given TO those who :
trust Jesus as to give up every thing mi
His hands TO be used according 70 His vii