The Ottawa free trader., 1889-05-04
THE COMMAND TO WATCH.
International Sunday School Lesson fol
NAV 8, 1889.

Way o. boSV'
| Especially arranged from :. s. Quarterly.l
LESSON TExr-Mark l3;24-37.
GOLDEN TExT-Talxe We heed, watch and
pray: for yc know not when the time is
Mark l3 :33.
CENTRAL TRuTH-To watch and pray is
Our privilege, our duty, our safety.
TME-Tuesday afternoon, April 3, A. ID.
3d.
PLAcE-Mount Of Olives.
CoRREspoYpING SCRIPruREs-Matt. "a 30
81; Luke 81 :25-36.
CmCuMsrANCEs-Thi lesson is contin-
uatiou of the last lesson Jesus, in full
view of Jerusalem, two days before the
cruclfixion, is giving comfort and instruc-
ton To His disciples.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-4. Sun ShdHbo
ddrkened: TO be taken either Q) tiguratively,
representing great civil and social commo-
tlons, or C2) literally 1t applies figurative
ly u the first two comings, and probably
literally to the third. %. Porers in Hedrea:
if taken fguratively, "the invisible ntiu-
ences which rule human society" il liter
ally, "the solar system" ri. IN clouds: as
He went to Heaven. (See Acts l:91l)
With spiritual and heavenly powers. Great
pOcer and giorB manifested in the estab-
lishment of His Kingdom on the earth
Schaff. 81 Send His angels; heavenly angels,
the ministers, "angels of the churches"
(Rev. 2:ll, or any messenger and agencies
of God (Ps. 104 a; Heb 1919. Gather His
. elect. His chosen ones, His disciples; the es-
tablishment of one church; the heart-unity
of the church. From the four ptnds: denot-
ing the four quarters of the world; l. e.,
from every part. 30. This generation: to be
taken 1) literally, and referring to the de-
, struction Of Jerusalem (see Mark 9:D, (2
I,,,t thno ~
; that the Jews should not cease as distinct
nation till the fulfillment of these things
, and Christ's Kingdom have come.
FULFnLMENTs-D All these things were
fulfilled in the first era of Christ's coming
(see last lesson), which began on the day
!, of Pentccost and ended with the destruction
, of Jerusalem. The Kingdom was then es-
, tablished. The new graft of the Gospel dis
pensation was united with the old olive
tree of the Jewish dIspensation, and by the
fall Of Jerusalem the old branches were cut
away, leaving the graft to grow alone into
. the perfect tree (see Rom II: 1920. The
= living, personal Christ was in the church,
. guiding and ruling it, II had become one
great, true church 1t took place within the
generation then living, amid all the signs
=. foretold. Note that almost every earnest
= longing for Christs coming in the New
1PSldlUtHl lthCtDl llldl III IAtHClhblOhl was
i written before the destruction of Jerusalem,
Il and the era of the Gospel Kingdom. Note,
' also, that the Christians, needing these
i warnings, left the city of Jerusalem before
= its destruction and went to Pela in the
= mountains, so that not one of them per-
5 ished. (2 1t will be more completely full
g filed in the full coming of the Kingdom OF
/ Gcd on the earth. There is "A growing unity
o of the church. Christ is becoming more
a and more visibly present The commotions
! and troubles foretold always precede the
establishment of Christianity in any nation.
False Christs are arising. The Gospel is
beng rapidly preached to all nations.
Jerusalem is still trodden down of the Gen
tiles, and the Jews are still scattered, but
there are signs of their return, of their
being again grated into the magnificent
tree of God Kingdom. (3) The fulfllment
at the day of Judgment is in the unknown
future. but is the certain completion of the
Kingdom of God on earth.
COMMENTS Things against which we are
\ to watch The dangers which beset the
2 Christian did not all pass away when perse-
cuton died out. Times Of persecution have
their great dangers, but times of prosperity
e are not safe One of the dangers TO which
IS the apostles were to be exposed and against
|
e liability to be deceived in religious matters.
+ New teachers OF religion were to arise, who
+ would try to draw them away from Jesus
l. | of Nazareth. These dcCeivers would be
J.; very clever and plausible men, who, if IT
a were possible, would deceive the very elect.
- just so in our day there are men who are
: getting new revelations of one sort or an
e other, by which they try TO supcrsede the old.
@ Things FOR which we are TO watch. Christ
, taught His apostles that it was their duty
!, to watch for His second coming. He told
them tnat He was going ION far Journey"
{ ". "a, but none the less bade them watch.
In verse 81 He broadened out the command
} so that II includes you. Jesus Christ may
r not come during your lifetime, but you
are to be IN the attitude of watchfulness
none the less That He will
come again is sure. That He will
, come suddenly is sure That His coming
will be like d snare TO many catching them
unawares, Is sure. That His coming will
find many unprepared, like the five foolish
virgins is sure. watch, therefore, lest,
coming suddenly, He find you sleeping"
The true mariner not only watches against
storms, but he also watches for favorng
winds, that he may take advantage of them,
and be the more surely waited to his de
sired haven. CarelessncSs lies at the root
OF much coldness. So, too, the young Chris
tian may prottably watch for opportunities
of usefulness. Many wounded man has
been left to perish, not because those who
passed were priests or Levites, but because
they were careless laymen, VINO never saw
the man at all No day will 90 by, under
ordinary circumstances, in which the watch
full disciple will not see instances when he
can be Of use TO his fellow-men. We are re-
sponsible for not doing, as much as for do
ing; and most probably our sins of omls-
sion far Outnumber our sins of commission.
The Saviour's accusation against those on
His left will be, because they did not min
ister to Him, and their excuse will pass for
nothing. Rev A. f. SchaufIler.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
l. Dark and troublous times are sure to
come before the kingdom of God can be es-
tablished
2. These should not discourage US, but
bring comfort and faith, as signs of the COM
ing.
3. Jesus Christ is surely coming in His
kingdom, successful and triumphant