The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-10-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
ENTERTAINING DISSERTATION ON
SERIOUS SUBJECTS.

The lesson for Sunday. Oct. u. may be
found In Ps. 32: ILL.
INTRODUCTORY.
We turn not far aside here 20 take up q
psalm OF David. the psalm itself being a
confession that David was sinner like
others. and needing the unmerited favor OF
God. This Scripture has for its heading
the somewhat enigmatic words, "A Psalm
OF David. Maschil." The margin translates
1t. a Psalm OF David. giving instructions.'
The Douay version says, TO David him.
self, understanding" How TAR back these
headings are 10 DO traced. whether or not
they are an integral part OF the canon OF in
SEPARATION, II Is not Tor any one perhaps TO
say authoritatively. This we know. how
ever. that they reach as IA back toward
the sources OF the original writing as we
can find our way. and. though they seem 10
be the work of scribes and comphsrs. the
directions seem 20 be such n part OF the
ancient divinely approved temple service
that we dare not pass them by lightly.
The meaning OF this heading seems 10 be
that the psalm before Us was of number.
thirteen in all. used for didactic purpose.
one of the teaching or doctrinal psalms.
Certainly we can find In IL for our classes,
to-day. divine instruction and illumination.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Blessed. The psalm begins with words OF
blessing. but IL is In reality psalm OF con-
fession. The Douay versien calls IL The
second penitential psalm. "--Transgres
sion Is forgiven. AS may be seen the
OF the words in the English being supplied.
More literally it would read. Blessed. the
guilt pardoned. sin covered Three
words. in fact. in the Hebrew. two of them
compound.
Imputeth not. The word means origin
ally to bind. hence ilguratively. to think. &c
count for or esteem. 1t is the same word
at Gen. Is: 6. that is translated. "He counted
1t TO him for righteousness" and the same
also at Isa- 3d. A. which is rendered. Yet
a l. mi
To have no iniquity imputed or reckoned &c
his account was 10 be counted guiltless.
Spirit. Literally breath. hence dispo-
sition or character. See Job 20: B. whore
the same word occurs. No guile. Nc
deceit. That is. TO be made. by Gods
grace, what one claims to be.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Blessed is he whose transgresion Is for
given. The penitents Psalm. our own
psalm, Christian brother. We quote the
beautiful first psalm. blessed is the mar
that walketh not in the counsel Of the UNI
cody. nor standeth in the way OF sinners
nor stitch in the seat of the scornful. But
who OF Us knows that Dlessedness by native
claim and as TO the manner bornY" The
thirty second Psalm fits our case. That
blessedness we know--the blessedness OF
sins forgiven; OF wicked counsel. sinful
ways. scornful seats put away throu IN grace
and the hayward past covered and for
gotten through Gods mercy. Here is
| bessedness for the poorest and wretched.
| est. grace for the transgressor, favor for the
| sinner. 1t is ours Just because we are sim
| ners, ours II through faith. we will take It,
But you are such slnner-how can you
| be saved?" said the minister TO the new
| convert, testing Ter. Didn't you saw" was
| her prompt reply that Christ died for sim
ners? Now YOU say I'm a sinner and can't
| 10 saved. l know better than that, IL you
| don't. / tell YOU l am saved" Can not We
| all yor our own blcssedness say it:
Il do believe, 1 now believe,
That Jesus died forme;
That on the cross he shed his blood,
From sin TO set me free
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord
| imputeth not iniquity. We are seeking Tor
definition of true blessedncss; shall we
not hni 1t herel The supremacy blessed
| maa is he who feels that he has no niquity
To his account with God: true. downright
| blessedness is the consciousness of "A record
| cleansed and spirit ransomed and made
| hoy. In very truth, there is nothing like
| II. The happiest man in all the world Is the
man who suddenly awakens to the appre-
| hension OF redemption; the bliss that ex-
| eeds all earthly bliss is that which comes
| at the moment when there flashes in upon
| uG the reality and greatness OF what Christ
| Jesus has done Tor us-the conviction OF a
| personal and complete salvation. Now,
| brother, remember this, that bliss is moi
ephemeraL 1t is to last. Last Wednesday
| Thursday. or Friday evening. perhaps. you
| rose In the prayer meeting, and told of the
| JOY that was once yours when first you saw
the Lord. Why not praise God with pres
| ent and abiding JOY over sins forgiyeni
| Take renewedly the cup OF salvation and
| call upon the name of the Lord. Blessed,
| continuously and increasingly blessed. is
the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not
iniquity.
| In time when thou mayest be found.
| When is it? Is IL not when he most needed,
when the cry of the godly goes up. when the
| floods of great waters are around abouti
| jeremiah says: -le shall seek for me and
find me when ye shall search for me with
| all your heart" 1t is the whole he art that
goes forth in search of God when the
| agonized cry OF human extremity Is heard.
| Where human need is greatest right there
is God to give his aid. There is a vast
throng pressing out with Christ from
| Jericho's gate. 1t was the one who cried in
| fullness of want, Jesus. tn GU son OF David.
| have mercy upon me-" that gave pause 10
those blessed leet Moody calls our atten-
tion TO the three hopeless cases" Of Mark
| ". the demoniac of the tomDs, the woman
| who had many physicians but rather grew
| worse. the lifeless daughter OF Jairus. Just
| at this point of mans hOpelessness came
the Great Deliverer. When is Christ 10 be
found? When self is lost then Christ is
| found
1 acknowledged my sin. Unto no priest.
| Unto God alone, against whom the sin has
| been wrought. Against thee. thee only.
have / sinned and have done this evil in
thy sight" cried David. in that wonderful
| companion psalm, the flfty-UrSt AcknOWl-
| edgment OF sin is the way out OF sin, Lord,
| be mercifu to me the sinner. Confession
brings pardon. because confession in itself,
when rightly rendered is prayer. an en-
treaty for help. Read over the bcatitudes.
| 1t is the confessing. imploring spirit that
carries away the blessing. Blessed are the
poor in spirit-they TAT mourn-the meek
they which do hunger and thirst. 1t is
the ready soul that finds succor. How can
God help those who will put forth no hand
for His deliverancep How can He pour sal
walton in when the cup is already full-full
OF pride and self-love2 We were driving
through the track OF a cyclone in the forest
| miles and miles OF PROSTATE trees. We
| noticed thQt those that stoo up straight
est and stoutest were the ones that were
surely taken. snapped OF in their puny
strength as though they had been stems OF
dry grass; while. IL any escaped. IL was the
| low-lying tree ard shrub, which. bending
with the blast acknowledged at the same
| time its own weakness and the strength OF
the winds of heaven. In this sense. too. is
| there not truth for Us in pauls word:
| when am weak. then am strong.
Mercy shall compass him about. To be
condoned by mercy. garrisoned by grace;
what privilege is thatl Two bandsl''
Mahanaim) cried Jacob, when looking
| away from his own little company be be-
held the encompassing angels of the Lord.
Lord. 1 pray thee" said Elisha. for his
| timorOus servants sake. ~open his eyes