The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-10-22

The events Of this lesson are especially
significant In view OF the discourse that has
just preceded. John says IL was "when
Jesus had spoken these words that 4" He
went forth with His disciples over the brook
Cedron; y and. by a consultation OF the har-
monies OF the gospels IL Will be seen that
" these Words embrace four whole chapters
of Johns narrative; chapters they are that
IL would make us sadly bereft to do without.
The fourteenth OF John. opening with the
" Let not your hearts be troubled" the
fifteenth concerning the vine and the
branches, the sixteenth containing the
promise OF the Comforter and the seven
teenth with the matchless prayer OF Christ.
were all evidently written by one who kept
very close 10 his Lord on that midnight
journey To the garden. 1t requires a walk
no less close and sympathetic to understand
them now, but those who do enter into their
spirit arc best prepared for the scene OF
passion TO which we are ushered by the
Scripture before Us.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
He came out. Out of the city. Jesus
and the disciples had been there since about
| six o'clock As he was wont. For several
evenings he had been spending the nights
| In the Mount OF Olives so as To hasten back
| into the city early In the morning. See
| Luke 81: 81 (where the word "went" Is more
| accurately rendered was accustomed To
| go. Mount OF Olives. Across the brook
Kedron, where they could find "A rude sort
| of sheloer under the overhanging boughs.
! -. Followed him. Not wholly. 1t was
| following only. and that but partial.
| At the place. Probably where they were
! accustc IN ID 10 lodge for the night. Mat
| thew calls IL Gethsemane, "A garden on the
, mount Pray that We enter not into temp
| tation. 1t seems to have been "A special in
junction In regard TO special and imminent
| trial.
Withdrawn from them. As II carried on
| by his tumultuOus feelings. The same word
| Is used OF a boat, Acts. 81: l, ("wers gotten
from them. ~ About stones cast. Per-
! haps 200 feet. 1t was Peter, James. and
John who were thus near him, as a sort Of
body-guard Matt. 20: 36-37. .kneeled
down. In the attitude OF intense supplica-
| tion.
! One OF them. We scarcely need be told
| by John that this was Peter John Is: 10Y.
| 49,. The servant OF the high priest. Nal
| chus, evidently well along toward the front.
! ringleader. ... Right ear. Thus igno-
minously ended the career OF the apostolic
! sword.
Appeared an angel, /. e.. revealed TO his
! physical senses, In his earthly career Christ
in IA sense shut himself of from open-eyed
| vision. IL was part Of his self-emptying.
co.. From heaven. direct answer 70 his
prayer TO heaven. Strengthening him.
| The word means TO put strength into SO an
swering both parts 81 his prayer. l. a., as to
| to the fulfllmcnt OF Gods will.
| In agony. The ord I'm the Greek (agonia)
| meaning struggle or conflict Not with
| God we may believe but with the flesh.....
| Prayed. Imperfect tense as above in V. Al.
| Kept praying. -. More earnestly or very
earnestly, the comparative having fire.
| quently this meaning.....As ii were great
| drops OF blood. Rather like drops OF blood.
| indicating the severity OF the struggle.
| WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
About a stones cast. Not more. He was
never far Withdrawn from his disciples.
| Having taken upon himself the fleshy fash
| ion OF a man, he could never put himself at
| long remove from his brethren. In his hoarS
| Of communion IL was 50; there upon the
| mountain-side in prayer, he was but stone ;
| cast away. And here i'm his hour Of deep
trial. and yonder in the contumely OF the
| court, and farther on I'm the ignominy OF the
cross-abOut "a stones cast beyond his discl-
| pies. calling them on. Yea, on the farther
side OF the tomb. i'm the blessed resurrection
morn, about "a stones cast still; and now in
| the glorious eXaltation that Is his at the
| right hand Of the Father. for those who
| know the kingdom best he Is but "A stone :
cast further on. Blessed Son and Master,
thou art never wholly out of sight of our
humanity. Judea's night is sometimes
| dark, and olives thickets sometimes dense,
| but when we look. there thou art about
"A stones cast withdrawn; and when we
| look up again. 10, tnefe tnOu art atOur size.
Not my will but thine. Our Lord teaches
us here how 10 pray. DO you observe here
twice the word of resignation for once the
word of petition! Ii l., "lf thou be willing
remove this cup. not my VIII but thine.
The request hangs. as IL were, suspended
upon the two abutments OF submissive faith
| I'm God. IL was the will Of the flesh that
Christ was putting beneath the will Of the
| spirit. Earth's will under heavens will.
That is the true and safe relationship. Thus
is Gods will made mans will, and then "all
things are yours, and We are Christs, and
Christ j. God's.n
My Jesus a Thou wilt.
Oh. let Thy VIII be mine;
Into Thy hand OF love
| would my all resign;
Through sorrow or through joy,
Conduct me rs Thine own,
And help me still to say,
My Lord, Thy will be done"
And there appeared an angel unto him
from heaven strengthening him. Certainly
since he had leaned his will on Gods. God
would take care OF his own 1t Is TO the
trusting soul that David sends the glad
twentieth Psalm: "Send thy help from the
sanctuary and strengthen thee out of
Zionn That is the kind OF strength we
want help out OF the sanctuary, hands put
down 20 US out of Zion underneath the
everlasting arms" And just that is ours.
"Thy help IL Is, IL thou puttest thy trust
I'm God. resigning all 10 him. "Not my will
but thine" said Christ. and straightway at
his side stood Gods angels. Gods will is
not a harsh will That strengthening angel
tells us what IL means. 1t Is God caring for
his own
Rise and pray. Was our Lord unduly
alarmed? Assuredly not The disciples
seemed quite Indifferent. Theirs was the
indifference OF dcbasing ignorance; the sad
sleep that verges unto death. In some re-
| spects we are too easy going and compla-
| cent We say: IL will 10th lay me down in
peace and slcep.n But we forget that that
| was the calm declaration OF "A man whose
mouth had just been full of prayer. "Offer
| the sacrifices Of righteousness and put your
trust I'm the Lord" After that we may
hope to "dwell i'm safety" Angels shudder
| at the risks we mortals take, needless and
| prayerless. Our Lord himself looked upon
the world as a fearful arena of trial and
| temptation. Only by faith and prayer are
we able 10 meet It. May the church OF
| Christ. more than half asleep. while the
enemy is just at hand. hear the voice say
| ing, "Why sleep yey rise and pray, lest we
enter into temptation.r
And he touched his ear and healed him.
That was like our blessed Lord lie would
In