Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-09-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition OF tho Lesson-i
Thoughts Worthy of Calm Ronection--
Half an Hours Study OF the Scriptures
Time Well Spent


Thoughts Worthy of Calm Rohection--
Half an Hours Study OF the Scriptures
Time Well Spent.
The lesson for Sunday, Sept. IA, may DO
found in Luke 10: 11-27.
INTRODUCTORY
We have here another Of our Lords vivid
narratives, a parable, as we see, suggested
by historical incidents OF current interest.
How well tho story was told that little paren-
thesis intimates TO us Lord, he hath ton
pounds" some one seems TO have involun-
tarily cried out in the midst Of the narration.
We are reminged of that exclamation from
the midst of Whiteheld's audience, I'm his
graphic delineation Of the sailors peril,"My
God, he Is lostl" Or that abrupt, neighborly
salute In the little English chapel, whore
the preacher was rudely but vividly de-
seribing Goliath's overthrow. That's right
Billy; now hoff with his 'edl" IL indicated
marked power OF delineation. We can un-
dcrstand why the common people heard him
gladly.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
AS they heard these things The words
spoken In connection with Zacchmus' con-
version.--He added and spalSe. Or, as wo
should say, lie went on to give a parable.
The parable illustrates a truth incidentally
suggested In the previous incident, namely:
that God calls for the conservation OF all
mans possessions to u is service.--Bccause
He was nigh to Jerusalem. Another occasion
of the parable was the eager but erroneous
expectation OF the people In temporal
kingdom, that grew stronger as they neared
the royal lcity.-Kingdom OF Gcd. Properly
understood, the reign of God in the heart;
so interpreted by John and the prophets
TO appear. Literally, come to light
(apaphaino).
certain nobleman. More accurately, O
certain man OF high birth.-Into far
country. Where the seat of governments
may DO supposed to be.-To receive for
tpnGn np
1. o., to be formally confirmed In royal
power, as was necessary for high princes
and governors. IT is interesting to note, as
and Archelaus, his son, did about this time,
according to Josephus, go on such an ex-
pedition TO Rome, protecting embassy
boing sent after them TO Caesar.
His ten servants, or, rather, ten servants
of his, implying the possession of moro.
Ten pounds, or minas, one hundred
drachmm, equivalent to between twenty
and twenty-five dollars-no small sum In
that day.-Occupy. Literally, trade or
do business (from pragma, deed).-Till
come. OF the nature Of loan. They were
but stewards.
Be thou also. Placed in the Same cate
CORY with the first mentioned.---Flvo
cities. His future stewardship propor-
toned TO his efficiency In administering the
pounds.
Behold, here is thy pound. The literal is
more expressive and barely so. Lord, bo-
hold thy pound. AS much as to say.
There, Lord, is your pound!--Which
had. To be separated from what comes
after.-Laid up in napkin. Descriptive
of the way he had It.
1 feared thee. Absurd! why not then
obey him?-Austere man. Our Lord Is
| but emphasizing the exceeding folly Of such
Ss,-,a..., -e-'A spah sss.'''sf,sr Lest aa'
| Exaction.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
| Because he was nigh to Jerusalem. We
are never far from IL. The spiritual Jerusa-
| lem Is at the center of all. ufe its clean
spires are just beyond at every great move
ment In history. Christ has u part In all
the worlds living. The name of a certain
artist was so woven and interviewer into tho
| Riagree work about statue that you could
not obliterate the name without destroying
| che work. Gods line is gone out through
all the earth. Always point Jerusalemward
and tho sacred city is not far from our
| marts of trade and our temples OF learning.
They thought that the Kingdom e9 G.,
should Immediately appear And 10, 1t
appeared. There was Jesus In their mit
What more did they need? Here Is Jesus Ia
our midst, what moro need we? And yet we
arc prone to look for some particular ap-
| gearing, some great ovcrturning or reyolu-
| tion. But 1t cometh not with observation.
The Kingdom of God is within you. Nox
here we arc ON the further edge OF the heat
cd term. Wo are scarcely looking for tho
Kingdom just now, perhaps few months
later, and We shall be expecting special
demonstrations of the Lords power. And
so like those disciples of old we are inclined
| TO walt Tor UnaU great event. our Loru re-
Dukes US now, as he did his servants then.
We are working In the Kingdom all the
time. IL is q matter of every day duty.
"say not-four months. Lift up your eyes
and look on the fields"
To receive for himself kingdom. 1t =.
IN an important sense, preparatory period.
"The crowning day is coming by and by.''
Tae kingdoms of this world have already
been given to Christ, but thcir formal and
open transfer has not yet been made. Tho
world has not yet acknowledged Christs
sway. Bat the time is coming when IL shall
| do &C. And, In the meantime, the Church OF
Christ Is to go forward accepting Christs
kingship In faith, using the world as his,
and occupying 10 in his namc. But always
I'm his name and expecting his coming. They
say that Gen. Custer threw his arm about
Gen, Sheridan's neck at Winchester
can believe it. The leader camo at tinio
when he was greatly needed, and those who
had been endeavoring to occupy ELL hc cano
were hard pressed, Well, Some time tho
Captain of our salvation will come Ia
sight Shall VIC be found holding our posts
Loyalty and courageously? God grant itl
Occupy till / come. Here is the present
duty. We are to employ the opportunities
given us as unto the Lord. Our part In this
Kingdom is to do business for the Master.
For that Is what the word occupy means,
trade with traffic. What q different con-
coption this gives TO the life that now Is. lt
Is no empty, fruitless time of waiting. Jt Is
an important part of the kingdom. And God
will Judge us as 90 our estimate OF the good
time coming by the way I'm which we use tho
working moments that arc upon us to-day,
How are you using tho timer What Gre you
doing to help make the Kings return glori-
Gus? II you care for his coming, you VIII
occupy till he comes.
Unto evory one which hath shall be given.
And VIC were supposing that mans accumu-
lations counted for nothing. They count
for nothing so far as salvation Is concerned; {;
but as regards preferment in the kingdom,
IL Is altogether otherwise. Nothing Is lost
there, nothing is unacCounted for. Whom
we come TO God for grace VIC come In ab1ect
want, saying, Nothing In my hands bring,
and we receive according 10 our emptiness.
, But when the kingdom has at last been re-
ceived and wo approach the king Tor ous
station and rank, We come every ono OF US
laden with shcaves and with tho works that
do follow u.s. What have you hcrei What
increase have you wrought In the kingdom
of grace? Tho Kingdom OF glory shall be
yours accordingly. Little here, little there;
! much here, much there.
Next Lesson-"Jesus Entering Jerusalem
Luke 10 BIAS.
II y