The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-09-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson.
Thoughts Worthy of CAIN Reelection
Half an Hours study OF the Scriptures
Time Well Spent.

Time Well Spent
The lesson for sunday, Sept IA, may DO
found In Luke 10: 1l-27.
INTRODUCTORY.
We have here another Of our Lords vivid
narratives parable, we see, suggested
by historical incidents OF current interest.
How well the story was told that little paren-
thesis intimates 20 Us. Lord he hath ten
pounds" some one seems 10 have inVolun-
tarily cried out In the midst Of the narration.
We are reminged OF that exclamation from
the midst OF Whiteheld's audience, In MS
graphic delfneation OF the sailors peril,"My
God he is lost!' Or that abrupt, neighboriy
salute In the little English chapel, where
the preacher was rudely but viVldly de-
scribing Goliath overthrow. That's right.
Billy; now hoff with his ed" IL Indicated
marked power OF delineation. We can un-
derstand why the common people heard him
gladly.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
As they heard these things. The words
spoken in connection with Zaccheus' con-
version.-He added and spake. Or, as we
should say, lie went on to give parable
The parab BILE illustrates a truth incidentally
suggested In the previous incident, namely;
that God calls for the conservation or all
mans possessions to His service.-Because
He was nigh tOJerusalem. 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 cty.-kingdom OF God. Properly
understood, the reign OF God in the heart;
so interpreted by John and the prophets
To appear. Literally, come 10 light
(anaphaino).
certain nobleman. More accurately, a
certain man Of high birth.-Into far
country. Where the seat of government
may be supposed to be.-To receive for
himself a kingdom, or ldngly authority,
/. e., to be formally confirmed in royal
power, as was necessary for high princes
and governors 1t Is interesting 10 note. as
perhaps suggesting this story, that Herod
and Archelaus, his son. did about this time,
according 20 Josephus, go on such an eX-
pedition TO Rome, "a protecting embassy
being sent after them TO Caesar.
His ten servants, or, rather, ten servants
OF his, implying the possession OF more.
Ten pounds, or minas, one hundred
drachme, equivalent to between twenty
and twenty-five dollars-no small sum in
that day.-Occupy Literally, trade or
do business (frOm pragma, decd Till
come. OF the nature OF a loan. They were
but stewards.
Be thou also. Placed i'm the same cate
CORY with the first mentioned.--Five
cities. His future stewardship proper
toned 10 his efficiency in administering the
pounds.
Behold, here is thy pound. The literal is
more expressive and barely so. Lord, be-
hold thy pound. As much as 10 say.
There, Lord, is your pound.--Which I
had. To be separated from what comes
after-Laid up in napkin. Descriptive
of the way he had it.
l feared thee. Absurd. why not then
obey him?-Austere man. Our Lord is
but emphasizing the exceeding folly OF such
conduct and such eXcuses.-TakeSt UP.
Extortion.--What thou didst not SOW.
EXactiOn.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Because he was nigh to Jerusalem. We
are never far from IT,. The spiritual Jerusa-
lem is at the center of all life, its clean
spires are just beyond at every great move
ment in history. Christ has a part I'm all
the worlds living. The name of certain
artist was SO woven and interviewer into the
slagree work about statue that you could
not oblitcrate the name without destroying
che work. Gods line Is gone out through
all the earth Always point Jerusalemward
and the sacred city is not far from our
marts of trade and our temples of learning.
They thought that the Kingdom cf G =
should Immediately appear. And 10. IL
appeared. There was Jesus in their nit
What more did they need? Here is Jesus IN
our midst, what more need WEI And yet We
are prone To look for some particular ap-
soaring, some great overturning or revolu-
ton. But IT cometh not with observation.
The Kingdom of God is within you. NoH
here we are on the further edge of the heat
cd term. We are scarcely looking for the
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 wait for that great event. Our Lord re-
Dukes US now. as he did his servants then.
We are working I'm the Kingdom all the
time. 1t 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. It a
IL an important sense, a preparatory period.
THE crowning day is coming by and by."
nf vfplH boxr 81.
Seen given TO Christ, but their formal and
open transfer has not yet been made. The
world has not yet acknowledged Christ's
sway. Bat the time Is coming when IL shall
do So. And. In the meantime, the Church OF
Christ Is 70 go forward accepting Christ's
kingship in faith, using the world as his
and occupying IL in his name. But always
in his name and expecting his coming. They
say that Gen. Custer threw his arm about
Gen. sheridan's neck at Winchester.
can believe IL. The leader came at a tim.
when he was greatly needed, and those who
had been endeavoring Co occupy till he came
were hard pressed Well. some time the
Captain of our salvation will come in
sight. Shall we be found holding our posts
Loyalty and courageouslyf God grant IL!
Occupy till come. Here is the present
duty. We are To employ the opportunities
given us as unto the Lord. Our part ia this
kingdom is TO do business for the Master.
For that Is what the word occupy means,
ception this gives 70 the life that now is, II
Is no empty, fruitless time of waiting 1t il
an important part of the kingdom. And God
Will judge Us as 60 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 time? What are You
doing TO help make the Kings return glori-
ousI II you care for his coming. you will
occupy till he comes.
Unto every one which hath shall be given
And We were supposing that mans accumu-
lations counted for nothing. They count
for nothing so far as salvation Is concerned;
but as regards proferment I'm the kin ydom.
IL Is altogether otherwise. Nothing is lost
there nothing is unacCoanted for. When
we come TO God for grace we cCme In abiec.
want, saying, -Nothing in my hands bring,
and we receive according tO our emptiness
But when the kingdom has at last been re-
ceived and we approach the king for our
station and rank, we come every one OF Us
laden with sheaves and with the works that
do follow Us. What have you here? What
increase have you wrought i'm the kingdom
OF grace? The Kingdom of glory shall be
yours accordingly. Little here, little there;
much here much thero