Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-04-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.

ing the Scripturai Lessons Intelligently
and Prohtabiy.
The lesson for Sunday. April 27. may be
found In Luke 3: 4-15:
INTRODUCTORY.
We have In the ps esent lesson our first
parable. unless the story Of the two debtors
IN the last lesson. or Christs use OF the
miraculous draught OF fishes, earlier STILL
be themselves taken as such. Luke abounds
In these; and In mentioning this first dis
tinct parat '-s .rmon he marks a new and
enlarged spnele in our IDS preaching.
He speaks now to the great multitude and
his teachings are In such foim that all
will hear. though all may not heed. Christ
becomes the great fisher OF men. taking
them not now with hook and line. as here
tofore. but with the net drawing in kreat
schools and casting away that which is not
good. The parable takes great principle
and lays alongside OF IL some simple lumi-
nous detail OF life. Those who are carnally
minded will be Interested in the object or
story. without going further: those OF spir-
itual discernment will 70 get the incident
in the larger apprehension OF the truth con-
veyed. How many OF the latter shall we
find in our classes to-day?
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Now when. Marking a somewhat distinct
transition In the ministry of our Lord
Much people. or u great crowd. The people
began to press about him now In larger
masses than ever.-Out OF every city.
Suggesting another feature of the new
proclamation. The fame OF Jesus has
passed now beyond mere local bounds
para, beside: ballo. to cast or lay; para
ballo. to lay besi le. to compare. illustrate.
A sower. Properly the sower, |. g.. the
typical seed-sower. he sowed; liter
ally. In the sowing. Some felt; the word
translated some" Is the simple article, the
or this. See Variations. 1he meaning is
there was at which fell --Wayslde. The
trodden path. There were no !ences to bar
out pedestrians. .--Trodden down. or SIM
ply trodden upon. 1t is this sans word
is "trodden under foot OF men," and at Luke
IL: ]. where tie multitude -trode one upon
an other."---Devourcd 1t. Lying thus ex-
posed upon the hard surface OF the ground.
A rock, rather. the rock. A thin coating
OF soil over rock.---Sprung up. |. g., germ
mated (phuo). indicating some alvance
upon what has gone befOre.---Withereth
TO parch or dry up under the suns rays
ally. through the not having moisture. The
undertook held none OF natures refresh
ing in store. SO TAR as the seeI was con-
cerned, it was dead earth.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
He spake by parable He has always
80 spoken. Nature Is one extended parable.
The things OF earth are laid alongside OF
the things OF the kingdom. The invisible
things OF Him from the creation OF the
world are clearly seen. being understood
Dy I U Lnlny9 LndL are mAQe. lea, Ino
deep things OF God even His eternal power
and Godheadi so that they are without ex-
Cuse." What We go to the heathen for. in
deed. the occasion for our appeal TO all
men. is 10 interpret this universal parable.
Read the nineteenth Psalm, the parable
Psalm. and see how Gods attributes are
made the half-hid theme of the heavens
and armament, Their ne is gone out
through all The earth.
A sower went out TO SOW his seed. The
q linn a mall nN p1 RI
centur es OF Christian history epitomized.
or every laborer for the Master In every
age this may be said, The sory OF your
lite and m'ne, Christian worker. and our
sufficient epltaph ut tho close of flies lab
ors. Wesow by all waters and cast the seed
forth on Gods winds. trusting him for rs
safe lodgment as well as for It's su:e fruit
ulness, And this our const mt inspiration
and encouragement. that the dear Lord
himself could do no more. lie went forth
as the Great Sower. letting his Truth fall
on all s.dss. Hero it was rejected, there
received. mems hearts allowing or disal-
lowing. Yet God gave increase. He gives
it still.
Sprang up with il and choked it. Com
pafiionship OF evil. So 1t Is with us. Our
own famiiat friend is risen up against US.
Look at the thistle and the wheat blade as
they lift their heads at the htst just above
the ground, They look not much apart In
kind. growing together perhaps quite costly.
But presently they have shown their un-
likeness-the hostility OF the one to the
other-and the stronger destroys the weak
er. Choked by cur bad friendships, ruined
by evil as ,Oeiations. the very things We have
cherished grown tp to cause our overthrow.
SO the world serves us. Stch the deceit
ulnesS of riches. Satan does not now make
a sudden onset to destroy US. for then he
would find us prepared to meet him. He
comes In guise Of light. in social amenities
and alurements. He makes himself one
With us ore he puts forth his hand to choke
and kill
He that hath ears to hear let him hear
1t is Coils appeal 10 all men. Not TO some
select DaHdI an esoteric guild. favored
above their fellows In that TO them is given
faculty and power fnr removed from
others. 1t Is H1whosoever will. let him
take" The will" the will" is the decisive
factor. Look into the original OF this pas
saEe and We get new light on its signifi-
cnnce. It is not ears in order that he may
hear but simply Cars 70 hear, like our
mind to do. II any man has an ear Tor
Christ's message. lie may have the mes
that he may also do. The option is mans.
TIE truth itself has no sovereign or over
bearing power. 1t comes wooing ana WIN
ming, n OF forcing. Solemn truth. IL SOUNDS
through every gospel appeal; It speaks out
1rave responsibility OF choice: he that
hath ca to hear, let him hear
No root. Here is the secret OF many
fruiiIBss life-nu root. Greater Jolly there
never was, to think to ilti | fruit above with
out root below. We came, In Our closer
reading, upoh n new and stirring II nth OF
Gods word the other day. Hero IL Is at
Col 2: 7: Rooted and built ut In him; !.
D., built down an built up The up build
ing Is in accordance with tho down-butlc.
ing the super-s structure matching the foun-
iation work. Hence the apostl,s say here.
-As ye have thereto Q received Christ
Jesus, so walk ye in him." and the pro-
xressive walking will be according to the
faithful receiving. Have you the root OF
the matter within yourseltes1
Keep II and bring forth n uit with patience.
Take hold of one OF the little wheat-blades
out In tho field and pull at IL; you will have
a practical parable OF this truth under eye
| AMI hand. The little bit OF green lie will
resist your effort with all the strength OF its
| inv fiber. Earth and seed have knit them-
selves together and hold on to each other
with what we call DEATH grip. That hold
| ing Keeping power Is the measure OF the
power that will presently brinE forth. And
| The patience with which leaf and stem re-
| sist the pelting rain and the driving wind Is
part and parcel OF that vigor and vital "
| that. ere long, speaks forth In the waving
| ruit above. May God give US hearts hon
| sst and good. learning lessons OF steadfast-
| ness and patience from mother earth 8 good
| md honest facel May we answer natures
| parable without with the heart principle
within, born OF Godl
Next Lesson:=-The Rulers Daughter =
Luke 8: Al. AZ. 1886.
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