The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-01-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
DISSERTATION ON
SERIOUS SUBJECTS.

4
Learned and Concise Review Of tho
same
The lesson for Sunday. Jan. 20. may be
found In Ii ke 2: $40.
INTRODUCTORY.
IL Is significant that all the early mes
sages regarding the coming OF Christ were
delivered TO those in humble station. In
! the lesson before US IL is little company
OF shepherds watching their fiocks by night
| who receive the heavenly yisitants. These
shepherds ara in one aspect the first mis-
sionaries OF the gospel Hearing the song
4 from the skies they believe It's glad testi-
mony and go to confirm IL with the witness
OF their eyes. The next moment they are
| proclaiming IL abroad. 1t Is an early lesson
In the proclamation OF the truth as IL Is in
Jesus. Who may not have a part In 1t?
| WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
There were. AT the time of the birth OF
country. used by the demons when they be-
sought Christ not TO send them away out
OF the country" Mark 5: l0.) -Shepherds.
The prominent word occurring first In the
these humble shepherds. Abiding In the
Held. One word In the original. meaning to
be out In the open air.-Keeping watch.
Necessary in that country OF marauding
men and beasts.-By night. The climate
OF Palestine admits OF winter bivouacs to-
day.
The angel. Rather. an angel-Come
upon. frequent word with Luke See Acts
q: IL. And they stirred up the people and
the elders and the scribes and came upon
him and caught him." CT. Luke 2: 80. A: 80.
"a 4. 1t usually indicates unexpected en-
counter. OF the Lord. The liaht
that accompanied the angels. heavens ra-
diant atmosphere. Sore afraid. The
first feel ng at me approach Of the super
natural
Suddenly. The word means unex pected-
ly or W .hout previous warning. They
looked up and there the angels were.- -
Dr Ia I'M cd And "A L..
to burst forth their celestial song.-Say-
| ing. We have here a direct quotation from
| the language of heaven.
Glory TO God. The vocabulary of heaven
Is vocabulary OF praise.-In the highest.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture. this
SEE ms 10 mean in the highest heavens; this
being probably what is meant by the ex-
preston Psalm las: Praise him in the
heights. CT. Matt Il: 0. Eph. I:3.-On
earth. As distinguished from tue highest
heavens.-Peace. the dominant grace for
eart1. food will toward men. The pre-
ferred reading is among men OF good will.
(See Naiiations) that is. Of Gods good and
gracious pleasure. all men being now "ac-
cording to the good pleasure OF his WILL.
accepted (gracedl in the beloved"
AS the angels were gon". The Ian uage.
In the original AS here. suggesting immedi-
ateneSs OF action.-Said one TO another.
! The Greek word Is Laleo. signlying free
| converse. They conferred together. and as
a result came the unanimous determination
which foilows.-Let us now so. In the
sense OF come now. (de) let US go-Unto
Bethlehem. The shepherds evidently I'M
derstood the words City OF David TO mean
Bethlehem. lying near by. They were
probably also familiar with tho prophecy
Of Micah Is: 9.-Came to pass. They
believed 1.-THE Lord hath mads known.
All revelations and limitations are Of God.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
There were in the same country shop
herds. How humble are the instruments
| nGQ or no flxror .4aV ,apf of liza
DOM Orce before and nearly on this same
spot, while Saul was occupying the throne.
there was in the same country a shepherd
boy watching his flock. And to that hum
Die boy, son OF Jesse, came the word or
Goa. while il was withheld from the
naughty king. There was Herod in his
purple; ere long we read OF his Intellectual
efforts 10 find the Christ child here are
shepherds simple hearted and in lCwly
garD, To them. without the seeking. comes
the heavenly divuigence. Il thank thee.
y Father. Lord OF heaven and earth. be-
cause thou hast hid these Things from the
wise and prudent and hast revealed them
unto babes"
1 bring you good tidin9s OF great JOY
which shall be to all the people. For you
- or all. The message came first 10 the
she pherds and through them Co the world.
IL came TO them or the sake of the world.
Indeed it was not "tidings" until IL had been
spread abroad. 1t was only personal COM
munication. When the angel spake the
term ROOu llulnGS ne gave the SnepnefuS
without iurther words their commission
and sent them forth. Brother or sister.
have you heard the JOYFUL sound? Make it
truly glad tldings by telling it to some one
else. And have you observed this, that It
did not come the shepherds turn to reJCice
until they "retui ned" Coming back from
quest and testimony. then it was at last
that they caught the real spirit o the an
gels and echoed back their heaven inspired
song, ~glorifying and praising God"
He shall find the babe. Rut thew must
seek for it. Signs are for those who search.
Had they stayed there in the field without
seeking they would have had no sure token.
But they took the angels at their word and
went and saw. Literally il is. -Ye shall find
q babe. wrapped in swatdling clothes. lying
In "A nun or" There was the clue. and fol-
lowing IL out they had the convincing sign.
You and i must 90 a-seeking in the same
way. We SEQ finger pointing toward the
Christ and we hear voice telling US that
this Is h. Ere we shall realize the real
preciousness of this Savior we must go to
aim ourselves and meekly obey near
voice saying. Come and see."
As the aug Is were gone away. Angel
Sisits aIe short; and II is well. They come
% give enduement and strength. and hav-
ing performed the sweet ministry they take
thei- departure. that the strength impair ted
may be utilized. They bring a message or
instruction and again they are gone. that
The errand given may, by the mortal. Do
performed. The angels that communed
tarry. And thee on the mountain OF trims
lguration. when Peter would have built
three tabernacles for angelic communica-
lion. suddenly when they had looked
around about they saw no man any moro
save Jesus only with themselves" Yes.
but there was the lad at the foot OF the
mount waiting TO be healed
They made known abroad. Why did not
angels do that also2 Why should not tho
message OF salvation have been carried
through all lands and TO all ears by her.
lding angels? 1t is not for US TO say.
ONLY this we see 10 be the divine plan OF
working. always marvellous in our eyes in
wisdom and efficiency. that the saved
should tell the unsaved speaking from per-
sonal sympathy and out OF rich stores OF
experience. II Is "A notewoi thy thing that
when the angel appeal cd TO Cornelius to
answer his prayer for guidance. his mes
sage was. Send men TO Joppa and call for
one Simon whose surname was Peter
And the angel gave right over TO the saved
man Peter the JOYOUS task OF leadin un-
saved Cornelius into the kingdom. Angels
would doubtless rejoice TO do the work.
but depend upon II. friend. II souls are
saved in our neigh orhood this winter it
will be because you and put forth. under
God the helping hand or speak the helping
word.