Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-07-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.

Thoughts Worthy OF Calm Reflection
Half an Hours Study on the Scriptures
Time Well Spent.
The lesson for Sunday. Aug. 8. may be
found In Luke is: 11-24
INTRODUCTION.
This parable. with its setting, is peculiar
TO Luke. What blessed addition II Is 10
the Gospel narratives OF Matthew, Mark,
AMI Johnl How bereft we should feel
without 1T Doubtless. up TO date. more
men men can trace their conversion to the
solicitation OF this parable than to any
other single Scripture. Up TO date. wo
say; for In the progress of doctrine and the
general growth OF mankind other OF the
pregnant similitudes of our Lord may
come into larger prominence and en-
cheney; the parable OF the great price. for
exaD pie, or the utterance of Christ regard
Ing the little children. Enough for us to
Know hoNeve-, that this arrow from our
Lords quive- when sped on It's way readi-
ly finds lodgment in the hcart OF humanity.
May It's u'e in many Sunday schools to-
day bring new trophies to the Masterl
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS,
Ana ne said. An added illustration ps
the great truth OF Gods love that Christ Is
teaching Like a skillful lawyer he watches
MS auditors and piles argument upon argu-
ment until he has made conviction certain.
"A certain man. The final application IL
evidently to God in his dealings with the
ce.-Two sons. Either Pharisee and
sinner, or jew and Gentle or both IL Is
broadly descriptive OF two classes OF the
human family. or OF angels and men.
The youngest. AS perhaps the most
headstrong. certainly. ia the custom OF the
day. the least entitled 10 property conces-
slons.-Father, give me. His withdrawal.
In this case. though within his power, will
fully derosatory to the home.-Portion OF
goods. Or.'property. See Variations. This
was about one-third. the eldest having
two-thlrds. See Deut. 21: 1917. CT. Gen.
20: 3l.-He divided. 1t is interesting to
note that the only other use Of this word Is
TO be found in !. Cor. IL. where it occurs
four times in succession. VS.. 4. 8. 6. IL.
IteraIR9a. Teri IRapy Went apSbS pSSbfoaf tn e. Became for
eigner. The Same word used at Matt 21: 33.
where the husbandman went into far
country. a far country. Suggestive OF
the distance that the sinner has put bc-
tween himself and God.---Wasted. Lit
orally. scattered. 1t is translated strewed
at Matt. 25: 24.--Riotous living. Moro
accurately, living recKlessly. The word
rendered rioIous signifies unwillingness
to save. the negative OF the verb to save
(sozo).
Spent all. The same word is to be found
in james 4: 3: That ye may consum. 1t
upon your lusts." a mighty famine.
Literally. strong famine, OF great compass
and severity. such dearths were common
and are still in the East. 10 be in want.
Curiously enough. this word means orig
inally to be short or III arrears. ~
The best robe or first robe. A flowing
garment indicating distinction. See Mark
II: 3S; 1875; Rev. 6: 1L-king. Indicat-
Ing adoption. as the robe indicated accept
ance.-Shoes. or sandals. for entrance.
Fatted cal. Kept for great occasions.
And kill ii, or sacrifice 1t. religious
feast
Lost. 1t was as life out OF death. for the
wages OF sin Is DEATH"
but two! oNnAT 1y TEE TEh IS pEfSss mas
more than two sons are to be found. But
IL we can Judge from the data given in Bible
truth and the fields OF .etnology there Is no
thild son. There is a twolold order OF
ereated intelligence. angelic and human.
and all save the angelic are proiigals IN q
far country. Men may try as they VIII 10
convince us that they are still by nature
In the fathers house. That nature betrays
them every time. They are bond-siaves TO
sin. They are feeding swine in q far coun-
try. The million aire on the avenue. tho
man with his bucket from the back street.
the cultured European, the benighted Hot
tentot all alike show the features OF the
one son. the prodtgal. All We like sheep
have gone astray. We have turned every
one to his own way"
With riotous livipg. A very outbreak
ing sinner we take him to be. and SO we
excuse ourselves from the comparison.
But we mistake. His life is a fair reflection
OF our own, as wanderers from the Fathers
house. Tho word literally means to be un-
saving. to fail to husband resources. 1t Is
not necessary to indulge in midnight or
gies, to openly and blatantly profane His
name and His day, to run amuck upon the
streets in order to come under the scop3
OF this tel-tale Scripture. Just to fail to
yss Ears sggaasa9i99ent Esf'.s1o s-~ss..,Y
was useless waste OF his substance upon
himself. This young man OF very genteel
conduct, this young woman OF delicate
rearing may still be guilty OF the prodigals
offense; may be wasting substances ia
riotous living. All sel1shness is riotous In
HOd'a SiUht.
Joined himself to citizen of that conn
try. We Join ourselves to one or the other,
Satan or Christ. We gounder bonds TO tho
lord of one kingdom or the other. In the
Acts we read that "of the rest burst no man
ioin himself to them" the disciples and tho
disciples Lord. Then they join themselves
to the other party and to the prince OF the
powers OF darkness. There Is no neutrai
ground. His servants ye are TO whom ye
obey" Presently this young man Is speak
ing Of "hired servants" He is not thinking
altogether OF debasing himself by becoming
a hired hand in his fathers house. He Is q
bond slave to Satan. Which will you join
Yourself unto. Christ or Satan2 For the
wages Of sin is DEATH but the gift OF God Is
eternal life.
He came to himself. So we all recall it.
That hour OF conviction was like new
vision OF self. that hour OF conversion like
an uncoverinx OF our better nature. All sin
is a sort OF dementia: rebellion against
God Is arrant folly, wretched Madness
What more insane than to contend with
him who fashions and who feeds usl what
| more demoniacal than to go on ones way,
when our own way leads to the pit and Coos
| way to Paradisel o. this poor. mad world
| fiattering itself with empty vanitlcs. stultl-
| iying itself with paltry excusesl 1t Is pc
| aide itself, gone clean dafti Lord bring rs
| TO ourselves that we may see what we are
| bv nature, what we may be by gracel
Bring forth the best robe. blessed In.
| terruption. The young man had lsarned
l hts speech well: Father. have sinneu
AGAINST heaven and in thy sight. True:
| indeed, all sin reaches heaven high ana
smites at the foot OF the throne ITSELF
| And am no more worthy to be called thy,
SON." True again, sin sewers us from all
worthiness in Gods sight. But do you no.
| tice. according to our common readings
which are probably correct, that Is as Tar
as the prodigal got In his prayer. Make
| me aa one OF thv hired servants. he was
going to say in abiectness OF soul But nc
| does not say Il. His words ara smothereo
in h 8 fathers embrace. Kisses stay the
speech upon his lips. and IL is the father
who speaks instead. saying. Bring iortn
the best robe" And now with that best
robe upon us are any OF US still counting
ourselves merely hired servantss
Next Lesson-"The Rich Man ani Laza-