Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-03-13

| A Hcholarly Exposition OF the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy OF Calm Refec-
tion-Half an Hours Study OF the Scrip
tures-Tine Wen Spent
The lesson for Sunday. March 16. may be
| found In Luke 8: I'LL.
INTRODUCTORY.
The lesson Of the miraculous draught oi
| fishes brings up an interesting question ol
chronology. The question is. did the events
OF this lesson occur prior to or after the
incidents narrated in the last. |. o.. the
healing In Peters home. etc. Lukes ac-
count seems to imply the former supposi-
tlon. since this account follows almost di-
rectly upon that. But it Is indeterminate.
inasmuch as the 1fth chapter OF Luke. from
which our present lesson Is taken. docs not
appear to be rigidly cnrcnologicai. but
nails OF our Lords repeated circuits in
Galilee. number OF scholarly men. like
Gresswell, st, oud. Mimpris. and Stout. ar
que that this calling Of Peter is not iden-
teal with the calling OF the four disciples.
tion with the events OF the last lesson. On
the o ther hand. no less eminent authorities
than Roplnson. Thompson. Tischend orr
Andrews. Gardiner. ETC.. hold that IL is es-
Sc ntiaiy the same or contemporaneous
event We Incline TO the opinion of the
latter. The most reasonable explanation
seems to be that Luke is hero giving fuller Z
and more itemized account OF the calling
OF the disciples. outlined briefly but more
precisely as to time by the other gospel
arrators. For this purpose he goes back
a step.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
Left speaking; ceased speaking. That is.
after the sermonic fashion. He goes on
speaking. but this time in quiet way.
directing his remarks to Simon. The
whole account is very graphic and pictur-
esque.-Launch out; put out to the deep
water flshing-grounds. Let down your
nets. The word literally means slacken.
as would be necessary in order to -let
down the net-Draught; the word for
Two ships. The other was probably that
OF the sons OF Zebedee. alluded to by Mat
thew ana Mark In the calling OF the dis
ciples. Standing by the lake. Or by the
lake.shore.-Fisherm Fishing was a
highly lucrative industry along this Dody Of
water. Gone out OF them. Suggesting q
recent disembarking. - Washing their
nets. Or rinsing, as is needful with seines
after draw. They were probably in the
shadows near the shore.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
The people pressed uron him. That IL
the way we desire to see it to- day-the
people pressing up to hear the Word OF
God. How shall we get at the massesf
Here Is hint. Give them Jesus and then
they will themselves do the seeking and
Will come pressing in to I'LL our houses OF
worship, our chapels. and our Sunday
school rooms. Yes. but we do preach and
teach Jesus" is the answers and doubtless
It is true. There is little disposition amons
those who read these paragraphs to speak
any other name than that which Is given.
Then preach him, teach him more. Live
Christ. Put him forth and let yourself be
lost sight OF behind him. Let 1t be his con-
straint that the people. old and young, feel.
Think you that this attraction is le IS
mighty than OF old? Prove him and see.
he entered into one OF the ships which
oishiJy nN NhIvIf Was .oI.2lya -sras eIr0Iv
any arbitrary power here? Not with aught
that was Simon's. Christ knew Peter and
knew that. since that summons to faith
yonder at the Jordan, the fisherman oil
Galilee hold all for Christ's sake. Are you
on such terms with the Lordf Could Jesus
come your way and use OF yours (so called
what he would2 Do you hold 1t for the
GiverT Suppose the pastor or superin.
tendent should say. There will be cot
tage-meeting tonight at Brother C.'s or
Sister Is. e." do you understand the room
TO be given for Jesus sake2 Very well.
then. suppose there is call for miss on
airy 20 be sent to North Burmah. You have
the means TO send him. Why should he not
inter into one OF the ships" which Is yours
aad ask YOU to thrust out little from the
land?' Would such request, In Christ's
name, elate you or offend your o, why is
1t not oftener sufficient to say, The Lord
hath need OF him?" And. be assured. the
Lord will send him back again" as he did
the boat, well. laden.
Taught the people out OF the ship. ship
is a sanctuary II Christ be there. Jesus
dignifed all places and made all spots sa--
cred by the pressure OF his mediatorial
ieet. He spoke In the temple. in the syna-
gogue, in the palace, In the cottage, on the
hillside. on the sea. No place hinderedi
was the truth he uttered. or rather. the
nth that he was and is that sahct. fed.
Why not take that Truth forth where IL Ia
the most neededI Why not send 1t leaven.
ing throughout the whole lump Of humans
typ Is there a hall or street corner someA
where near you whore the GOSPEL may have
respectful hearingp A school house, IL
may be, or a crossroads, or chance stop
ping place where by word or deed souls
a ready to be helped-ready though they
may not say It. Behold Christ teaching out
OF the ship, and desp!se not these waysi de
sacristies.
Let down your Its for draught. The
fathers we're not wrong in calling the ml-
rnculum mysterium, or In nnding In each
wlnde.-work Of our Lord par able. Christ
means us To be "dlligent in business while
-hrvent in spirit;" In each and oil cases
serving the lord" But there is deeper
less on here. The Master was giving his
disciples lesson In fishing for souls. Let
down your nets for a draught," he says,
after closing his discourse to the multitude.
Aud then. when. to use Malachi's figure,
there Is poured out such blessing that
there Is not in these two poor vessels room
enough to receive it." he adds. 'henceforth
thou shalt catch men," Throw the net.
Be not content with using the PROV OF the
boat for pulpit. Boats were made to fish
with. Use discretion in church and Sun
day school as any fisherman would do; but
In any case, some way. by some method.
-let down your nets for a draught.
Nevertheless. Here Is faith. There Is q
whole body OF divinity n this word, and
the thiity- nine articles thrown in. Walk
by faith. o child OF God. not by sight
Peter knew. skillful fisherman tnat he was.
that the won ted time for casting was gone
by. lie knew. too. from his all-niRht expe-
rience. that IL was very poor day for fish,
ing. And any one could see that with all
that confusion on the shore the chances Tor
a catch had been oil the while diminishing.
Nevertheless at thy word" o. blessed
neverthelessi Here Is the secret OF fruit
iul faith. James says of effectual prayer;
But let him ask, nothing wavering." We
look that last word up. 1t means Judging.
discriminating. weighing the chances. IL
Is the same word. though differently rem
dered, that is TO be found at Rom. 4: 20.
where abraham staggered not Cdiakrino)
at the promise because OF unbelief, but wa 8
strong In faith. giving glory to God" That
Is. he did not judge for himself. nor set U p
his own opinion against Gods word. Not
knowing how II could possibly be. he just
believed Il and let God have all the glory Of
the doing OF 1t. suppose we do the same.
Take God at his word.
Next lesson; Christ ForgiyinR Sim