The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INsrRuc-
TIVE LESSON.

Reflections Of an Elevating Character.
Wholesome Food for Thought Study.
ing the ~scriptural Lesson Intelliesntly
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday, August II, may be
found in Luke II: 11-10.
INTRODUCTORY.
we have in this lesson an intimation of
how Widespread the fame OF Jesus had be-
come. Even the uutcast lepers knew him
spoke Of him. But, Oh more interest
still to US. they spoke to him. In the Scrip
tura before us We lind cur Saviour's feet
stayed by the cry of the 'llnclean." Thank
Gcd for that. Indeed, it was for that he
cane. for that lie iourmeyed in this particu-
iat' direction. and but for the condescend-
ing compassionate spirit here displayed we
would have no part in him. Jesus is pass
ing down through leprous coasts to-day
in the teaching of this lesson. Shal not
some smitten souls call out to him? Alas,
If we do not We are still In our sins.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
1T canie To pass. Introducing another in
cident of that wonderful journey toward
the city on the hill.-As he went. Or in
the going. Christ's going was attended with
circumstances peculiar to the mission he
was compiisiiing.-Passed through. He
was passing through. Imperfect tense. 1t
was a golden moment of opportunity
The midst of Samaria and Galilee. Some
have thought this to refer to the border
land between the two countries. See Mar
gin. Or possibly it but suggests the interior
IN contrast with the farther coasts.
AS he entered. iarticipial construction.
Certain village. Numerous little towns
were scattered along the way.-Met him.
A man is known by the thing which he
meets by the way, Other caravans could
scarcely be described as meeting these
lepers. Standing afar otf.-Ten lepers.
In sad profusion in that cline and, especial
~, in that day.-Afar off. They were not
allowed to come near. LEV. 10: 49,
Lifted up their voices. AS from a dis
lance. One hundred PAGES, usually
lhey dared not come nigh, as they were,
but they dared cast a prayer. So may we.
Jesus. Master. S%ignifying something Of
homage, but not full fealty, as their subse-
quent conduct proves.-Have mercy on
us. Or pity us. The personal preference.
An appeal never ~fruitless with Christ.
When he saw them. He saw deeper into
their need than other men would.-Go.
Just the resting of his gracious eyes upon
them was enough.-Show yourselves to
the priests. The same as saying, you are
healed. See Lev. IA: 2.-As they went.
Or in the going. Their obedience was
doubtless a necessary condition of the
cleansing.-Cleansed. The signs of health
gradually making themselves manifest.
When he saw. The changed color of his
Hanus "oulu DC one visible symptom OF re-
covery.-Turned back. Probably while
still in sight, going later for the ceremonial
ablution which would require some time.
Lev. $40. Glorified God. Equivalent to
praising God. DoxoIogy is from this word.
Fell on his face. In grateful and wor-
shipful Misunderstanding him thanks. The
aim OF the narration of this incident at this
point seems to be to emphasize the ingrati-
tude OF the great body of men. See the
context, especially V. a. Samaritan.
The Jews had no dealings with the Samari-
tans in ordinary life, but the common ca
lamity which had befallen these unhappy
castaways obliterated all such distinctions.
Farrar suggests that this Is still SO In tho
leper-hOuses Of Jerusalem.
We're there not ten cleansed? The literal
form is more graphic and expressive, Were
not the ten cleansed?" (See Variations
But where are the nine? DR.. COnant
renders 1t with a shade of difference in the
accent and meaning, "And where are the
nine?' Literally it is, but or and Idc) the
nine--where? They were not there to give
thanks.
They are not found. Rather a suggestive
query, We're there not found?-This stran-
ger. Or alien, foreigner. Etymologically,
OF another race.
Arise, go. AS before hidden, for puritica-
ton. Probably to Mt. Gerizim.-Saved
thee. A blessing, we may believe, his alone
from among the ten.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES
Ihere met him ten men that were lepers.
1t was a bit Of interruption, something per-
maps of detention on the way. No matter.
That way to Jerusalem that Jesus was
treading was full of such considerable stop
pages. Indeed, he took such a course that
he might meet the souls that needed help.
Christ went everywhere doing good-that
was his errand to the world. Now let the
disciple do the same. We are here for SER
Vice, put here for a purpose. But o, how
foolishly duh we are at times. "No, no."
cried the lady in the sudden shower, ..I've
kept that umbrella clean and new all these
years, and In not going to have you take
1t out now into all this wet" Perhaps we
have been no less slow to employ the chart
ties and graces God has given us for use.
How many opportunities have we met care
lessly? How many mute appeals passed by
unnoticed? God forgive us.
Jesus. Master. have mercy upon us. The
village edge lifts the cry still. The city
and the country-place, too, still re-echo the
old appeal. Men want mercy. How can
We help them: Well, manifestly, we must
first be helped ourselves. He only can give
aid to others, in mercy's name, who has ex-
perienced that grace himself. We do well
to cry out first for ourselves, sJesus, Mas
ter. have mercy upon u.s." Then shall we
be able 10 speak OF mercy to others. It Is
Matthew Henry, Is it not? who says, eft you
wish to land a fish you must stand in the
place where you wish to land 1t and not In
the place where the fish is" And does he
not also say 1--WE are doubtless but quoting
the sub%stancel. If you want to lift a soul
out of the pit you must first get q good foot
ing out of the pit yourself" Only Il Chris
tian teacher can properly interpret this
lesson. He only can tell of mercy who has
felt it.
With a loud voice. Well, certainly, we
ought to speak with as loud a voice for God
as we have been using against Him.. Men
who have bawled their ~blasphemy through
twenty or thirty years ought to make their
testimony after conversion in q voice that
can be heard, at least, three seats back.
And yet sometime our very silence under
! pressure is a loud-voiced confession lie
converted fruit merchant did not inueno to
make an open confession Of religion when
he shut his lips from cursing over the bad
lot of oranges received. But the boys who
had been accustomed to hear him swear
under such provocation knew that he turned
Christian. BLESS the Lord!' said the con-
verified blacksmith when his horse kicked.
That took the place OF the old oath. De-
pend upon it, If the work of grace Is a
thorough one, it will find expression. Let
it speak out loud and strong.
We're there not ten cleansedf There Is O
personal application. Too often we give
God but a partial recognition. We glorify
him with but one portion of our whole
selves. 1t may be that the Sabbath day Is
given 10 MIN, DuC Wnat OF the six lays OF
the week? Possibly we praise him with the
voice OF prayer and song, but how about
the work of the hands, the ways our feet go.
Not simply the heart should return and do
homage; the mind and body Of the whole
nature should be PROSTATE before him who
has cleansed and redeemed. The daily life
should praise him. Said the converted
sewing-girl, There's many a time, when
I've been pressed and hurried, that I've
sent home seams scarcely fastened, so
they'd be sure to rip; but, please God, since
I've been converted my seams will never
zip again."
Returned to the glory of God. 1t was
more han ingratitude. 1t indicated but q
partial work OF grace. Their bodies were
healed, but we have little reason to suppose
that their souls were else than in the bonds
of iniquity. Not SO the stranger, the lone
Samaritan. His return indicated a heart
touched, a spirit made ready to receive the
inetfably larger blessing of salvation from
sin. Let me be Christian" says one,
without coming out into public profess
sion." But there is no concealed fealty, no
secret Christianity, worthy Of the name.
AS WELL" urges Pentecost, sfor the rose
TO S9y Y. . pt mo ha a rosa without h,rSfjnn