The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-04-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.


I'm. the scriptural Lessons Inteiligentiy
and Probably.
rne lesson or Sunday. April q, may be
founl in Luxe =: 4-l5:
INTRODUCTORY.
We have In the esent lesson our frst
parable. unless the story II the two debtors
ia tue last lesson, or Chiist's use Of the
miraculous draugnt OF fishes. earlier still.
be themselves taken as such. Luke abounds
in these; and In mentioning this first dis
tinct parabl IS .rmon he marks new and
enlarged spheIe In our Lords preaching.
He speaks now TO the great multitude and
his teachings are in such torn 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 Laws alongside OF IL some simple lumi-
nous detail oil life. Those who are carnally
minded will be Interested in the object or
story. without going fuI Their; those Of spir-
itual discernment will 70 get the ncdent
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 "A great crowd. The people
began TO press about him now in lIrger
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
By "A parable. Same word in the q eek;
para, beside: ballo. 10 cast or lay; para
ballo. TO lay best lie. 10 compare. illustrate.
sower. Properly the sower. !. e.. the
typical seed-sower As he sowed liter
ally. in the sowing. felt; the word
translated some" is the simple article the
or this. see Variations. The meaning is
there was that which fell--Wayside The
trodden path. There were no fences 10 bar
out pedestrians. --Trodden down. or SIM
ply trodden upon. IL is this same word
that is used at Matt. 3: -. where the salt
is "trodden under foot of men," and at Luke
II: !, where tie multitude "trode one upon
an other. 1t. Lying thus ex-
posed upon the hard surface Of the ground.
rock. rather, the rock. A thin coating
OF soil over rock.-Sprung up, !. O., germ
mated tphuo). indicating some advance
upon what has gone before.-Withereth 4.
TO parch or dry up under the suns rays.
See James /: ll.-LacKed moisture, liter
ally. through the not having moisture. no
undertook held none OF natures reir ssn-
IN in store. SO TAR a the seed was con-
cerned. il was dead earth.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
He spake by "a parable. He has always
so spoken. Nature Is one extended parable
The things OF Garth 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
by things that are made. Yea, the
deepthings o. God. even His eternal power
and Godnead; SO that they are without ex-
cuse." What we go 10 the heather for. in
doe d, the occasion Tor our appeal 10 all
men, Is 10 interpret this universal parable.
Read the nineteenth Psalm, the parable
Psalm, ana see how Gods attributes are
made the half-hid theme of the heavens
and armament. '"Tneir Inc is gone out
through all he earth"
sower went out 10 SOW his seed. The
simple annals OF the gospel years. eighteen
centuries of Christian history epitomiZed.
Or every laborer for the Master in every
| age this may be said. The story OF your
lite aud mine, Christian worker. and our
sufficient epltaph at the close of lifes lab
ors. We SOW 10y all waters and cast the Sc ell
forth on Gods winds. trusting him for is
safe lodgment as well as for Its sure fruit
iulness. And this our constant ins piration
anu ENCOURAGEMENT, that the dear Lord
himself could do no more. lie went forth
IA the Great over. letting his Truth fail
on all d.. Here il was rejected. there
receiver, mems hearts allowing or disal-
lowing. Yet God gave increase. lie gives
IL still.
Sprang up with it and choked it. Com
| panionship OF evil. SO IL is with us. Our
own familiar friend is risen up against US.
Look at the thistle and the wheat blade as
they lit their heads at the first just above
the ground. They look not much apart In
| But presently they have shown their un-
| likeness-the hostility of the one 70 the
other-and the stronger destroys the weak
err. Choked by our bad friendships ruined
| by evil as ,Ociations. the very things we have
cherished grown up 10 cause our overthrow,
: o the world serves Us. Such the deceit
| iulness 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
| Inn Al all "a 10 oAalg m al
with us ere he puts forth his hand to choke
and KILL
| He that hath ears to hear let him hear.
| Ii Is Gods appeal TO all men. Not TO some
| select band, an esoteric guild, favored
above their fellows in that to them is given
IA faculty and power lar removed from
others. 1t is "whosoever will. let him
| take" The will" the will" is the decisive
factor. Look into the original OF this pas
| sage and We get new light on its sgnlt
canoe. 1t is not ears in order that he may
hear but simply ears TO hear. like our
mind TO do. III any man has an ear for
| Christs messags he may have the mes
sage. IL he is disposed TO give it no heed.
that he may also do. 1he option is mans.
| Toe truth itself has no sovereign or over
| bearing power. IL comes wooing and win
ming. not forcing. Solemn truth. 1t sounds
| through every gospel appeal: 1t speaks out
| between the lines Ofevery Scripture. mans
grave responsibility OF choice: He that
hath ears 10 hear, let him hear"
| No root. Here is the secret OF many
| fruitless life-no root. Greater Jolly there
never was. 10 think TO fin fruit above with
out root below. We came. in our closer
| reading. upon new and stirring Truth Of
Gods word the other day. Here 1t is ut
| Col. 2; z: Rooted and built up in him." /.
D.. built down AMI built up. The up build
| ing is in accordance with the down builG-
/ ing; the super-structure Matching the ioun-
1htion work. Hence the apostles say here.
AS we have thereto. received Christ
Jesus, so walk We in him." and the pro-
yressive walking will be according to the
faithful receiving. Have you the root Of
! the matter within yourselves?
Keep IL and bring forth II nit with patience.
Take hold of one OF the little wheat-bl
out in the field and pull at 1t: you will have
practical parable OF this truth under eye
and 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 OH TO each other
with what we call a death "trip. That hold
| ing. keeping power is the measure OF the
power tina. will presently bring forth. And
! The patience with which lear and stem re-
/ sist the pelting rain and the driving wind Is
| part and parcel of that vigor and vital ~
! hat. ere long, speaks forth in the waving
| 'ruit above. Nav God give us hearts hon
| est and good. learning lessons OF steadfast-
1 4. "a rNr.H