Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-01-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONsIDERED.

tion-Half an Hours Study OF the Scrip
tures-Time Wen Spent.
The lesson for Sunday. Feb. 2. may be
found in Luke 2: 1885.
INTRODUCTORY.
It Is Christ's first entrance into the tenn.
pie. the house built in his praise. Notice
how instantly the Holy Spirit sets voices
10 singing his greatness and glory. we
may catch just hint here OF the place OF
Christ in public worship. Allcenters about
him; all for his cake. In true and clearly
understood sense, all that clusters about
may say its nunc dimmittis now let de-
part. The salvation OF God has come; the
temple sacrifice is at an end.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
And behold. Noting another remarkable
circumstance connected with the infancy
OF Christ man. Probably otherwise
obscure; not SO. however. in tho spiritual
kingdom. m.-simeon. Hebrew form OF
Simon; derived from the word to hear. or
llsten.-Just and devout; 1. O., both pub
licly and privately righteous
In accordance with his name. me.-Consola-
tion OF Israel. A form OF word elsewhere
translated Comforter. also Advocate para.
clete) Holy Ghost. The third person OF
the Trinity-already force In the world.
though not as after Christ's death and
resurrection.
Revealed. peculiar word referring to
divine communication. The same word
Is used twice OF Joseph being warned In
dream. Matt. 2: II. 22.-By the Holy
Ghost he was instructed by the Spirit
Before he had seen; He was expecting to
Lords Christ. More accurately. the
anointed OF the Lord.
Came by the Spirit Spiritual guidance;
Into the temple. At the appointed
time. 1t was doubtless place OF frequent
resources with him.-When. Infinite con-
struction, !. e., in the act OF bringing In.
TO do for him. Christ fulfilled the re-
quitements OF the law even in the uncon-
scious hours of fnfancy.--The custom
The redemption Of the Arst-born enJoined
at Mum. Is: 10.
Then. At the very time that Christ was
being brought in. probably as soon as MS
eyes rested upon him.-ln his arms In
affectionate regard. .-Bles cd God. Look
ing up with thanksgiving and prayer; IL
must have been scene TO stir the hearts
OF the pareRts.
Lord. Not the usual word for Lord. 1t
Is here despotes. master.-Lettest thou.
Not as is supposed request. but adeclara-
tion; now thou art letting.-pepart A
part of the word just spoken; literally 1t is.
Now releasest thou thy servant in
peace. Death 10 him does not seem to be
dreaded. but a joyous thing. According
to thy word. Evidently what was spoken
by the Holy Ghost was spoken by the Lord
". 26l.
Prepared. HayRg probable reference to
the long series of brovdential preparations
in IsraeL--Beforo the face. In plain
sight thy people. Applying first. oil
all to the chosen nation. but also. as Is I'M
piled in the succeeding verse. to those
whom he should call ou: oil all nations.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES
Waiting for the consolation OF Israel
We are not surprised to read right after
ward, And the Holy Ghost was upon him.
The word translated consolation here IS a
form OF the very word used by Christ him
self to designate the Comforter or Para-
clete (paraklasis). Waiting for the conso-
| lation he was already in its joyful embrace.
| for the comfort of Christ and the com ort
| OF the Spirit are one. The coming and de-
| parture OF Christ brought not an absolutely
new spirit into tie world. but rather a
| greater fullnesS ef the same blessed plrlt
| that had spoken to and through the proph-
cts. John himself. possessed OF great gifts
| from the Spirit, said Of the Christ. The
same Is he which baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost And the accent was upon the word
"baptizeth."
Revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost.
We have hint here of the operations OF
| the Spirit prior to the ministry. death and
resurrection of otir Lord. Here as since
| there is no intimation as to tho personal
| manifestation OF that Spirit OF truth, and
here ms ever since he speaks not OF HIM
| self tut he testihes OF Christ. Has not tn lat
| been the Spirits theme from the very be-
| ginning2 In Old and New Testament. with
prophet as with apostle. and in the quiet
whispers of our hearts he tells us OF the
| Lord Jesus Christ. How could IL be other
| wise with the saint OF the old dispensation
| or OF the new? For said Christ. "he shall
receive Of mine and shall show 1t unto you
| When did the Holy Spirit beg.n to receive
| OF Christ? When did he begin to show him
forth and gloriIy him2
| He came by the Spirit into the temple.
The Holy Spirit in revelation and the Holy
| Spirit in Providence. First he was telling
| this ready soul about Christi. now he is
| leading him where he cannot but lind him
| Gods Spirit is guide as well as com 'orter
| He stoops to take our hand In the seem
| inRly triiling journeys of life and leads us
| here and there. as we submit ourselves tc
| his direction. always for Christs sake. The
| influence that led US into the humble meet
ing house or the warm hearted prayer
/ room was the same as that which had long
| been whispering Of Gods love and yet o
our own unworthness. and the voice thai
found us there at last and brought us to oui
| beace was also voice sent OF the Holy
Spirit. Ttust the Spirit. He means to dc
well by us. His will is 70 bring us al to the
| Father
A light to tighten the Gentiles and the
| glory OF thy people Israel Better TO be
| lighted by the beams than TO be simply
| honorcd by the splendid presence. The
Jew is as yet Ike the hand that holds the
candle stick and rests under its frownine
shadow. while the light shines all around
the Mississippi at night. 1t was denselJ
black all about US, and our party on the
train were only aware OF the passage by the
slow, cautious moving OF the engine or
ahead and the creaking OF the cables
stretched above us. Suddenly glow o
funnel shaped light came across the watei
and we were presently bathed in its white
brilliancy. But the point from which Il
came was only denser shadow OF grea
darkness. It was the search light OF an un'
seen vessel somewhere below tho river
Somehow IL set our thoughts in the direc'
tion OF this text.
That the thoughts OF many hearts may b'
revealed. Just this has been on OF the
| most remarkable results Of the Christ ad-
vent in the world. Jesus has opened thu
soul gates. Indifferentism and stoicisn
| found no philosophical dictatorship Ia him
neither did their opposites. He came u
Law mems hearts bare, and reveal th'
secrets of their minds. not only to them
selves. but in part to others, To many HI
was a vague hope made real. to others
fear made harassingly distinct and pres
ent. In any case. no one could, with ey'
and lin. at once. gainsay him. In his pres
epce the woman OF Samarla finds hersel
confessing the whole ad past. On tn
other hand. Zacheus, under his gaze, put
into irrevocablc resolve the pious prompt
inRs OF bis awakened conscience. Pete
| tells ft all, and PLATE. too. ID ing men :
Christ to know what is in them.
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