Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY OF CALM
REFLECTION.

A Pleasant, Interesting, and Instructive
Lesson and Whore It May He fbuhd-A
Learned and Concise Review 81 the
Same.
The lesson for Sunday, Sept. z, may be
found in Luke 10: lilo.
INTRODUCTORY.
Rightly viewed, this is one of the bright-
work Of Christ on earth. We read that Fac
chBus sought to see Jesus" But 1t was
rather Jesus who was seeking ZacchBus,
and because of that seeking spirit Christ
came to Jericho and passed beneath tho
sycamore. We're it not that Christ sought
us, we should never have been seeking him.
1t is his love responded to that we name
Christian love. "We love him because he
first loved u.s. All the seeking we need
is to follow the dictation of his Spirit in our
hearts and open the door to receive him,
and 10! he is at hand saying: "Mako
SO far from Zacch@us home to the syca-
more as from the Fathers house to that
same tree.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Jesus entered. Or, having entered. The
word ssJesus'' is added in the English. The
that the simple pronoun is sufficient, at all
times, to designate him.-He passed
through. More accurately, was passing
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Then chief city with
outlying suburbs.
Behold. Introducing a singular circum-
stance.-A man named ZacchRus. Doubt-
less we'll known in the community on &C
count of his public occupation. The chief
among the publicans. Rather, q chief tax
gatherer. One word in the Greek. Proba-
bly, the head Of one division Of the tax
gatherers, who doubtless found Jericho .
lucrative center Of operations.-Rich.
The publicans Of the day, to whom the
taxes we're farmed out, had abundant op-
portunites where conscience was stilled to
accumulate wealth
He sought. Better, was seeking, or kept
seeking; imperfect tense.-To see Jesus.
Implying some knowledge of the name and
reputation Of Christ.-Who He was. In
the Greek idiom, who He is. He desired
personal or at least slight acquaintance
with Jesus.-Could not for the press. He
probably had been tip-toeing about for some
time on the edge Of the throng.-Low
stature. Not always a misfortune, as the
sequel here proves.
To him. Speaking as directly and frank
ly as he had been spoken to.-This day.
Same word as in v. 5.-Salvation i. g.
is come. Better, has come.-To this
house. 1t was the same as saying, Thy
faith hath saved thee-As he also.
Rather, since also. 1t is an added consider
alton, of special weight with the DIRECTORS,
an argumentum ad hominem.-A son of
sheep Of the house of Israel.
Is come. Emphatic position. l. e. the
express errand of Christ was such work as
this--To seek and to save that which was
lost. How can the lost be saved without
being sought!
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
A sycamore tree. Thank God for the
sycamore. 1t Is not much Of tree after
all, but it may be the starting point to
something great. This little mission station
is very Insignificant place. But do you
know? Right here the other evening, man
who had wandered about in many lands,
refugee from his home government, the heir
of a vast estate, gave himself and all his to
the Lord. And his is but one Of the many
souls that have been given here new and
Transforming glimpse OF life. This country
church, open but once or twice week,
seems to have very little to do with the
great busting life of the thronged thorough
fares. But it was right here that that sue
cessful minister or Sunday-school worker in
the great metropolis enlisted for King Jesus.
| We are not going to despise these sycamore
trees along the Lords highway. They may
be trysting places 'twixt the soul and God.
When they saw it they all murmured.
How slow we are to realize an evangelistic
opportunity! What Jesus seized by sort
| of divine instinct the disciples looked upon
askance. No wonder the gospel net catches
SO few fishes, comparatively speaking; we
move so languidly and laggardly.
The other night at the close of the testi-
mony meeting, several persons arose for
prayer. One whole family, father, wife
and son in a body. After the benediction
the pastor hurried back to the door. He
was able to take two or three of those who
had arisen by the hand; but not all. What
were the Christians around about them do
,ing2 Would you believe it? Just nothing.
Waiting, it would seem, to be introduced.
! Oh, these miserable society trammels! Why
should the Kingdom so fetter itself;
why put itself under world-bondage?
May the Lord unseal our eyes to behold
the man waiting to see Jesus; and may he
loose our hands to help him!
| Gone to be guest with a man that is a
sinner. So the Lord preferred to spend his
precious moments There he was usually
| to be found, where he could do most good.
Doubtless they had some other plan for him.
Perhaps they were hurrying him forward to
bome important man-made appointment.
Christ had his own errand there. We have seen
so Have not you? What disappointment
that was to us few Sunday nights since
when we were expecting one sort of serv-
ice, and, by the providence Of Cod it was
turned into another! just simple praise
service, that was ALL instead of the plat
form meeting we were expecting to have.
But then how God cheered us when the APP
| peal was made in enabling us to see one soul
after another arise and ask to be remem-
bored in prayer. Our Master had changed
our plan OF Cl6 moeUlnB. ne ndU Ouner
business. He had gone to be guest with a
man who was sinner.
This day is salvation come to this house.
Yes, If only Christ is let in. Here are
multitude of homes, just like that Of Fac
chBus, needing salvation. Here is Jesus
with his salvation What now will bring
salvation into these houses? Why, simply
to open and let Christ in. Behold, stand
at the door and knock" This Sunday-school
lesson is another gentle but earnest knock
1T the door. At many heart the Savior
is standing and seeking admission to-day.
Will you let him in9 When you let him in
you let in life and light. Salvation is come
to this house.
] ! To seek and to save. Christ's errand to-
, day is not for judgment. 1t is for mercy.
When we hear his tapping at the door let
us not forget him even though our sins and
shortcomings are great. The woman who
failed to let in her benefactor because She
thought it was the landlord for tho rent was
not more foolish and forlorn than that one
who because of conscious delinquencies re-
fuses to hear the tender voice that calls.
There is time when Christ will como for
judgment. But it is not yet. And those
who will feel his wrath then are those SIM
ply who scorn his mercy now. so kiss the
Son lest he be angry and We perish from the
way when his wrath is kindled but little.
Blessed are those that put their trust in