Connecticut western news., 1890-06-25

not acting from personal and selfish motives, but as the children of your heavenly Father"
 In the second lesson we study the affecting narrative of the widow of Main and the rais- ing of her son from the dead. We are told that the effect on the bystanders was great and especially that they remembered the Scriptures that Is, they recognized the full
 6llment of prophecy concerning the Messiah.
 The lesson on Christ's power to forgive sins
 therefore follows most appropriately; and
 the lesson Is emphasized by the character of
 the woman whose sins were forgiven. The
 modern 'paragrapher" or satirist might find
 material for humor In the quiet but most ef-
 fective way in which Simon, the host, is con-
 trasted with the repentant woman. There is
 a miracle involved in the quick recognition of
 what was passing in the mind of Simon.
 The parable of the sower follows-a practi-
 cal exposition of the effect of preaching and
 the operations of the spirit; and then, pur-
 suant to the alternating plan of the series of
 lessons, comes narration of the healing of
 the rulers daughter After short but most
 explicit address on the power of faith fol-
 lows the miracle of feeding the multitude,
 and then there Is sudden and most surpris-
 ing change in the daily mode of life of Jesus.
 This change is inaugurated by the trans
 fguration- At this point the careful student
 begins to perceive the plan on which Christ developed His earthly mission: First the na-
 tivity and ordinary life of Jewish child, then the first manifestation of divine wis dom, then manhood and observance of the law, and after that the calling of His disci- pies, the development of doctrine and mani festation of power, after which came the transfguration and preparing for the last scenes.
 Thereafter his disciples were to be instruct od nd iy,t tho foi1 oP their coming work and the truly awful judg- ments they were to announce. The seventy were sent out, the disciples were taught how to pray and a model given, reasons for prayer were set forth in language which carries con- viction and an answer specifically promised to the prayer of faith. Here again. as in the sea nun on the mount, arises difficulty which the devout student should neither evade l nor deny. Nothing is ever gained and much
 may be lost by seeking to cover up or evade ! the difficulties of scriptural interpretation, It is our duty to study them reverently, to call to our aid all other passages bearing on the subject, to give modest expression to such | light as we may attain to, and in case we still "see through glass darkly" to frankly ad- init our ignorance and hope for future en- | hghtenment, The Bible is not like novel or
 a newspaper, to b. read once, fully understood | and then laid aside. ftis to be read daily and diligently through life, with r1,vrarfect con- | fldence that new light will come with eBoa | reading. .. The parable of the rich fool and the con- | cluding lesson on trust in God amplify pre- vious lessons and most appropriately bring ! believers to the practical exhortation, "Fear | not, little flock" The coming quarters lessons
 will show each addition raising the disciples
 to excessively higher conceptions of the | Christian life.