The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-01-02
THE FoRERUNNER.
international Sunday School Lesson 10
January B, 1890.

messenger, and he shall prepare tne
way before me.-Mal. 81.
TIME-B. c. 6, October 3-9. According
to Andrews this was the autumn week,
when the course of Abba, to which Zacha-
rias belonged, ministered in the temple.
PLAcE--ln the temple at Jerusalem,
whore Zacharias was during that week.
But his home was in the hill country
(1:s9, 4O), doubtless in one Of the thir-
teen towns (Geil1ie), mostly near Jeru-
salem, which were assigned to the
priests. Tradition places his homo in
Hebron, one Of these priestly towns.
RULERs--Augustus Caesar, Emperor OF
Rome. Herod the Great, King of Judea
(32d year,, subject to Rome. Aretas,
King Of Arabia Petrea. Egypt Roman
province since b. G. 80. Cymbeline be-
came King Of Britain b. G. 4.
STATE OF THE WORLD AT THIS TINE
1t was general time of peace; the Ro-
man Empire held sway over most Of the
known world, thus opening the way by
her conquests for the greater conquests
Of the Gospel. The Roman roads we're
highway and the Roman army guard
for those who carried the Gospel The
Jews were scattered everywhere, taking
with them the Bible with its prophecies
and religious ritual, which Christ came
to fulfil, thus preparing the way for the
Gospel. According to Labberton, in his
| Outlines Of History, this was an age OF
remarkable intellectual activity; and,
according to Lecky History Of European
Morals), there was general disintegra-
| - xha ~ ~
morals and yet thirst for some belief,
all Of which caused men to appreciate
the great remedy Christianity was bring
ing to them.
THE ROMAN EMp1RE-Lyman's Tables
give the population Of the Roman EN-
pire at the time Of Christ as 1000, 900,
of which GO, 600, 900 were slaves, 40, 600, 900
were tributaries and freedmen, and only
1000, 900 were full citizens, or one-sixth
Of the population. The army numbered
100000 and the navy $4,000 men. Mil
man gives the population of Rome, by
the census of A. d. As, at 9, ,984, 900.
PALEsTINE-Ho Selah Merrill, in
Galilee in the Time of Christ, thinks
that the population Of Palestine was
about 5000, 900 and Of Galilee 1000, 600.
According to Milman,
Jerusalem had at this time population
Of 1850, 900. 1t was city of great mag
nificence, and was the metropolis Of the
Jewish world.
ZACHARIAs' PRAYER-While Zacharias
was Offering the incense, his own pious
heart must have been glowing with ST.
lent prayer for the people. His own
| II Il ho NJ, Cd 1~c% T.,
his desire for the salvation of his people.
But the answer to his own desires was
EMBODIED within the answer for them.
1t would be his child who should lead
multitudes to their God. Thus God
blessed Job "when he prayed for his
friends" The best blessings come to us
when our personal desires are absorbed
in the salvation of men.-P.
v. AN ANGEL BRINGS THE ANSWER
Vers. lila. NoTE: the answer comes
~ while Zacharias was attending to his
duties, (2) while engaged in prayer.
II. There appeared unto him an angel.
This appearance is the first note in that
Overture of angels" which introduced
Christ to the world.--Abbott. This was
not vision, but an actual appearance
Of an angel. In yer. 10 he gives his
name Gabriel, /. O., "man Tor hero) OF
God" The same angel appeared to Dan
lei (Dan. s:18; 9:2D. The outward
form may have been as of "a young man
in bright apparel" in the tomb of Christ
Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5). This is the
first message of God recorded in the
Bible for 400 years, since the time Of
Malachi. Standing on the right side Of tn.
altar. Indicative of favor and blessing
And ,chen Zachdrias sau him he soas troubled
Agitated, disturbed, discomposed. g
w. Clark. And fear fell upon him. No
80 much alarm or dread of danger al
holy awe.-Bliss. The presence of {
mysterious power, whose methods ar,
unknown and against which there is n,
defense, always causes alarm or awe IL
the human heart. NOTE: We are Otter
!, afraid Of Gods messengers which com,
to bring His choicest blessings. The,
come in the disguise of sorrows or il
unexpected opportunities, too brigh
and good for us to believe they are TO
us.-P.
Is. Fear not, Zdchdrids. Let fear b
changed to rejoicing and love. Tn
! prayer is heard. He had prayed for tw
things-that he might have son, an
that the promised kingdom of CO.
, might come, the last prayer gradual
absorbing the first as the hope of a so
Z died out God answered both prayer
in one, giving him double blessing
, P. And thou shalt cali Ms name job,
/ "The grace of Jehovah" "the graciou
gift Of jehovah" The same name O
/, Jonah and Johanan. The name wa
to express Gods work and message t
the people through him. Ia. joy an
gladness. One the inward experience
j the other the outward expression.-At
Q bott. Gladness (exultation, transport
0 is a stronger and more expressive ter,
/. than joy.-G. w. Clark. No childre
cause such true Joy as those who hav
the grace Of God. 1t was child abo,
to be filled with the Holy Ghost
:. whose father 1t was said: "Thou sha