The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-11-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
a Scholarly Exposition OF tho Lesson
Thoughts Worthy of CAIN RefiectiOn-
Half an BOur's Study OF the Scriptures
Time Well Spent

Half an BOur's Study OF the Scriptures
Time Well Spent
The lesson for Sunday, Nov. 1G, may
be found in Luke %: 1925.
INTRODUCTORY.
70 is really PLATE that Is on trial in
the lesson. He is DESTROYS of doing just
~ no knows what is right for him 10 do,
but he yields TO the pressure brought 10
bear upon him and condemns the Holy
One and the just. His good wishes do
not shield him; his knowledge Of tho
wrong he is doing is but an aggraVation
of his iniquity. So is it with all those
who In the light Of this nineteenth cen
fury condemn Christ by speech or con-
duct. Yet be il remembered that this
condemnation does not dethrOne the Son.
1t rather, by the sovereign grace of God,
sets him on high as King of kings and
Lord of lords. When the chief priests
reyailed-they prevailed against them
selves.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
And PLATE Not able to shake off the
responsibility together the
chief priests. Still anxious, however, To
put blame of IL over unto lthers.
The people. 1t was a public arraign-
ment.
We have brought. They themselves
had taken the initative.-Untom me, as
head OF the Roman power.-One that
perverted the people, or turneth aside.
Examined him. OF judicial inves-
tigation.-No fault, /. e.. he pro-
nounced him not guilty Whereof we
accuse him. Their furious accusations
had not been proven
Nor yet Herod. Herod's return Of
Christ had proven this sent YOU To
him. The reading, he sent him back
unto us is preferred.-Done unto him.
by him is here preferred.
Chastise him. But why, if guiltless?
Evidently concession TO the popular
fury. Virtually acquitted.
OF necessity. Which necessity would
relieve PLATE I'm part of the appearance
OF double-dealing -Release. A sort
of Roman holiday feature in Jerusalem.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
No fault. Faultlcss was his name. 1t
was the worlds disinterested verdict. So
far as open charge or formal accusation
were concerned, not proven had to be
returned as the fair and final decision.
Jesus stood before earthS millions on
trial, and no man was able TO convict
him of sin. Yea. il was his very SinleSs-
ness that irritated and enraged the de-
generate sons of Aaron. His faultless-
ness is the only fault men can find with
him to-day. But so long as sin remains
sin and Satan abideS that contrari-
ETY. of nature will occasion opposition of
soul. His own ineffable life must touch
our heart ere we shall crave his beauty
and love his love.
Willing 10 release Jesus. Yes and
there was the source of his offending,
the search OF his downfall. He was
willing, that was ali. He did not deter
mine or purpose, like Daniel, in his soul.
Being willing and willing are two differ
ent things. Pilates disposition toward
the Christ was a merely negative affair,
and as such was empty and vain. Moth
ing positive or viriie or fruitful. 1t is
the banc Of the world to-day, in large
part Men do not seem, in the mass, to
hate Christ. They seem kindly disposed
toward him; they are quite ready, like
PLATE, TO speak well Of him. But they
will not sacrifice anything for him. They
have the willingness but not the will;
and it is the will that counts here.
Cruelty him, cruelty him. At last IL
is out. They have told the truth about
H. For a long time they have been
hushing it, smothering the cry. We have
| observed its premOnitions, and its NUT
tcrings. AT first faint, growing gradu-
ally stronger and stronger till finally they
| can withhold it no longer, and the hide
Gus cry Smites the ear. "Crucify him,
cruelty him." II is the final interpreta-
tiOn OF all our human inSolence toward
| Gods son, the last analysis OF an indi-
vidual antagonsm We had scarcely
thought it, but presently the aggregate
of our diSdan finds voice and with cum
ulatiye and cruel evidence the word
whirlS hcavcnward. cruelty him. BE
assured. God hears it, and devils too.
The voices Of them and of the chief
| priests prevailed Earth's prevalence,
pure and simple. There are two voices
crying To the souls OF men: the voice of
| conscience, which is for God, and the
voice OF wOrldlinesS, which is against
| God. Two spirits struggle for the mas
tory, that of the Prince of Peace and
that OF the prince OF darkness. And
| ihis old earth has let the latter prevail.
| She has listened TO the voice that cries
ont against the Lord. This has very
practical bearing to-day. There are GER
| tain great moral issues before the peo-
| pie, especially of the West Two distinct
| and divergent appeals are being made:
one OF them nanlIcStly Tor tnat Wnlch Is
high and cnnobling. and which makes
| for Christ, the other for that which is
| low and grovcling and devilish. Which
voices shall prevail the next few days
Will show.
He delivered Jesus TO their will. And
what will it was! Stripes and taunts
and the cross. Lord, deliver us not to
the will of earth and man. Earth's will
with her God was terrible and trucu-
lent one. But now, on the other hand,
| what is Gods will with man? He desires
not that any man should perish. Yea,
! il any perish, it is because he resiSts the
| loving will of God and persists in his own
self-destroying will. There was venge-
! full Malchus with his ear restored. There
was the pcnitent thief with the sweet
word TO soothe his fading senses, "This
day thou shalt be with me i'm Paradise. "
| There was the kindly word 10 the dis
! ciplcs, "Fear not, little flock, IL is your
Fathers good pleasure TO give you the
Kingdom" Put over against these the
cord and the cross. Surely "let us now
fall into the hand of the Lord for his
| ,,,ornfoe oro Opoot ond LOT mo not 70 II