The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-05-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONsIDERED.

| Wholesome Food for Thought - study
! ing the scriptural Lessons Intelligently
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday. May Is. may be
| found in Luke .: 1886.
INTRODUCTORY.
We are taken up in this lesson unto tho
| Diesseu mount OF TRANSPORTATION. IL Is well
| Tor US II W. mark the settling or this Incl
dent There were two things that seem TO
nave given occasion for IL. One coming be-
| Tore. the other after. Just few days prior
| 10 the vision Christ had been telling his
| disciples OF the death he was 10 die on Cal
vary. IL sta tied them. almost b-numbed
| them. Then came the wonderful scene on
the mountains brow 70 reinvigorate their
| ialth and to lind them stimulus and conf
dence as they went along the way toward
Jerusalem. And then. Just beyond tho
mount. at the loot OF the hill OF beauty was
| there the young lad waiting 10 be healed.
Inc painter has put the two scenes to-
| gether. In order TO prepare for tho labors
| and burdens that lay beyond Christ must
needs give his disciples. along with himself.
thls glimpse OF the powers that wrought for
! them anu with them. For comfort after
| sorrow. for enduement before toll We need
| like divulgence to-day.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
AS he prayed or was praying. Greek
present inhnitive. in tho 10 pray or in the
praying. fashion OF his countenance.
appearance. or look. 1t Is this same word
That is used at Luke 5: 20 OF the bodily
u,
simply different from usual Ceteros). Far
rar justly notes that Luke. writing for
Greek readers. avoids the with them haz-
ardous word metamorphose. used by the
other evangelsts Mark 9: y Matt. II: 81
White and glistening. Literally. white
ness cleaning forth.
Behold. Noting something extraordina-
ry.-Tnere talked with him. More accu-
rately and graphically. We're talking with
him. umpsrlect ense.)---Which were.
The Greek student will notice loose use
OF the Greek pronoun here Coi-tines) fire.
quent in New Testament Greek. (Cf. Luke
2: 4.)-Moses and Elias. One represent
ing the law. the other the prophets. both
peculiar in their departure from this lie.
(Deut. 81: g.; Kings 2: L. H.
Appeared in glory. Referring to their
Cloriled manifestation. We're
sp- aking Imperfect tense.) Ills decease.
hather. departure. Literally exodus. The
same word used by Peter oil his own death.
referring TO this same divulgenee. q Peter
II: 15)-Should accomplish. Rather was
about to accomplish or fulfill. SEQ Yaria-
lions. The cross was itself the iullllment OF
long stretches OF prophetic history.
Peter. The prominent member OF tn
10. They that Were with him. James
Ind John:--Heavy with sleep. Or bur
We that are in the tabernacle do groan.
being burdened.- 1t was pro badly right as
at Luke 6: l2.-When they were awake.
Or waking up. Participial form. rho verb
ordinarily means 10 Keep awake, out as used
here. in the Aorist tense. probably signifies
TO become wide awake. Diawth the verb.
Ills glory. His glorious appearance.
The two men. Along with Chrlst's glo-
rious form his heavenly visitants.
As they departed. More literally. while
they were parting from him. Master. Tho
proper word for "A teacher or Lord. Gener-
ally used by LIKE 8: 8; 8: "A, 40, etc
Three tabernacles Rather tents or booths.
such as could BE- readily constructed. -
Not knowing what he said. Dazed by the
wondrous sight which burst upon hem as
they walked. Peter said TIE first thing that
came to him. and naturally it was Il word
Of hospitable intent.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
AS he prayed. IT'S mercys hour: rather.
may we say. it is the moment OF glory. II
was while Paul was upon his knees that tho
hour Of his gracious visitation struck
Behold he prayeth." 1t was while Moses
prayed on the mount that Gods glory
passed by, il was while Stephen was look
ing devoutly and steadfastly up into heaven
that he saw the glory OF God and Jesus
standing on the right hand OF God. Yea
it was alter this. while our Savior prayed
in deep distress. that there appeared an
angel unto him from heaven, strengthen
ing him.. Let any one look back along tho
path of Christian experience he has trod-
den. Where and when was it that he re-
ceived his new views of God. new gifts.
new liberty of utterance. new power TO do
and dare. These three words mark every
spot. 1t was "as he prayed.
When they were awake, they saw his
glory. Truly our physical weakness keeps
US from much OF spiritual apprehension. It
was SO in the Garden OF Gethsomane; it IL
so here. Take it in its broader application.
our mortal heavness OF eye and Sluggish
less OF spirit withhold from us the greater
part OF the high, celestial privileges of tho
soul We do not know much OF IN at glory
on the mountain the disciples missed while
they slept. Once in a while our own earth
hon md mir ta xyal Ia nd N hat n caH
time we have upon the mount. But it ia
only for "a time. Presently we are back Id
the old somnolence again. Too many of US
are content 10 sleep through this lfe-soul-
slice ers here, indeed-expecting only to be
awakened when Christ comes in the glory
OF the father and with the holy angels.
There is some occasion for that transfor-
NATION of the old song, dear to Us still.
which we have somewhere read:
There's a land that Is fairer than day.
And by faith do we see il afar.
For the Father awaits o er the wav,
TO prepare dwelling place there.
Master. it is good for US TO be here.
Peter was right. 1t was good place to be.
Heaven could be scarcely better. This was
u very paradise on earth. Where Jesus Is
manifest in his power and blessedness,
there is peace and joy. Let us often seek
these mountain tops Of clear and ennobling
apprehension. Let US GET away with Jesus
and the holy men OF old in his word. till we
seem as IL were caught up into new and
constantly abide in his pres ence that every
day we may get sweet glimpses of his face
and blessed draughts OF heavens air. This
our prayer. for this life, as we'll as for that
which is TO come: Thou wilt shew me the
path OF life; in thy presence is fullness OF
joy at thy right hand there are pleasures
forevermore.
This is my beloved Son. hear him. Lis
ten for no other voice. Not Moses or Elias.
They were speechess here on the mount.
speechless because they had already
spoken. Dives asked that Lazarus be sent
again 10 earth and received for an answer:
They have Moses and the prophets, let
them hear them" Not angels. Are they
not all ministering spiritsy" Yes. but they
ever minister the things OF Christ. them
selves unseen. unheard of men. Not even
the Holy Spirit himself let's us hear his
voice or behold his separate presence. II
ia always the things Of Christ that he
brings to our remembrance. and the token
OF his coming Is n new beholdirg OF Christ.
anew audience with Christ Jesus himself
Is our days man. Listen. Moses himself
is speaking-and. mark you. IL was Peter
himself who later quoted thus thu great
prophet and lawgiver Acts 3: 22l "A pro-
phet snail the Lord your God raise up unto
you OF your brethren. like unto me: him
shall We hear in all things whatsoever he
eh al sav unto N ana ataa srhia