Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-07-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.

Anou6hts worthy on Oafm heHoct1oN-
Half an Hours Study Of the Scriptures
Time Well spent
The lesson for Sunday, July IS. may be
found In Luke IA: 1924.
INTRODUCTORY.
Our Lord uses here an illustration
which all men can Understand. II is the
story OF feast spread, such as all might
desire to enjoy and which all men seem
to be just waiting to enjoy. But now,
when the doors are thrown wide open.
each man turns and goes his dev;ou, way.
how shall we account for such pervers:-
typ There is no accounting for il. It Is
the enigma OF human history. the stran-
gest. saddest thing connected with mortal
existence. We cannot explain it; we
need only try to mend it. God help US
do so IN the lesson of to- day
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
When. Jesus seems to be again In
Perea, and, as often, is discoursinR at
table. One of them. Probably a Jew,
as We might judge from the exclamation.
That sat at meat. One word in the
Greek, reclining together. - These
things. What Jesus had just been say
ing about making a dinner for the poor.
blessed. Or happy.-Kingdom
The good time coming of divine rule to
which Israel was ever looking forward.
Unto him. AS needing instruction.
A certain man. Doubtless not the king
described at Matt. 22: 2. Compare
great supper. A rare treat. Bade
many. L1rge companies were invited to
these feasts.
Sent his servant. 1t is customary in
the East to send a second summons.
Several things conspire to make this nee
essary. QD The houses are not large
enough to accommodate the guests while
they wait. (2) 1t is impossible to tel
beforehand just when the feast will be
fully prepared. (3) Even If the hour Of
the day were approximately known be-
fore hand. time-pieces are not kept, and
announcement would be necessary.-
Come. Like the bell summoning to the
table.
With one consent. Or, from the first
on.-Make excuse. Or beg off, It is
this same word that occurs in the passage.
Heb. IL: rs, See that We refuse not him
chat spe eaketh. a piece of ground. Al
real estate venture. Have me excused
Implying previous invitation and cor
responding obligation.
Five yoke of oxen. large business
transaction, Wholesale merchant, 50 to
speak. But why such large purchases a.
the very inst mt when the call to the bau-
quet was momentarily expected. -
Married wife. Social engagements.
Sometimes the wedding ceremonies were
very elaborate and prolonged-Cannot
come. This one seems 10 speak as If the
mere mention OF his nuptials is sufficient
excuse.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the
kingdom of God So easy 10 say. It
sounds very much like one of the good
sayings that, on unmeaning lips, pres
emily become cant. Roll on, great aud
devotee, and, IN the ecstasy OF his present
emoi ion, he does not sec the collection
box under his nose. Not he; his eyes are
shut and he is araway. He Is like Sam
Jones little steamboat, that always
stopped running when it blew its whistle,
SO tremendous was the blast. If this
man thought SO much of the bread OF
heaven, why was he not partaking OF 1t
here and now? For this is eternal life,
that they might know thee, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent.
With one consent began to make excuse.
Here is one place where all the world is I
agreed. 1t is unanimous in its excuses.
o, if only the church were as unite
for aggression as the world IS
for defense. And yet what miserable
apologeticsl We try 10 find reason for
the excuses urged. We never shall be
able. They were absurd on the face OF
them. And hero is the point of the para
BILE, the miserable Inconsistency of men,
their wretched folly regarding eternal
life. Too busy to eat. Too hurried to
be saved. The Roman actor cried, 20,
Celumi"-O, Heavens -and pointed
downward. uiB fustidiUus autirtors
hooted the solec sm. Behold men to-
day talking about their highest interests,
and then pointing to tho earth Was
ever greater vanityl
Come, for all things are now ready 1t
ia ns some one has said, supper time
now" Supper now readyl Last call for
supper! Have we q better picture than
this of the present crisis in the Christian
dispensation? The gospel feast is spread
the doors are open, the whole world 10
invited. Why, then, are not all eating2
Some one is not ready. IL it is not the
host, who can it be but the guest2 Hear
him. "I have bought piece OF ground.
"Land poor" indeed, since he will allow
il to render his heaven forfeited. Five
yoke of oxen." And he is letting them
drag him downward. He is not the only
man on whom business has heavier
draft than religion. Married wife. :"
AS IL the wife were not invited, too.
What better wedding banquet than the
gospel feast? Heaven all ready. Only
| poor, hungry man unready.
Compel them to come in. 1t is tina
| for urgency. We are to lay, as IL were.
swift and strong hands on men. and com
| pei them to come in. Now, what do we
mean by this? Compulsory Christianity
| Yes and no. Not that sort which, prac-
ticed by the old Gallo chiefs, brought in
a nation in a day by the stroke of the
kings pen, and, as 1t were, by order OF
| congress. Not that sort which, practiced,
alas. to-day, registers the unwilling, Oft
unwilling infant as subject, so to speak,
by order of its parents. Not this, nor
| that. But compulsion Of persuasion,
| constraint of love. We think this man
| to be not far from the kingdom, and we
invite him to go with us in the way Of
discipleship. Not hel We are offended
at his bluntness, ana we drop him from
our prayer and endeavor. We are not
compelling such one to come IN. Here
is teacher laboring along with seeming
ly an unimpressible pupil, here Is a pas
tor following up q careless parishioner
here a Christian worker keeping on and
on with friend beloved, using one ten
der entreaty after another until at las
the heart is yielded-this Is Christian
compuIsion. Christ bids us use it.
/ N.~t Taoaon-eTakfn0 M the Cross.