The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-01-15

AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONsIDERED.

ing the scriptural Lessons Intelligenty
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday, Jan. 10. may bo
found In Luke /: C7-s0.
INTRODUCTORY.
We are given here "A sort OF echo from tn
past. IL is IA testimony OF the old dispensa-
tion 10 the new. And what an ardent. VIII oled
hearted declaration tits Zacharlas is llitee
up on the wings of p ophecy 10 announce
the transcendent blessedness OF the day OF
grace. IL Is peculiarly tho voice OF jew.
Ind, In one sense. for the jew. May there
be many more Of that God honored racs 10
accept its witness and know with assurance
that the dayspring from on high has Wis
tied rs.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
His father Zacharias. John the Baptist
mas Just been born and named under cir
cumstances OF providental and prophetic
lmport-Filled with the Holy Ghost.
Zacharias has been for time speechless.
which was for "A sign 70 him and a Judgment
as well; but now. under the influence OF the
Holy Spirit. his tongue is Embossed. -
Prophesied. Signifying, originally. 10 speak
Tor another. His first utterance. after
speechlessness. is for God
Blessed be the Lord God. The Latin
Vulgate begins: -Renedictus Dominus
Deus" hence the word usually applied TO
this hymn. the Benedictus.--Of Israel.
long been considered the key 70 the Testa-
ment prophecy and the connecting link be-
tween the voice in the old and the voice in
tho new.-Visited. Literally. TO look
upon, like our conventional look in upon.
1t is directly from this word that our word
episcopate comes tepl- skopos.) Re-
deemed. Two words In the Greek. made a
ransom. l. g., a means OF deliverance.
In holiness and righteousness. posi-
Bile reference to the prediction of Zech.
IA: ~.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Blessed be the Lord God OF Israel The
prayer begins rlght-blessing God. SO
CHRIST taught us: "Hallowed he thy name."
We need scarcely be told that -Zacharias
was nlled with the Holy spirit" His petit
ton indicates that blessed presence. 1t is
the same as speaks in the lofty yet lowly
prayer OF the Va gin: My soul doth mag
Nifty the Lord" heir ms piration. like their
hope. is one and the same. II is the initia-
ted word that the Holy spirit always teach
e5 TO those who come under His gracious
influence. Bless the Lord. o my soul.
and all that is with me, bless His holy
namei"
Visited and redeemed. Not all visits are
such. There are some that we always
dread. They are never less than a vista
ton. What is left behind is loss and NOR
LITIGATION rather than help or comfort. Not
SO Gods visits to His faithful people. AN
untrustiul pc ople might fear His coming.
To those who hope in Him. His appear
ance. like that of the kindly patti on in the
poor household. is the promise of BLESSING.
Gods visits mean redemption. How Ions
has il been since His presence has been
felt in this chu CHI. this school, this COM
munity. this home'
A horn of salvation. A note OF prophetic
fultllment. Il ON or old that strang eX-
preston had been used as predictive OF
tue day when Isra Is deliverance should
come. Sometimes it is o the budding OF
the horn. significant OF new lie and vitality
In the chosen race. Some times It is OF the
exalting OF the horn. referring to the asser-
ton or power and the display OF strength.
Here at last is the promise fulfilled. New
lite from God has been given. new might
impaired. An now every time OF gracious
revival is a budding and eXalting of the
horn OF salvation. We take no part with
those who decry a great awakening. We
pre- er TO join heart and hand with those
who believe in the perpetual providence OF
revivals OF religion. Every church. the
most prosperous as well as the most back
ward. needs to ever pray that God will.
from time TO time, raise up, to his praise.
"a horn of salvation for US in the house OF
his servant David.
Since the world began. SO. then. proph-
ecy is as old as man. There are no prehis-
toric fellow mortals TO whom God has not
spoken. This is the voice OF inspiration.
Do you say hat science does not find II so?
Science seems 10 be every day yielding
more and more 10 the declarations OF di-
vino truth. Professor Lyell reminds US that
in 1906 the FRI nch Institute enumerated
no less than eighty geological theories
not one OF those theories Is held to-day.
| IL ia better to trust the Lord. Since Eden's
earliest day the voice OF prophecy has not
ceased its first faint note, that pregnant ut
terance, 1t shall bruse thy head ana thou
shalt bruise his heel"
To perform the mercy promised. What
| Is IL to psrform mercy! Is IL anything
else than TO fulfill the promise given?
| Mercy is already ours in the pledge and
covenant given. 1t only waits to be- exc
cuted. For mercy was not simply prom
! ised" to our fathers. The word promised is
a needless Interpolation. Mercy was al
ready theirs in the oath sworn with them.
And that grace which is ours is theirs, too;
| tor Christ's coming is mercy performed for
our fathers as we'll as for us. The bond that
holds US all in one is faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Serve him without fear. 1t is n little win
| dow through which we may catch u glimpse
OF the times. Fearful times they were.
| The obscure four hundred years that lie be-
tween Malachi and Matthew were years full
| OF wars and expressions. First threaten
| ings from the East. next threatenings from
the North. then threatenings from the
South, finally threatenings from the West.
| until AltaXerXes the Persian. and AleXan-
der the Greek, and the Ptoemies on the
| Nile and the Caesars at Rome have done
their worst. There has been Service but
| never without fea-. Nor yet. at once. is
the day of unmolested service to dawn. 1t
belongs TO those far. fair ages with which
|
the holiness and Righteousness" which are
before him"
And thou child. The fathers address 10
his infant son: there is infinite tenderness
| and pathos in il. There is more the last
OF the priests is salutng the last OF the
prophets. Last in one sense. first in an
other for John is pre- eminently the har-
binger OF the new dispensation. The old
priest abdicates IN favo' of the messenger
| OF the kingdom. No more blood OF bulls
and goats, no more temple sacrifices. The
perfect Offering is at hand. Henceforth the
religious leader OF the people is but as a
herald ito 90 before the face of the Lord to
prepare his WAYS" who in himself is for all
time prophet. priest and king.
To give knowledga OF salvation. Here Is
! our commits sion. our sole prerogative "a
teachers end workers. AWAY with the
blasphemous priest. saying, "Absolvo te-
! Il give the absolution." 1t Is not for man
TO give salvation. His only TO give
! knowlsdgs OF salvation" We but stapf
! like John with lifted finger and poip. the
way And how clear and real it ls fof us
all. No payment of ours. no labUf Of hand.
no burden Of penance. II is way OF sim
pie forgiveness. And so we say to sin
laden souls OF to- day. just "a OF old. Be
hold the Lamb of God ID at taketh away the
sins OF the world" And just as Of old. will
| Won not let him take them2