Crawford avalanche., 1890-08-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING ANDINsTRUC-
TIVE LESSON.
Reflections of an EIevatips Character
Wholesome Food for Thought - Study
Ing the scriptural Lesson Intelligcntiy
and Profitabiy.

wholesome Food for Thought - study
ing the scriptural Lesson InteIlIgontiy
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday. Aug. 10, may be
found In Luke 16: 1881.
INTRODUCTORY.
This lesson calls n halt in mems accus-
toned ways of thinking and doing. The
impression seems to have prevailed then, as
IL does now, that TO have all that taste or
fancy could suggest Is tho summum bOnum
of existence, the highest ideal OF living.
And so club-life Is In full swing and sway.
To feed the appetite, to clothe the body, to
please the carnal sense, Is all some men ap-
pear TO care for Those who look beyond
arc regarded as a little impractical and no.
tional to say the least. Well, this lesson
helps us 20 readjust our conception OF
things. IL let's In a food of light upon the
long, long life that man has before him;
and now how vain and insignificant seem
the petty Establishments OF earth-lifel
Sumptuous fare, purple, fine linenl What
OF them all hundred years hence? But
faith In God-that abidea Thank God for
the timely revelation. Shall we use IL?
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
certain rich man. His riches did moth
Ing for him, even his name forgot.-Pur-
pie and fine linen. Symbol of magnificence.
The end OF such Is TO be read at Rev. IS: H.
14.-Fared. The word originally means,
TO be made glad; hence, To feast.-Sumpt-
word here Qampros) that our lamp comes.
Every day. Other mon might have oc-
casional banquets, his we've Of daily occur
renee. He was, TO use expressive world
phrase, lat the top of the heap"
Named Lazarus. A beggar, but his name
is recalled. 1t was written in the Lambs
book of Life.-Was laid. And not very
tenderly. The first meaning of the word
(Ballo) is to cast or toss.--At his gate. IL
may have been an added source of compla-
Al. a n a
very gate choice spot to be.--Full OF
sores. Suggestive of bodily discomfort, In
contrast with the soft ar luxurious condi-
tions of the rich man.
Desiring. Looking With longing, never
else than hungry.-To be fed Or, TO be
filed. The word signifies TO satisfy the APP
petite. There was probably never more
than enough to take away the edge of hun
ger.-Crumbs. Or mOrsels, fragments OF
bread and food in general (Matt. 15: 27).
Rich mans table. The splendid feasts
OF the day were more or less open and con-
spicuous.-Moreovcr, the dogs Literally,
but even the dogs. Running wild and
neglected in the streets. Thus significant
of his helplessn ess and degradation.
Persuaded. l. Q. So as to repent
From the dead. Proven a little while later
in connection with Chfist's own life.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Sumptuously every day. Luxury has Its
perils. Rome found il so, all great empires
have realized It. And individuals are taught
the Same important trilth-to have riches is
TO have burdens, temptations, trials. We
sympathize with the poor and pity them, we
pity also the rich. Great grace is necessary
that the one who livesin sumptuous surround
ings may keep himself from cleaving 10 the
things that perish with the using. Here also
are the "neglected classes" here on the
avenues and in the club houses. o, to reach
the sumptuously clad ana sumptuousiy fed
with the gospel! For aSsuredly they need IL.
In this prosperous age, this luxurious period
in our nations history, there ought TO be a
special stirring up of the conscience regard
Ing spiritual realities, "a new crusade into the
homes of wealth and ease. Much we fear
that for many, to fare sumptuously every
day means TO fare wretchedly through ctcr-
nifty.
Died and was buried. That was the end
of 1t all. No man, however great or power
full, can render o different finale for his life.
Buried" That finishes the life, whether
IL be great life or an Insignificant one.
The important thing is to have treasure be-
yond. He who has all his riches In this life
Is u poor fool, at the best. What wretched
folly Is displayed by men to-day, coming
and going from Gods house, hearing tho
message of salvation and yet paying no
heed, laying up no treasure in heaven. That
is stern but searching word spoken by the
preacher in Ecclesiastes: 'And so l saw
the wicked buried, who had come and gone
forgotten in tho city where they had so
done" Surely, this is to die 'as the fool
dieth.''
Being In torments. Enough said. Wc
care not whetheF-it be torment of literal
fianic, ur une nOrror OF deep darkness and
remorse of soul. We know IL is fearful
| enough to shun. All the language of earth
| and heaven is called into reqnisition to
impress upon man the direfulncss of sin
when IL has reached its fruitagc. The soul
that we know. And that is enough for US to
know for the present.
Said Omar Khayyam:
Il sent my soul through the invisible,
Some letters of the after-life to spell;
And by-and-by my soul returned to me,
And answered, i myself am Heavon and
He'll
Very well. Put more OF Heaven into the
| soul. Let Heavens Son In.
A great gulf. Greater than some ever
seem TO think. They are getting a sort of
| bridge ready for this gulf. In certain in
| stitutions OF the East the workmen are
| hammerlng away at its beams and girdcrs.
| Some time they expect TO cast IL across the
| chasm. And down IL will go to the bottom.
| Too short, too short by far. The gulf Is
| greater than mortals ken. We are willing
| TO take Gods word for IL. But this we
| know, there is no impossible gulf here. In
| this probation of grace the hearts once
severed by sin are made one by the blood OF
| OnflSt Jesus Is 1Of us inc Way-dn open
| way that all who believe may tread. No
| bridgeless gulf to separate us here. But
| what shall they do who, despising In this
| life tho way, find themselves in the next
| life confronted alone by the gulf fixed?
Cannot. o, that final cannot" 1t Is a
| can now. We may cross IL we will. Alas,
| that any should put it OFF until too late. We
| had n dream not long since. IL seemed to
| us that we were standing ON a high platform
| waiting for a train. At last it came UP and
/ stopped It was time to leap aboard. But
/ the cars did not suit. The accomm0 0dations
/ were not of sort to please us. There were
/ seats, but we wanted better. But the con-
/ ductor had given the signal, and we were
/ about to accept the situation and take the
/ train, when we thought OF some things it
/ would be desirable TO take along, lying back
| there i'm the Office. o, WELL the train was a
| slow one we could easily board IL at the
farther end of the platform. The things
| were gotten. Now for the moving train.
| But, there, IL has already passed the edge
| of the staging. Very well, we will run down
the side OF the road and swing on. Now
thoroughly eager to embark, we make a
dash, but here the way is suddenly steep.
| We turn TO 20 round the spot, when. 10, as
we run, mighty gulf widens and widcns
| between, and we are undonel That dream
was Il lesson TO us. 1t may be TO you.
Next Lesson-"The Ten Lepcrs." Luke