Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-11-13


Thoughts Worthy of Calm Reflection
Half an Hours Study OF the Scriptures
Time Well Spent.
The lesson for Sunday, Nov. 16, may
be found in Luke 90: 1925.
INTRODUCTORY.
It Is really Plate that Is on trial in
| the lesson. He is desirous of doing just
| ly hC knows what is right for him TO do,
but ne yields to the pressure brought To
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
! tury 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
prevailcd-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 it over unto Jthers.-
| The people. 1t was a public arraign-
ment.
Ye have brought. They themselves
had taken the initiative. me, as
head OF the Roman power.-One that
| perverted the people, or turneth aside.
Examined him. OF judicial inves-
| tigation.-No fault, T. O., he pro-
nounced him not guilty. Whereof ye
accuse him. Their furious accusations
| had not been proven.
Nor yet Herod. Herod's return OF
| Christ had proven this.-I sent you to
him. The reading, he sent him back
unto us is preferred. unto him.
BY him is here preferred.
Chastise him. But why, il guiltless?
| Evidently a concession to tho popular
fury.-Release Virtually acquitted.
OF necessity. Which necessity would
relieve Plate in part of the appearance
OF double-dealing. A sort
of Roman holiday feature in Jerusalem.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
No fault. Fautless 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, it was his very sinless-
L
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 abdcs that cOntrari-
city of nature will occasion opposition of
soul. His own ineffable life must touch
our hearts-ere we shall crave his beauty
Willing to release Jesus. Yes, and
there was the source of his offending,
the search of his downfall. Hc was
willing, that was all. He did not deter
mine or purpose, like Daniel, in his soul.
Being willing and will ing arc two differ
ent things. Pilates disposition toward
the Christ was a merely NJ gatiye affair,
and as such was empty and vain. Moth
ing positive or vi lie 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 quito ready, like
Plate, to speak we'll 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 II
is out. They have told the truth about
it. For long time they have been
hushng It, smotLering the cry. We have
observed its premonitions, and its NUT
terings At first faint, growing gradu-
ally stronger and stronger till finally they
can withhold IL no longer, and the hide
cruelty him!" 1t is the final interpreta-
tion of all our human insolence toward
Gods son, the last analysis OF an indl-
vidual antagonlsm We had scarcely
thought it, but presently the aggregate
of our disdain finds voice and with cum.
ulative and cruel evidence the word
whirls heavenward, 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
terry, that of the Prince OF Peace and
that of the prince OF darkness. And
this old earth has let the latter prevail.
She has listened to the voice that cries
out against the Lord. This has very
J practical bearing to-day. There are Ger
tain great moral issues before the peo
pic, especially of the West. Two distinct
and divergent appeals are being made
one of them manifestly for that which II
high and ennobling, and which makes
! for Christ, the other for that which i
low and groveling and dcvilish. Which
,, voices shall prevail the next few days
will show.
, He delivered Jesus to their will. Ant
what will it was! Stripes and taunt
! and the cross. Lord, deliver us not q
the will of earth and man. Earth's VII
with her God was terrible and trucu
8 lent one But now, on the other hand
what is Gods will with man? He desire
not that any man should perish: Yea
, IL any perish, II is because he reslsts I'M
: loving will of God and persists In his owl
sclf-destroying will. There was venge
full Malchus with his car restored. Their
4 was the penitent thief with the swce
7 word to soothe his fading senses, "Thi
r day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.
0 There was the kindly word to the dis
Q ciples, "Fear not, little flock, IL is you
: Fathers good pleasure to give you tn
y kingdom" Put over against these IN
cord and the cross. Surely "let us no.
v fall into the hand of the Lord FOR III
8 mercies are great, and let me not Ia
{ into the hands OF man."
n Noxt 7 asson-aJesus Crucihed." LUX