The National tribune., 1890-08-21
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By q Study of the Inter
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
Aug. 81, 1890. 1t. Luke, IS 1870.

IOne reading THESE notes snOud HrSS carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures ~
indicated above.l
SUBJECTS: j. CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE Chill
DREN. II. THE RICH YOUNG MAN. Ill
TRUST IN RICHES Is VAIN. ~. LEAVING
ALL FOR CHRIST.
i. CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN.
/. Data.
The account is given by st. Matthew % -
49,; st. Mark 40: 1870; st. Luke 18: 1919
One should read the three reports, carefully
comparing them. This should be done before
proceeding further
2. Time and Place.
The incident of our study took place in
March ri, A. ID. 30, or 1860 years ago. Christ
was going leisurely from Ephron to Jericho by
way of Perea. lie blessed the children in
Perea probably in line east from Jericho. and
therefore not far from Bethabara, where he
was baptized.
3. The Circumstances
Christ was known as Teacher. He was at
tracing much attention. IL was customary to
bring children to Rabbi for his blessing.
When it had become known Jesus was in that
vicinity the parents thought il good oppOrtu-
nifty to secure his blessing on thUir offspring.
st. Matthew says little children -; st. Mark,
young children" st. Luke, Infants" 1t
would seem from St Luke, Is: 16, the children
were old enough to come and had a will to
come. tHence, forbid them mott BY brought
". 13 of st. Marks account) we do not under
stand actual bringing, rs, o. e., in arms but
leading. Yet We are doubtless to have in mind
mainly infants requiring guidance of parents,
and in most instances demanding carriage in
arms of fathers or mothers. The parents
wanted Christ to put his hands on their chill
dren That was method Of dedication and
conservation. When ministers are now or
dained clerical hands are laid on their heads
SO of baptism and confirmation. LANCE says
The Presidents of synagogs were in the GUS
tom of putting their hands OH (the heads) Of
children"
d. Suggestions.
/. Do not be dotorred from the performance
Of any Christian duty by the rebukes of others.
(St. Matt, 20 BIZ
.. Bring little ones to Christ Dedicate
them to God Parents should give diligent at
tontiOn to this duty. prov, % g. Eph., 8 {:
d. Bringing children to Christ means exer-
ton.
3 The Church must heed childhood and do
the utmost to lead the little ones TO Christ.
4. Clergymen must notice children; be kind
to them instruct them.
5. Sunday school teachers must bring chill
dren to Jesus. No one is too great, too digni-
fed to teach children.
g. Children should go to Christ-early be-
como tHrlSLlAns- May eacn cnllu say.
wish that his hands had boon placed on my
That his arms had been thrown around me
And that might have seen his kind look when no
Let the little ones come unto me-"
T. Initiate children Be chiIdIikc (St. Luke,
Is: H. BE sincere dependent; trustful in
our Heavenly Fathers care /; teachable; docile {;
unpreiudced easily happy full of faith sim
Pile. rs opposed to pompous, etc. Martin Luther
told NJ inf H,f II b. t5ffIa ,r{ IN
regard TO the facts OF heaven, the angels and
of the joys beyond death, and be said TO her
"Ah dear child; If we only firmly believe
it! The little oue looking at her faith or,
asked " Do you not believe these things2"
| Then tho Doctor said The dear children
| live in innocence know not OF sin, live with
out any anger, ayarice, or unbelief, and are,
| therefore joyful and of good conscience
fear danger, be- il of war, pesticnce or death.
And what they hear Of Christ and OF the future
/ lIlo they believe simply, without any doubt,
aud speak ioyluiy about It. For Christ ear
nostly appeals 10 us TO follow their example.
For the children really believe, and therefore
Christ holds little children aud their childlike
ways dear"
ii. THE RICH You've MAN.
l. Data.
We have three accounts: st. Matt, 10 10
81 st. Mark, 10: I7-22; St. Luke, is: IS %
.. Time aud Place.
The time and place are practically the same
as in the case Of Christ blessing little children
The object of this paragraph is to answer the
| question, What is one TO do in order to secure
eternal life? The questioner was "A rich young
| man. Christ answered.
;. Notes.
The address, Good Master, (St Matt, 10 Is,
| was peculiar. 10 was not acceptable to Christ
| lie dlsapproyed OF all adulatiOn or datteTy; o.
| all unmeanng titles; of mere formal personal
| epithets uttered simply TO tickle vanity. Com.
| pare 81 Matt, 1877, 3; St. John, 3: p Tituial
| addresses in ChTist's time were carried 10 great
| excuses, and his aim was 70 hit timely blow
| at such foolishness.
| In a sense Christs humanity was distinct
| from his Deity. Christ AS human only could
not DO styled absolutely good. Whenever ado
ration religious veneration is intended in the
| word good it is To DO applied 10 the Deity alone
| II the people could not look on Jesus God
| they must, il consistent. cease To apply to him
! the divine title, good. If they allowed his di.
| yinity they might address him as the Good
| In the account by ST. Matthew 10 49, we
have the question, What good thing shall
| do that | may have eternal life2" The Rabbii
! had divided duties into many classes, some
more important than others A student be
| came lost ia the nice distinctions. All did MOI
agree as to that which was most weghty. This
young man wanted Christ's opinion.
The answer of Christ WAS, Keep the Com
mandments. The 9th, 9TH, 9th, 9th and 5ti
are mentioned. They all relate to our dutie
| To mankind.
The young man had in way kept all tht
| Commandments but he had not made right
business first; he had not consecrated hi
wealth 10 charity; he had not followed Christ
lio lacked one thing. And even when his at
tention was brought 10 the matter he could no
consent 10 become entirely a Christian.
a. Suggestions
l. The young should seek Christ
2. BE not satisfied with being anything les
| than total Christians.
| 3. Honor parents.
4. Do not trust entirely in earthly possession
5. DO not court ilattery.
&. BE practical not merely theoretic Op
| pose autinomanism,
| III. AFTERMATH AS TO THE YOUNG MAN
VANITY OF TRUSTING IN RICHES.
]. Data.
SEQ st. Matt, 10 % %; st. Mark, 10: % 90
st. Luke, Is 2l-27.
2. The Case applied.
ure, our Savior improved the incident in an in
struetive way by showing TO his Disciples TIN
seductive influence Of money. Christ does no
exclude the wealthy outright. He sets forth tn
difficulties that ARE in the way of the rich
Hardly intimates possibility at least.
ls it possible for q camel to go through tn
eye of u ueedle2 If it be not, then there is M
chance for a rich man to enter Heaven. But