The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
a scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy of Cam Reelection
Half an Hours Study Of the Scriptures
Time Well Spent.

q Scholarly Exposition OF h Lesson-
Thoughts Worthy of Cam Reelection
Half an Hours Study Of the Scriptures
Tim Well Spent.
The lesson for Sunday, Aug. 10, may be
Ound in Luke IS: 1871.
INTRODUCTORY.
This lesson calls q halt in mems accus-
toned ways of thinking and doing. The
impression seems to have prevailed then, as
II does now, that to have all that taste or
fancy could suggest is the 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
are regarded as a little impractical and no.
tional, to say the least. Well, this lesson
helps us to readjust our conception of
things. 1t let's in a 1ood of light upon the
long. long life that man has before him;
and now how vain and Insignificant seem
the petty Establishments of earth-lfe!
Sumptuous fare, purple, fine linen! What
OF them all a hundred years hence? But
faith in God-that abides. Thank God for
the timely revelation. Shall we use it?
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
A certain rich man. His riches did MOTH
ing for him., even his name forgot.-Pur-
pie and fine linen. Symbol Of magnifcence.
The end OF such is to be read at Rev. 10: H.
14.--Fared. The word originally means,
to be made glad; hence, to feast.-Sumpt-
uously. %splendidly. 1t is from the Greek
word here Qampros) that our lamp comes.
Every day. Other men might have oc-
casional %banquets, his were Of daily occur
renee. He was. to use an expressive world
phrase, ''at 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
senderly. The first meaning Of the word
may have been an added source of compla-
cency that the mendicants should count his
very gate a choice spot to be.-Fullo Of
sores. Suggestive OF bodily discomfort, in
contrast with the soft and luxurious condi-
tions of the rich man.
Desiring. Looking with longing, never
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. 10: 27).
Rich mans table. The splendid feasts
of the day were more or less open and con-
Observation-Disclosures, the dogs. Literally,
but even the dogs. Running wild and
| neglected in the streets. Thus significant
Of his helplessness and degradation.
Cried, or cried out, the word implying the
strong use of the voice.-send Lazarus.
hShciS NSoPAoSA, " oCSiECO.-o4p. oi pSC.
He would need to thoroughly submerge his
tinger-tip in order that any water at all
should adhere.-Cool my tongue. Before
Lazarus had asked but for a crumb for his
hunger; here, in turn, the rich man asks
for but a drop for his thirst.-Tormented
In this flame. TIT strong Scriptural sym
Dol by which the punishment of hell is
depicted.
Son or child (Teknon). Suggestive of the
childish folly Of his conduct.-But now
we are not inclined to confine this strictly
to the intermediate state. The whole pic
ture seems to be q contrast betwiXt heav-
ems joys and hell's miseries as compared
with the inequalities Of the present life
Comforted, or cheered. The same word is
used repeatedly at 2 Cor. /: 3, 4, 4, 8.
eight times in all.)-Tormented; in
anguish. Same word as in v. "a.
Five brethren. Yea. more than "6ve
brethren to-day.-Testify. To bear SOL
emn witness as one might who had risen
from the dead; as Christ, indeed, did.
Moses and the prophets. This plainly I'M
plies that the teaching of the Old Tesla
ment has an o~ther-worldly reference
Let them hear them, To sshave" and to
shear are two different things.
Nay, father Abraham. The scene is
wholly imaginary and for the illustration
OF one particular set Of facts, namely, the
tremendous realities Of the future world.
Persuaded. i. e. So as to repent
From the dead. Proven a little while later
in connection with Christ's own life.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
S~umptuously every day. Luxury has its
perils. Rome found it so, all great empire!
have realized it. And individuals are laugh.
the same important truth-to nave riches i
to have burdens, temptations, trials. w,
sympathize with the poor and pity them, W,
pity also the rich. Great grace is necessar,
| fhofthp npa who 1iracir So, !.
ings may keep himself from cleaving to tn
things that perish with the using. Here ais,
are the neglected classes" here on tn,
avenues and in the club houses. @, to reacl
the s~umptuously clad and sumptuously fec
with the gospel! For assuredly they need it
In this prosperous age, this luxurious pertot
in our nations history, there ought to be
special stirring up of the conscience regard
ing spiritual realities, q new crusade into the
homes of wealth and ease. Much We feal
that. for many, to fare su~mptuously every
day means to fare wretchedly through eter-
nifty.
Died and was buried. That was the enc
OF 1t all. No man, however great or power.
full. can render a different finale for his life
"Buried.' That finishes the life, whether
it be a great life or an insignificant one
The important thing is to have treasure be.
You'd. He who has all his riches in this life
is "a poor fool. at the best. What wretched
folly is displayed by men to-day, coming
and going from Gods house, hearing the
message uf sa!:otion and yet paving nc
need. laying up no treasure in heaven. Tina,
is a stern but searching word spoken by the
preacher in Ecclesiastes: "And SO I saw
the wicked buried, who had come and gone
from the place Of the holy. and they were
| forgotten in the city where they had SC
done" Surely, this Is to die ..as the fool
dieth."
Being in torments. Enough said. We
care not whether it be torment of literal
flame, or the horror Of Gaep darkness and
remors OF soul. We know it is fearful
enough to shun. All tie language of earth
impress upon man the ~direfulness of sir
when it has reached its fruitage. The SOU
has an infinite capacity for joy or misery
that we know. And that Is enough for US te
know for the present.
Said Omar K%hayyam:
Il sent my soul through the Invisible,
Some letters of the after-life to spell;
And by-and-by my soul returned to mo,
And answered, I myself am Heaven ant
Very we'll. Put more OF Heaven into the
soul. Let Heavens Son in.
A great gulf. Greater than some evel
seem to hin They are getting a sort Of
bridge ready for this gulf. In certain in.
situations of the East the workmen are
hammering away at its beams and Orders
some time they expect to cast it across the
chasm. And Town it will so to the bottom
Too short, too short by fer. The gulf il
greater than mortals ken. We are willing
to take Gods word for it. But this We
know, there is no impossible gulf here. In
this probation OF grace the hearts onye
severed by sin are made one by the blood OF
Christ. Jesus is for us the way-an open
way that all who believe may tread. Ne
bridge!ess gulf to separate us here. But
what shall they do who, despising in THU
life the way, find themselves in the nex1
life confronted alone by the gulf fxed2
Cannot. O., that final '~cannot." 1t is a
can now. We may cross, if we will. Alas,
that any should put it off until too late. VIZ
had a dream not long since. 1t seemed t.
US that we were standing on a high platform
waiting for a train. At last it came I'D anG
stopped. 1t was time to leap aboard. But
the cars did not suit. The accommodations
were not of a sort to please us. There were
seats, but we wanted better. But the con.
ductor had given the signal, and we wert
about to accept the situation and take the
train, when we thought of some things Il
would be desirable to take along, lying bacl