Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-01-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ENTERTAINING DISSERTATION ON
SERIOUS SUBJECTS.

Loarnou anu COncise tovieW or the
Same.
The lesson for Sunday. Jan. 20. may b,
toundin Like 2: 800.
INTRODUCTORY.
IL Is significant that all the early mes
sages regarding the coming of Christ were
delivered to those in humble station. In
the lesson before us it is little company
OF ishepherds watching their focks by night
VINO receive the heavenly visitants. These
shepherds are In one aspect the first mis-
sionaries OF the gospel. Hearing the sonQ
from the skies they believe its glad testi-
mony and go to confirm 1t with the witness
OF tneir eyes; The next moment they are
Prociaiming 1t abroad. tits IN early lesson
IN the proclamation OF the truth as IL is In
Jesus. Who may not have part In It?
g4e. WIT 9HT al Ins nSsS2S sS a he birth Of
Christ. The same country. Region of
country. used by the demons when they be-
| sought Christ not to send them away out
OF the country" Mark 5: 10) Shepherds.
me prominent word occurring first In the
Greek text Great distinction was given
| these humble shepherds. Abiding in the
Held. One word In the original. meaning to
pc out In the open air-Keeping watch.
Necessary In that country OF marauding
men and beasts. BY night. The climate
OF Palestine admits OF winter bivouacs to-
The angel. Rather. an angel. Come
upon. A frequent word with Luke. See Acts
6i IL And they stirred up the people and
the elders and the scribes and came upon
him and caught him." Cf. Luke 2: 80. Al: 80,
"a: 1. 1t usually indicates Unexpected en-
counter. er.-Glory OF the Lord. the ii hit
that accompanied the angels. heavens ra-
diant atmosphere. Sore afraid. Tho
nrst feel ng at the approach OF the super
natural.
Suddenly. The word means unexpected
or without, previous warning, They
nnh ehna ea IL.
Praising God. And no less suddenly seems
TO burst forth their celestial song.-Say-
ing. we have here direct quotation from
tho language OF heaven.
Glory to God. Tho vocabulary of heaven
IS vocabulary OF praise, the highest.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture. this
se ms 10 mean in the highest heavens; this
being probably what is meant by the ex-
preston Psalm 14S; Praise him in the
heights. CT Matt. 2l: 0. Eph. 1:3-On
earth. As distinguished from the highest
heavens.--Peace. the dominant grace for
cart Good will toward men. The pres
lerred reading Is among men OF good will.
tSee Varihtions) that is. of Gods good and
gracious pleasure, all men being now -ac-
cording to the good pleasure OF his will"
accepted (graced) In the beloved"
AS the angels were gone. The Ian uage,
IN the original as here, suggesting immedi-
ateness OF action.-Said one to another
inc Greek word Is Laleo. sgnilying free
IL
result came the unanimous determination
which follows.-Let us now go. In tho
sense OF como now, (de) let US go-Unto
Bethlehem. The shepherds evidently un-
derstood the words City OF David to mean
bethlehem, lying near by. They were
probably also familiar with the prophecy
OF Micah %: 9.--Came to pass. They
o.ieYed it--The Lord hath mads known.
All revelations and intimations are OF God.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
L.. -
herds. How humble are the Instruments
God uses for the advancement of His king
uom! Orco before and nearly on this same
POT. whiie Saul was occupying the throne.
more was In the same country a shepherd
boy watching his flock. And to that hum
Die boy, son OF Jesse. came the word OF
uod' while 1t was withheld from the
naughty King. There was Herod in his
purple; ere long we read of his Intellectual
efforts to find the Christ child Here are
shepherds simple and in lowly
garD. To them. without the seeking. comes
the heavenly divulgence. Il thank thee,
y. Father, Lord OF heaven and earth, be-
cause thou hast hid these things from the
unto babes"
bring you good tidngs OF great Joy
Whlch shall be to all the people. For you"
OF all. The message came fl st TO tho
shepherds and through them TO the world.
II came to them for the sake OF tho world.
spread abroad. 1t was only personal COM
munication. When the angel spake the
term good tidlngs" he gave the shepherds
without further words their commission
and sent them forth. Brother or sister,
have you heard the joyful sound? Make IL
truly glad tidings by telling it to some one
else. And have you observed this, that IL
dld not come the shepherds turn to rejoicl
until they returned" Coming back from
quest and testimony. then 1t was at last
IN II Nh.a anl z4.sN A
gels and echoed back their heaven inspired
song, glorilying and praising God"
1e sifall find the babe. But they must
seek for 1t. Signs are for those who search.
had they stayed there in the field without
seeking they would have had no sure token.
But they took the angels at their word and
went and saw. Literally II is. "Ye shall find
q babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes lying |
IN man2er. There was the clue. and fol- |
lowing It out they had the convincing sign.
lou ana must go a-seeking in the same |
way: We see finger pointing toward the |
Christ and we hear voice telling us that |
mis- Is n. Ere we shall realize the real |
preciousness OF this Savior we must go to |
lim ourselves aud meekly obey near |
voice saying, Come and see."
AS the angels we're gone away Angel |
Visits are short; and IL is we'll They come |
give enduement aud strength, and hay-
ng performed the sweet ministry they take |
helr departure. that the strength impaired |
N"y -" u'h'HSu, Iuey DTlnR message or |
Instruction and again they are gone, that |
be errand given may. by the mortal. be
performed. The angels that communed |
With Abraham and with Lot were loath to
AIRY. and there on the mountain OF trans-
lguration. when Peter would have built
hree tabernacles for angelic commuuica-
ion, suddenly when they had looked
Iround about they saw no man any more
ave Jesus only with themselves" Yes,
'ut there was the lad at the foot OF tho |
Mount waiting to be healed.
They made known abroad. WHY did not
ngels do that also2 Why should not tho
nessage OF salvation havo been carried
trough oil lands and to all ears by her
idtng angels2 1t is not for us 10 saw.
)nly this we sec 10 be the divine plan OF
Torking. always marvellous in our ewes in
u sdom and efficiency. that the saved
hould tell the unsaved, speaking from per-
onHl sym mpathy and out OF rich stores OF
Experience. 1t is a noteworthy thing that
'hen the angel appeared to Cornelius to
nswer his prayer for guidance, his mes
age was, Send men to Joppa and call for
ne simon whose surname was Peter"
nd the angel gave right over to the saved
ian Peter the Joyous task OF leading un-
nved Cornelius into the kingdom. Angels
'ould doubtless rejoice TO do the work,
ut depend upon H.. friend. 10 souls nro
aved in our neighhorhood this winter IL
Ill be because you and put forth. under
+od; the helping hand or speak the helping
ord.