The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-07-18
The SUNDAY SCHOOL
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.

l 4NA$
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
a Scholarly Exposition OF the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy Of Calm Reflection
Half an Hour Study Of the Scriptures
Time Well spent
The lesson for sunday, July 20, may be |
found in Luke IA: 25-S5
INTRODUCTORY.
Our Lord here speaks asober word OF adj
monttton. 1t Is not meant for discussions;
rather for exhortation to right living. It is
and "n %unth aRRaisel that shG the VIE nfs ai into sa WhieS
Christ is leading is no idle, trifing affair.
1t Is a serious business. Hate Is not the
spirit he wishes to inculcate. but whole
hearted love. a love that will make all lesser
and forgotten. 1t is to e remembered that
this was to be tho institution of o new re-
Igion In a hostile world. and what. through
the growth OF the kinydom. takes the form
o. Srd love now was s.r a. that til, time iii in rs nx,s 1rst
order. It manifested itself first Of all.
perhaps. in alterations from old ASSOC
ciates. And such it is to-day whenever the
kingdom Of love is opposed. Whatever re.
sists the spirit Of truth is to be banished
from our affections. save as the afec-
lions can avail to break down the antag-
onism and bring into sympathy and fellow
ship.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
And. Introducing another incident OF
the journey Jerusalemward. The &C
count need not be considered as u strictly
consecutive one.-Great multitudes. or,
crowds. Drawn along partly by curiosity.
partly. by the popular enthusiasm.-With
him. JourneyinR as he journeyed.-He
| tlrnad 40 the 1aQdar Of a frnOn might do
TO them. This is probably the SUBJ
stance of one of his searching discourses
by the way.
| Come to me. The ITO me" is a strong ex-
p%ression (pros mel signifying something OF
word for hatred; the opposite of love. The
significance of the passage, oracular in its
tone. is to be seen In Matt. 10: 37.-Father
and mother. 1t was a time when. far more
than now. the espousal Of the new faith
Yea. n his own life also. or even the
life OF himself. See Variations. This in
dictates that the choice is to be between
earth- life and heaven-life. One is to even
self which initiates AGAINST the Kingdom.
My disciple. Literally, a learner. He
is telling them what loyalty means in the
now kingdom-not so cheap a matter as
som of them had supposed.
Bear his cross. His own cross. We
must read this as it came to them who
looked upon the cross as the fea' full SYM
Dol of LIES desertion and possible destruc-
ton. He virtually said that to come after
him was to court rhe worlds execration
and to defy even death itself. -Cannot be.
Literally, is not able to be. lacks the proper
conditions of discipleship. falls utterly
short OF the qualifications.
The foundations, or O found alton. See
Variations. Probably there were such I'M
finished structures in sight or within ready
access at the time.-Mock. Literally. te
make fun OF. An edifce. standing long un-
finished. becomes an object OF derision tc
the beholder and a source Of shame to the
builder. Witness the number of "%follies'
that mark every settled district.
Saying. It may have been a popular
adage.-Not able. or not strong enough
dure.
What king. There were many petty
kings in those days and many petty wars
To make war. Literally. to encounter.
wont to indulge themselves in at the expense
Of their subjects.-Whether he be able.
The ultimate reference is to the u~nprepared
state OF those who undertake, undevoted
and unendowed, to fightthe Christian fight.
blood" '
Or else. Better. and if not.-A great
way off. Before he is very largely involved.
An embassage. This Is one form Of the
Greek word for Presbytery (presbeian.)-
Desireth conditions Of peace. Or simply.
asks for peace. declining to go to war.
Forsaketh not. Literally. to say good-by
to. The same word is used by Luke at 9: 81.
But let me first go bid them farewell
he hath. Or all his possessions. be-
lon9ings.
Salt is good. Therefore. is added in the
Greek as an argumentative connective
Lost his SAVIOR. Or Is insipid. tasteless
The word literally means to be foolish. tt
play the fool. in itself q suggestive com
mentary.-seasoned. Tasteles salt, i
such a thing is conceivable. is beyond re.
Sand. Has no power of earthly nutri
Cast it out. j. Q. Throw it away
Ears to hear. A disposition to profit b,
/ what has been said.
WHAT H LESSON TEACHES.
, And there went great multitudes will
him. But not far. How deeply .ant
thoroughly they were with him he her
l puts to the practical test. There are s,
many many like mn,t that p p%RRa to to, .Miyi S Stmh is It
, him. but not OF him. And will ye also e
away" Said our Lord at one time. 1t wa'
one OF those moment OF closer scrutiny
which resulted in wide separation. Some
, this n~on-committal condition OF things
abide. For the sake of holding. as the,
t think. the great multitude OF unsurrenderee
ones they refuse to use the searching wore
Of truth: They speak not of "the blood.
; His own life also. Holy hate" this ha.
7 been called. Has hatred any place in the
} Christian faith? Yes. The very love tina
makes US to cleave to the good requires us
, also to hate the evil and to despise the gar.
) ment spotted by the flesh. It does no
mean personal variance with all men
: This last clause explains. 1t is whole
= hearted abandonment Of the flesh anc
acceptance OF the Spirit. Father. mother
!. | uifo ohj1Iran hrathraD- Sistara van opase
: self are to be to US as nothing. and worse
than nothing, compared with love for God
We love them. but it is with a spiritual love
; one form OF which is despite coward the
carnal. in large degree. measures our gra-
cious affection. Yonder I see the heaped.
up debris Of the coal pit. By what has
3 been cast aside I know. and it is my only
t way of knowing, the wealth of that which
& has been taken out and kept.
= ! Cannot be my disciple. There is a "car
! not" with God. 1t is. indeed. more OF
| cannot with him than with US. Ours il
; eannot-there is the basal barrier. Two
; things there are to which this strong "caI
, not" is applied. One is preference; thu
f other is Indifference. If we prefer life
, then God cannot. If we spurn the cross o
self-sacriace-then God oannot. God ha.
done his part. He can absolutely do NJ
, more for US until we are ready to do some.
4 thing for ourselves. Discipleship. in al
!, important sense. Is placed upon our owl
! responsibility. God accepting the act ant
| owning it by his grace. Learn of me-" h,
t says. Aud there he stands. As truly a.
n thou livest until thou turnest to him II
: simple trust. he can do nothing more 70
thee!
: Not able to finish. Here comes in GU
g inability: mans cannot is at his point
= Though Of q truth Christ Is the Alpha an,
! Omega of our faith. and 1t is God tina
S worketh in US. Yet no less truly man mus
t manfully yield himself ere that grace be
h gins to work in us. It has been workin,
:. for US. now in us. God in a sense. canno
J of himself begin the work of renewal
There is a border line of choice he does no
cross. Man, on the other hand, canno
\ finish 1t. In fact. he only let's it In. Saliva
u tion is wholly Of grace. Consequently
: begins with mans meek acceptance. An,
v that is all, in reality. that man can dc. Go,
does all the rest: he doesit all-he lnishe
It Man start Mt To ha sauad No ana God