The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-12-30
The Kingdom of Christ.

The lesson for Sunday, January 3, may be
| found In Isaiah 11:1-10.
INTRODUCTORY
We have como back to that elder season OF
prophecy. A twilight hour IL Is, and yet
who does not enjoy the vision of the rising
sun, as the lord OF life and light breaks IN
| the far dim east with healing I'm his wings?
| These were glorious visions OF the son OF
Amos. They are meant for us as we'll as for
the Israel of old. They usher In for us new
experiences OF grace and glory. and IL is the
same God who speaks TO Isaiah, that later
spake through his glad angels 10 the men OF
Bethlehem The rod and branch that filed
| the wistful eye and trustful heart OF Isaiah
is the same as opens unto us to-day the
| ways OF truth and righteousness But have
you ever thought OF this? III that longing
seer of old had the sweet, clear vision that
Is ours to-day, would he be as cold and
speeches., at times. as we?
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
And. Isaiah has been speaking OF Gods
Judgments on Israeis enemies he pro-
ceeds now 10 speak OF Gods mercy toward
/ his people and all those that fear him.
Rod. Literally, a shoot or twig From the
root meaning to wave, as OF a supple, ten
der branch. - Stem. Originally, the
stump OF felle1 tree. Translated stock
at Job IA: s.-Branch or sprout; from the
root meaning to be verdant.-Roots.
First meaning a binding or fasteni ig to-
gether; thence that which roots in and
abides.
Spirit. First meaning breath. The
breath of the Lord shall rest upon him. so
with the disciples Mt Pentacost Acts 2.
| Might. From the verb meaning to bind
! or twist togeth ,r, hence to lie strong or
mighty. Applied to the sun. at Judges
! 8: 81.
And shall make him of quick understand
| ing One word in the Hebrew, meaning
smell. Translated scent at job Il: 0. The
! Revision here gives "a very liberal meaning.
! See Variations. In the fear # the Lord.
/ Same expression as In the preceding verse,
! interpreting it in fact. j. O., Christ's instinct
/ for godly doing. Douay: "Godlness
And In that day. The Revision gives the
! fuller and more accurate meaning. See
! Variations Ensign. Signifying n stand
/ ing or rallying place. Used ut Neh S: Z,
/ ("And the people stood in their place -
Rest From the word meaning to let down.
See the Douay's strange rendering here.
| Variations. - Glorious. Hebrew: Glory.
In the eye OF the seer, one great burst of
| glory.
WHAT THE LESSON 1EACHES.
OF quick understanding. ascent" or
"smell," the margin suggests. Acuteness Of
| perception, large and wise discrimination Is
! the meaning of It, such was the mind OF
Christ. With righteousness did he judge
| the poor, not with the partialit.es and
prejudices of men. With equity did he
plead the cause OF the meek. viewing each
case with the eye OF an all-seeing God. Is
! it woman on the coast OF Tyre, hidden by
his own disciples to be silent? He sees the
validne OF her plea. "The devil is gene
out of thy daughter" Is il the forbidden
little ones? He has taken them In mis- arms.
Is 1t the publican Zaccheus, read out of the
kingdom by men? "This day must abide
I'm thy house.n Is IL a poor outcast woman
kneelng at his feet? "Her sins which are
many are forgiven her, for she loved much. I"
Is it a thief upon the cross at his SIDE suf-
nil hn i,ct vi of lfc mic 81,
"This day shalt thou be with me in para
disc" Is it denying disciple? "Simon.
son OF Jonas, lowest thou me? Feed my
sheep" He knows; trust him.
The lion shall eat straw like the ov.
question of diet is IL? Very well. That is
the reason the lamb and the kid shall be
safe; 1t Is the reason why "a little child
shall feed them.n The lion is not eating
lambs nor children; he is eating straw.
You say that will take miracles; natural
appetites are not easily changed No, the
carnal and carnivOrouS mind Is at enmity
with all that Is good; 1t Is not easily
changed. But God can change IL, and ii Is
to God we are looking here. A miracle, and
nothing short OF a miracle. will suffice us.
This kind goeth not out save by prayer and
fasting. There are those that say to the
reformer, Why, this is matter of mems APP
petites and propensities. You cannot alter
their diets. Well, you see, you are talking
about one sort OF n lion and We about an
other. Ours. in the blessed scheme OF re-
demption, is a lion that shall eat straw
like an OK, not n "man- eatern
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my
holy mountain. 1t is the high aim that the
noble company Of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union set before them, and
that they have last year in Boston given
larger, grander expression to than ever.
God bless them for their faith! God grid
them for their endeavor! world at
peace, a tender earth that shall not hurt
the child of any weak one that rests his
helplessncss uEon lit Is "a gracious out
look. / want the joy of such ~ vision
myself l want more and more TO hate
evil and love mercy TO crown down war and
cry up peace. Our Quaker friend is right
about It, Lord Wolseley I'm his manual OF
war suggests that TO identify n spy or scout
n leaf be torn out OF his pocket testament.
Says this peace-loving brother OF ours:
"Suppose you tear out the Sermon on the
Mount. or the First Epistle of John, that
speaks OF love rather than revenge"
The earth shall be full OF the knowledge
Of the Lord. Now let me have done with
IL, that narrow, dismal, pessmistic spirit
that has despaired OF any good here on
earth, and that has said, All gees wrong.
Not so; 1t Is a libel upon Gods providence.
All Is not going wrong; all Is reaching to-
ward ultimate glory. And this old earth
shall be made to praise him who created it.
1t shall be one dav full OF the knowledge
of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Lord, keep us all In the hoping spirit. May
thy church never despair! While Christ
sits "henceforth expecting may his SER
wants "hope all things" discouraged
church accomplishes little; hopeful
church much Pentecostal helping comes
to Pentecostal hoping.
His rest shall be glorious. "Alabama;
here Is rest,n said the red man, tbrusting
his worn weapon into the earth. But the
shores of the Mississippi we're again filed
with alien war cries, and he was driven on.
His rest was empty and vain. Here Is rest,
we say, and we betake ourselves to some
retired nook, but pain and anxiety are soon
lodging with u.s. We fly to the busy city.
Here Is rest, we say, and we inmerse our
selves In business or society. Alas, there Is
no respite here. Our rest Is Indebtedness
o. TO find rest that shall satisfy. rest
that shall be glorious that shall itself be
glory! Yes, and here is the secret OF our
unrest, we have been seeking It In some
thing short Of glory, Gods blessedness
Augustine was rights awe rrc meant for
thee, and our souls arc restless till they
rest In thee"