The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-07-22


The lesson for Sunday, July &c, may be
found In John 3: III
INTRODUCTORY
This Is one of the incidents OF Christ's
life for whose narration we are indebted 10
John. Coming last with his account OF the
Christ life he brought in many things
omitted by the synoptsts, and this is one
OF them. 1t is such an addendum as We
might we'll expect from the beloved dis
ciple. His theme is the more spiritual
aspects of Christ's ministry, and In the
conversation with Ncodemus, one OF the
profoundest of the doctrines of the new
kingdom is uttered and enforced. May IT
have as reverent hearing in our schools
to-day as IL had on that night In old Judea.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
or the Pharisees Or, from the Pharisees.
Intimating his connection with the Phar-
isaic party. but not that he represented
them in this INTERVIEW ruler OF the
Jews Or member of the Sanhedrim, as we
learn from John Z: 80.
TO Jesus, Greek, to him. (Revison.) BY
night. Not necessarily n symptom OF weak
ness, though IL may indicate caution.-
Rabbi, itself large concession. The raDbls
were the acknowledged and accredited
teachers.-We know. limiting at the gem
| eral. though IL may be, withheld conviction
of his class Come from God, T. c., Il pro-
phet.-Thesc miracles. We see here the
| Immediate utility OF the miraculous
| Except God be with him. There were
| other kinds OF miracles. betraying the pit;
| but these, performed by Christ. spoke or
| God. The word with (meta) has for its first
| meanings. with. together with. on the same
| side or party with in aid of, etc.
Verify. verify. Frequently introducing
! great and solemn declaration. Matt 5: 10;
| 10: Is, etc say unto thee. Nicodemus
had spoken, now Christ.-EXcept. Taking
| up the same word just now somewhat
lightly dropped by Nicodemus born
again. First meaning, from above. Christ
! as true teacher goes right TO the core OF
| matter. 1t Is a changed heart that is
| needed He cannot see. Another appar-
| ent balancing Of phrases more manifest in
| the Greek. Ncodemus had just said "no
man can do" Jesus says. no man can see;
and the condition is essentially the same,
| j. O., the divine life In the one that sees and
! the one that does
How? The natural question of the car
! nal mind, and as such Christ treats it.
! When he rs old. The word (geron) fire.
| quently applied to elders or senators. Inn
plying possibly some degree OF age on
| the part of NicoGemus.--Canh he enter?
| Reductio ad absurdum.
! Born Of water Either baptism or SYM
Dol of purity; perhaps both We have in
Peoubet the strange spectacle OF a PRdo-
| baptist CDR Abbott defending the former
view, and a Baptist Or. Broadus) advo-
| eating the latter. In either case there Is
! quite dscernible Baptistic Implication
| The Spirit, l. e., from above, from God
/ Enter Suggestive of formal espousal.
| Flesh is ficslr Like producing like
! OF the Spirit is spirit. Flesh cannot as
cend 10 spirit; but Spirit can descend TO
| flesh.
| WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
The same came to Jesus by night. I am
glad he came. even though 1t was ut night
| That night visit was the provocation OF one
| of the greatest sermons the world ever
heard, and 1T has given 10 the church one OF
| its strongest texts OF appeal. How bereft
| we should feel without it, ~God so loved
! the world!n There are other good verses.
| but this seems sweetest of all, and TO how
/ many has 1t swung open the very gates of
! heaven! And so Nicodemus has been in
| directly the means of the conversion OF
| vast multitudes of souls Very well. let me
| como 10 Jesus, too. There T. something like
electric power in the contact. Not only
| ones own soul but all the world Is helped
| when we draw nigh to the Redeemer OF
men. The world is the better to-day for
| that midnight Colloquy. The more of
| Christian experience. individual though it
! be, the more the world Is drawn toward
| God.
Except a man be born again. This was
! Christ's "eXcept," and il slew Nicodemus.
The ruler Of Israel had come with his "eX-
cept," and IL was "a pleasant, complimentary
| one: Except God be with him. But Jesus
| wants no honeyed words, he needs none
| and he here lets fly arrow that gets be-
! tween the joints of the harness and finishes
! all of the felictous discourse Of the lordly
Jew. aye must be b ,rn again. Nicode-
! mus has been called a representative of
| those churchmen who know the written
! creed without knowing the work OF grace in
! the heart Whether this be SO or not, Nico-
| dcmus hears at this time some new and
! wholesome truth, truth we believe that
renovates and reconstructS Mayor How
! land, of Toronto, uses strong language re-
| garding this incident from Johns gospel:
! IL believe in doctrine, but an unsaved soul
| built up and fenced in with doctrine Is
nearer hell than the most miserable drunk
! ard. Doctrine is safe food for the sons of
! God only"
! We receive not our witness. What is faith
| but this? We take Christ at his word. "NO
man hath assembled up TO heaven but he
that came down from heaven Then only
| Christ can testify from sight OF the heaven
| ly mystery. He speaks of that which he
! knows and testifes of that which he has
| seen. There are many guesses at truth
| abroad, many clever Conjectures and sur
misses. Only One can tell US with assurance
! OF the things OF God Who is IL but he
(which is in the bosom of the Father?r
| Lord Jesus, may we receive thy witness,
and IN thy light snail we sec light
God so loved the world that he gave. We
| shall not forget the picture formed upon
| the mental vision as the monk. lgnatius,
in tense. fiery. stood before us and, throw
| ing forth his hands i'm passionate entreaty,
| pronounced these words. How great and
| gracious the truth they convey! No further
| syllables need be uttered "God so loved
| that he gave. How truly did he lover lie
| gave. How far did he love? He gave! lie
! gave! The self-giving of God Is the over
| whelming argument both OF his infinite
greatness and goodness. They thought he
was great, and they hoped lie was coed;
| and then he gave his Son and at last they
| knew Do you?
| Cod cant bga son into tlo ,,orId 90 con-
| denim the world. IL Christ himself says IL,
| il must be so. ] could scarcely have be-
| lieved IL from any one else, even coming
| from an angel. But, Jesus. IL is thy own
| testimony. and thy witness we receive.
| Men have been trying Ia persuade my
| soul that thou earnest for judgment Nay,
| Lord, thou art not here for that. Tho day
i of indnInenf Is vet havnnd This is tho CAV