The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-04-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY OF CALM
REFLECTION.
Lesson and Where 1t May Be found-A
Learned and Concise Review OF the

The lesson for Sunday, April 5, may be
found In 2 Kings z: LIS.
INTRODUCTORY.
We enter with this Sunday upon another
quarters lessons from the Old Testament
Through these three months we shall con-
fine ourselves TO the days OF the kings, days
full OF picture lessons for the church or
God. The lessons I'm this part of the Bible
will close Juno 81 with "The Captivity or
Judah" Then we shall turn to the gospel
OF John. The Scripture for to-day Is long,
but IL seems necessary to give the whole
stirring narrative of IsraePs delivcrance.
II one OF tho scholars would recite Byron's
"The Assyrian came down like wolf on
the fold,n IL would add to the interest
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
The word OF the Lord. Rather than Eli
sha's word which the king, at first, seemed
to demand.-A measure. Hebrew, Seah,
one and a half English pecks.-Two meas
ures. One word, double measure, like the
English "two-pence." The seah Is one
third OF AN ephah. which Is next to the
largest Jewish dry measure "a homer).-
Shekel. Literally a weight, three-fourths
OF an ounce, equal TO from 50 TO 60 cents
Called also "Stater." See Variations
Gate The open space near by making
convenient market place or even forum or
meeting place. "Lot sat in the gate OF
Sodom." Gen. 10: 1. Judges sat there.
Deut, 10: 49,
A lord. Revision, Gcsptaln.n Literally.
n third man, 1. O., a chariot warrior, one OF
the three appointed TO a war chariot one
with the spear, one with the shield, and one
with the lines. This was hence, probably,
one OF the royal body guard.-Leaned.
The privilege OF the highest Official I'm tho
kings body-guard.-lf, not in the He
brew. We know OF the contemptuousness
OF this exclamation mainly through the dis
corning response IL called forth.-Win-
dOws, or slulces as when "the windows OF
heaven Same world were opened" for the
rain in the days OF the flood Gen. z: 11).
Margin "iood gates,) not eat. Note the
contrast between "seen and "eat.n
Leprous men. Men OF grief. probably
named from the lamentations they lifted.
Entering OF the gate. Or "A we should
say, gateway.-Why sit VIC here? The
awe" and "here" are expressively emphatic
I'm the Hebrew.
II. Or whether Thus: whether we say
We will enter the city.-Fall into. In
confessed weakness The word signifies to
fall as in battle. The Dousy translation
here is peculiar. Sec Variations. II they
save us also. The original IS very terse and
strong, six words in all. Like, IL life. life;
IL death, death.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES
II the Lord would make windows In
heaven, might this thing be! 1t is unbelief
that speaks, incredulous. knocking unbellef
"Flood-gates, the Douay version says
Heavens treasures thrown wide open, the
courtier scornfully cries, would not be suf-
ficient. He has lost all faith in Gods pow
er. so he has at last unfaith's reward. "He
that is filthy (of the EARTH let him be filthy
still.n Have care lest that famine
through which we some time pass, instead
OF quickening our spiritual sight, dull and
harden and kill all that Is for hope and
held within us. Keep rather that lofty
faith and confidence that speaks in the
closing prophecy OF the Old Testament.
aDrnya mo hnraV0ifh smith Lord
OF Hosts, II will not open you the windows
OF heaven, and pour you out 4 blessing
that there shall not be room enough TO re-
ceive tn
And they arose u? in the twilight. Africa
has gotten "A new name today. They called
on Thomas Johnson, the advocate OF the
African missions among the colored people,
the other day in q ministers meeting, TO re-
port for his church. "My church" he said,
ais Africa, which you useo to call the Dark
Continent, but which is now the Twilight
Continent I think OF IL and dream OF IL.
carry 1t with me wherever 1 go; on my
letters in my hat, the map OF Africa seems
written on my heart. ., save my poor neg
lected home people; for Jesus sake, do not
give us up,n
We do not well: this day IS day of good
tidngs, and we hold our peace. And the
day is still on. Ours is time OF glad It'd
ings, and certainly IL we hold our peace, we
do not we'll Christian America Is peculiar
ly i'm the situation OF those comfOrted
lepers at the city's gates To remain quiet,
and selfshly enjoy the gospel joys and
privileges which ar ours Is 90 do most lily.
Says Henry Richards. the Congo missionary;
"There seems - be great deal of that
Jewish spirit about US. There is no doubt
but that God took the privilege OF preaching
the gospel away from the Jews because they
refused 10 do IL, and gave IL to the Gentiles
OF Europe and America, and has opened up
the world TO them, and IL they do not give
the world the gospel no doubt God will
raise up some other race, and take that
privilege OF preaching away from them"
/, Henry Richards speakI the truth.
Go and tell the kings household. And
where is the kings household? Wherever
there are lonely families, stricken souls to
be helped, wherever there are men and
women to be saved tor King Emmanuel.
John Wesley was seeking them when he
carried the real message OF the gospel into
students rooms and into humble homes OF
England. George Whitefeld was getting a
them when he lifted the gospel proclama
tlon with such rare power under the open
skies OF Old and New England and sur
rounded himself with throngs OF colliers
and villagers. The missionary OF the cross
is going to tell the kings household when
he bastens to the benighted abroad OF TO
the hopeless and neglected OF our great
cities. Wherever we go let us look for the
kings household. Say with the great
French General Champlan on his tour OF
discovery and conquest "These Kingdoms
are for God.n
Go and see There are two similar and
striking texts I'm this lesson, "Go and seer
and "Go and tell.r After we go and see let
us go and tell. Doubtless there was much
OF unfaith I'm the heart OF the king He
/ could scarcely believe such good news.
| But he had little faith. and the Lord, who
/ is passing kind TO us, takes even the little
| faith and makes IL lead 90 great things.
| All he asks OF us is TO go and see. Stanley,
as he came across the dark continent for
the first time and met with the pious and
i heroic Livingstone, saw grace displayed
/ that put to confusion all his skeptical
notions. Travelling later down the Congo
and meeting with the native Christians at
! Banza Manteke, he behcd work OF spirit
ual regeneration that could not be gainsaid
and 10 which he gives calm but cordial
! recognition. What Henry Mabie shall say
| TO us OF what he has been permitted TO ago
and scen I'm his tour OF the missions we can
not yet tell but We are sure that the story
/ OF what he now hehOlds will WOnderfullv