The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-03-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY OF CALM
REFLECTION.
Lesson and Where II May Be found-A
Learned and Concise Review Of the

Lesson and Where II May 10 found-A
Learned and Concise Review OF the
Same.
The lesson for Sunday. March IS, may be
found In III. Kings, 5: 1927.
INTRODUCTORY
Covetousness IL tho sin that Is depicted
here again, and IL Is well for us that we
have two strong lessons on this strong
handed iniquity. There was never "A day
when so much Is to be dreaded from cupid
ity and the desire for unholy gain. Never
were there such opportunities for money
getting, and never before such inducements
to seek for IL and lay hold OF IL In vicious,
or, at least. in underhanded ways. And
never before. ON the other hand. was there
such n demand that wealth should be right
ly used, being made "A help rather than a
hindrance TO the kingdom. IL so IL must be
honest money, honestly gotten and honestly
given. God help US that we stumble not at
this hazardous point.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Returned. The distance Travelled was
about thirty miles. --All his company.
Like him impressed with the signal demon
stration OF Jehovah's power.-Stood be-
fore him. Same word used i'm V. OF the
last lesson; but now it is in quite different
mood.-But in Israel. Peculiar Hebrew
idiom; literally, But IT, The same express
sion Is found in the original OF Ps. / . and
Gen 80: 20 al Will not let thee go. except
thou bless me. "A blessing, l. O., a pres
emit Benefaction comes as near as any
thing to the correct rendition. 1t Is the
word used at Ps. 3: 8, which is thus made
all the more suggestive. 1t is translated
present at III. Kings IS: 81 ("make an agree
ment with me by presently.
Before whom l stand. The same express
preston used by Elijah OF himself. l. Kings
II: l. Elisha was the worthy successor OF
the fiery servant OF Cod will receive
none. Another peculiar Hebrew idiom: II
l receive any.-Urged him. From the
word meaning TO hack. 1t is the word rem
dered stubbornness at /. Sam. Is: 90.
BE content, or, be pleased. From the
word meaning To wish, or be Wiling
Two talents. 2x 81 S00.-Urged him, or
prevailed upon him; from the word mean
ing TO break. Translated compelled at 1
Sam. 2s %.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Now j know. After the trial comes GER
tain knowledge 1t Is experience that
teaches and establishes us. 1t is not "See
and taste that the Lord Is good, ~ but ataste
and see." And this tasting means whole
hearted surrender. You cannot taste salt
by partaking OF one Of its elementary con-
stituents, or by looking at the whole COM
pound. You must put the real, full sub
stance on the tongue, give yourself to ii and
IL TO yourself. Naaman knew because he
had put 10 tho personal experiment. We
from afar, by admiring IL, or talking about
IT, We must appropriate IL and have IL as
personal possession. ITO as many as re-
ceived him TO them gave he power To be-
come the sons of God.n This man OF Syria
could speak OF the gift OF healing which
was his, as the Samaritans later said TO the
woman who cried, "Come see, is this not the
Christie snow we believe not because of
thy saying; for we have heard him our
selves, we know that this is indeed the
Christ the Saviour OF the world.n
j Will receive none. No compromising.
Elisha would accept of no reward for heal
ing as IL he, by his own hand, had wrought
the cure 1t way well give us pause in our
dealings with the world. 1t is not neces-
sary for US to say that the church should
accept none OF the worlds money; for all
the wealth OF the world Is the Lords, and
sometimes no turns the kings tribute ere
he turns the kings heart. But there must
be discrimination. When men give as II IL
were a quittance sum for grace rendered.
or as II IL were To purchase the gift, they
deserve the stern refusal OF Paul TO Simon,
the sorcerer: "Thy money perish with thee
because thou hast thought that the gift Of
God may be purchased with money!" Elisha
saw inte Naaman's heart, and. knowing the
motive that prompted the present, he could
not but refuse it, Doubtless our modern
church fairs and festivals lay at least
temptations, not necessary but incidental
for the mixing OF moral values at this
point. That remark OF DIR. Gordon's IS
worth considering. We quote IL In SUBJ
stance. There are some mills where tho
water runs so low at times that they need
10 turn to steam for a while. and they say,
"The power is given OUT 1t Is what some
churches, turning away from the legitimate
operations of the spirit, seem to be saying
The power has given out.
Two mules burdens OF earth. 1t is about
fap Mo de
mule packs of earth. They carry little
holy water about with them for occasions
OF worship. A sort OF Lenten element IL Is.
Ii does not interfere with the general course
OF life. The house OF remission is accessi-
BILE still. the theater the dance-hall, the
card-table, and when they desire 10 be re-
lgious there is that rood of holy ground
they have laid To be sure. they worship
none other than Jehovah-when they wor-
ship at all, but the worshipfu times, like
the worshipful spots. are few and far be-
tween. IL is the modern high-church, holy
ground heresy. Naaman may. subsequent
ly and upon reflection, have become a gem
uine believer FIR the one true God III so.
IL was when he made more than two mules
burdens of earth sacred, but counted every
place. that the sole OF his foot might tread
given TO God and holy unto him.
All is we'll No, IL was not all was FOUL
So gads the time-serving, lf-pleasing
Christian after the chariot OF the world.
You ask him how things are going, "All
we'll. all WE'LL" he says, and notes n<6t the
terrible affront he is putting upon God by
his unflial and inconsistent behavior. But
there are those that grieve. The prophet
was panied. Gods heart was pierced. There
is no sadder, more distressing sight to day.
in the presence OF men and OF angels, than
the spectacle OF Gehazi Christi weak
spirited we know, at best. and false hearted
at his worst, following, like n captive the
worlds chariot wheels. All is well then
with the interests OF Satan, not with the
kingdom OF God.
A leper as white as snow. The picture Is
fearful one; but grave dangers require
loud alarms. Leprosy signifies uncleanli-
ness, ostrangement. misery. death. Is there
any less terrible fate on ahead to-day for
hypocrisy, unfaithfulness and deceit? Is
the church in any hazard OF receiving mo-
ney upon false pretenses? Clear up the
record. tell the truth, stand by the Lord and
his prophet! When mems souls are perish
ing, shall the moments be FILTERED away I'm
following the worlds seductions? ais IL n
time To receive money. and TO receive gar
ments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and
sheep, and oxen, and men servants, and
maid seryants?p There have been times I'm