Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-29
POINTS IN THE LESSON.

found in Ezra 1: Ill. Ff
POINTS IN THE LESSON.
Begin right. 1t was Cyrus -frst
year" at Babylon, and he opened his
career there by doing the Grst things
first-a good beginning.
Cyrus was stirred up" of the Lord to
do It. Suppose he had gainsaid and
postponed. IL is an awful thing to re-
slst the strivings of the Almighty. There
is nothing more notwithstanding In the
world of to-day than TO behold the prev
alent Indifference to spiritual impress
sions and propulsions. Every good i'm
pulse withstood becomes smooth paw
ing-stone on the way to eternal death.
Back of all was "the word of the
Lord" Here Jeremiah: THUS saith
the Lord. that after seventy years be
accomplished will visit you; and per-
form my good word toward you, in
causing you to return to this place. For
/ know the thoughts that think toward
you, saith the Lord, Thoughts of peace
and not Of evil. to give you an expected
end" And did we think evil of thee, o
God2 Forgive us. Let us now fall into
the hands OF the Lord; his mercy en-
dureth.
"The Lord God OF heaven hath
given, spoke Cyrus. There spoke he a
great truth Gods name is Giver, "the
Giver OF every good and perfect gift 7"
All comforts and all emoluments are
from the divine hand. The water OF
earth turns to celestial wine before the
eyes, at least, of the servants and min
listers who are honored with being hew-
ers of wood and carriers OF water for
the kingdom. And God here reveals
this great truth to a heather king. Why
do not his brethren attend? thus
saith the Lord-that saith to Cyrus:
My Shepherd, and all my pleasure shall
he do and saith to Jerusalem: be built,
and to the temple: be founded
The King of Persia received 1t as hav-
ing been charged" of the Lord. Happy
the man who hears as clearly the terms
Of his earthly commission. But the
word came to him through human lips,
doubtless those OF the loyal Daniel,
servant of the most high God. If we
had more Daniels would we not have
eBCDyruses? Preach the truth as
Daniel did; tell the people what the
book says as to service and duty. When
the prophet fulfills his charges better,
so will the king.
W HO 10 bnCAC ouiODR JOUs y ~ II pun
a selective as we'll as elective call.
There is yet but remnant OF the rem
nant that seem purposed to do Gods ex-
press bidding, "Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley OF decision few. indeed,
out on the hill-tops of endeavor. Who
will return to-day for revival blessings
to the hill of the Lord? The call con-
tinues to go forth even amongst his
people," "Ho, every one that thirsteth,
come We to the waters" 1t is for those
that long for il; it is still a voluntary
matter. Zion, in its beauty, is for thos o
who have beauty in their hearts; the
Lord for the Lords.
10 who is there among us,ahe true and the
tried,
Who'll stand by his Captain-who's on the
Lords slider"
Helped-lifted up is the Hebrew OF it
with silver, and with gold, and with
goods" Is the man who steps out on
| Gods way Why not? The gold and
silver, the cattle on a thousand hills
are the Lords, and we know that "all
things work together for good to them
| that love Coda blessed conspiracy
| for advancement on the road to Zion.
Yes, even the apparent calamities help
out and lift up, for "tribulation worketh
| patience, and that sometimes is our
greatest need, and its coming Gods
| greatest blessing to US. Let us be
careful to read this passage at verse
| four Alright The word "remaineth"
means surviveth, and refers to all the
Jews left from the long captivity. The
| gifts were not for those who indolently
stayed behind, but for those who cour-
ageously went forth. Where else, in
deed, does blessing lie? And Jacob
went on his way, and the angels of God
met him." The kings laden messengers
are to be found on the kings highway.
1t was all done by men whose spirit
! God had raised" True enough, it takes
a raised people to secure for us raised
walls. Jerusalem had to be first builded
in their hearts within, ere it stood forth
fair again on the hills and In the eyes OF
the nations. "As a man thinketh in his
heart so is he"-and so does he. But IL
is well to note here that in the original
this is precisely the same expression
| Cyrus, there translated, and more
closely, stirred up. Cyrus was stirred
up to send and the people were stirred
up to go. Thus God accomplishes his
| blessed purposes. The preacher Oh
teacher, who plays usually the Cyrus
part in the new and enlarging work OF
church and school, will accomplish little
or nothing without people or class re-
| sponsive to his spirit.
Bring forth the hidden vessels, the
chargers OF silver and of gold that have
been out Of sight so long. Our property
Is much greater than any of us suppose.
There Is much unrevealed as yet, while
we remain I'm lan0uid captive condition
Where are those basins OF gold" 1--WE
have, forsooth, been using pewter long
enough? Where are those basins of
a second sort four hundred and ten, and
other vessels a thousand" Yes, and
look up the mine and twenty knives,
OF which we have heard but the rumor.
| There Is use for all the Lords furnish
| ing in the blessed enlargement of Zion.
Believe it. children Of God, the Lord is
on our side. Things seen and things
unseen are ours, as we own him and
claim them with a royal faith, in his
name. The stars in their courses
foughts.against Sisera when he was
against God. The earth helped the
woman who was for God Walk with
him. Mundane assistance, celestial
enduement, things present and things
to come, all are yours; and ye are
Christ's, and Christ Is God'sB
HINTS AND ILLUsTRArfoNs.
There is no better way to study the
lesson than by beginning at the bottom
and building from the ground up: %
Gather the feots. t2l Put them to-
gether. 81 Draw the conclusions.
Consequently. make your own induc-
tive study. To this ED it would be