Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-12-23
j. II. MILLER & SONS.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XIII, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, DEC. "a.
Text of the Lesson, Rev. xxi, 3-2I "a Mis-
sionary Lesson)-nIemory Verses, 10, Ii.
Golden Text. Rev. xii, documentary
by the Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.

sionary Lesson)-Memory Verses, 16, Ii
Golden Text. Rev. xii, I1-Commentary
by the Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.
Impressed with the fact that in this sc
called missionary lesson we have also O
grand Christmas lesson, bringing before us
His coming again, which draweth near, we
make choice Of this
S. And |, John, saw these things and
heard them" Then be tells us that he fell
down to worship before the feet of the
angel. He actually saw these wondrous
sights and heard these faithful and true
words. 1t was probably before this that
he wrote, That which we have seen and
heard declare we unto you, that We also NAV
have fellowship with us" Il John i. g. How
do the things of God which we see and hear
affect us?
g. Then saith he unto me, See thou dc
it not for | am thy fellow servant, and Of
thy brethren the prophets, and of them
which keep the sayings of this book-wor-
ship God" Compare xix, 10. Only satan
of all creatures seeks to be worshiped
duke iv, y. Let us remember it when
tempted to desire applause, and may it be
our whole aim to honor God See how this
book is honorcd in heaven.
10. And he saith unto me. Seal not the
sayings of the prophecy of this book, for
the time is at hand" Contrast Dan. viii.
&c; xii, 8. In view Of the command of this
verse, how great must be the sin of those
who virtually seal up this book by never
reading it or preaching from it, but even
going so far as to advise people not to read
it. This know ministers to be guilty of.
The Lord will see to it,
II. He that is unjust let him be unjust
still, and so with the filthy or the righteous
or the holy" When the end of this stage
of our life comes, whether it be death or
the coming of Christ, as we are then found
so shall we continue, whether unjust or
holy. This verse, however, may teach that
we are to proclaim the truths of this book
whether it make people more holy or more
unholy
l2. And behold, come quickly, and my
reward is with me, to give every man ac-
cording as his work shall be-" Compare
verses Z, 90 and chapters i, I, ii, IS; iii, IL,
and note the oft repeated 81 come" and the
admonitions Salvation is all of grace,
but reward is according to work. See Cor.
iii, 8, 9; Luke xix, 1919. These rewards
are not given at death, but at resurrection,
when Jesus shall come duke xiv, IA;
Pet. V, 4; II Tim iv, s..
ID. II am alpha and omega, the begin
ming and the end, the first and the last y
When our souls can say, Lord, Thou art all
this to me, first and last in everything. be.
ginning and end of everything, then all is
well
IA. blessed are they that do His com
mandments, that they may have right to
the tree of life and may enter in through
the gates into the city" The r. V. saws.
Blessed are they that wash their robes. "
Well, we cannot keep His commandments
till we have washed in His blood and re-
ceived the new heart which only can do
His will. If we, like Abram, are looking
for the city Heb. ri, 10), we will delight to
be found doing His will
10. For without are dogs" etc. Com.
pare chapter xxi, S, e. And if you are
glad that your name is in the book of life,
and that by His grace you are neither
fearful nor untruthful, then seek those
without.
IT, Il, Jesus have sent Mine angel to ties.
tify unto you these things il the churches.
am the root and the offspring of David
and the bright and morning star" The
first clause of this verse, taken in eonnec
ton with verse 6, seems to me one of the
clearest proofs that the Lord God of the
holy prophets and Jesus are one and the
same The root and offspring of David,
taken with lisa. ri, I, 10, show Him to be
both God and man, Dayid's Lord and Da
vid's Son. As the bright and morning star
He promises himself to the overcomer in
chapter ii. 2S The watchers all this dark
night will see and meet Him as the morn
ing star and come back with Him as the
sun of righteousness (AIal iv, q when He
appears for Israel
II. And the Spirit and the bride s,1y
come, and let him that heareth say come
And let him that is athirst come, and who
soever will let him take the water of life
freely" The first clause seems to be the
cry of the church to her Lord to come in
response to his Behold, | come quickly"
The others--or at least the last two-are
invitations to the sinner to take the water
of life freely. They remind us of lisa. lv, /;
John vii, 81; Rom. iii. 81 There is moth
ing to hinder those who kear but their own
will
is, 10 IF any maa shall add. If any
man shall take away" Now comes most
solemn warning to any one who would
udIe 70 duu 10 OF take from the words oil
this book. Read the same warning in Deut.
iv, 2; xii, 80; Prov. XXX, 6; Jer. XVI, 2: xiii
2s, SO, and say how it is that men dare in
these days, in spite of these warnings, tc
commit both of these sins. is it because
turning from the truth. God has sent them
delusion I'll Thess. ii: 10, III.
90 HE which testifieth these things saith
Surely | come quickly. Amen. Even So
come, Lord Jesus" How could He say
quickly" He knew that almost 2.OO(
years must pass first? One thousand years
is with the Lord as one day q Pet. iii, s.,
and according to that reckoning He has
been gone scarcely two days yet Wemust
look at things from His standpoint Dc
our hearts say, Come, Lord Jesusf" II
we understand that things will grow worse
and worse both in the world and in thepro
Tossing church till He come; that we can.
not have our glorified bodies till He come;
that we are to occupy and show forth His
death till He come; that satan and anti
christ and Babylon viii rage till He come,
then we will surely pray. Come, Lord
Jesus" Otherwise not
81. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you all Amen" What precious
ending to most precious book-yea, to the
whole book of books-for we are saved by
grace, we stand in grace, and there is more
grace to be revealed (Eph. ii, S; Rom. V,
l, 2. Pet. 1-13l. 1t is favor for the undo
serving from first TO last.