Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VI, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 6.

Stearns.
%. "And now, behold, 20 bound in the
hpirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the
things that shall befall me there" Last
week we left Paul at Ephesus alone, his
companions having gone to Macedonia.
| Then followed the uproar, after which Paul
LETT for Macedonia, went as far as Greece,
tarfled there three months, then returned
through Macedonia and we now find him
mt Miletus on his way to Jerusalem, hasten
ing to be there if possible by Pentecost
Verse 49, Touching at Miletus on their
homeward voyage, he sent to Ephesus to
have the elders come down to him, and our
lesson today to his farewell to them. He
reminds them of his manner of life among
them and Of his teaching. Doing must
precede teaching. See Math. V, 10; Acts i.
/; Mark vi, 80; Josh. i, g; En- vii. TO-
90. Save that the Holy Ghost wtnesseth
in every city, saying hat bonds and af1lic-
tions abide me" While he did not know
what particular events might befal him,
he had II general knowledge that it would
| be as it had been, and even so to the end.
1t was i'll his commission that he should
| suffer Acts tx, l6), and large foretastes had
he already i'll the stonng at I.ystra and the
scourging and imprisonment ut philipp
~. But none of these things move me,
neither count my life dear unto myself,
! so that might finish my course with jov.n
| The ambitions of this servant of Christ
may he seen in such passages as this in
connection with | Cor. ii, >; II Cor. V, 9;
Phil. /, 20; Gal. vi, II. To make known the
gospel of grace, to make Christ known
through these bodies, to be in all things
pleasing unto Him and have His service
accepted of Him. these were His constant
1 N Il irn Ia L
His son Timothy III Tim. ii, 3; iv, 10, and
through His writings exhorts all believers
%. And now, behold, know that We all,
among whom l have gone preaching the
| kingdom of God, shall see my face no more "
In some way He knew that lie would not
meet them again till He should meet them
Mt the Judgment seat of Christ, and there
fore lie would speak to them the more ear
neStly and waste no time on vain words. If
| when we speak to people, even in ordinary
conversation, we felt that we might not
meet them again in this world, we would
| be more apt to say something about Jesus
! and things eternal.
20. Wherefore take you to record this
/ day that am pure from the blood of all
men," not only in the sense of having
wronged, corrupted or defrauded no man
| III Cor. vii, q, but he had cleared himself
]
/ souls salvation. If we, as the messengers
of God faithfully declare His messages of
salvation, then we are clear of the blood of
those who hear whether they believe or
not See Eek. iii, 70; xxxiii. 11-l0.
~ For | have not stunned to declare
! unto you all the counsel of God" That
| which he had received Of the Lord he had
made known unto them without diminish
/ ing word q Cor. XIV, 3; Jer. XVI o. lie
had kept back nothing Verse 20) through
fear of man. He believed in his heart that
4 If his aim was to please men he was not
worthy to he called IA servant of Christ
| Gal, i, l0) So he lived and abored not as
/ pleasing men, but God, who trieth our
hearts q Thess. H. A. What a needful word
this is, "lle that hath my word, let him
| speak my word faithfully" der. NXiii, 2sl
2S Take heed therefore unto yourselves,
/ and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
! Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed he
church of God, which He hath purchased
with His own blood" one of the risen
Chrst's last words to Pottery: was Il threefold
eNhortation to feed His sheep and lambs
lJohn xxi, 49, ~, and Peter passes it on to
us, saying, Feed the flock of God which is
among you" Il Pet. V, q. Nothing can Seed
us but the word of God. The written word
is full OF Him who is the living word, and
lie Himself said, "Ile that eateth me- even
lac shall live by me" (John vi, 30
% For know this, that after my de
parting shall grievous wolves enter in
among You, not sparing the flock" 1t was
/ l'auls delight to maintain himself by his
own labor that he might have to give to the
needy things temporal and spiritual. But
/ there were and there are those who pro
Tossing to be shepherds, not only do not
] Il . t..H ..s.lr ,.1--.
upon the tlock-wolves in Sleeps clothing.
| (Math. vii. 10, y, 100.
80 Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw
away disciples after them" 1t is one thing
for man to be accused of drawing people
after him. while his whole aim is to point
/ them to Jesus Il Cor. iii, 4, 81. 1t is quite
another matter for n man to live and labor
Tor the sake of II following acts V, So 81
81. Therefore watch and remember that
10y the space Of three years | ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears"
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and
scatter the sheep of My pasture saith the
Lord tJer NXiii, u. See also Eek XXXiv,
p Prayerfully tearfully and INCREASINGLY
had Paul labored for their souls welfare,
and rs he foresaw the possibility of false
teachers and souls ruined and lost his heart
! was SIItNtA
81 And now brethren, commend you
to God and TO the word of His grace, which
is able to build you up and to give you an
inheritance among all them which are
sanctitied." lie knew that if they would
only hold fast to the word of God they
would not waver nor be led astray The
only safety then Snd now is ito the law
and to the testimony. If they speak not ac-
cording to this word, surely there is no
morning for them" lisa. viii, 20, R.N(
3d. Il have coveted no mans silver or
gold or apparel" lie was not seeking
theirs, but them. He wanted nothing from
them, but he had something to give them.
Though he was poor, yet he made many
rich though he seemed 90 have nothing,
yet he possessed all things III Cor. vi, lO).
When any gave him gifts, he was especially
glad for them, because it was just so much
added to their account in heaven.
"a. Yea, ye yourselves know that these
hands have ministered unto my necessities
. 81 4 H.,