Passaic City record., 1893-12-23
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER "a.
Lesson Text: ssThe Birth OF Jesus"
Matthew H., 1-11-Golden
Text: Matthew L., 21-
Commentary.

Impressed with the fact that in this SO
called missionary lesson we have also
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 he 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 may have fellowship
with us" II John l.. 81. How do the things
of God which we see and hear affect us9
8. 'Then saith he unto me, See thou 40 It
not, for am thy fellow servant, and OF tiny
brethren the prophets, and of them which
keep the saying of this book-worship God"
Compare xix, TO- Only satan of all creatures
seeks to be worshiped Guke w., y. Let US
remember 1t when tempted to desire applause,
and may it be our whole aim to honor God.
See how this book Is honored 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. will, 26 !;
xiii, 9. 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 go
ing so Tar as to advise people not to read IL.
This know ministers to be guilty OF. The
Lord will see to it.
II. .sKe that is un;us. 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
1t make people more holy or more unholy.
H. "And behold, I come quickly, and MY
reward is with Me, to give every man accord
ing as his work shall be-" Compare yerses7,
TO- and chapters H. ons 2s and i' ths Il, ana aS
monitions. Salvation is all of grace, but re-
ward is according to work. See Cor. ILL.,,
8, 81 Luke xix, 1919 These rewards are
not given at death, but at resurrection, when
Jesus shall come (Luke xiv, IA; l Pet. va;
II Tim. iv., 81.
49, ct am alpha and omega, the beginning
and the end, the first and the last" When
our souls can say, Lord, Thou art all this to
me- first and last in everything, beginning
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 says, blessed
are they that wash their robes" Well. we
cannot keep His commandments till we have
washed in His blood and received the new
heart which only can do His will, II we,
like Abram, are looking for the city (Heb. XII;
10), we will delight to be found doing His
will
16. For without are dogs" etc. Com
pare chapter XXI, 8, 81. And If you are glad
that your name is in the book of life, and that
by His grace you are neither fearful norsun-
truthful, then seek those without.
16. 81, Jesus, have sent Mine angels to
testify unto you these things in the churches.
1 am the root and the offspring of David and
the bright and morning star" The first
olo Of fhic fab in onn ion
with verse g. 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
Isa. XII, 1, 10. show Him to be both God and
man, David's Lord and David's Son. AS the
bright and morning star II 9 promises Himself
to the overcomer in chapter H., %. The
watchers all this dark night will see and
meet Him as the morning star and come back
with Him as the sun of righteousness Nal.
1v., p when he appears for Israel.
IL. "And the spirit and the bride say
come, and let him that heareth say come.
And let him that is athirst come, and whose
ever 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 re-
sponse to His "Behold, I come quickly"
The others-or at least the last two-are in
vitations to the sinner to take the water oflife
freely. They remind US of lisa. w., 1 John
vii, 81; Rom. ILL.,, "a. There is nothing to
hinder those who hear but their own will
18, 19. "If any man shall add. If any man
shall take away" Now comes most solemn
warning to anyone who would dare to add
to or take from the words of this book. Read
the same warning in Deut iv., 2, Kill, 80,
Prov. xxx, 6; Jer. XIV, q; Kill, 28, SO,
and say how it is that men dare in these days
In spite Of these warnings, to commit both of
these SINS Is it because, turning fromt the
truth, God has sent them delusion (II Thess.
ii. 10. ~.
20. "He which testif1eth these things
saith: Surely come quickly. Amen. Even
80, come, Lord Jesus" How could He say
"quickly' when He knew that almost 1000
years must pass first? One thousand years
is with the Lord as one day q Pet. ill.,, 81,
and according to that reckoning He has been
gone SCARCELY two days yet. We must look
at things from His standpoint Do our hearts
say "Come, Lord Jesus?' If we understand
that things will grow worse and worse both
In the world and in the protesting church till
He come; that we cannot have our glorif1ed
bodies till He come; that we are to occupy
and show forth His death till He come; that
satan and anti-Christ and Babylon will 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
book of books-for we are saved by grace,
we stand in grace and there is more grace to
be revealed (Eph. H., 8; Rom. W, l, 2; IPet.
1-13). 1t is favor for the undeserving from
first to last.-Lesson Helper.
Grants Old Summer Home.