Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-05-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON TX, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY %.

Text Of tho Lesson, Prov. XXI, 1921.
Memory Verses, 20-e0-GoIden Text,
Prov. xxi, 3O--Comme ntary by the Rev.
-. NJ. Stearns.
The chapter opens with wise and loving
ronnsel from n mother to her royal son.
Ehe would have him to be true Nazarite
and real friend to the desolate and Cd.
pressed, the poor and the needy Compare
Mum Vi, is, Ps. Xxi, IA. And who can
nplp thinking of Him who is the true
brightness of God, for such, according to
Young, is the meaning of Lemuel?
Then follow these 90 verses of our lesson
concerning the model woman, each verse
IN the Hebrew commencing with letter Of
the alphabet Ia regular order thus forming
an acrostic.
In the study Of this lesson many will con
fine themselves to the admirable portrait
Of the perfect wife and mother and thus
find most profitable study | will take
this woman as at least suggestive of the
true church, the bride of Christ, as to her
personal standing and character, her rela-
ton to her husband, to her household and
to the poor and needy She is virtuous
woman oversees 10, POI Young defines virtue
rs strength of mind or body Peter says
that il we desire an abundant entrance into
the kingdom we must add to our faith
virtue Then she walks in the fear of the
Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom and
fountain of life I'll Pet. /. 3; Prov. /, Z:
IA pa
Her clothing is said to he silk and purple,
Of honor It.nr IND
ing us Of Eek. xvi, IL. IA, and the clothing
of fine linen, silk and broidered work, and
the beauty because of the Lords comeli.
ness. See also lisa Xxi, 10 Her loins are
also girt with strength Verse Ia, and what
strength is there that can compare with
that of truth, righteousness and faithful
ness (Eph. vi, IA lisa XII, 81? Her words are
wisdom and Kindness Verse 26), making us
think of Him who was full of grace and
truth John /, l4)
There is no slothfulness nor love of ease
III her, for she works early and late, before
the dawn and OH into the night oversees l5
49, Her works are manifold. she is always
Astounding, and it is all willing work
oversees -l9) Compare Cor XIV, S. II
Cor viii ~ She brngeth her food from
alar tverse l4), suggesting to us the mama
from heaven in conL:aSt to the leeks and
onions of Egypt Mans words ctunot salts
fy we must have the word OF God The
field which she takes in order to work it
and the vineyard which sh' plants turn
our thoughts to the field in which Ruth
CLEANED and to the vineyard yet to prove
fruitful Nsa W while the Joy and reward
III the time to come oversees Is. 81, 81 can
not but point Us to the time when He shall
say to he faithful, Well done. enter thou
INTO the JOY Of the Lord >
Let the record stand ~ description of
the model woman and may the Lord great
iy multiply such among our daughters!
But let us also consider the true church
and the individual believer. and may these
things be true of Is III our daily life Let
ny only believe, and thus realize what our
perfect standing is in Christ through His
finished work. and so shall our lives he in
creaSngly coniormed to His image, more
perfect reflections Of His life which he de-
sires in some measure to repeat in all His
redeemed. even in these mortal bodies
II Rom viii. ~, II Cor iii. Is ", ~, III
Her husband Is mentioned in verses IL
%. u 1t IL written of Israel. THY Maker
ls thy husband the Lord of Hosts is His
name" lisa liv. s. The Lord Jesus is fire.
quently spoken of as the bridegroom Luke
v. 81 IS. John iii. - Rev xxi, 81. and we
Know that Adam and Eve were type OF
Christ and the church tEph V. 81. 32) Her
husband doth safely trust in her. and she is
all His desire Verse ID Hear Him say of
her Thou art all fair my love, there is no
spot III thee "A garden incloSed is nv
sister, my spouse. II spring shut up, "A foun-
tam sealed CSung iy, I, ~ She will do
him good aud not evil tverse ~ Her hus-
band iAe8ts5wn in the gates Verse 23)
When we have the spirit Of Paul who de
Iermined TO know nothing but Christ and
Him crucihed who said Christ shall be
magnfied in my body whether by life OF
10y death who was ready not to be bound
only but to die Tor Jesus sake Il Cor II, .
Phil i. ~. Acts xxi. l3l, then will we ever
do Him good and give Him pleasure. and
He shall he known and hOnored through
us Her husband prli'eth her tverse 2S).
Her children aud her household claim u
share of our attention. In verses 81, Is, 81
we learn of their clothing their food and
their ways, all ahundantly provided and
well seen to Our clothing as children OF
tod is Christ Himself, for we are com
manded to Put on the Lord Jesus Christ
Rom xiii. IA lie became sin for us that
we might he made the righteousness of God
IN Him I'll Coz v.2lI. and III Rev xix. 5, the
the righteousness of the saints, which must
hr His righteousness impaired to us and
then wrought out through us The church
may he said t. see to this matter OF cloth
my 10y pointing Others to Him who pro
vidts il 10y Hi great work
A. To food. ne church has an abundant
supply provided tor her 10 dispense in the
wonderful word which contains milk fol
babes and bread and strong meat for olde
children q Pet. ii =, Cor iii. = Heb v
IL IA John vi, 81 81 Then. ~ To he
ways. we have already learned from thi
book that VISIONS ways are ways of pleas
antnrss and all her paths are paths o
peace iii. IN If we are only willing to b,
guided we will not fail to see the wa,
wherein we should walk aud the thing tina
We should do GIer xiii 81 See also Ps
xxi
Not only are her own household, tn
household OF faith DIAL vi, l0l, well seen TO
but she stretcheth out her hand to tin
poor yea, she reacheth both her hands t,
the needy tverse POI If the church ha
the spirit Of her Lord il will be one o
her prominent characteristics that tn