The National tribune., 1893-11-30
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for Dec.
10, 1893. 90
Subject: The Heavenly Inheritance. pet,
f:T-ie.
lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from The Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.I
INTRODUCTION
tt would be interesting to know the opinions
of most famous men as to the Holy Scriptures.
Rev. Dr. John Hall, of New York. once said
in an address: "The Bible has points of inter-
est and attraction not merely to the great
classes of our fellow-men, such as the rich and
the poor, the ruler and the ruled, but to specific
and individual classes. no matter how small
these classes may be- We have almost every
condition of human life presented in some form
or another in the course of the inspired record.
We have the husbandman, we have the mer-
chant, we have the lawyer. The beloved physi-
clan Luke contributed two important books to
this inspired volume. Paul the Apostle was by
occupation O tent maker, and even of Jesus,
our Savior, it was very common to speak as the
carpenters son. We have the soldiers in this
book, from the brave and heroic David to men
who deserved no better description than that
their fellows We can hardly think of any
class or condition of men that is not addressed
in some way that are not interested in some
way, by the various accounts, histories, and
incidents that are represented to US in this in
spired volume.
cit has large number ofindvidual writers
for its authors, in different lands and in differ
ent conditions and at times so remote that any
thing like concert or collision among them is
absolutely out of the question.
But there was behind ii the one inspiring
Holy Spirit who knows what is man, and has
SO formed this book that it shall have some-
thing to enlist the attention and notice of every
class and condition of the human race.
There is one other condition that careful
readers of the Bible will not fail to notice,
namely the perfect honesty of the whole
Scripture. 1t describes men and things exactly
as they are. We have just judges in this book,
and we have unjust. We have brave aud heroic
men; we have the basest towards"
St. Peter.
He wrote the two Epistles bearing his name.
It is thought by many scholars he is the real
author of the second Gospel, st. Mark having
written simply as amennensis- st. Peter was
the second Apostle called, his brother Andrew
having become follower of Christ little be-
fore st. Peter. In fact it was through Andrew
that Peter went to Christ. The two were prob
ably born at Bethsada, on the east side of the
Sea of Galiee. They were fishermen. He WIS
first to preach to Gentles. 1t is said he was
put to death by cruciGxion with his head
downward, by order of Nero. He thought him.
self unworthy to die in the same attitude as
did Christ. He preached at Samaria, Antioch,
Cornth, at Babylon, and at length at Rome.
AS to last named place there has been much
discussion as to whether he were ever there.
First Epia.le of Peter
Renan says: "The First Epistle of Peter is
very ancient work. and had very early high
authority"
With many others he held that Babylon
g 49, means Rome, and allows st. Peter was
probably at Rome for little while, having
been put to death soon after going there.
This Epistle is one of the five reckoned
Catholic. 1t was sent by hand of Silyanus.
Is: 12.) 9fhe
From some references we would think it
addressed in special to Jews. See IA, 10;
2: 10; 3:6; A.
"The special objects OF the Epistle were: l.
To comfort and strengthen the Christians in a
season of severe trial; 2. To enforce the prac-
tical and spiritual duties involved in their cali
ing; g. To warn them against special tempta-
tions to which their position exposed them;
4. To remove all doubt as to the soundness and
completeness of the religious system they had
already received" &
Chapters / and 9 exhort the Jewish Christ
ians to remain true to the end
Chapter 3, in part, calls on them to be holy
in their persons and correct in all relative
duties.
Chapter 3, In part, and Chapter urges them
to be patient, in imitation Of Christs example.
Chapter gives certain directions to minis
tiers and churches.
The Epistie is addressed to Christians in
Pontus, Galatia~ Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia.
These were all in Asia Minor. By Asia
1:I) is probably meant Lydia. the province
in which Ephesus was located. Or by Asia we
may understand the resi- of Asia Minor; as Q. e.,
Mysis Lycia, etc.
l. Pet, 1: I-12
/. Strangers /. First we mean Jews. Then
we include Genties converted to Christianity
There were few of them probably personally
known TO st. Peter. Many of them were
strangers, as living from Palestine and among
q foreign people, There is also a sense in
which we are all pilgrims and strangers in this
earth.
2. Elect g God knew the conditions requi-
site for salvation. He ordained the conditions
All who met such conditions were to be count
ed Christians Such an election is general and
impartial. The elect submit to the sanctfying
influences of Gods Spirit They become His
servants-do His will-are obedient. God
knew beforehand the purposes of creaton-in
special the moral ends of human existence.
He knew the outcome of human will. God
elects-we elect. There is recognition of the
existence and power of the will. We do not
fall into the Church a stone is thrust into
the wall of a building to be for worship.
Christianity is realm Of mental action, and
gives play to the volition faculty.
g. Sanctifcation. 2. We have hint as to the
office work of the Holy Spirit. The influence
of the Spirit of God must not be omitted in
the enumeration of the forces at the command
of Christians
a. 1t seems what are known as the Three
Persons-Father, Sou. and Holy Spirit-co-
operate in salvation. The Father foreknows
Jesus suffers death (see blood, V. q, the Holy
Spirit sanctities. The word sprinkling carries
US back to the method of Offering sacrifices in
the Jewish dispensation.
g. The last clause i'm V. is a sort of formu-
lum of salntation, and that specially in the
formality of writing
8. Verse 3 is capable of different explana.
lions. Some hold it teaches that the Apostles
had lost hope by the death of Christ, and that
his resurrection had inspired renewed hope.
The hope is the fact, possibility assurance of
salvation.
Others have had the idea that natural birth
is itself an object of comfort and hope, but that
through sin men may lose confidence of future
happiness possibly go off in despair Now
salvation through Christ's death changes things
hope is revived. The chill of despair was
due to consciousness of sin. Then comes the
secret of salvation Gods abundant mercy.
Notice no limit is stated to the broad ness of
mercy. 1t cannot be limited it is simply and