The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-03-02


prov.der CO in the arr an9ement OF
these lesson topics. One by one they
have come TO us just at the nick of
time, apparently just the word for the
hour. These have been revival days
In many communities, and the Sunday
schools and congregations have been
deeply stirred by the cordial appeals
of these Old Testament les sons. Adams
sin, the flood. Gods call to Abram,
Gods judgment on Sodom, the trial OF
Abrahams faith, and now this selling
of the birthright- could better list
of heart-searching topics have been
devised for times of awakening? May
God bless these messages to many souls
to-day!
POINTS IN THE LESSON.
"The boys grew" One way or the
other they z ov still, but which way,
parent, teacher?
"A cunning hunter" Cunning to
hunt for things that perish, not cum
ming to seek the things that abide.
How many like Esau, knowing the
literal of the word much knowirs--.
| nothing.
"A plain n ali, i. e., simple-mi nded,
unambitious. There are two meanings
of the word simple in the sense Of up
right CT perfect same wCrd at Job /:
IL, and simple in the sense Of innocent
and unsophisticated margin of Kings
%: 81. This latter seems to be the
special significance here. Esau was a
quick, ready, versatile fellow. Jacob
was more Of quiet homebody-
shrewd in his way.
But the fault was not so much in the
sensuous induleercs. 1t was on the
other side in the spiritual indifference
displayed Net so mucl that he pre-
ferret pottage, but that, as the
Scriptures say. he "desp.sed his birth
right" There was moral "btuseness.
In choosing lentiles he ignored life.
Or rather he snatched To- one sort OF
life,-lOw sort, AID in so d. ing threw
away the higher and better sort-the
real goal of living. The word despise,
here, means, first OF all. II T. cad. Esau,
like many another careless. happy-go-
lucky kind of young man, walke1
over his best interests, trampled them
under his feet in reaching for petty de-
lights. Let us not say that ne was un-
justly treated. Whatever tie UNI
brotherly self-seeking of Jacob, itself
of course reprehensible, Esau here dis
closed his unfitne IS for the best, be-
cause of his inappreciation of it No
matter though he may seek ii sorrow
ing he is unworthy of it, as the Prov
erbs say, He that despiseth his ways
shall die 1t is the ane law as ito be
carnally minded is death.
HINTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
A lesson for young men. Apply it
particularly to the young. Or rather
press home its appeal zen all the un-
decided and the unrepentant. WHAT
are you doing with that precious life
of yours? What will man give in ex-
change for his soul! Many man is
selling his hope for a song. his birth
right for q mess of the worlds pottage.
May be a new and, as it seems to me, a
better application of the words: Give
not that which is holy unto the dogs,
neither cast We your pearls before
swine. What was our Savior speak
ing of in that Sermon on the Mount
but OF the life, its conduct, its cher
ishing, its use? Young man, which
way is your life thrown?
1t was anus ing and yet pitiful-the
sight of that old man and woman at the
Worlds Fair in Chicago hurrying away
from the sergeant's Office with their
recovered sachel. Every cent they
had in the world they had taken with
them to the Windy City" and to Jack
son Park locked up in mere hand
sachel, and there they had gone Off
and left it On the seat of one OF the
tram-cars. Fool h, was it not? And
yet how much more unspeakably fool
ish is 1t to trife with this lie of ours
Is we do. We carry about a soul, more
precious than gold which per shes. "Ie-
deemed not with corrupt BILE things
such as silver and gold, but with the
precious blood OF Christ, as of lamb
without spot" What are we doing
with this precious legacy? How are
we guarding it?
We were cal'el . Pittsburg the
other day, fer an item of service in the
kingdom, and it gave Us an opportu-
nifty en- route 70 renew the scenes OF
youth There between the Yougnio-
gheny and Monongahela rivers in Ros-
trayer Township lay the old home
stead grandfather" we used to call
1t in scho ol-boy days, and o the happy
vacations spent in and about its hos
pitable shade. Conf, up the hill
slope toward the place the one.time
school boy was picturing TO himself
the things he used t. know SEQ. @ or
more of years ago. But the old farm
had got into the hands OF strangers,
renters; you know what that means.
The Canalnite was then in the land.
And so there was disappointment or.
two in store. One thing especially the
traveller wa thinking about, that old
spring in the orchard whe he used
to turn his little water-wheels. And
so quite soon he said to the one who
was kindly showing him about, Let
me see the old spring in the orchard"
Spring There is no spring there
"Oh, surely there is. | spent many
happy hour at its side" We went out
to lcok for il. Through tangled briar
end nettles we pushed, and there at
last under an old bent apple tree we
found-a noisome wallow for swine.
Aud that was what neglect had made
of the dear old spring.
Next Lessor jacob a. Bethel"
Gen. %: 1922.