The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-12-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRuc.
TIVE LESSON.
Reflections of an Eievating Character
wholesome Food for Thought Study
ing the scripturai Lesson Inteiigently
and Probably.
Lesson for Dec. O.

Tod. Luke y: IL.
The lesson this week is found in Luke
8: 4-15, and may be entitled Christ
Teaching by PARALLELS" The parable OF
the sower Is one of the most popular and
familiar of all our Savior's published ut
terances. 1t has basis of appeal that is
world wide and heart-deep. Everywhere
seed are being sown, and plants are grow
ing, and so everywhere this lesson is
speaking. Everywhere hearts are open To
influences, good and bad, which tell for
eternity, and so everywhere the search
ing teachings of the Scripture have
weight and potency. 1t Is only needed
that the word be expounded TO be caught
up and be received as the very truth of
God and nature everywhere. What men
need is right interpreter Of Gods cease
less parallels. Christ himself is that in
terpreter. Let His voice go forth to-day
through this timely lesson to the ends OF
the earth. carrying like the dawn, pierre
ing like the dart.
"Much people gathered together"
Whence came they? The first verse of
the chapter tells. Christ was going
abroad throughout every city and viii
lage, preaching and strewing the glad
tidings of the kingdom of God" Is not
the heart of man still yearning for glad
tidings?" They "were to come to him
out Of every city" 1t is worth noting
that he had previously himself gone to
them throughout every city and viii
lage." One is reminded Of the saying,
"A house-going pastor makes church
going people" Are the people coming 10
us from all houses and hamlets? 1t might
be well to inquire further, how we go into
houses and hamlcts after them? "He
spoke by a parable" The word parable
means To put beside; 1t is a method of
clearing up by comparison or illustration.
"A sower went out TO SOW his seed"
An epitome Of life Every man is n
sower of seed, good or bad, good and bad
With the beginning of his intelligent ca
reer he goes forth as n sower of seed. He
does not see where the seeds fall he does
not even know, at times, that he Is SOW
ing; but God knows, and hence he bids us
TO walk carefully, TO go through life cir
cumspectly. Every man is a sower. In
particular and large sense the teacher
and preacher is sower of seed. He ia
such deliberately and purposely, in de-
gree, professionally. Sunday is q great
sowing day. God only sees the harvests
that come from it. But there are other
times of sowing. Throughout the week,
in chance meetings, by business integrity,
professional faithfulness, in home temper
and demeancr the seed is being sown,
albeit we are not always aware. The
Christian is called to be ceaseless sowcr
of the seed which is the word of truth.
Wayside-hearers. We have them in our
classes and our congregations and our ac-
workmanship. The little birds of va
grant fancy. innocent-appearing but de-
structive to good Impressions, are flying
everywhere. Emissaries of the devil
Jesus calls them. Beware of them, pre-
pare for them, make allowance for them
and sow accordingly. We may also add,
receive accordingly, for the Responsibility
is double one. Take heed, also, how We
hear. Stony-ground hearers. They are
all about us. There is some rocky soil in
every heart. BE on guard. Mere flashes
of interest on emotion--what do they
amount to? Root work means hard work;
it has to do with sweat of brow, in
side and out. instruction that abides be-
cause of rootage, means painstaking and
watchfulness on the part of both giver
and receiver. Temptations are every
where. Dig deep. Turn out the stones,
get down to the soil, plant the seed well.
Hints and illustrations.
Christ taught by parallels. He is doing
so still Nature is full of these picture
lessons. The nineteenth Psalm (''the
heavens declare the glory of God') makes
mention Of this fact. Springtime, sum-
mer, and winter are, as it were, different
chapter headings in the serial books of
Gods praise. 1t is well to call attention
to this, and to let the recurring season
but re-echo the word of gospel truth.
4.
nature is given the longevity of the lesson
is insured. Wherever the object reap
pears, the pictured truth comes back
with it. Here let Christ, the great
teacher of teachers, instruct us. Use
parallels and illustrations.
Pre-empt the ground for God. Some
one was inquiring, infidel-wise, for free
thought and mind unprejudced for
good. He was taken to the garden and
saw two patches; one of Strawberries, the
other of weeds. The strawberries were
the fruits of ''prejudiced," the weeds of
unprecedented soil. Some one, on being
asked remedy for temptation, responded
Keep yourself so full of Christ that sin
can find no crevice in which to breed mis-
chief"
We are sowing seed oftener and more
than we think. At the close of a series Of
meetings two ministers who had been
la boring together for souls, parted from
each other, one accompanying the other a
short distance upon the way. Just before
they said good-by, they knelt in little
grove and prayed. They did not know
that any one saw them. But man In
the field had observed il all. 1t set him to
thinking. The seed terminated. He saw
what a sinner he was, and he came to the
church to make public confession of
Christ.
Sow in the morn thy seed,
At eve hold not thine hand;
To doubt and fear give thou no heed,
Broadcast il DER the land.
Thou canst not toll in vain;
Cold, heat, and moist and dry,
Shall foster andma ture the grain
For gamers in the sky"
Next Lesson-"TheT Twelve Sent Forth"
Matt 10: Ole.
This and That.
IN 1890 New York City had $50, 33)
boys and girls OF school age.
THE tavaa of tho naonla IF fhfa coun-