Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-10-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ~. FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES. OCT. 20.

Text OF the lesson. Mark II. f-fs-Msm-
DRY Verses. Ola Golden Text, Mark
Ii. documentary BY the Rev. D. NJ.
stcarns-
/. And again He entered into Caper-
naum after some days, and il was noised
that He vas in the house !" Tho leper who
had been headed blazed the fact abroad so
much that Jesus could no more dwell in
the city, but had to find resting place
without tehaptsr i, 45) but wherever He
went the crowds fiocked to Him. Does
not that lepcr and the lepers Of II Kings
vii, ., put us to shame for suFuly we have
good tidings, and yet how many hold their
peaces When Jesus came into Capernaum,
it soon became known. In chapter vii,
"a, it says, He could not be hid :" How
is it that many who bear the name Of
Christian can SO hide Him that no one
would know from their conduct or CONVEX
sation that Christ is in thcms
. And straightway many were gath
cred together. insomuch that there was no
room to receive thcm--no, not so much as
about the door-ana He preached the word
unto them" Ono would think from tho
many devices resortesl 90 nowadays to draw
the people TO church that there was no
longer power in Jesus nor in His gospel.
Were il not for Heb. xiii, S, one might
think He had greatly changed. But know
ing that with Him is no yariableness, moi
Their shadow OF turning, we are compelled
~ conclude that many preachers do not
preach the word; hence the need of such
exhertasions rs Jonah ILL., 2, ii Tim. Nv,
2, Preach the preaching l bid thee, =
:. Preach the word
3. And they come unto Him bringing
one sick Of the palsy, which was borne Of
four" When those who know Jesus thus
earnestly labor to bring their friends to
Him, 1t is good evidence OF their faith in
Him, but what shall we say or think of
those who profess to know Him, yet never
put forth an effort or say word to bring
another soul to Him. Can it be that they
have n name to live, but are dead or luke
warm and ready to be spcwed cut Of His
mouth tRev. iii, !, 16).
4. And when they could not como nigh
unto Him for the press they uncovered
the roof where He was and when thcy
had broken it up they let down the bed
wherein the sick OF tho palsy lay In
Luke V, 10, it says, Into the midst before
Jesus" Like tho poor woman whom no
physician could help they felt If they
could only get TO Him He would surely
do it for them. What blessed confidence
in Jesusi Such trust is never put to shame
We must ask without wavering Have
faith and doubt not (Jas. i, 6, Z; Mark xi.
go, az.
when Jesus saw their faith, He
said unto the sick Of the palsy, Son, thy
sins be forgiven thee" How such faith
does please Hint Hear Him concerning
the centurian, II have not found SO great
faith--no, not in Israel" And to the
woman of Tyre and Sidon: 20 woman,
great is thy faith. BE it unto thee even as
thou wilt tMath. viii, 10; XIV, 2S). See
how the great physician goes right TO the
root of the matter and attends 20 the soul
before the body \ sick body Is often,
but not always, the result Of sick soul
III John, 81
6. Bat there were certain of the scribes
sitting there and reasoning in their
hearts" This mode Of treating His words
or His doings will never bring light or
peace. All reasoHings must be east down
III Cor X, 81. 1t is only the entrance Of
His words that givcth light His word
must be received with mcekncss and re-
ceiycd as 1t is indeed. as the word Of God
FPS cxix, 1870; Jas. j, 81; l Thcss. ii, 49,
T. why doth this man thus speak bias.
phemiess Who can forgive sins but God
only" II they had not been so hardened
against Him, they might have said TO His
glory and to their souls good, This must
be God, for only God can forgive sins -
They might have thought Of lisa xiii, 25,
and said, This must be the Lord God Of
the holy prophets. even our Messiah"
s. And Immediately, when Jesus per
ceiyed in His Spirit that they so reasoned
within themselves, He snid unto them,
Why reason yo these things In your
hearts.i The fact that He could read their
thoughts and tell them what was passing
in their minds should have convinced them
that He was none other than tho one who
said long before - know the things that
come into yonr mind, every one Of them
(Ezek. XII, 81, even the great senrchcr Of
reins and hearts (I-Ghron. xviii, o. Jcr
xvii, 10Y.
9. Whether is it easier TO say to tho sick
of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or 10
say, Arise and take up thy bed and walk. +"
The last would seem to many to be the
greatest, for bodily iniirmity is TO many
more grievous thing than unforgiven sin
What numbers there are who would give
all they have for health of body who are
not at all concerned about tho forgiveness
of sinsl They are blind and dead to spir-
itual things and to the unseen and eter-
nal realities of heaven and hell.
10. But that yc may know that the
Son Of man hath power on earth to forgive
sins (Iic saith to the sick of tho palsy)."
Here is the truth to be proclaimed around
the world, 'ffhc Son Of man hath power
on earth to forgive sins He rccciyeth
sinners; He casts out none who come to
Him; He blots out all sin and will re-
member it no more. The blood of Jesus
Christ cleanseth from all sin (Luko XIV, 2;
John vi, 81; Isa. xiii, 25; John |, -.
Many in China have received the glad It'd
ings the first time they heard them, and.l
multitudcs in all countries are yainly
seeking rest Of soul concerning this be-
cause they know not Of Him. Where Is
the faith and seal Of these four friendsi
IL II say unto thee, Arise and take
up thy bed and go thy way into thine
house" This IL the word that has all
power in it, the word that at creation spake
and it was DONE commanded and it stood
fast (Ps. xxxiii, %, the word that said.
LET there be light, and there was light.
1t Is the thus saith the Lord Of the
Old Testament. The same voice is say
ing to many today, Awake. thou that
slecpest, and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall give thee light, (Eph. v, ~,
and will ere long say to Israel, Arise,
shine, for thy light is come, and the glory
Of the Lord Is risen upon thee" lisa. TX, -
IL. And Immediately he arose, took up
the bed and went forth before them all.
insomuch that they were all amazed and
glorified God, saying, We never saw it
on this fashion, A clean soul and
whole body-how suggestive Of tho rcsur-
rection morning, when, having been pre-
served blamelcss, we shall be presented
faultess. We shall be like Him, even
our bodies like His glorious body q Thess.
V, %; Jude ~; John iii, p Phil. i'll,
2D. More confidence in Him and mere
yieldedness TO Him would bring moro Of
His power even in these mortal bodies, to
His great glory and our great joy
WI. DOUGLAS