The National tribune., 1894-06-28

study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.I
/. The INFANT JESUS AND SIMEON.
1. Data
The account is given by st. Luke alone.
| Verses 1928 He wrote at Rome A. D. 81.
| The traditional reports of that Temple scene
in which Simeon so figured must have ex-
listed, yet, after a space of 60 years, they
| could not be very authoritative. The writer
was aided by the Holy Spirit and preserved
| only the truth. We rejoice yet again that
| st. Luke gave us his Gospel, else we never
would have had any reliable information as
| to that interesting event about which we
| now study.
g Time.
If we hold to the 25th of December as the
| date Of the birth of Jesus, we find ourselves
in February, the second day, or 40 days from
| the Nativity night. The son of Zacharias
and Elizabeth was about seven months old.
Thirty-three days has passed since the cir
| cumcision of Jesus.
g. Place
While circumcision can be performed at
the home of an infant, and hence anywhere
in the world, sacrifices could be offered only
| in the Temple. Hence we find ourselves at
Jerusalem, in the Temple. The Great Altar
was between the Gate Nicanor and the en-
| trance to the Holy Place. In offering sacri-
| fees devotees stood near the said gate. We
| therefore fix that as the scene of this lesson.
We notice Christ's first trip was to Jeru-
salem and that to the Temple, and that for
| the performance Of an ordained religious
| rite. He visited Jerusalem many times
thereafter. The party probably went afoot.
A. Simeon.
Much study has been given toward settling
| the identity of Simeon. All reliable data at
hand are the facts mentioned in this lesson.
| 1t was natural that diligent inquiry be made
as to one who dscerned in the Infant Jesus
| the promised Messiah. The Apacryphal
| Gospel of Nicodemus, written in an early
| Christian century, gives few items which
we mention. 1t states be was son of Hillel
| and father of Gamaliel Hillel was the Presi
dent of the Sanhedrim, and was followed by
his son Simeon of our lesson. Gamaliel, the
son Of Simeon, became the teacher Of the
| young Saul (afierward st. PAUL.. 1t is said
he was one of those mentioned in st. Matt,
| 81: 3d. 53 He was the first to be called
Rabban, and had but six successors. Said
Gospel mentions-him as the High Priest.
The lesson lets US into some facts. Simeon
means hearer, and hence one who obeys.
Simeon resided in Jerusalem. More than
else we are interested in his religious char
acter. He was just and devout. He ex-
| emplified the holiness and righteousness"
of LIS. Compare ! Tn, 2: 10.) By a
"iust man we mean one who is fair in all
his relations with mankind; by "deyout"
man, one who is true to God. A devout man
is strict in obedience to the first four COM
mandments of the decalog; q just man is
careful not to violate any one OF the last six
commandments. just man may lack de-
vOutDess. At times we meet deyout man
who yet is in bad repute among merchants.
Cornelius was like Simeon in that he ex-
hibited fully rounded character. He was
an example of both branches of the Christian
life--the external Or objective, the internal
| or subective-the fulfillment of duties to
God and TO man. (Acts 10: 22.) With all
the rest of the Jews be expected the Messiah.
In his case, however, there had been special
revelation to the effect he would not die till
the Advent had actually taken place. We
do not know how long he had waited from
the time of the revelation. We can suppose
a goodly interval. We find the promise he
was TO live till Christ came was made to him
by the Holy Spirit. The exact method we
do not understand. There is evidence of
| patient waiting. The same voice who told
him Christ was to come before his decease
moved him to 60 to the Temple at the very
time the parents brought in the Child Jesus.
Some think he was the priest who oficiated,
and that it was while he held the Infant in
| his arms in the Presentation service that he
| became aware the Child was the Messiah.
Then followed the Nunc Dimitis and the
prophecy.
5. Suggestions.
/. Be both Just and devout Either quality
l 1g L. Lzks
devout a man commends himself not only
to men, but to God. God will love such
one on account of his devoutness-men will
approve such one on account OF his integrity
in all human relations. A Christian pro-
fession that runs 10 piety at the expense of
honesty, or to integrity to men at the cost of
holiness to God, is not the kind Christ taught,
nor the sort the world needs.
A union of both justness and holiness
gives us an eminently practical view of
Christianity. Here is a test which the sim
plest can apply to themselves and to others.
We should be devout, in order that we may
be just; we should be just because we are
devout. We want the Law as well as the
Gospel. The Antinomians cleared their fol-
lowers of all obligations to the Law. We
must be careful lest we become contaminated
with this error.
Inc Iotn GSalm gives tne true luea. IL
begins with the question, a." Who shall abide
in Thy Tabernacle?" What is the answer?
How would one be inclined to reply to the
question now? The answer would probably
besomething like this: He who is a Christian;
who feels his sins are forgiven; who has the
witness of the Spirit of acceptance with God;
who is regenerated and sanctified; who has
had change of heart, or, in other words, one
who has experienced religion; who is a
Church communicate. These answers are
correct, but they lean quite to the subjective
side of the Christian life. This is not the
way in which the psalmist replies Hear
| his answer to the question, Lord, who shall
abide in Thy Tabernacle? 2" HE that
walketh uprightly, and worketh righteous
ness, and speaketh the truth in his heart;
he that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor
doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a
reproach against his neighbor, in whose eyes
a vile person is condemned; but he honoreth
them that fear the Lord; he that swear
eth to his own hurt, and changeth not; he
that putteth not out his money to usury,
nor taketh reward against the innocent; he
that doeth these things shall never be
| moved" to#sEf
2. Cultivate patience-ability to wait.
| Impetuosity is as destructive as negligence.
3. Seek the influence of the Holy Spirit.
A. Make sure to seek Christ before = ou die.