Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-06-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY or CALM
REFLECTION.
A Pleasant, Interesting, and Instructivs
Lesson. and Where It May he Found
A Learned and Concise Review Of the
Same.


Lesson for July 1.
The subject for this lesson, The
Birth OF Jesus" starts US In six
months course in the life of the Sa-
vior. 1t Is pleasant to come back to
the direct study OF the Christ. Old
and young together, 1t seems to us,
feel renewed interest as we open cnce
more to the Gospels. The searching
examination VIII lch has bsen given to.
the discipline and training OF Moses
has fitted us to appreciate that Prophet
coming afle. him OF whom he 30 rev..
erently spake. The perusal of the ca
reer OF Joseph has prepared US to pom
der with added earnestness and dis
elimination the events which marked
the earthly career of our own Elder
Brother. All the Gospels will be
drawn upon in this study. and we shall
reach by the end Of the year the send
ing forth of the Twelve.
day In the city of David a Savior, which
is Christ the Lord: ".-Luke 2: IL
Luke e; 1-18.
And It came to pass In those days. that
there went out decree from Cesar Au-
gustus. that all the world should be taxed.
And this taxing was first made when
Cyrenius was governor OF 6yria.)
g. And all went to be taxed, every one
into his own city.
And Joseph also went ND from Galilee.
out of the city OF Nazareth. into Judea.
unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house
and lineage OF David0
s. To be taxed with Mary his espoused
wife, being great with child
And 20 1t was. that while they wero
there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered
Z. And she brought forth her first born
son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in a manger; because there
was no room for them In the inn.
And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding In the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night.
And. 10, the angel Of the Lord came
upon them. and the glory OF the Lord shone
round about them; and they were sore
afraid.
TO- And tho angel said unto them. Fear
not; for, behold. bring you good tfdings
Of great joy, which shall be to all people
Il For unto you is born this day In the
city OF David a Savior, which Is Christ
the Lord.
IL And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye
shall lind tho babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes lying In manger
Ia And suddenly there was with the
angel u multitude OF the heavenly host
praising God, and saying.
IA Glory to God In the highest and on
earth peace, goodwill toward men
Is And 1t came to pass, as the angels
we're gone away from them into heaven.
the shepherds said Cne to another: Let
us now 80 even unto Bethlehem. and see
this thing which is come to pass, which the
Lord hath made known unto Us
1G. And they came with haste, and found
Mary. and Joseph. and the babe lying In
manger
Make this lesson personal. The
Golden Text has a very personal and
pointed beginning: unto you" Apply
it. Do you realize the directness Of the
appeal, Unto you is born this day, in
the city of David, Savior, which is
Christ the Lord?" Unto youths day
Savior. God grant that many may
realize it. Il bring you good tidings
of great Joy, said the angel; for unto
you is born" 1t was not for them, it
was for men. Angels have no part as
we have in the great salvation. They re.
joice in their measures, but it Is simply
the Joy Of the bringer OF tidings OF
salvation. We, who are ourselves the
saved ones, should rejoice with JOY
unspeakable and full Of glory. And
we respond to the angel message? AS
the shepherds did -with swift feet
seeking the Christ out for themselves.
The Joy of motion, joined with emo
ton. They showed their JOY by going
to find their Christ. This is "glory to
God in the highest" This is peace
and goodwill" on earth. Christ's life
on earth began with praise. So let
every Christian life begin. And so let
us turn again to all earthly tasks az
the shepherds returned clarifying
and praising God for all the things
that they had heard and seen.' Have
you heard and seen?
Fear not"-that was the first word
the an gels said. Let perfect love cast
out fear. Here at the manger of this
struck. and here all hearts ought to
be jubilant with praise. Bring happy
hearts to the rerusal of these sacred
sentences to-day. Put fear away with
the sin that occasions 1t. Christ has
come; the Savior from sin and fear.
How the very announcement Of the
Christ makes new men OF the
humble shepherds. They are more
than shepherds now: they are like the
angels themselves, they have become
messengers of the Christ. And so the
heavenly visitants passed their COM
missions over to men. Ours now to
transmit the glad messages and the
power and the glory. Out along one
Of the great thoroughfares the writer
reads on the side OF one of the large
vi HudChih-
cry for the transmission of power" Is
rot that what the Sunday school is for?
Give Christ place in your heart. Do
not stand proudly apart from him, but
lowly bow and honor him, as did the
shepherds ana the wise men.
And what has this lesson done for
you? Here is the message; what are
you going to do with it? Do as the
shepherds did; catch the gladness OF
the angels voices, catch the swiftness
of the angels feet. Haste to the manger
OF Jesus. Father" said the dying
child to the parent anxiously bend.
ing over him, "what shall l tell
Jesus is the reason you don't love
hlm?" That arrow went home Why
do not all love him Of whom angels
sing: "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace. goodwill to mem"
IN n