Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-11-08

Lesson for November II.
GOLDEN THxr-aI have chosen you. and
ordained you. that you should 20 and
bring forth fruitn-John 10; 10.
"The Twelve Chosen" Is the subject
OF this lesson, which is found in Mark
3: Clio. The scene Is in the mountains,
the Sermon on the Mount, as 1t is
called, which will be taken up on the
next Lords day, being really pro-
nounced from the foot OF the mountain
Immediately after. And yet both or
dination and sermon were given as 1t
were with the mountain for a pulpit.
What q place OF purchase and OF power!
Out from the pr0montOry of the hills
Christ looked on the wide field OF souls,
and, like skillful general, dispatched
his captains and leaders for uni, ersal
conquest, Out from the reservoir of
the hills flowed streams of refreshing
water for all the thirsty plains. Back
to this hill OF the Lord we may trace
all lines of mercy and of truth, Ih lists
mountain of outlook and inlCok.
"And the Pharisees went forth.
What for? To take counsel how they
might destroy him. So went Judas OF
old. And 1t was right from the pres
ence OF infinite love and tenderness. 1t
was Just after his feet were wiped with
the towel about Christ's loins that
Judas went out to betray him. 1t was
Just after Christ's merciful healing of
the poor man with the withered hand
that the Pharisees here went out to
seek to destroy the Lord Jesus. Such
is the hardness, the brutality OF the
human heat. The dice-rattling Ro-
mans at the foot of the cross did no
worse.
Jesus withdrew himself with his
disciples to the sea-" Thank God, 1t
was no further Good occasion he had
to withdraw himself to the skies, from
whence he came, proclaiming man un-
worthy of such sacrifice and love as he
was rendering in a lost worlds behalf.
Scorned and scoffed at and spit upon,
why did he not turn his back upon un-
grateful man? 1t was love. "Herein
Is love, not that we loved God, but that
God loved us, kept on loving us,
spite of all. Christ Withdrawals were
all for mercy's sake. He retired to
that mountain by the sea for two main
purposes: GU To fit his soul the better
to meet such ills and to get ready, by
divine communion. to return to sinful
man again; (2 to instruct his disci-
Piles so that after cruel men had done
their worst with him and hung him on
the tres, there should still be those on
earth who should spread the good
news Of his salvation and carry on his
great WORK for lost souls.
"a great multitude" went out after
him. TIE people were ever with the
Christ, seeking t. see and hear him,
though tickle and change full enough
TO shout &c ucify him." at the last.
The multitude still waits to hear about
Christ. Let them but be pc suaded
that it is Oh list ana not man that is
being held up, AMI they will throng
our temples, we verify be ieve to-day.
There IS that about the Nazarene that
attracts universal attention. And If
| be lifted up will draw all men unto
pit. Christ himself "goeth up into a
mountain. Let US follow him there.
Let us heed the call he sends out. In
a sense and in measure he calls
all who belie,e on him to come
to him to-diy foc his ordinat on
to the work. The disciple who sits
at the Master feet is to be an apostle
tocarry the message to others. Thus
shall the kingdom come. He ordained
the twelve" They were kind of a
model twelve or first fruits. A special
work belonged to them, a, v. 10 indi
Gates.
Hints and Illustrations.
See how Christ's assertion of his d.
vine authority and power drives all
men to declaration and sends them
here and there openly in their lines OF
moral tendency. Christ declares him
self, as recorded in the last lesson, to
be Lord Of the Sabbath, and he heals
the man with the withered haad, and
now, straightway, as If an explosion
had taken place, see the swift lines of
departure, each man going, as it were,
to his own place.. The "Pharisees
went forth" to seek to destroy him, the
disciples went forth to cling the closer
70 him; Jesus himself went forth into
a mountain to pray, and the great null
titude has gone forth to follow after
him and see his works and hear his
words. Christ brings all hearts to the
test
Let there be kind of ordination day
with us all. Come up into the noun
tain with Jesus, and there be given
current and commits sion. From this
retired elevation receive spiritual
power and direction; be launched upon
the waters of life with strong mott o
dnu u WOTu. lou SnuIbb
lay his hand on you and send you forth
to-day. Conservation is twofold, mans
dedication and Gods dedication. Self
devotion amounts to much or little,
according as we are conscious of the
divine call and ordination behind 1t all.
Come to the mount for spiritual en-
duement. Charles Finney used to say
that there was Just as much obligation
to obey the command, BE filed with
the Spirit" as to respond to the word,
Repent and be baptized" Spiritual
power is the great need of the church
in every age. Enduement OF the
SPIRIT should be sought to day with all
diligence. It is we'll to hold occasional
conference on the Holy Spirit, but it Is
better to have simple prayer-meetings
where direct petition is made for the
power from God over and above oil hui
man requirements.
Next Lesson-"The Sermon on the
Mount Luke g.: z0-31.