The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-09-27

| 2. Let 1t become your custom to attend
religious services.
3. The minister may learn many lesson.
a. Be sure you are called 20 the ministry,
| called of God.
| b. Seek the influence of the Holy Spirit
in preparation and prosecution of your
| work.
| C. Be anointed or duly ordained.
| d. Preach to the poor. Care for the poor.
| e. Comfort the sorrowing.
| T. Enlighten the darkened.
| g. Preach the Gospel-not human specu-
lations.
| h. Preach often expositorily. Christ ex-
planned the paragraph read.
| /. Visit prisons
a. Value the Bible Read Il. Read ID
Systematically. Be able to quote and to
make personal application of its teachings.
| g. Apply religious principles to the man
agement of the criminal classes. See Is,
| 81: /: Opening of the prison to them that
are bound" Though this has a religious
| Specification we may and ought to consider
| it literally. a. Do not punish criminals too
severely. b. Treat the erring in pity in
stead of wrath. C. Train prisoners to good
ness, and release them when not delrmen-
| tai to the public interest. d. While prisons
are not to be luxuriaDt, as though imprison-
ment were reward, yet they should be
clean, comfortable, and provided with suf1i-
cient plain food. e. Do not imprison I'M
justly. Let out the innocent. f. Take
measures to aid the released to work and
responsibility.
II. THE EXPLANATION.
Data.
st. Luke, 4: 81 80, gives the account and
the only Biblical report.
Time and Place.
Time, January, A. D. 81. Place, synagog
at Nazareth.
Christ's Comments on Is., 1: 1,2.
By his manner Jesus secured attention
and stirred up expectation. What next?
There was pause. Then Christ, sitting,
proceeded to explain the paragraph which
he had read. We miss his words. Only
one sentence has come down to us:
This day is this Scripture fulfilled in
your ears" He probably entered into
q more elaborate exegesis, exhibiting
learning eloquence and earnestness HIS
hearers wondered at such wise words, for
getting for the moment his humble origin.
But when they recalled the fact of his
parentage and finances, they saw in Christ's
attitude only presumption, and their adj
miration turned to contempt.
Christ's Self-defense and Escape.
Jesus, comparing himself to the Prophet
Isaiah, practically called his hearers poor,
brokenhearted, captives blind, slaves. They
in return practically asked: "Who are you ?
If some great one, let us see what you can
do. We have heard of your miracles else
where; give US a specimen" But miracles
are for spiritual benefit, and not for the
qualification of mere within or curiosity.
Elijah and Elisha were particular in per-
forming miracles to know whether they
would be profitable. Seemingly, Jesus mag
nifed Gentiles. Hebrew pride could not
brook such Partially. The Jews ragged.
They became a mob They illustrated
lynch law. They were bent on murder,
for to Stay without legal authority is vio-
lation of the sixth commandment They
showed themselves utterly unworthy of
any divine favors. DIR. Hackett says: The
present Nazareth lies along the hillside,
but much nearer thu base than the summit.
A precipice-almost perpendicular, 40 or 30
feet highs found still Just above the mod
ern village, over which it is hardly possible
that a person should fall without being
killed instantly"
He escaped. He knew every byway. His
manner was awning. His time had not yet
come
Suggestion.
Be careful how you treat Christ. Respect
his messages and his messengers. You can
not harm him. He will not do great things
for those who do not appreciate. He went
his way. He left the Nazarines unblessed.
Despised. rejected, at length he may leave thee;
What anguish and horror thy bosom will rend!
Then haste thee, sinner, while lie will receive
thee;
"The harvest is passing. the Summer will end"