Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-07-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUSPECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.

A Scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson
r Thoughts worthy Of Calm Renscsion--
HALF m Hours Study Of the scripturss-
Time Wen Spent.
Lesson for July Q.
This lesson IL found In Luke. 2: 1888.
The babe Christ again. Last week 1t
was the Christ Of the manger, this
week the infant Jesus In the temple.
1t Is q beautiful scene, suggestive of
much that Is blessed and holy. The
devotion OF children to the Lord-who
should object to IT. The recognition
of domestic life In the church--why
to the Lord with prayer and praise, be
it in Public or in the closet, is there
anything against it?
~. And benolu, there was q man In Js-
rusalem whose name Was Simeon; and the
same man was just and devout waiting
for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy
Ghost was upon him
ia And IL was revealed unto him by the
Holy Ghost that he should not soc death
before he had seen the Lords Christ
~. And he came by the Spirit into the
temple; and whom the parents brought In
the child Jesus. to do for him after the
custom of the law.
blessed God, and said.
70 Lord. now lettest thou they servant t.
depart In peace. according to thy word:
80 For mine eyes have seen thy saliva
ton,
81. Which thou hast prepared before the
face of all people;
81 light to tighten the GeDtiles aud
the glory Of thy people Israel
3a And Joseph and his mother mar
vcled at those things which were spoken o;
him
"a Aud Simeon blessed them. and said
unto Mary his mother, Behold. this child IL
set for the fall and rising again Of many in
Israel: and for sign which shall be spok-
en- against;
sa YEA, a sword shall pierce through
thy own soul also). that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.
80 And there was one Anna. q prophet
ess. the daughter of Phanuel. OF the tribe
of Aser; she was of great axe. and had
lived with husband seven years from her
~. And she was widow OF about four
score and four years, which departed not
from the temple but served God with fast
ings and prayers night and day.
80 And she coming In that instant gave
thanks likewise unto the Lord. and spake
of him to all them that looked for redemp-
ton in Jerusalem
GOLDEN TEXT "a light TO lighten The
Gentiles, and the glory of thy peop.e
Israel luke 2: 32.
Points in the Lesson.
Behold a man"-his name simeon"
Simeon means heard. Fitting ap-
pellation for man of prayer. And in
this lesson his prayers best answer.
sin Jerusalem" But Jerusalem was q
large city. How should this man in
Jerusalem be brought to the temple,
and just at this time? Here is the
sufficient answer: He came by the
Spirit into the temple" The Holy
Spirit is great appointment maker.
Just and devout." The first word has
reference to the outward life, the second
to the inward disposition. The literal
first meaning of the word "devout" is
careful, literally, taking good hold, i.
e., looking on all sides. The world does
not do SO: it is very One-sided-the
earthward side. Simeon was waiting
for the consolation of Israel" Men
generally get what they diligently
wait for. The word consolation" Is in
the Greek the same as paraclete. He
was waiting for the gift of the Holy
Spirit, "and the Holy Ghost was upon
him." A sure pCrtion-there, in a
measure, already. How came he to find
the Christ so readily and detect him
amid all the temple throng? And why
should he have picked out a little babe
in it's mothers arms, and that mother SO
humble in circumstances that she must
needs bring two doves instead of dove
and a lamb? 1t was the revelation of
the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit is
the Christ-fnder. He shall glorify
me, for he shall receive of mine and
shall show it unto you" A beautiful
IL II L. 80 ss..eA
See here three things that the Spirit
was waiting for the consolation com
fort of Israel and the Holy Spirit was
upon him." ". 25.) ~ Teacher. ut
was revealed unto him by the Holy
Ghost Nv. 26.) (3) Guide. He came
by the Spirit into the temple, ETC., ".
"a. Comforter, Teacher, Guide-trust
the Spirit
Glance at Anna. Ought women to
speak in churches? Well, here was
one who began and right forcibly, a
long way back, even very close to our
Lord. Ought women to speak in our
churches? Let them like Anna see
our Lord and they cannot keep silence
The very stones would cry out, If these
held their peace. A word as to h
attendance. 1t is good thing to be
always at church, and prompt. What
If Anna had stayed away this day.
what if some little disability, and she
had moro than her share, had been al
lowed to come in and excuse attend
ance, or what If she had been late?-
she would have missed the Christ.
Hints and Illustrations.
A quick eye-an eye to see salvation,
God give it to us! What do you see
in this lesson? Does it speak again
salvation to you? How few there are
to catch these glimpses of eternal
blessedness. Put the two verses to-
gether to bring out their strong sug-
gestions: Mine eyes have seen thy
salvation, which thou hast prepared
before the face of all thy people, A
great throng moving about, only one
Simeon, and presently an Anna to dis
cover the Christ. What was the Sc
cret on their part OF this divine sensi-
tiveness? They were under the lead
Of the Holy Ghost, who always reveals
Christ. They we're "Just and devout."
"The pure in heart shall see God -
and Gods Son. They were looking for
Christ, waiting for the consolation OF
Israel" What have you come to Gods
house for?
Next lesson - visit OF the Wise
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