The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-02-08
Lesson for Feb. 10.

Golden TeXt-"lt IL not the VIII or your
Father which is in heaven, that one az
these little ones should perish MATT.
IS: n.
Christ and the childre- is the subject
this week. Matt. lS.1-14. In this lesson
there stands a,gittle child in the midst.
II is n Wholesome object lesson for the
Christian worker. Let the impression
tLat il made by the servant of the Lord
be always that of q little child In the
midst After all we are very much in
huenced by the atmosphere or temper.
After the words have passed, after the
thought and its utterances are gone, the
spirit OF the word and its declaration
Ia left behind. The impression made, ST.
lent and mysterious. is the effective re-
sultant of it all. We were speaking TO
sagacious business man the other day
about notable pulpit orator. yes, elo-
quent." he said, "but somehow he makes
me feel wary and cautious, as though
dared not trust him. n strange pervading
sense of nsincerity." Just or unjust.
that impression discounted all the good
things said. BE careful about the spiri-
tual atmosphere; that is, about the heart.
"Who is the greatest?' 1t is not the
language Of Canaan. The disciple has
not yet learned the vocabulary or the
thought of the kingdom. "Whosoever
shall humble-the same Is greatest"
Lowest-highest. The word humble liz
orally means to bend low. 1t does not
mean lack of spirit, or absence of force
and fire. Strength itself Is God-like. 1t
means the surrender of our strength TO
a higher power. and the merging of our
strength, or rather, the finding of our
strength in his. To give all to God is to
love ali of God. whatsoever shall re-
ceive one such little child in my name
receiveth me-" And are they so near to
him as that? Rather are we so near?
Evidently Christ cares for the little ones,
the little, helpless, unthinking ones. Why.
TO care, in his name, for them is to care
for him! Without doubt (see Mark 8: 36)
this was but babe, an innocent, trusting
babe. They are all Christ's, through the
shedding of his precious blood, and to
be good to them for his sake is to be good
to him. Some one said, whenever you
lay your hand on child's head you are
laying ii on its mothers heart" And on
Christs, too.
And now he turns TO speak Of one Of
these little ones, growing up into child
like trust in him. To "offend" such or
cause such TO stumble and fall away from
their simple child-like confidence is the
worst of sins. Indeed, there is nothing
sadder than 70 see the artless trust Of
childhood yielding 70 the guile and deceit
of earth and its false counsel. Whatever
comes between us and the simple faith
of childhood, be 1t hand or foot or. s-,,
might well be plucked away, rather than
that we should lose the sweetness of such
early love and confidence.
And, yet, remember, II Is the lost that
are saved, these only. And so, speaking
of the little ones, Christ says at once,
THE Son of Man is come to save that
which was lost" 1t is not child sweet
ness that saves, nor adult earnestness.
1t is the blood of Christ. For that he
came into the world; for that he is still
abroad in the world: like a good shepherd,
seeking to save, not willing that any
should perish. Give all to him. give your
self. :
Hints and Illustrations.
Do what Jesus does in this Scripture,
set a little child in the midst. Study that
temperament and disposition which is
most conducive TO religious impression,
gentleness, humbleness, sincerity, simple
ness. these are the strongest attributes
for well-doing. OF God himself it is said.
THY gentleness hath made me great"
To be strong and yet gentle, to be great
and good these are the qualities of the
highest helpfulness. Be true TO the CEN
trail thought and motive Of the kingdom
simple kindness and well-doing. The
Sunday school teacher requires this spirit
A little child in their midst means much
Of patient meekness when things go
wrong. and il is the little child in their
midst, apparent TO pupils and all, in the
teachers demcanor, that wins ut last,
when all other things fail 1t Is certainly
the spirit for the scholar. To be disciple
or learner one must first become as n
little child. 1t is the student spirit, pre-
eminently SO. And somehow this docilc,
| child-like disposition accomplishes re-
suits beyond all expectation.
1t is as child that one enters the door
way of the kingdom. Except We be
converted and become as little children. -
They asked the little one what made him
think that the great God would care for
such a little thing as she. "He says he
will, and that's enough" was the reply.
Take him at his word, trust him for his
grace Here Is the way into the gates.
BE gentle, it is better far
To rule by love than fear"
Next lesson-"The Good Samaritan
/ nr