Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-09-12
Lesson for September Is.

ACowOh hOT september AOs
Golden Text-Who have fed for refuge
to lay hold on the hope set before u.s.
Heb. 6: 1S.
The Cities of Refuge is the subject this
week of the lesson found in Joshua
20: 10.
There Is an opportuneness in this les
son that ought to be apparent to all. lis,
In effect, an old time protest against lynch
law. Just now when there is such out
lawry and at times cruelty in this regard,
II is well to direct the public mind against
the evil. The instant and summary adj
ministration of punishment is always
fraught with peril. 1t is hazardous for
the administrator as well as for the cul-
prit. Trial by jury has been such city
of refuge in later centuries. In family
government also the policy of moderation
and of stopping to think has made goodly
cities of refuge in the domestic sphere.
"rhe Lord also spake." God had a
word further in mercy's behalf. You
would have supposed he was through
when with the close of the last chapter
10: 81 he made an end Of dividing the
country" But love has another plea yet.
1t is ever so with God. His last word is
of grace.
'Speak to the children of Israel" The
human part. Gods laws are perfect, but
they must come through human instru-
ments, and they are delivered to human
agents. These pure and good command
ments have stood, written on tables of
stone, through long years waiting to be
accepted and adopted. Their cry is still,
"Speak to the children of Israel" Blind
children are we, not to see how good for
us is Gods law. So stands the preacher
and teacher to-day holding forth this
word of life to the people. endeavoring
to speak this law persuasively to the chill
dren of Israel. This the part of the pull
rit and the desk. And what the part of
the pew? appoint out for you,' says the
word, ''cities of refuge" Each has a
share. Each must select, adjust and ap-
point. Our choicest gifts come by ave
nues prepared and thrown open. Our
refuge cities have in them an element OF
human appointment. We must know our
ground and appoint our cities. God tells
the way, it is for us to adjust.
'By the hand of Moses" Moses had a
hand in it, too. Indeed what good legis-
lation has not in it reminder of Moses,
the divine law-giver? Wherever justice
or righteousness prevails, there find a
"reminiscences of something spoken by
Gods inspired jurist of Mt. Sinai. That
was the supreme bench, or the nearest
we have ever come TO il. "Unawares and
unwittingly." 1t was for justice: it was
not in unreasoning leniency. The laws
of God are swift and stern against wilful
murder; and at the last it will be found
that. in some way, fullest justice has been
rendered and the integrity of the law pre-
served. But the laws Of God also demand
consideration and. when justice needs to
be tempered with mercy. opportunity IL
given. Heavens laws were intended TO
curb and check the shedding of blood.
and, rightly observed, they would put an
end TO all murderousness, and they would
not hurt nor destroy in all Gods holy
mountain.
''He shall stand before the congrega-
ton" For guilty man the city of refuge
was the worst place he could seek. He
was fleeing straight to the bar for trial
first the elders, then the congregation.
That tribunal was ready To sit dispassion-
ately upon his case and mete out Justice
to him according to his deeds. This does
not make "fault" in the analogy Of
faith. 1t rather honors and crowns the
symbolism. For the first image is of him
who comes to Christ as one of Chrst's
own, Christian who has slipped and
fallen in sin almost unawares and cer-
tainly without evil intent OF this class
John is speaking in his first epistle: IF
any man sin. we have an advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ. the righteous" /"
~ illustrations.
This lesson is intensely practical, and
also intensely spiritual. Indeed all prac
ticalties have distinct spiritual phase,
and what is so practical as the spirituai
The cities of refuge should provoke us al
once to a broader humanity and deeper,
higher divinity. No teacher should let
this lesson pass without pressing home the
question, Are you safe from the avenger
of blood? Have you fed to your city of
refuge" Then add Peters declaration.
Neither is there salvation i'm any other
for there is none other name under heaven
given among men whereby we must be
saved"
Mistakes are made about these cities of
refuge. Baptism is not the city. 1t has
something TO do with the gateway. but il
Is not the city. Neither is the altar the
city of refuge. No, nor any experience
which may be felt at the altar or else
where. We have heard it much of late.
"Do this!' "Do thisv' .Do this"-and
you will get the blessing. Have you got
it!' Come to the altar and get ity' Get
what? we ask. What do / want with any
1t when i have him!
Next Lesson-'Joshua Renewing the
Covenant" Josh. "A: 1925.