The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-12-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

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Specially Arranged from PsloubssS Nossa
GOLDEN TExr.-Behold. bring you good
tidings Of great joy.-Lulse 2: 10.
JESUS CAME AT THE BEST TIMn.-There
has been no other time in the history of the
world SO perfectly adapted for the beginning
Of the kingdom and the spreading Of thenewS
of salvation throughout the earth as that
in which Christ was horn. ~ It was after
the Jews had received all that they would
about Cod kingdom, but before the break
ing UP and scattering of the nation by the
fall Of their capital and the temple. (O
There were many lands. but nearly all the
world was subject to the one government
at Rome. so that the preachers Of the
Gospel could travel in safety, and lie pro-
tected in their work. Roman roads made
for their legions were a highway for the
gospel, and the Roman soldiers were q
guard for its preachers (O The world was
at peace, for almost the only time. SO that
the Gospel could have free course. az Tho
Greek language, the most perfect medium
of human speech, was spoken everywhere
with the native languages, SO that the
Gospel could be heard and read by all. (5)
There was q general disintegration of he
old religions which gave neither righteous.
ness nor hope in this world nor promise for
the world to come. But nothing could
Quench the thirst for something higher and
better.
The prophecies concerning the Christ hit
into this time. The prophecy in Daniel
pointed to this time. Jacobs prophecy
concerning Judah. that he should be a
nation till Shiloh came, could not be full
flied much later, for the Jews were utterly
dispersed A. D. 20. Then one of the
strongest assurances that Jesus is the true
Saviour from Heaven is the fact that he
comes as part af great Divine plan. He
was foretold, promised. typified from the
very beginning.
LESSON NOTES.
s. I'm the same country" in the
fields belonging to Bethlehem. "Keep-
ing watch:" doing their duty faithfully
to the sheep.
8. "And 10, the angel" not "the," but
ian" angel, 'of the Lord:" one sent
from Heaven, ''came upon them" The
word does not signify that the angel
stood above them. 1t indicates sud-
den, but actual appearance. "And the
glory of the Lord:" The radiant bright
ness which in all ages has been the best
symbol and manifestation of Gods
nature, expressing wisdom, love, power,
purity, mystery, eternity y,omnipresence.
And they were sore afraid" The uni
versal consciousness of sin and of un-
fitness for the eternal world makes
all mankind afraid of any unexpected
disclosure of the spiritual world or
revelation of the nearness of God.
10. "And the angel said +. :. Fear not: :"
The glad tidings of Saviour, bringing
light and love, a Father in Heaven, and
forgiveness of sins, can alone take away
all fear from the soul. II bring you
good tidings of great joys" The best
tidings the world ever heard (See v.
1+.) ITO all people:" To all ages, all
nations, all classes, all colors. The Cos
pei is the universal religion, as broad
as the human race.
II. "For unto you is born 80. a
Saviour" One who should save them
from their sins, their worst and most
dangerous enemies. Christi" "The
Anointed One" the Messiah, whom
they had long been hoping and praying
for.
12 And this shall be a sign unto
you:" That the words spoken were
true; and guiding sign, like the sign
of the wise men, showing how they
might know what child was the one re-
ferred to.
10. "And suddenly" as if revealed by
a flash of lightning. "a multitude of
the Heavenly host" an organized army.
Joining with the first angel to show the
interest all Heaven has in the coming of
the Saviour. "Praising God:" Even
the angels could find nothing more
worthy of praise than Gods love in the
salvation of men, His wisdom in plan
ming the way, and His power in accom-
plishing His purpose. The song con-
sists of two strains:
!. GLORY. TO GOD. I'm HEAVEN.
2. PEACE, GOOD WILL. TO MEN ON EARTH.
Is. LET us now go:" Atonce, without
delay. So should we ever seek the Sa-
viour. The shepherds had SO much
faith in the angels message that they
proceeded to investigate and see for
themselves.
16. "They came with haste:" Showing
their zeal and ardor, as well as faith
We can never find the Saviour too soon.
II. 'They made known abroad:"
Whoever has truly found the Saviour
burns to proclaim to all around what
Saviour they have found"
10. But Mary" in contrast with the
Others, kept all these things" in her
memory. They were treasures whose
value the following years revealed to
her. "Pondered them:" Kept revolv-
ing them, comparing them with the
promises of the Old Testament, and
what had been announced TO her. Con-
trast, however, the difference in the
reception by the shepherds and by
Mary-the one publishes, the other
meditates. Both are right; they illus
trate different but not inconsistent
phases of experience. Pondering and
publishing are both Christian duties.
20. '"The shepherds returned" To
their duty as shepherds, but with a
new life and blessing in all their daily
work. Feeding sheep could never
again be commonplace toll to them.
After our holiest communion with God,
our views from the Pisgahs of life, our
insight into the Word and Heaven on
the mounts of transfguration, we must
I L. L.