Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-04-16

Found-A Learned and Concise Re-
view Of the Same.
Lesson for April 10.
Golden Text.-There is joy in the pres
ence of the angels of God over one sinner
that repenteth.-Luke 10: 10.
The Lost Found Is the subject of this
lesson. Luke 10: 11-24.
Teachers will find this a lesson that
readily lends itself to pictorial or optical
representation. The story of the prodigai
SON Is, in itself, so vivid and strong that II
by to the writer is a church of the deaf
and dumb 1t stirs him, whenever he
steps in, to see the lesson expounded, as
1t is, from Sunday to Sunday, by sign
language. The chapter before us can be
sketched after this fashion, we have tried
1t ourselves, much to the apparent enter
tainment and profit Of certain inner
circle of the little ones. Thus: Count on
your fingers and then On the ground.
Shake the head, as if something were
lacking, and then move heavily, strenu-
ously off, as if to find it; come back pres
emily with hands to the shoulder, deposit
burden and lift arms as in rejoicing. The
children will all cry at once, 'The sheep
which was lostv Bend over as with
lighted candle in one hand, brush in the
other, and looking, sweeping about care
fully, at last pick up something imaginary,
and they will all tell you it is ''The Lost
Coin" And now just stroke or two
may represent the story Of the Prodigal
Son with new impressiveness for young
and old. Strike down with the hand as IL
cleaving into parts. Shoulder one part,
as 1t were, GENEROUSLY, and go off with It
Throw money about, in appearance, Law
ishly, making signs indicative of merri-
ment. Then, with sad gesture, begin to
be in want, to hunger for things beneath.
All at once thought, hope, a far-away
look; then a long trudge, toward the
place; slow, doubtful steps, head cast
down. Suddenly signs of welcome, arms
out-thrown, ring on finger, robe, feast, re-
joicing, hands aloft. "For this my son
was dead, and is alive again; he was lost,
and is found. And they began to be
merry"
Lesson Hints.
"a certain man." Thank God for the
instance. Our Saviour's illustrations are
all rich sermons. We may well learn at
the feet of such Master. Everything
with him pointed to the kingdom. He was
the true type of the preacher for the
people.
'Give," said the young man. The over
ture was on his part; so also the departure
to the far country. Men are inclined to
lay at the door of Providence the hapless
lost condition in which man finds himself.
We do not begin far enough back. A will
full, selfish spirit speaks the first word and
precipitates the situation as we find 1t.
"Wasted his substance" Literally.
scattered his substance, living recklessly.
The word for wasted" is the same as
that translated strewed as of grain, at
Matt. %: "a. The expression sowing
ones wild oats" is parallel, IL not equiva-
lent.
And yet the living was not necessarily
riotousness. 1t was simply carelessness,
heedlessness. The etymology Of the word
is not saving In the New Testament
the term comes, however, to be prevailing
ly applied to dissoluteness or wantonness,
it being the same root that we find at Eph.
g: Is. wherein is excess"
"He began to be in want" More accu-
rately, to be behind, rs of one short in his
accounts. No wonder, for ''he had spent
(squandered) all" 1t were well for US
to understand it at the outset. Whatever
may have been mans original condition
he found himself to-day behind in his ac-
counts, a moral bankrupt. And yet 1--WE
must all appear before the judgment seat"
and "give our account" q Cor. B: 10.
Rom. IA: 12)
What shall we do? Generally we do as
did this young man. Seek to get help
where we got our hurt from the world.
"He went and joined himself to citizen
of that country" i. e., he attached him
self, fostered himself. Greek glued) to
the man. He put himself in such rela-
tions that his only escape was by forci-
bic rending Of bands. So the world holds
us under sin. Do not expect to make
terms with such a master. Break with
him. Conversion is in one respect a re-
bellion. We virtually declare war against
Satan. How can there be anything else
than enmity? 3 p afYTfesf =
But another thing we can do. That is,
il we came to our right mind, our reason
able, God instructed self, we can go back
home. And there are two things to turn
our faces thus ward; the sight of the
husks that we loathe even in the midst Of
our carnal desire, and the thought Of the
home with good bread and to spare that
keeps calling to us across the hills. Friend
the famine is still on in that land. And
mt home, well, supper is ready. You had
better return.
And now the home coming. He comes
back abjectly, expecting reproof, long
confession on his lips. Observe, he is
never permitted to make the whole con-
fession. Before he reaches the door the
father is out on the way to meet him and
breaking his penitent speech right in the
midst, for he has caught the spirit of 1t,
he throws his arms about his son, kisses
him and calls for ring and robe and fatted
calf. Thus does the Heavenly Father re-
ceive the penitent. We never tell II all,
we could not If we would. Neither can
we tell the joys of the Fathers house
They are to be experienced to be known.
II only can entreat you
To come and taste and see."
Next Lesson-"The Rich Man and
Lazarus. Luke 16: 1884.
The Irish in American Life.