Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-04-10
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON II, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL ~.

xiv, documentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
Is. "And when one of them that sat ut
meat with Him heard these things he said
unto Him, Blessed is he that shall eat
bread in the kingdom of God" Jesus was
dining with one of the chief Pharisees on
the Sabbath day (verse y, and, although
He knew that they only invited Him in
order to watch Him with evil intent, yet
He accepted the invitation. He had no
fear of man. He lived only to glorify God
He never said anything in secret, but al
ways openly (John xviii 20). In this
house He healed a man who had the
dropsy. He then taught humility to those
who loved the best places. Afterward He
advised His host to do good to those who
could not return the compliment rather
than to those who could, for thus he would
be recompensed at the resurrection of the
| just-that Is, of course, If he was Just
man and would take part in that resurrec
ton. This led to the remark of one of the
guests recorded in this verse See this
kingdom and eating and drinking referred
to in chapter xii, 80, 80, 16, IS; also see
Rev. xix, 9; Xxx, 6.
16. "Then said He unto him, A certain
man made n great supper and babe
many" In Math. xxi, ?, which is prob
ably parallel illustration, He said "The
kingdom of heaven is like unto q certain
king which made marriage for his son. "
In lisa. XIV, &, the abundant provision for
the future, which may well be suggestive
! of the present, is spoken of as "a feast of
fat things, u feast of wines on the lees. CT
fat things full of marrow, of wines on the
lees well refined" The many who are bid
! Ill ~. "a
of John iii, 16; Rom. X, II; Rev. xxi, II.
But how shall they hear of the supper, and
its abundant provision and the great
King, ana His dear Son, and His great
love, unless some ono shall bear the It'd.
ings? Are we thinking of the hundreds of
millions whose invitations are in our
hands, And we are taking our own time to
pass them on, and very long timo it is,
and we do not seem to be in tho least bit
of hurry about it.
H. "And sent his servant at supper
time to say to them that were hidden,
Come, for all things are now ready" An
! invited guest would think it strange to be
required to help prepare the feast to which
he had been invited, yet sinners seem to
| think that they must do somewhat toward
their own salvation. This is all wrong.
for it is as II feast fully prepared. Our
Lord Jesus Christ has by His life and
death and resurrection, without the least
help from any man, wrought out com
| plcte redemption for all who will accept
Him, and He Himself is made unto all
such "wisdom, righteousness, sanctifica-
ton and redemption q Cor. i, 3O). The
great word for US to cry is Come" Sec
Isa. j, Is, ", 1, 3; Math. xi, 2s; Rev. xxi.
Il
49, And they all, with one consent,
began to make excuse" | saw an illus
tration of this in connection with the
opening Of mission hall in a certain city
which tho Lord gave me the money to
! build. 1t was for the lost and the outcast
from all society. We had Il nice tea, with
an abundance Of good things for about 100
people. Free tickets had been given to as
many women of the street (fOr it was spe-
cially for thcm), and they had promised to
come, but when the hour had come, and
all things were ready, not one woman APP
pcarcd. l then made u tour of the houses
and saloons, and by loving entreaty OBJ
tanned some; II second tour obtained some
men, and "a third visit some children, and
so our tables were filled. l can never for
get it,
10, 20. II pray thee have me excused, "
or, Therefore | cannot come, - was the
reply from each. How trivial the reasons
a piece Of ground to be seem some oxen
to be proved, or "A wife to be admired 1t
is not likely that man would buy piece
of ground without first seeing it, or some
oxen without first proving them, so that
there seems to have been some lying back
of these excuses AS to the wife, why
could he not bring her with him, for
man and his wife are one and he would
be poor specimen of man who would
accept an invitation to any place where his
wife was not wanted? He is also poor
specimen of a Christ ian who can 90 where
! his saviour is not wanted. An honest re-
| ply from these accusers who evidently did
not like the man who made the supper,
would have been, "No; l do not care to
GO" They illustrate the fact that the
carnal mind is enmity against God. A"
q. "Go out quickly into the streets and
lanes of tho city and bring in hither the
poor, and the manned, and the halt, and
the blind" The servants responsibility
is to deliver his Masters message plainly,
faithfully and lovingly; then tell his Mas
ter and leave results to Him, We read
that the apostles told Jesus all things,
both what they had done and what they
had taught MARK vi 800. Let this be
our custom, relying upon His assurance
that His word will accomplish that which
He plcases lisa. ", ID. But now notice
that the servant is sent to IA new lot Of
hearers, and are we to be ever inviting the
Same rebelious people, or speed the invi-
tation 30 those who have not yet heard?
In view of the command, preach the
gospel To every creatu PIP what think you?
% And the servant said, Lord, it is
done as thou hast commanded and yet
there is room The people possessing
this worlds goods having refused the in
vitation, il was next given to those who
had no possessions, the poor of this world,
etc, but while some of these came there
was yet ROOM for with tho Lord there Is
plenteous redemption" Ups. cXXX, -.
%. "And the Lord said unto the serv-
ant, Go out into the highways and hedges
and compel them to come in, that my
house may be filled. A yet wider range
and IA more urgent call. Does it not seem