The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-04-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON II, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL II.

ory Verses, 2I-ss-GoIden Text, Luke
xiv. I7-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
Is. "And when one of them that sat at
meat with Him heard these things he said
unto Him, Blessed Is he that shall eat
bread i'm the kingdom of God. Jesus was
dining with one of the chief Pharisees on
the Sabbath day (verse IL, 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 n 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 u.s. 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 as recorded in this verse. See this
kingdom and eating and drinking referred
to in chapter XIII 20, 80, is, 49, also see
Rev. xix, o.; Xxx, q.
Is. "Then said He unto him, A certain
man made "a great supper and babe
many" In Math. xxi, ?, which is prob
ably parallel illustration, He said, "The
kingdom of heaven is like unto n certain
king which made marriage for his son. -
In lisa. XIV, 8, the abundant provision for
the future, which may we'll be suggestive
of the present, is spoken of rs "a feast of
fat things feast of wines on the lees, of
fat Il N c,.II ~ ~ win on hn
lees we'll refined" The many who are bid
den are comprehended in the "whosoevers'
of John iii, Is; Rom. X, IL; 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 one shall bear the It'd
ingsy 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 "a very long time it IS
and we do not seem 20 be in tho least bit
of hurry about it.
II. 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 feast fully prepared. Our
Lord Jesus Christ has by His life and
death and resurrection, without the least
help from any man, wrought out "a com
plete redemption for al who will accept
Him, and He Himself is made unto all
such wisdom, righteousness, sanctifica-
ton and redemption" q Cor. /, 3d. The
great word for us to cry is Come" See
lisa. i, IS; lv, /, 3; Math. XII, 2S Rev. xii
II.
IS. And they all, with one consent
began to make excuse" | saw an illus
tration of this in connection with the
opening of a mission hall in IA certain city
which the Lord gave me the money to
build 1t was for the lost and the outcast
from all society. We had n 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 1t was spe-
cially for them), and they had promised to
come. but when the hour had come and
all things were ready, not one woman APP
peared. / then made tour of the houses
and saloons, and by loving entreaty OBJ
tanned some; a second tour obtained some
men, and third visit some children, ard
SO our tables were filled. l can never for.
get 1t.
10, 20. Il pray thee have me excused, +"
or, Therefore 1 cannot come, " was the
reply from each. How trivial the reasonsl
A piece of ground to be seen, some oxen
to be proved, or a wife to be admired 1t
is not likely that man would buy "a 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 70 ln xrrtf Inv
could he not bring her with him, for
man and his wife are one, and he would
be a poor specimen of man who would
accept an invitation to any place where his
wife was not wanted? He is also poor
specimen of Christian who can go 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
60" They illustrate the fact that "the
carnal mind Is enmity against God. -
21. go out quickly into the streets and
lanes of the 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, 30). Let this be
our custom, relying upon His assurance
that His word will accomplish that which
He pleases lisa. lv, IL. But now notice
that the servant Is sent TO a new lot of
hearers, and are we TO be ever inviting the
same rebellious people, or speed the invi-
tation to those who have not yet heardp
In view of the command, Preach the
gospel to every creature!' what think your
%. And the servant said, Lord, 1t 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 the Lord there is
plenteous redemption" Cps. cxxx, -.
90. "And the Lord said unto the serv-
ant, Go out into the highways and hedges
and compel them 70 come in, that my
house may be filled" A yet wider range
and a more urgent call. Does IL not seem
as If He was now urging us more than
ever TO enter the open doors on every side,
and at least compel people to hear the glad
tidings that so all whom the Father has
90, tf nd bo