Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-05-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON V, SECOND QUARTER, lNTEE-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY 3.

Text of the Lesson, Luke xvii, 5-19-Mem-
DRY Verses, 17-10-Golden Text, Luke
xvii, documentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
8. Increase our faith" We read in
Rom. X, II, that faith cometh by hearing
and hearing by the word of God. If we
firmly believe ono word of God, that Is
faith in God. If we believe two words, !
that is more faith, and so on. Faith is
not feeling nor an emotion, but simplya |
firm and steadfast resting on what the |
God of truth has said, wholly regardless |
of our feelings or circumstances. Faith |
says, Il believe God that it shall be even
as it was told me" acts xvii, 25), even
though as in the case of Paul everything |
seems against it,
6. "And the Lord said If ye had faith
as n grain of mustard seed" A mustard
seed is n very small seed, but 1t has life in
it which, when planted in the earth, will
soon make itself manifest. The life of
faith is the word of God, and this word
planted in the soul will surely grow, but
it must be planted. If only on the surface,
like the seed by the wayside, the devil
will catch it away If on rocky or thorny
soil, it will either wither or be choked,
but received into an honest heart it will
bear fruit to the glory of God.
10. This illustration of the servant
doing what he was commanded seems in
tended to enforce obedience, simple and
unqucstioning. In verses 3 and our
Lord had said that they should forgive a
brother seven times day If necessary. To
| this they said, increase our faith, when
1t was not Il matter of faith, but of simple
and unquestioning obedience Having
been forgiven millions of offenses by Him,
who laid down His life for us, and need
| ing and receiving that forgiveness in
greater or less degree continually, it is
surely small matter that we forgive Others
even seven times day.
10. I'VE are improbable servants. We
have done that which was our duty to
! do" Some who bear the name of Christ
Jesus our Lord are often heard to say, 81
ought to do this and that" And the most
of their religion is doing what they feel
they ought to do but really have no heart
for. They would not like to be considered
Improbable servants but let them consid
er this word of our Lord. 1t is so differ
ent when the love of Christ cOnstraineth
Oh Cor. V. 49, God did not give His Son
and the son did not give Himself because
nc ought 10 no II. Dul DttuuSt Ilt 81 lONtt
II. He passed through the midst of
Samaria and Galiee." He was on His
way to Jerusalem to die, and ali hough
He knew that the Samaritans would not
receive Him duke tx, 5l-53), yet He loved
them enough to give them the opTortuni-
ty. He was, in sense, ever laying down
His life while on His way to GolgOt ha,
where He actually laid it down. He pleased
not Himself. He glOrihed God He gave
His life for His enemies. He desires, in
the person of His followers, to be still
passing through the midst Of those who
need Him whether they will have Him or
not
IL. "Thcre met Him ten men that were
lepers, which stood afar off" He knew
that He would meet these lepers. and
probably entered that village that He
might meet them. Ten is suggestive of
one aspect of completeness, as in the ten
virgins and these lepers may stand for eli
the unclean whom Jesus came to heal.
10 Jesus. Master, have mercy on us. "
A cry of real need and of utter helpless
ness. He helps those who have no helper,
not those who can help themselves, as
/; some say. He came not to call the right
, eous, but sinners. They that are whole,
in their own estimation will not be likely
to call a physician. But sinking Peter
and unclean lepers, and helpless blind
men, who plead nothing but their great
need and His mercy will always get His
ear, and find His heart full of compassion,
, and His arm strong to save.
II. CAS- they went they were cleansed. ="
Here is cast of unquestioning obedience
They asked for health, and He told them
TO 60 and show themselves unto the priests
according to law, as written in Lev. xiii
: vi for Ia M n Z IN
law, but to fulfill it and to magnify it. In
chapter " II, He first healed the lepcr
and then sent him to the priest, but here
the lcpcrs are sent without being healed
and their cleansing came as they obeyed
There is always blessing in obedience.
! IL. conc of them, when he saw that ne
' was healed, turned back, and with loud
} voice gloriticd God" His heart is full He
cannot restrain his JOY. He must stop and
$ thank his Healer before he goes to the
priest. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.
God in Christ has healed him. He will
! first thank God, and then, if still so COM
r mandcd show himself To the priest.
/ 16. "And fell down ON his face mt His
feet, giving Him thanks and he was Il
Samaritan" Who so offcreth praise glori-
feth God Cps. l. 23) and it is always a
, good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.
How many times we ASH Him for mcrcies,
7 but not always do we return to give Him
thanks. In trouble we cry unto the Lord,
l. but in prosperity we oft fail to praise Him.
II. And Jesus answering said, We're
there not ten cleanscd: But where are the
nineY' He certainly looks for our graft
I tude and in everything we are to give
= Him thanks Il Thoss Y, lS). If we only
believed the things that are freely given
to us of God Il Cor ii, l2), and THAI we
y are blessed with all spiritual blessings in
i Christ (Eph. i, -, our hearts would be
: full of thanksgiving for ourselves and of
petitions for Others less favored 1t is our
privilege to be wholly at rest Concerning
ourselves once we are in Christ and to live
wholly unto Him to bless others.