The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-04-09
HE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
APRIL ~.
Lesson Text! "Pnrabic of the Great
supper" Luke xiv, 15-24-
Golden Text Luke xiv,
is-Commentary.

meat with HIM heard these things ne said
unto Hin. Blessed Is he that shalt eat bread
IN the kingdom OF God" Jesus was dining
With one of the chief Pharisees on the Sub
oath day (versc ~, and. although He knew
nat they only invited Him In order to watch
Him with evil intent. yet He accepted the in!
vitation. He had no fear OF man. He lived
only To glorify God. He never said ANYTHING
In secret. but always openly (John viii. 20).
In this house He healed man who had tho
dropsy. lie then taught humility TO those
who loved the best places Afterward He ad-
visod His host to do good to those who could
not return the compliment rather than to
those who could. ior thus he would bo
rccompen,sd NJ the resurrection Of tho lust
--thatis OF course, ifhe was n Just man aud
would take part in that resurrection. This
led TO the remark OF ono of the guests NJ re-
corded in this verse. Sec this kingdom and
eating aud drinking referred 60 in chapter
xii. 80, 90, 10, IL; also 500 Rev. XIX, o.
xN.. &.
16. "Then said lie unto him. certain
man made n great supper and bade many"
In Nnth. xii, 2, which II probably parallel
illustration, He said, "The kingdom oi
heaven IS like unto certain king which
made marriage for his SON." In Isa xxv.,
q, tho abundant provision Tor the future,
which may well he suggestive Of the present,
II spoken Of as "a feast Of fat things, a feast
Of wines on the lees. OF fat things full OF
marrow. of wines on the lees we'll refined"
The mnny who are hidden are comprehended
In tho "wnoSoevers' Of John 49,, 1G Rom.
x, II; Rev. xii, II. But how shall they
hear OF tho supper ana its abundant pro-
vision, and the great King, and His dear Son,
and His great love, unless some one shnl
bear tho tidings? Are We thinking OF tho
hundreds of millions whose invitations arc
In our handsp And wo are taking our own
hmc To pass them on, and very long time
u Is. aud we do not seem TO be Ia the least
bit " u hurry about it,
IL. And sent bis servant al supper time
to say TO them that were bidden. Come. for
all things are now ready" An invited guest
would think It strange 10 be required TO help
prepare the feast 10 which he had been In
vited, yet sinners seem Co think that they must
10 osoucwhat 10 waritheir own salvation. This
Is all wrong, Tor 1t Is rs feast fully pre-
pared. our Lord Jesus Christ has 10y Hts
lifc aud death and resurrection, without tho
least help from any man, wrought out n COM
plete redemption for all VINO will nccept
Him, and Ilc Himself Is made unto all such
wisdom. righteousness, sanctincation and
redemption" q Cor. t., 30.) The grent word
Tor us 20 cry Is Come See Isn. l.. IL. ly..
|, 8; Math. M.. 2s. Rev xii. II.
Is. 'And they all, with one consent, began
10 make excuse" ] saw an illustration of
this In connection with the opening of mis-
son hall In u certain city which the Lord
gave mo the money To- bnild. II was for tho
lost and the outcast from all society. Wo
bad a nico tea, with aud abundance of good
things for about 100 people Free tickets
had been given to rs many women Of tho
street Qor 1t was specially for them), aud
they had promised to come. but when tho
hour had come and all things were ready,
not one woman appeared, | then made
tour ot tho houses and saloons, and by low
ing cntrcnty obtained some; second tour
..H.rF
children, and 50 our tables were oiled. 4
can mover forget IL.
-. 20. II pray thee have mo excused, =" or,
"Thereioro / cannot come" WAS the reply
ii0m each, How tfnn.i 40 rDGsonsi 4
piece Of ground to be seen, some oxen to bo
proved, or wife TO be admired. IL In not
llscy that man would buy piece OF
ground without first seeing IL, or some oxen
without first proving them, so that there
seems To have been some lying back of
these excuses. As 10 the wife, why could
he not bring her with him, for a man and his
wife are one, ana he would be IA poor speci-
men Of Il man who would accept an invita-
tion TO any place where his wifp was not
wantedI lie is also poor specimen of "A
Christian who can 10 whore his Saviour Is
not wanted. An honest reply from these ac-
cusers, who evidently did not like the man
who made the supper, would have been,
"No; | do not care 10 GO" Thcy illustrate
the fact that 1.-THE cnrnul mind Is enmity
against God.'
u. 90 out quickly into the streets and
lanes of tho city and bring I'm hither the
poor, and tht manned, and the halt, and tho
blind" The servants responsibility Is TO
deliver his Masters message plainly, faith.
fully and lovingly; then tell his Master and
leave results to Him. We read that the
apostles told Jesus all things, both what they
had dote aud what they has taught MARK
L..
on His assurance that llis word will accom-
plish that which lie plrases (Isa w., ~.
But now notice that the servant is sent to Il
now lot OF hearers, and ure we to be ever In
viting the same rchrlli0us people, or speed
the invitation To those who have not yet
hearG In view Of the commend, "Preuch
the gospel 10 every creature what think
youj
%. "And the servant said Lord il is done
as Thou hast commanded, and vet there is
rIOm.' The people possessing this worlds
goods having refused tho invitation, 1t was
next given 10 those who had no poss, ssions,
the poor Of this world. etc, but while some
OF these came there was yet room for "with
the Lord there is plcu,e1u4 redemption"
(Ps. cXxx.. y.
20 "And the Lord said unto the servant,
go out into the highways aud hedges aud
compel them TO come in, that My house may
be filled" yet wider range and n more
urgent call. Does II not seem rs II He was
now urging Us more than ever to enter tho
open doors on every side, and NJ least COM
pei people TO hear the glad tidings that SO
all whom the Father has given 10 Him may
come 10 Him, aud the time Of the kingdom
come? The portion OF the chapter following
our lesson teaches us now 10 be His true dis
ciples. All who truly accept Hun are suved
by Him. but we are saved IN order to become
His witnesses and fellow laborcrs (Acts l.. s;
Cor. ill.,. J), and this can be accomplished
only on the lines OF verses 2G, 81. 50.
"A. For say unto you that none Of those
men which were hidden shall taste of My
supper Compare chapter kill, 2s and SEQ
job XXxvi., Is. This does not leave any
room for possibility Of another chance
after dsath. While there is life on the earth
In this mortal body whosoever will may
come. but the soul tnat dies rejecting Christ
cuts itself Off from all hope. "Now is the
accepted time. Lesson Helper
TERRIBLE P0wEF.
Tho Fronch Academy Of MediciLe recently
adopted a series Of resolutions Declaring that
the drink evil has become rcrma nent dan
ger attacking "thc very life and 70 rec Of tho
country and laying stress on the TACT that