Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-10-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy of Calm Rcfec-
tion-Half an Honr's Study of the
Scriptures-Time Well Spent.
Lesson for October 25.

tice thee, consent thou not."-Prov. /: 10.
The Proverbs Of Solomon is the subject
of this lesson, and Is found in Prov.
:1-10.
As was remarked in the notes upon the
lesson from Proverbs iast quarter, the
book Is a collection of sayings of many
different writer's, of whom Solomon was
one. 1t is the opinion of most scholars
that the present lesson Is not included in
the portion written by Solomon. The
first verse Is the title Of the whole book,
not of the words which Immediately fol-
low. From the indications afforded by
the various headings the following por-
tions are probably to be ascribed to Solo
mon himself: 10: 1-22: 10 and %: l.
90: 27. The first nine chapters of the
book have certain unity, consisting Of
a collection of discourses supposed to be
spoken by wisdom, personified, and ad-
dressed to young man--''my son." This
lesson falls naturally in'o two parts: the
first discourse T-1O.
'"To know wisdom and instruction."
that is this book is intended to teach
men to know wisdom" etc.
1.-THE instruction Of wisdom:" revised
version, INSTRUCTION IN wise dealings"
The idea is that the study of wise book
will make the reader capable of discrim-
ination in the practical affairs of life as
well as in moral decisions.
'Subtilty:" here a synonym of discre-
ton. Subtilty does net always imply
craftiness. The simple is of course the
inexperienced youth, not the feeble
minded.
"a wise man will hear, and will in
crease learning:" More probably, as in
the revised version. "That the wise man
may hear, and increase in learning. The
verse describes another purpose Of the
book: not merely TO give instruction to the
simple, but also to add 20 the wisdom of
the wise.
"To understand proverb. and the in
terpretatiOn; the words of the wise, and
their dark sayings reference Is here
made to two of the most common varie-
ties of wisdom literature:" the simili-
tude, or metaphor. and the riddle. Each
needed some insight and sagacity for its
nderstanding-The p3rpose Of the book
Is therefore threefold: to assist the un-
learned, to increase the knowledge of the
wise and to give instruction in the sci
ence of Interpretation.
"The beginning of knowledge" or, the
chief part of knowledge. The latter gives
perhaps n better sense, though either is
easily understood. If we take "begin-
| ming" the meaning is that not until man
learns to fear God has ne begun to pos
sess true knowledge.
Reverence for parents Is greater in the
East than with us. The authority of the
father there does not cease when the
children reach maturity. The wisdom OF
age is more highly regarded than the pre-
cocity of youth. 1t might be well for us
if something of the same feeling existed
among us.
IAN ornament of grace unto thy head:"
nothing so well becomes young man or
woman as Difference tow ards the parents.
Ornament of grace" is not a fgurative
expression; it means a string of jewels
used for ornament.
'If sinners entice thee" sinners always
enticc the inocent; it comes natural to
them. Sin loves company. The sinner
quiets his conscience by dragging others
into sin and then arguing that he is no
worse than they.
'TIet us lay wait for blood" here the
temptation is to highway robbery or other
plicablc to any other act of oppression or
fraud towards ones neiehbor. Warnings
against the personal vices of intemper-
ancc ETC., are found in abundance in the
proverbs, but not in this lesson.
Cast in thy lot among u.s." one of the
most subtle temptations that can come
to young man is to accept the apparent
~ sincere offers of good fellowship and
comradcship made by evil companions.
An appearance of reckless generosity and
willingness to share everything is very
attractive to the inexperienced victim.
The treating" habit supports many of
our saloons. Put these princely givers
in place where they Eave n chance to
pay an honest debt, and their true char
acter is revealed.
walk not thou in the way with them"
thus avoiding temptation. When an inno-
cent person begins to walk along by the
side of tcmpter and listen to his argu-
ments, his chances for resisting the temp
tation are small.
make haste to shed blood:" make
haste in an evil cause, while the righteous
are apt to be slow in doing good.
.'Surely in vain the nei is spread in the
sight of any bird" even q bird is shrewd
enough not to walk into a snare against
which it has been warned. But men are
sometimes less sensible.
"For their own blood" their violence
shall recoil upon their own heads.
80 are the ways:" their end shall be
disastrous.
Next Lesson-"Building the Temple"
Il. Kings, 3: 1-12.