The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-04
FORERUNNER OF CHRIST.
INTERNATIONAL sCNDAf-SCHOOL
LESSON FOR TOMORROW.
Rev. Edward L. Pell's Interesting Disser-
tation on the subject-Duty OF
the Herald.
JANUARY 5th-rhe ForeruanOr Of christ.


Luke l., 5-l1.
In ancient times. when king desireu
20 travel through his dominions, hei-
aid WAS sent before nim to announce "is
coming. and TO warn the people 10 prepare
his ways" that nothing might impeoe
his progress. A.. -.a,
KING was at hand. and herald was
nee6.d IN 90 before his face. II was an
Extraordinary office, ana an extraordinary
man was needed 10 M II. The herud
OF an earthly king was no mean oihciai;
He carried with him royal au'hOri'y anu
dignity: the atmosphere OF me court was
about him: he was answeraDle' ho' "
the people, but to the peoples nias.'''
The faithful herald went forth III has'o-
for the kings business requires hds'e-
and with a mind single TO ms worN' re
had no business of his own; ne sousnt
not his own glory, but the glory OF ms
king he was content 10 be nothins-a
mere voice crying i'm the wilderness,
Prepare To be herald of the great
King required the same spirit 'puriiied
seven times" IL was hardly 10 be eN-
pected that man raised amid the IN
huences of a rabbi-ridden age. when
had no true conception of the coming
King, could fill such an office. The fore
runner must be MADE to order. at any
rate. he must be filled with the Holy
Ghost from his birth. and kept in the
wilderness, beyond reach OF the material
zng influences OF his age. until the time
should come for him TO make ready
people prepared for the Lord"
When God would make good man, lie
usually begins by making good parents,
and so the gospel OF the Son OF God
begins with the story of an interesting
old couple, who were both righteous be-
fore God believer being yoked with be-
liever) but whose lives were shadowed
by what all of their day regarded as a
mark OF divine displeasure. They were
childless. 1t is hard for MS to realize
what that meant TO jew. Give me emil
dren or else | die" was the cry OF every
childless wife in Israel. from Rachel's
day. It was impossible for jew to
believe that God would let his name be
cut off i'm Israel, except as a punishment
for iniauity. Zacharias had long pray
ed for the removal of this great reproach,
bat they both were now weli-stricken
In years." and God had seemed to turn
deaf ear to his cry.
And it came TO pass that while he
executed the priests office before God
in the order of his course 1t fell TO
his lot one day to burn incense In the
ment OF his life, for 1t was an honor
which many priests could never obtain.
and one which could never be repeated,
and he must have trembled with emo
ton as he entered the sacred chamber
and made his way TO the altar. And
the whole multitude of the people were
praying without" for themselves, and
Zacharias was praying within for the
people. And there appeared unto him
an angel of the Lord, standing on the
| right side Ohe side OF good omen OF
| the altar OF incense" The good priest
was filled with dread, for even good
men cannot take a peep into eternity
this side OF the dying hour, without
! trembling. ana a man may get close TO
/ God i'm prayer, and yet be frightened by
the angel who brings the answer. And
the angel said, Fear not" When Hea-
ven comes to us with good news, Il must
| first reassure US before we can receive
its message. Fear not, That Is what
God ana His angels are always say
| ing. and yet there are people who think
| that religion is made o Of fear-that we
| grow in grace as suffer anxiety.
| They try to work out their salvation with
/ fear and trembling. and they tremble so
much they can never do any work.
At last, the old priests prayer was TO
be answered. And 1t was to be answered
1 In a way that far exceeded his iondest
| hopes. The child that was to bring Joy
to his old age was to bring JOY TO the
world also. Friends and neighbors would
rejoice at his birth, but an innumerable
multitude would rejoice because OF His
/ birth. lie was to be filled with the
Holy Ghost from the beginning. Most
people have an idea that child cannot
be filled with the Holy Ghost, and that
I H. hA NJ
childhood, and SOW his Wild oats and
become hard-hearted, sin-scarred man,
before he can expect to become an OBJ
ject OF divine favor But the forerunner
was to be so completely filled with the
! Holy Ghost that there would be no room
in him for anything else. The world was
not 10 occupy the smallest place In his
heart he was to drink neither wine nor
strong dfink': in word, he was to be
"a Nazarite-a man separated from the
world a man utterly Indifferent TO the
things of this life, concerned only to be
the voice Of one crying I'm the wilder
ness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord"
This does not teach us. however, that a
man must be a hermit to be filled with
the Holy Ghost. John was no truant.
he was sent into the wilderness, not
that he might escape duty or trial. but
that he might grow up under the teach
ing Of the Holy Ghost, out of reach Of
the false teachings OF his time.
And the child was TO be great I'm the
sight of the Lord. The reason quickly
follows" many of the children OF Is
rael shall he turn TO the Lord their God"
That makes q man great in the sight
Of God, IL takes something else TO be
great i'm the sight OF men.
Last OF all. and. TO Zacharias. best Of
all, ne was to be the forerunner OF the
long wshed-for Messiah What more
could the old priest ask?
We do not wonder that it was too much
for his faith 1t was too good to be-
lieve. and his mind fell back upon the
seemingly insuperable difficulties In the
case Iacharias had faith enough TO
ask: IL never occurred to him that he
might not have faith enough TO receive
lie could open mis- mouth wide to cry
unto God; he could not open his mouth
wide for God to MI IL. And So like
most good men OF old, when the strain
upon their faith was too great, he asked
the indulgence of sign. There is a
sound OF rebuke in the voice OF the an
gel: II am Gabriel" You have asked
God for this child, and | am come from
him with the answer; you do not seem
10 realize that you are doubling God
himself. The sign was given, but IL
was not such a sign as Iacharias would
have asked. Thou shalt be dumb
Plainly, 1t was a rebuke, but It was tenn
pered with mercy; 1t confirmed his faith,
and the days of silence which followed
A. fca all