The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-13
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Comment by Rev. w. j. Yates, A. M.
Topic, The Wells Of salvation.
SCRIPTURE R.Aprro.-Is.. xii. 20.

scEIPTuRn READIEo.-Isa. xii, 30
The GOSPEL In IsAIAH.-This is the
general topic of study for the League in
January. Last year the life OF Christ
was the theme. We now turn from the
New Testament to the prophets Of the
Old Testament. Particular thought will
be given to the evangelical portion Of
their writings and their bearing upon
the redemption of the world and the in
gathering of the nations to the kingdom
Of God.
Isaiah is the most evangelical writer
of the old dispensation, and in spirit his
writings are often compared to the gos-
pei of John. In recent times there has
been much speculation whether the
book of Isaiah as we now have it was
not the work of two writer's rather than
of one. The first 80 chapters are filled
with denunciations of the sins of Israel
and the surrounding nations and threat
enings Of punishment by Jehovah. Sud-
denly the tone changes at the fortieth
chapter. Comfort ye, comfort ye, My
people, saith your God," is the keynote
of the remaining 10 chapters. The
evangelization of the world is the pro-
phetic message.
This question of authorship is inter-
esting, but is not the important one and
should not be allowed to divert atten-
ton from the message Of salvation.
To gain IA good idea of this it is adj
visable to make rapid and connected
reading Of the whole book, just as one
would read section Of Macaulay's
"History of England" or Gibbons "De-
cline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Then attention should be directed to
special sections for more careful exam
nation. Our topics deal principally
with the last half of the book.
Jan. 3. A Gracious Invitation. lisa.
| lv, /, 30, z.
Jan. 10. The Sure Word of Promise.
lisa. XIV, "a.
THE DRAWING OUT OF WATER. The
twelfth chapter is as evangelical as any
part of the Bible. 1t is either based
upon peculiar ceremony in the temple
worship or else that custom was adopted
from this passage. At the Feast OF Tab
ernacles priest drew water in golden
pitcher from the pool Of Sloan. With
music and great rejoicing this was car
ried to the altar of burnt sacrifice in the
temple. While the people waved palm
branches and willows and the priests
marched around the altar, with hands
lifted high in air, the water was poured
down upon the altar and ran to the base
1t had triple meaning. 1t referred t'
the giving of rain, which the people
imagined was fixed by Jehovah at Thu
feast. 1t meant the drawing Of salvation
from the we'll of the law. Its main ap
plication, however. was to the futur
outpouring Of the Holy Spirit.
THE FULFuLMENT.- Thrillingly wa
this truest significance of the rite i'm
pressed upon the people when Jesu
stood in the temple on the last great ola
Of the Feast of the Tabernacles. 18th
, Hallel," the One Hundred and Eight
zenith Psalm, had been sung while all tn
multitude waved palms and willows tt
ward the altar. The priests had seve
times marched around the altar and ha
. blown three times the triple blast
. silver trumpets. For the last time tn
!. golden pitcher had emptied its content
q in the sight of all the people, when
/. that moment of intensest interest cIea
4 voice rang through the temple courts an
e startled every nearer. eff any ma
o thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.
v "This spake He of the Spirit. whic
y they that believe on Him should n
:. ceive" John vii, 1859.
& To that hour Israel had long looked
. When it came, many hearts were de;
II and refused the offered JOY.
n The drawing out of water" still col
!. tinues and the invitation is to all.
:. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come!