The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-26

the seventh, the eighth, present Jesus in
his relation to His followers. II was a
double relation to His followers. lie sent
them-the same and only relation which
He desires with all men. We are told
how He called Peter and Andrew and
James and John saying simply "Follow
me-" and how on hearing that word they
left their old occupation and went after
Him. We are also told how lie called
levi from the seat at the tax collectors
office. and how he obeyed and celebrated
the event with great feast. And then
we are told how, after these and others
who had been called, had received sufli-
ciont instruction, they were all sent forth
to preach Just as Jesus had done Here
are two sides of Christian livng-the
coming and going. the receiving and the
giving Matt. \, 81. But what a marvel
lous Person is this who by "A word can
gain loyal following, and by another
word can secure q cheerful service!
These are the two words-come and go
that symbolic the Masters authority
and describe the duty of His people. They
are the words, moreover, which set Him
apart as superior to His disciples. If He
were merely human they would mark
Him as egotstic and audacious.
UNGODLY.-Jesus had to deal not
merely with John who introduced him,
nor with his disciples who followed Him,
but with men who did not receive Him.
These. the ungodly, We're of two classes,
and His attitude toward them is present.
ed in the ninth lesson. There were those
among whom He had lived, taught aud
wrought miracles, the people of the cities
on the shore of the sea, but they had
turned Il deaf ear to His words and had
lightly esteemed His wonderful deeds TO
them He cries aloud in warning, outlin-
ing the evils that will bcfall them for
their hardness of heart. There were 9TH
ers who mourned for their sins and who
sought relief by the ceremonies of the old
covenant and yet found 1t not. To them
He spoke in tenderness, inviting them to
Him and promising rest. His graclo is
wards have lost none of their sweetness
and power I'm the lapse of time. Here
again is displayed the matchless Jesus.
He who could foretell the evil conse-
quences of sinful livirE-He who could
invite the heavy laden and promise a
blessing must have been more than a
mere man.
PHARlSEES.-The most precise and ex-
acting, the most narrow and bgoted of
all the Jews, were the Pharisees. They
believed themselves to be the most right
eous of the most righteous nation duke
xviii, IL, and they sought to hold all to
the performance of duties prescribed by
them. How Jesus was related to these
is shown in lesson ten. The occasion was
q supposed violation of the law of the
Sabbath on the part of His disciples fol-
| lowed by an inquiry into the proprieties
of the day-the one scene in a cornfeld,
the other in synagogue. There is no
| new teaching here on the Sabbath ques-
| ton, except in so far as was necessary
to repel the accusations and set forth the
| liberty under the Gospel. The passage is
| particularly valuable as showing how SUI
| perior Jesus was to the Pharisaic doctors
| of His time The combined wisdom of
| the learned for centuries had been gath
J cred up and transmitted, and those who
came before Jesus with their question
were the custodians of that wisdom. But
Jesus was able in few sentences to put
| them to silence and to shame.
SERMON-Having referped TO the re-