The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-24

press of their characters upon the
whole social life of Samaria 1t might
have been expected that sense of
carnal security would gradually pos
sess the people, that they would put
far away any thought of punishment
and they would live luxuriously and
intemperately, and descend to debauch-
cry. and become offensive to the AL
mighty. This was the logical outcome
of what had preceded, the harvest of
centuries of sinful living.
III.THE DIVINE ASSISTANCE Of
FERED.
What was thus graphically sketched
in lessons 1, 4, and IL would have
teen by itself of little value. There
needed to be presented with it the
efforts of God toward a better state.
This was done in eight lessons, each
in a different way.
LESSON 2.-Elijah at Cherith comes
suddenly into view, predicting a
drought and then hiding to be fed by
widow. The prediction was a dis
play of knowledge, a proof of Gods
presence, a challenge to the nation to
seek after God. The lack of rain,a natur-
al phenomena, affecting human comfort,
was designed to awaken thought con-
cerning the origin of earthly good
James l, The retirement vas for
| security, meditation and prayer. The
| whole occurrence might have been
used by the people, as was intended,
| to work reformation.
| LESSON 3.-Flijah at Carmel Is an
other and bolder approach to win the
| people from sin. He came out of his
| obscurity near the close of the long
drought. His wonderful deed ought to
have inclined the people to him. He
made a proposition TO test Jehov-
ah as compared with the ability
of the Zidonian Gods. The proposition
was accepted, as it deserved to be.
The test resulted in a complete over
throw and discontinue of the heather
deities and their priests. The restored
altar and the consumed victim were
a visible mark of Divine favor, sufli-
cicnt to awaken the popular faith.
Cod had revealed himself to recover
His people.
| LESSON 6.-The translation of Ell
jah, the transfer of his mantle, the en-
was to indicate the determination OF
his spirit to Elisha. sgnified much
every way, but in the line of our topic
it was a most important event. Eli
jah was thus endorsed as the repre-
sentative of God and emphasis was
given to his words and sanction to his
work. Such approval was calculated
to exercise a most salutary influence
upon the nation, making men to know
that God was seeking the nations re.
form. Besides, to bring another i'm
mediately to succeed the great prophet
was to indicate the determination o
the Almighty to perpetuate His gra
cious efforts in the nation.
LESSONS : and S.--The story of tn.
Summarizes son and of the healin
of Naaman exhibit the miraculo,l
power given to the prophet, enough
to win favor for him as a ministe
of God. Supernatural power by whom
soeVer possessed, was to the ancient
an invariable sign of Divine hell
1;x w. 81. 1T was by this that Nose
gained influence with the Egyptians
But power used benevolently. that is
for the good of another, was alway
, regarded most highly. Hence to lii
up a child from the dead, to restor
to health Syrian general. were tw
acts which bore on their face evidenc
that the actor had good heart an
that he had ability to do good, bot
to be taken as evidence of Divine pur
pose to render assistance to the erin
and unfortunate.
LESSON elisha at Dothan al
= pears in a unique and most interestin
D light He becomes the friend al
: counselor of the king during his va