The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-24
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
Dec. rs, 1s9s.-Hebrews i, 10.

The epistle to the Hebrews is lifeline thrown
to the soul in the surf of doubt. The anonymity
of the epistle enhances it's effectiveness. One is
not diverted from the lifeline by the personality
Of him who throws it. All that is to be done is
to lay hold. Without the slightest preliminary
a transcendent truth flashes upon the reader.
It is that of the continuity Of the divine revela-
ton. God in divers portions kept speaking to the
fathers by the prophets. There is an orderly sue
cession in revelation which argues one infinite
and commanding mind and will. Another char
acteristc of revelation is that II is cumulative.
Jesus Christ in His person and work is the con-
summation of an age-long process of revelation.
From this point the design of the epste is to dis
close the superiority of the revelation of God in
His Son. Under the old dspensatlon God spoke
by prophets Now He speaks by His Son. All
that preceded were shadows Jesus is the sub
stance. His kingship is greater than that of
David; His priesthood greater than that of Aaron,
because both are universal and eternal The
writer of this epistle is in dead earnest for re-
suits. He shows the three attitudes one of which
the soul must assume toward the Son who is the
revelation of God. The first is neglect" How
shall we escape if we fail to ''pick up this
great salvation which God has placed near US
that we must take 1t or step upon 1t? The
ond attitude is that of apostacy. The most
earnest. comprehensive. effective warning against
attitude of the soul toward the revelation of God
in Christ is faith. which the writer defines
Of the epistle.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES
The epistle to the Hebrews is bright and elegant
Observation-Disclosures
The epistle to the Hebrews has not its like
among the epistles of the New Testament 1t is
distinguished by euphonious rhythm and brilliant
eloquence: and this rhetorical form is not super-
induced on the subject. but is it's true expression
as setting forth the glories of the new covenant.
-Delitzsch.
At sundry times: Literally in many portions
In divers manners Voice, Dreams visions
angels. prophets, providences.
In times past: OF old.
The fathers: The Hebrew ancestors
These last days: Near the end of this age.
Barnes
spoken to implies the highest obligation to
attend to what He has said-Ibd.
Image of His person: Literally the figure made
upon a surface by stamp-Whedon.
The word of His power: The word His power
enforces.
BY HIMSELF He alone in the work of his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Purged sins: Literally, having made purif-
cation for sins.
Sat down: Well-known figure denoting supreme
honor and domnion.-Jamieson
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
First-No who will not be uplifted and ex-
banded intellectually by the frequent and at
tentive reading of the epistle to the Hebrews.
Its style is so elegant, thought profound. rea-
soning cogent.
Second-The opening is unique. There is no
hint of the person of the writer in other
epstles. No appeal to authority. Office or func-
tion of writer is not much named. The
writer does not base his argument upon his own
inspiration, but upon that of the Old Testament
Scriptures universally known and acknowledged.
Third-This episte is the whole Christian sys-
tenn in epitome 1t asserts the chief doctrines of
the gospel and explains them. 1t introduces. ex-
amires and confutes the chief arguments and
objections against Christianity 1t is satisfactory,
conclusive. 1t leaves nothing TO be said