The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-23
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 20.

Subject: The River of Salvation. Eek.
xlvii., 1-1a-Golden Text: "Whosoevet
Will, Let Him Take the Water of Life
Freely" Rev. Kill, 17-Commentary.
ISrnopucr1oy.-we have here described
by the prophet the holy waters, their rise,
extont, depth and healing virtue. This
river, In the place and character OF Its
origin, in the gradual increase OF 1t, and
also In the healing, vltalizlng properties OF
Its waters, may be regarded as type OF
the gradual development Of the plan OF
salvation; and they may be regarded rs
lgure OF tue rise and progress OF religion
IN the soul. They suggest picture OF our
glorious Christianity In Its origin, diffusion
and general results.
1. "He brought me again unto the door
of the house," Ezekiel. after havlng made
she whole compass OF the co!rt OF the peo-
pie Is brought back by the north gate into
the courts OF the priests; and having
reached the gate Of the temple lie saw
waters which had their spring under the
threshold OF that gate that looked toward
The east. "The waters came down from
under from the right side OF the house."
They did not therefore come to the temple,
as II intended for the purposes OF washing
the sacrifices, carrying of the filth and
keeping every part clean and wholesome;
but they issued from 1t, and proceeded to
refresh and fertilizo other places. The
prophecy OF zechariah (chapter 14:9), that
living waters should 20 forth from Jerusa-
lem, half OF them toward the former sea
and half toward the hinder sea; and St.
Johns vision (Rev. 22:1). OF a pure river
81 water OF lie proceeding out OF the
throne OF God and the Lamb, explain this
part OF Ezekiel's vision and direct US In
(hs application OF It, It Is to be under
stood OF the Gospel Of Christ which went
forth from Jerusalem and spread itself In
to the countries around; and OF the gifts
and graces Of the Holy Spirit which ac-
:ompanied 1t, and by virtue OF which 1t
iiffused its influence far and wide and pro-
iuced the most blessed effects. At Jerusa-
lem it was that the Spirit was poured out
lpon the apostles, that they might carry
these waters to all nations.
] 3-5. "The man that had the line" The
angel described In chapter 4O:3. "Were to
the ankles knees. .loius. :. q river that
I could not pass over.": This may be ap-
piled to the gradual discoveries of the plan
OF salvation. /. In the patriarchal ages.
Q. In the giving OF the law. 8. In the
ministry OF John the Baptist. 4. In the
full manifestation Of Christ by the Holy
Ghost. Or this vision may be applied to
the growth OF a believer in the grace and
knowledge of God; or to the discoveries q
penitent believer receives Of the mercy OF
God In his salvation; and also q type OF
the progress Of Christianity.
7. "Very many trees" SO long as the
beholder, the prophet, followed the
measurer, the angel, he saw nothing OF the
trees on the bank. The looking forward
gave Ezekiel the knowledge of the progress
sive tulness and depth OF the waters; not
until he looks back does he come to know
the fertilizing, enliveninS effect OF these
waters.
s. "Tbese waters issue out" Had the
prophet desired to follow the waters
farther, his desire would have been met by
the saying "these waters go out" They
take their departure thence, SO their
progress Is directed out "toward" and
'to" the Dead Sea. "The waters shall be
healed" Typical Of the gracious work OF
Gods Spirit.
9. Everything. shall live" Life and
salvation shall continually accompany the
preaching Of the Gospel; the death OF sin
being removed, the liisr Of righteousness,
shall bs brought in. "Multitude OF fish,"
The Dead Sea has become sea OF life.
Out Of death there arises, by tho grace Of
God, a rich lifo. The sea Is a symbol OF
the world; accordingly men appear rs the
living creatures In the sea, as tho fishes.
Hitherto they were only dead fishes, un-
spiritual. unsaved men.
10. "Fishers shall stand upon It." Mes
sengers Of this salvation, who are en-
nloved all over the world to gain sinners to
Christ. "En-gedl." At the southern ex.
tremity OF the Dead Sea. "En-eglaim."
At the northern extremity OF the Dead
Sea. "As the fish OF the great sea-" In
the DAYS OF salvation river OF life shall
flow from north to south and fron east to
west. No longer shall there be only small
and quickly-dying fishes moving here and
there before the mouths OF tue fountains;
the whole intervening water, DoW waste
and dead, shall then become alive and
swarm with the fishes OF the great sea:
II. "Miry places. marshes" Those
not reached by the healing waters OF the
Gospel through their sloth and earthly
mindedness are given over to their own
bitterness and barrenness. The Gospel
Is the only healing medicine for the
disorders of our fallen nature, and
they who will not receive 1t IN
the love Of it romain incurable and are
abandoned to final ruin. The salt comes
into consideration here, not as seasoning.
often, but rs the foe OF fertility. lie ana
prosperity. The thought Is this: Only
thoso who bar themselves against the era-
cious stream of divine love and are un-
willing to regain health nre heneeforth to
be given over to the curse, continuing to
exist as monuments thereof. Around the
sea OF death there llngets on death unto
death.
12. "Trees for meat" Salvation must
present itself for the terribly sick heather
world, above oil, in the form OF saving
gruce. Beside the nourishipg fruits, there.
fore, are named also the healing leaves.
The figure OF tho fishes refers to the extent,
the greatness OF the community; this bg'
ure OF the trees to its nature, In so far rs
the divine grace transforms 1t into truly
living members, who themselves bear rich
fruit and thereby become a means OF lile
and recovery to others also. "Fruit nc.
cording to his months" This signifies a
constant dispo5itlon. desire, resolution and
ondeayor to bear fruit. not In their OWE
wisdom, power or goodness, or any good,
ness in themselves, but by the contlnua'
supplies OF divine grace. Whoever may
be the instrument Of planting them, 1t Il
divine grace which gives the increase.
TEAcHINGs.-It is profitable to consider
to what extent the Gospel has spread. II
is profitable to consider what has beer
done through the GospaI. We may be
among tho trees that .,row near the riVet
OF salvation. We ray be fishers OF men
We may make our lives blessing to others
None who refuse salvation may have h'u
H.