Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-05-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON vi, SECOND QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL sLRlES, MAY T.

1i-Golden Text i am the Vine. Ye are
the branches. Compare John I6: 1e
Matthew = I6-2O-(Commit Verses 6-s
Il am the true vine and my Father
is the husbandman."
1t is through Christ, the true vine,
that the divine life lis reproduced in
all his members and is spreading over
the whole earth" DR.. Gumhart says,
.aThis lesson furnishes us with the ma
terial for a beautiful and instructive
nature study: or rather, a study OF
spiritual truth from II of natures
pulpits."
While Jesus is the vine. the Father
is the husbandman, which Is indeed a
Symbol of Gods love and care for
us"
He is the vine, we are the branches.
Hugh Macmillan says: "What a beau
tiful and appropriate type does the
vine afford of the mystical body of
Christ. Each member has his own
personality. his own individual exist
ance: and yet, living or dead, he Is re-
garded as Il branch of one common
stock-a component and integral part
of one tree. The same bond unites
each to all, the same sap pervades all.
the same life animates them all. Christ
is moi the trunk, nor the branches but
the whole vine; they are members of
His body, of his flesh and of his bones.
Cambridge Bible says: "There Is a
curious play of words in sound be-
tween taking away (hairei) ofthef fruit
less branch and the purging Ckath-
airei) of the fruitless branch "In the
East dressers wash the leaves and
shoots and tendrils and clusters each
by themselves in turn, so as to clear
off the dust and mold"
The word clean" In the third verse
Is the same as purge" In the second
verse. Peloubet says. 1.-THE fruit is
the faith. love, and obedience referred
to so often in the last lesson. 1t in
cludes all the fruits of the Spirit
love. joy, peace. long suffering, etc.
(Ga1. 5:22,23). 1t includes the Ten Com
mandments and the B~eatitudes. and
all the Sermon on the Mount. 1t in
cludes all labors for the conversion of
souls and for blessing of mankind. 1t
Is not measured by results, the
amount of money given, the number
of souls saved, as WI are too often
inclined to measure fruits; but by the
love of obedience the graces the
devotion, which lead to these outward
results, as we see in Christ's words
about the widows two mites"
II an the vine, ye are the branches.
He that abideth liz me, and / in him.
the same bringeth forth much fruit;
for without me We can do nothing"
All of Gods promises are condition
nj. but the conditions are easily met.
The power or ability to bring forth
fruit is promised to all his children.
and the only requirement or condition
is that we abide in him, and this is
an absolute necessity for we all know
the t~ruthfulness of the statement,
apart from me We can do nothing"
'If a mar abide not in me, he is cast
forth as a branch and is withered: and
men gather them, and cast them into
the fire. and they are burned
Prof. Drummond says: do not
imagine that YOU have got these
things because YOU know how to get
them. AS well try to feed upon a
cookery book" Because a branch
once had the life of the vine flowing
through it, and at one time did bear
fruit. it does not ave ii from being
gathered by men. when it has become
withered. and being cast into the fire
and burned. A whitening is sure
TO take place where the cares of life
crowd out the love of God. or where
d~isobedience. even in little things, in
terfered with Christian growth.
In the seventh verse is another prom
lse made upon a certain condition:
"We will get what we ask for If we
abide in him. If we thus abide we
will know his will, and so should not
ask amiss: this being true. if we do
not get the things which we desire, il
will be because in some way we Go
not abide as we should. for the prom
Use is sure; if you abide in him, and
his words abide in you, sit shall be
done unto you"
Herein is my Father glorified, that
We bear much fruit: so shall We be my
disciples"
Bearing much fruit is a test of disci-
pleship that not only shows TO the
world. hut also brings a blessed con
seriousness to our own souls, that we
are abiding in the true living vine. and
so numbered among "The branches
which are the means through which
God bestows his choice fruits upon
men. The branches are the conduc-
tors of Gods life and blessing
~ Alt INAltl mum lONRh ne. 50
have l loved you; continue We in my
love-
Peloubet says: "This is a marvel
Dus statement Of the measure and
quality of Christ's love for us. 1t is
true. warm. personal"
"If We keep my commandments. We
shall abide in my love; even as l have
Sept my Fathers commandments, and
abide in his love"
The Son and the Father were one.
and so he could easily keep the Fa-
theirs commandments. Even so it is
with rs. If we love Jesus. we can east
" keep his commandments.
''TheSe things" were spoken that we
might he free in him. and have the joy
that comes to the hearts of those who
let the blessed sunlight in" More
than that. he wants us to have the
'fulneSs Of love" that Is enjoyed and
retained by those who yield them
selves fully TO God.
MCKINLEY Again. saws Hanna.
- ~ n G.1,Alu IIanAa