St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-04-04

academy does to the college" While this
relation of the Sabbath school to the
church may have been true to some
extent, with regard to the schools
founded by Robert Raikes, and now true
of some of mission schools, it will not
apply at all to those now found in many
of our churches, where the deepest truths
are taught, and discussions are had on
the most advanced theological questions
of the day. At the same time it is often
the case that wise and experienced pas
tor perceives that the church to which he
is ministering is like the church of Cor.
NTH, "has need OF milk and not of meat"
Hence, in his teaching, from the pulpit,
he treats mostly OF the first principles,
or elementary truths Of the gospel. The
analogy, then. between the common
school and the college, must be found
between the primary and most advanced
classes in our Sabbath schools
The Bible never grows old to those
who love Coos word. And those who
desire to grow in grace, and in the
knowledge OF our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ" love to study and mediate
upon it, to the last days of their life.
When any church membe feels no interest
in sitting down with his brethren and talk
ing with them, and hearing them speak of
the precious things to be found in Gods
word, he has great need OF at once enter
ing into 81 careful examination of his
spiritual condition, and inquire candidly
what his relation is to God, his Saviour,
and to his brethren in Christ. Malachi
tells us that "they that feared the Lord
spake often one to another; and the
Lord hearkened and heard, and book
of remembrance was written before him
for them that feared the Lord, that
thought upon his name" Nal. 3: 16).
A roll seems to have been kept A class
book with the names of those that spake
often one to another. You will observe
that there is no reference made to the
age of the God-learing people that met
| to speak to each other, but the prevail
ing spirit that was in them they feared
| the Lord; and God has blessing for
both small and great that fear the Lord"
| FPS. IFS: 13).
The late Prof. Calvin E. Stowe says,
II have read the Bible through twenty
| times, both the Old and the New Testa-
ment. in their original languages, and
am ALWAYS finding something new in
each reading" When company OF mis-
sionaries were coming down the Nile in a
boat few years ago, they observed one
of the aged converts sitting reading his
Bible, while they were enjoying the seen
cry along the river. When the matter
was mentioned to him he said, II have
read this book through hundred times
and have never enjoyed it more than l
have done today" These two men but
voice the experience of both the learned
and the unlearned, who know the truth
as it is in Jesus"
Where only children and youth are taken
into the Sabbath school it is remarkable
how soon the 'smart boys" become too
old or too large to attend. and on this
plea shut themselves out from the in
struction they so much need. But where
it is understood that the Sabbath school
is for all, and where even the fathers and
mothers, some of them, as the writer has
seen, Leaning on staff tor very age" come
in and take their place in a class, their
worthy example silently, but very effect.
ually, sets aside the excuse of being too
old, and will encourage those who are
younger in years to initiate their zeal for
growth in grace, and in the knowledge
of their Lord and Saviour. And each
youth so influenced may, by patient
prayerful perseverance in the study Of
the word, and the blessing of the spirit,
become "rooted and grounded in love Of
it and become able to comprehend, with all
saints, the breadth and length and depth
and heighth, and to know the love Of
Christ that passeth knowledge, and be
filled with all the fullness of Cod" All in
the church who would be partakers of the
blessing for which the Saviour makes in.
tercession to the Father when he prays
"Sanctify them through thy truth, J." must
seek that blessing through the knowledge
of the truth, under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit.
The increasing interest in the study Of
Gods word which is manifesting itself in
the church in these days is sure indica
ton OF good. And may we not hope
that even now we are in the dawn Of
that glorious day which God has prom
Used when "the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord as the waters
cover the sea-" (Hab. 2: 14l. The pres
sent great awakening to the Importance
of the study of the scriptures is no mere
ebulition of zeal among the clergy. That
the spirit OF inquiry after the knowledge
of the truth has taken hold of the people
is evident to us all from the massive as
semblies OF laymen and youth that meet
every year to study the Word. And we
rejoice in it, for it is to them that the
promise, found in Daniel Z: 81, is given
And the kingdom, and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdom under
the whole heaven shall be given to PEG
pie of the saints of the Most High, whos'
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, anC
all dominions shall serve and obey Him
DANIEL HARRIS.
| W.