St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-04-04
All the Church Should Be in the Sab.
bath School.

month by Rev. Daniel Harris at the Sun.
day school convention held at Green's
boro and suggests many worthy and
practical ideas.
In modern usage the term "church"
has wide range of Specification. But in
the presentation of a few thoughts on
the subject assigned me, we will aim to
employ the term in the sense which seems
tobe sanctioned by apostolic usage For
while the term was applied to the whole
body OF believers it was. also applied to
local congregations in cities and even
in private house, as in Corinthians,
l6: 10. Then the term "all the church
we will use as meaning all the members
OF a congregation associated together
for the maintenance of the ordinances OF
public worship; and by Sabbath school
we will mean an association of persons
in the local church or congregation who,
in the relation of teacher or pupil, meet
on the Sabbath day to give and receive
religious instruction, and as almost ev-
cry organized congregation now has one
of these associations, our proposition,
plainly stated, is; Every member of the
congregation, able to attend public wor-
ship, should also attend, and take part
in the exercises of the Sabbath school;
and we urge the importance of this propo-
sition from the evident facts: l. That
all need the benefit OF Bible instruction.
The great want of our sin-ruined race
lisa saving knowledge of God. Uohu H.
81, i. e., knowledge of the Divine will,
as Christ has revealed it to us in his
word. For the want of this kno wledge
people and nations have, persisted, and
others will continue to perish, until it
has been received by them. Uohn 8: 24).
To meet this great want our Lord and
Saviour took upon himself the office of a
prophet (Acts 3: 22), that he might re-
veal to man, by his word and Spirit, the
will of God for his salvation. The clear
revelation OF Gods will he has left to us
in his written word and in that word he
has left the promise of the Holy Spirit to
guide his disciples into all truth. And
his last command is to go, make disci-
Piles of all nations, teaching them to OBJ
serve all things whatsoever | have com
manded you; and 10, am with you al
ways unto the end OF the world" Matt
%: 10, 20). And go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every
creature" MARK 16 15).
One great purpose for which the church
was established in the world, and for
which the Sabbath school is maintained
in the church, is to impart the knowl'
edge of the holy scriptures, by which sin
ners are converted FPS. 10: y and be-
. levers are sanctied by the spirit Uohn
II: ~, being made wise unto saliva
ton III Tim. 3: 15).
While the services of the church in pub
lie worship differ in many respects from
the exercises in the Sabbath school, the
two ever have been, and ever must be-
corelatives and helpers to each other. AS
a means of accomplishing their purpose
the aim of both is: LIST, to interest and
instruct the ignorant; I'd, to direct and
encourage inquirers after truth; Sd, tc
. edify and comfort believers.
, Now, much of this work can be done
more satisfactorily and thoroughly ii
the Sabbath school than in the public
assembly. The privilege of the private
communion of mind with mind, which
can be enjoyed by the teacher and the
! pupil in the Sabbath school class, is q
! precious opportunity for giving and re
e ceiving definite instruction on those
y points about which the bearer OF th'
G public discourse has been lett in the dark
Religious teachers have ever realized thu
Importance of giving private instruction
in addition to their public discourses
The Great Teacher, after delivering hi
sermons and parallels, was accustomed
e to add, HE that hath ears to hear le
e him hear" by which he exhorted all t.
l. consider and understand. Then, in prl
vate his disciples inquired of him tn
n meaning of his sayings. and he CAREFUL.
n expounded to them all things that the.
5 did not comprehend in his public teach
) ing; because, as he says to them, 1T
given you to know the mystery OF tn
q kingdom"
? Peter was a very diligent pupil 1--WE sa
|. disciple) in his Masters school and aske
him many questions about the things b
r wished to know. And because OF hi
q goodly attachments in knowledge c
}, spiritual things he became leader an
d the chief speaker among the apostles; a
we see was the case on the day OF Pentt
- cost, and when the concourse of the pee
% pie gathered around the disciples, ate
r. the healing OF the lame man at the gat
J. of the temple. His last recorded word
n the church is, Grow in grace. and
e the knowledge of our Lord and Savior
$ Tesus Christ" III Pet. 3: 18). And n
= man is worthy of name and place
u the church oil Christ who does not desil
81 Ill 4baea 80 70 Tasf