The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-18

sINTRODUcTION.--Las lesson treated
4 n S1ntost interesting subject, the death Of
Gin the Baptist (AIatt. xiv That
e eminent rcforner and prophet. The las 4
Under the Old dispensatIon, had only a
l,rinf career. and his ministry was de-
& nisiicd. as he himself declared. TO pre-
ss,,sre the way for Messiah Matt. HE'D.
This he sought by urging the people 10
of living. thus becoming ready for tho
gospel dispense ton Ills Wori> 7Mus LII, IN,
85inently successful Several of L his tlls III
pies became apostle, St W. died
mi fconSpicuous figure was removed from
S8fhe religious world and an earnest voice.
Chat had proclaimed righ teous Was
calamity. Md yct the, removal of John "a!
Taft Jes,1s the sole representative nf. the
\ raw movement TO Him the eyes Of az
re- L a5c ines e Of spiri
Il iilaI influence and Use them for the adj
3Syanrcement Of His cause John, plainly
fh2t 1f5f So 9He rss's G every
4 peciIiar circumstances, especially when
Il great t. interests were involved and new
b measures proposed, Jesus was accustomed l
this sort will berccalled by the Bible stu
dent i(NIark vi:22). The reason for. TINS
course may be easily given. There IS re-
laired self-exnminatom W'sn ID Argus this
should be conducted II, private, accom-
panied by prayer Matt vi:6). No one,
when surrounded by the multitude, -
prepared to give profound and protr,acfte ,
Consideration to any important subject.
Especially is this true of religious mat
ters. In the secret place one may Know
himself and meet his God. so, when lie
a heard that John had been put 70 death =:
l$t.lesus deemed it expedlent to change ttls
location and enter into other parts. '.l.,
might duly consider VIA, neXs s dirn
zion, the fishermen apostles tonK .t n,l
boats and passed over the. Sea Of Gaiilee
h Il, a place near to Bethsaida (Lukee ix:lo).
lttl, inhabited and quite--barren.
i3g5 COMPASSION. Oversees Il, and 14)-lt
I was Impossible for Jesus to conceal Him
self however nue.. in might nave .i, . aG-
z lie had by His words and deeds acquired
great fame, so that the multitudes
claimed Him as wise and great teacii-
healing the body and restoring the health.
i that all looked to Him as q physician.
Hence. when He left Capernaur by boat,
the people anticipated His destlnati L.
,le a a9 % Of the the apostles WIN tieir
Master came 10 shore. they found the
same anxious crowd already a .sa
y spectacle moved the Saviour's heart. lie
was humanitys best friend No question
Of personal comfort could prevent Him
q from SERVING tHoaT, VINO Wy ~ 'V y, ~
whenever they might approach. On, this
= casion He sawsthc. multitude as sheep
without shepherd MARK. vi:aio, and lie
began first to teach and afterward hs,
VI llealed the sick. No record is given OF
Il he words or deeds 7&
4 DISMISSAL. (Verses 10 and l6.)--All
day long that service continued. The
imagination cannot picture the wonderful
that transpired. Distant from The
city. in the midst of natures sOlitudes,
the little sea near by adding its charm
10 the place, there Jesus wrought for
lie souls and, bodies Of all gathered about
Him. But when the evening drew near.
d literally the afternoon. the disciples be-
gan 10 feel concern for the great con-
course of people They had brought no
food, and there WAS no place near where