The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-01-21

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your miracles, instead of Capernaum?''
Jesus half apologies for his fellow
townsmen as he says: am only meet
ing the prophets fate My towns
folks are not doing worse than Israel
II general" But it was his next word
which proved veritable firebrand in
their hearts. 1t was the suggestion
that as Elijah and Elisha passed over
the unworthy descendants Of Abra-
ham and conferred their gracious
benefits upon Gentiles, so he, who
was their prototype, must do likewise
What! the inalienable rights of the
elect people go to GENTLE dogs?n The
synagogue is in an uproar The pen
dulum of feeling was swung from the
point of admiration to the opposition
extreme of vindictive hatred.
Services closed in a most uncommon
and unseemly manner that day
There was no closing hymn, in which
49, SCpicNbO anu CllbO Cdlu6
through the lattice from the choir in
VISIBLE, to blend sweetly with the
tenor and basso. There was no bless
ing or benediction, as was wont, pro-
nounced by priest or invoked by lay
men. The synagogue had judicial
prerogatives. AS Renan says, Each
was little independent republic,
each could pronounce sentence for
penal offense.n This is exactly what
the synagogue of Nazareth did. 1t
communicated Jesus on the spot.
1t cast him out judicially. 1t proceed
ed TO put him to death in legal man
ner; casting down from precipice
being lawful substitute for stoning
Jesus did not elude his enraged neigh
bors by either striking them with
blindness or making himself invisible
to them. Luke expressly says: He
passed through the midst of them
They saw him as he passed, but were
powerless to detain him. They in
stinctively opened an aisle through
the awed mob to let him pass. AS
Pfenninger says, "They stood, stopped
inquired, were ashamed, fled, separat-
ed"
The Teachers Lantern
Despicable conduct, that of the
Nazarenes! Yes! but they only did
what humanity is always doing
Detected preachers may find some
comfort in the fact that even the Mas
ter himself sometimes failed.
A prophet not without honor, save
in his own country. Fem, the artist,
met some ignoramus in Salem, who
remarked to him: "Hawthrone writ
lot o letters. | hearn tell he wrote a
scarlet letter or two, whatever that isl
:; \ + );
An ideal preacher was Jesus. He
took a text His style was exposi-
tory. He sought a common ground
with his hearers. He read their minds,
and shifted his matter to suit their
changing moods, He faithfully, firmly,
fearlesslv made his application
# y
Did Jesus return to Nazareth: Steir
says well; The denial of his return
strikes out of his life traitas beauti-
full as it is significant. That he came
again to his own" the probability
is strong, through the chronology of
the visits may trouble us. But see
the inveterate character of prejudice
and unbelief-theyrejected him again.
Longfellow, in divine Tragedy"
finely voices the changing sentiment
Of that synagogue audience which
made the wicked close possible.
y
Child-Study and Sunday-School
Methods
Jesus tuOuSHU III not beneath nm
to study the child. No teacher, ancient
or modern. has ever shown a more
appreciative or sympathetic interest
in childhood. His own genuine boy
hood prepared him for this. He had
all the various experiences, the hopes
and fears of the average youth. So
the children can say, I'VE have not
an high priest who can not be touched
with a feeling for u.s. Jesus and the
! child has formed a favorite theme for
artist and poet. The incidents are
among the most familiar of the Bible,
He said, Suffer them to come" He
took them in his arms; he set child
in the midst; he worked more miracles
OF mercy on children than on any
other class. He granted the Magma
Charta of childhood when he said,
I soc ho l.