The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-12-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON XII, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, DEC. 20.
Text Of the Lesson, Neh. Will, SIS.
Memory Verses, Il, 1S-GoIden Text,
Luke xi, 2S-Commcntnry Prepared
by Rev. D. VI. Stearns.

attend Bible studies or conferences and
En- inducement to others 10 do so. It
Is an account OF a seven days coafer-
ence for Bible reading, at which the
book Of the law Of Moses was read in
the hearing of all the men and women
who assembled from morning until
midday (verses 1-3, 1S). Later in the
same month, on the 24th day, the peo-
pie gathered again and read in the
book of the law Of the Lord their God
one-fourth part of the day, and anoth-
er fourth part they confessed and wor-
SHIPPED the Lord their God (chapter *,
1-3,. 1t was time Of real work Of
the Spirit Of God among them, result
ing in obedience and in separation
from sin
An account Of the seventh month,
with its feasts Of trumpets. atonement
and tabernacles, is found in Lev. xiii
and should be carefully studied In con-
ncction with this lesson. The three
might be summarized In such words
as these: The proclamation Of the
forgiveness Of sins causing great 10Y
to all the people. See Acts xiii, 3s, 80,
for a good comment.
Verse s Of our lesson is, think, the
best definition OF good reading that I
have ever seen. I do not know why
it might not be applied to singing also,
especially to solo or duet singing, or
such iike. But, If so applied, what about
the singing that does not come under
this head? Well, away with it all. Let
it perish, for there is no place for 1t In
the worship Of God.
AS to both the law and the prophets,
God took care that the words should
be very plainly written, SO that those
who read might run to obey Oeut.
XVII. s; Hab. II, .. The necessity
Of understanding the word and how
to understand It may be learned from
Matt. xiii, 10, 81: xvi, 8, IL; Acts will,
30: Heb. II, 3; iv, 2. What shall be
said Of the sermons and essays which
few Of the hearers can understand, but
which are supposed to indicate su-
pcrior talent on the part of the
speaker? Sad it is, but true, that there
are many who, like the old Scotch
woman, consider such efforts very
learned simply because they would not
presume to understand them.
The word Of God IS quick and power
full, discerning the thoughts and intents
Of the heart (Heb. ", 12); hence the
people mourned and wept as by the
words Of the book they saw their
sin before God (veTse 81. The Spirit
Of God conpinces Of sin and Of right
eousness and Of judgment (John xvi,
SID, and without conviction Of sin and
penttsnce there can be no real blessing.
The feast Of trumpets On the 1rst day
Of the moth was always accompanied
by an Offering made by fire Nev. %
25), anu all offerings pointed to Him
who wes made sin for us, through
whom alone there is forgiveness. The
people, being penitent. are therefore
sapcrteG to rejoice because Of the re-
demptIon provided, and. being made to
understand, they did rejoice and made
great mirth and helped to make others
glad (10-12). He who said, " delight
to do Thy will, O my God" Cps. 81, g.;
Heb. Y. y. said to His disciples the
night before he suffered: These things
have I spoken unto you that my JOY
might remain in you and that your JOY
might be full" "Ask and ye shall re-
ceive, that youE JOY might be full"
John xv. IL; xvi, 24). The Joy Of the
Lord is associated with the salvation
Of His people in lisa. XII, 2, 8; 1xxv, /,
4; III, 10. See also the joy in Luke xV.
There are many in our day who pro-
fess to be the redeemed Of the Lord
whether they are or not the Lord
knows-who seem to think that real
happiness is inconsistent with what
they call religion and endeavor to find
authority for their gloominess In the
words, BLESSED are they that mourn" !"
not noticing the context. There are
also some who really do receive and
trust in the Lord Jesus and His great
atonement, but they do not seem to
find the JOY Of the Lord notwithstand-
ing Rom. xv, 13; v, /, 2; will, is; l
Pet. is, and many other similar words.
It must be because Of some failure on
their part to become occupied with
Jesus only and rest on His word.
AS the people heard the words out
of the book from day to day they
learned that they were expected to
keep the Feast Of Tabernacle Lev:
xxili, 3s.43), and they did so for the
first time since the days Of Joshua
(verse 10, and there was very great
sladness. This feast would recall how
God had cared for them oil through the
wilderness journey. See Deut. WILL
24. We are so apt to forget BIS
mercies. There are SO many for whom
nothing seems to be prepared (verse
TO-. God has made the same provision
for all, but He has put the matter OF
making it known or passing it on IN
the hands Of those who have heard,
saying. LET him that heareth say
come" (Rev. xxi, 10, ard because we
who have heard are disobedient or in
different millions who might be saved
II they only knew about It are still
perishing. Well may He say to u.s..
"Is it nothing to you?" Iam. 1-12)
There is a word in chapter VII, Ga,
concerning some whose names could
not be found on the register, and they
were therefore. as polluted, put from
the priesthood. It Is wholly a second
ary matter to have our names on
50 called church register, but it Is all
important to have our names In the
Lambs book Of life duke Z, 20; Rev.
xx, 15). If they are not there an aw-
full doom awaits US, and If they are
there and we believe Rev. *, 15) how
can we help sending the gospel to
those who have never heard?
First Great Depression.