The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-11
: THE SLAVERY OF SIN.
 (Tempersnce Lesson.)

Temperance Lessono
 | Jesus was exceedingly skillful in the use of passing events for the illustra- tion of truth. He seized upon them. He held them up with the hand of an adept So when the priest came with the rejoicing processional, bearing aloft the golden urn with water from Siloam, in memory of the water mircu- lously supplied in the wilderness. and was on the point of pouring 1t out beside tine altar, eJsus cried in strong antitehsis, "If any man thirst, let him come unto MeM!" So now, after they had lighted the very last of the null titiudinous lamps upon the golden can delbra in the treasury of the temple, a pretty illumination in memory of tn pillar of fire in the wilderness. Jesus cried, I'm af the Light of the world!" It Is as If He mad said, These lights burn for a little while. They illumi- nate limited area. They will soon go out. Those who depend upon them will then grope in darkness. But l can Illuminate the world to the end of time. I will be fiery pillar to who- ever will follow. He need not walk in darkness.
 This glorious announcement fell up- on the ears which, hearing, heard not. There was a flat refusal on the part of the nationad leaders to accept the claims of Jesus based, as they were, upon what they stigmatiZed as His un- supported testimony. To this Jesus re- sponded that His testimony, instead of being personal and unsupported. had been repeatedly, audibly, and visibly corroborated by the Father Himself Lofty declarations concerning His impending death. its nature, and by whom 1t should be effected followed.
 In this language of terrible severity there is one legihtful interlude. It is the word of encouragement to the few who, in spite of the almost universal unbelief and hate, still belivede in Je- sus. Their faith might be crude and erroneous; the substance of it might even be the secular hope of mere na- tional emancipation; but if they would only continue in the atmosphere of Jesus teaching. this immature and wrong faith might be exchanged for the genuine faith of true discipleship. Obedience will be the organ of knowl- edge, and knowledge of the truth will be emancipation.
 The inveterate hopelessness of unbe- lief is illustrated in the reply of the Jews. They deprecate what they chose to esteem an imputation against the na- tional hoonr. They ignore the inci- dents of Egypt Syria, and Babylon, and strut as they plume themselves upon an unbroken national and personal in- dependence. But they can not thus parry the home-thrust of the sword which proceeds from Jesus mouth as the prophet said 1t would. One word reveals the slavery of which Jesus speaks. Sin Is servitude. The Son of God Is the sole and sufficient Emanci- pator from this most degrading. pitI- full, an deadly slavery
 Like surgeon, with the keen seal. pei of His speech, Jesus opens the very heart of the nation and shows the ut ter foulness of its sin and unbelief. How differently Hebzrew history would have to be written had there been con- fession and consrition on this fateful occasion. But the national heart was obdurate. Had He not withdrawn Jesus's reward for His fidelity would nave been shower of deadly stones.
 The Teachers Lantern.
 He that sent Me is with Me" There