The Prescott daily news., 1908-12-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson XlI.-fOurth Quarter
 For Dec. 20, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Luke ii, 8-20. Memory Verses, 8-10-GoIden Text Luke ii, 1t-Commentary Prepared by Rev. Q. M. Stearns.

Luke ii, 1t-Commentary Prepared
 by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
 [Copyright, l903 by American Press Association
 From the time when Adam and Eve listened to the devil rather than to God and by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin (Rom. V, 12) the god of this world. the devil. has been binding peoples eyes to the truth and to the love of God, always setting before them some way which he in SistS is better than Gods way; hence all the sin of which we read in all the Bible story and i'll the whole history of the race The alternate lesson for to- day tells how even Solomon, so be- loved and blessed of God was turned away from Him by the women of other nations, and by them and their idols his heart was turned away from the Lord God of Israel q Kings xii. 4-13; Neh. xiii, 2G).
 In all the history of the world there has never been but one who always resisted the devil and listened only to God, and of Him we learn as to the beginning of His humanity in our les son today. He was with the Father before the world was. By Him and for Him were all things created He appeared in human form to Abraham, to Joshua. to Gideon, to Manoah and his wife and to others He was typi- fled in every sacrifice appointed by God from the shedding of blood in Eden by His own hand to provide re- demption clothing for Adam and Eve all the way down to Gogotha. He was set apart before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in the full ness of time, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law q Pet. 1, 20; Gal. iv, 4, 3.
 Moses and all the prophets wrote of Him as the only Redeemer, the Mes siah of Israel. the one to rule the world in peace and righteousness Uuke xxiv, 27, Al. From the days of Malachi, who said. "The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple" and Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" Gii, 1; iv, 5). there had been no further mes sage from heaven for over 300 years But one day while a certain priest was officiating before God in the temple an angel appeared to him and said that through him and his wife the herald of the Messiah should come, who would go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah.
 Six months later the same angel, Gabriel was sent from heaven to humble home in Nazareth to a virgin called Mary with the most wonderful message ever given tO a woman in the whole history of this world Guke i, 30- 33) In simple, childlike faith Mary listened to the wonderful message and said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" It had been foretold that the Messiah should be born of a virgin and thus the word of God be literally full filled that He should he the "seed of woman;' also that He should be born in Bethlehem of Judea Qsa. viii IA; Gen. iii. 15; Mic V, 2 In our lesson we sec God, who watches over His word to perform it Ger. i, 12, R. VI, bringing all things to pass just as He had said. decree from the world ruler, who knew not God, caused Mary to be in Bethlehem at this particular time. and while there she brought forth her firstborn son in a lowly place among cattle and used a manager as His cradle (verses [, 12 16), for there was no room for them in the inn. He came from the glory of heaven, His Fathers home, the holy angels and the great company of the redeemed. and there was no welcome for Him on earth ex- cept from His mother and Joseph, and those few shepherds, and Simeon and Anna. and those wise men from the east, and a few others. But all heaven was interested. An angel came with his glory of heavenly light and told these shepherds of the great event then multitude of angels praised God in these words: Glory to God in tho highest, and on earth peace. good will toward men" (verse 14). Then the an gels returned to heaven, and the shep herds went and found 1t just as the angels had said.
 Tn this day how littlp interest is talk