Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-09-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson XIIl.--Third Quarter, For
Sept. II, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

ory Verses, 2, 23--Golden Text, Prov |
Xxx, documentary Prepared by Rev.
D. M. Stearns.
iCopyright, 1908, by American Press Association
We cannot too often study and pom
der any and every topic which the
Holy Spirit has seen fit to set before
us. but we must beware of considering
the Bible simply as a book to give us
daily texts or notices. We must keep
before us the whole plan of God as set
forth in the whole book If we would
walk with God in peace and equity
and turn people away from iniquity.
This chapter In which we have our
lesson begins with record Of vine
ward. and we are told that the vine
ward is the house Of Israel and the
men Of Judah His pleasant plant, but
that, although everything had been
done for the vineyard that could be
done or thought of by its owner the
Lord Of Hosts, the fruit was most I'M
satisfactory. His people had therefore
become a manifestation Of woe ana
not of blessing and the owner OF the
vineyard dishonored in the eyes of 9th
ers. Their sin is summarily stated In
the last clause of verse "a, "They have
cast away the law Of the Lord OF
Hosts and despised the word or the
| holy one of Israel"
we have seen something of this IN
our recent studies in Samuel. 1t is the
testimony Of all the prophets and OF
the Lord Jesus when here In humilia-
ton as He taught the people in para
bles. He said Of them, "This people
have l formed for Myself; they shall
show forth My praise" Qsa. Kill, 2D'
but after long patience with them He
had to say, "Be ashamed and con-
founded for your own ways, 0 house
Of Israel" Ezek. xxxvi, 81, 32). Wheth-
er ii be Jews or gentiles, saints or sin
ners It is manifest in all that 1.-The
| carnal mind Is enmity against God" yet
"God is love" and not willing that any
should perish and is ever beseechlng
men to turn to Him that He may Tor
give them and bless them and make
| Himself known through them, but HIS
pitiful cry still is, "How often would
I. and We would not" eye will not
come unto Me" (Matt. xiii, 81; John
v 4O). The quotation from Matthew is
| in the chapter Of many woes, teaching
us that while He is compelled to say
"woe" he longs rather to say blessed
The woes in this lesson chapter re-
fer to those who give themselves up
to becoming wealthy, who live only
for their own selfish qualification, who
sin with all their might, defying COD
to do ANYTHING. who call evil good and
good evil, proud, self conceited, con
niying at wrong for the sake OF re-
ward. What a picture of the world
lying In the wicked one! But these
words describe those who bear His
name. who are professedly His chill
dren, Of whom He says in chapter l. =
81 have nourished and brought up
children, and they have rebelled
against Me-" He does not expect
either fruit or good works from people
who are dead in trespasses and sins
such. being dead, cannot do anything
to please Him-but from all VINO are
saved by His great work He does ex-
pect both fruit and good works, for to
that end He saves us. Note carefully
Eph. Ii. $40: Tit. Iii, 8, s. Is there
any hope for such as those upon whom
these woes are pronounced? Yes truly,
for His salvation is for the lost. ana
any who truly turn to Him are never
cast out luke xix, 10; John vi. 81.
See in Cor. vi. OIL the kind OF peo-
ple who by His precious blood became
washed and Sanctified and justlhed'
: and remember that He is Jesus Christ.
the same yesterday, today and FOR
ever Heb. kill, 81. Do not waste time
telling poor sinners Of any kind, NOR
D al or immoral, drunken, profane, llcen-
tious or as good as Nicodemus. to DO
q ANYTHING in the way Of signing a
. pledee or turning over new leaf or
I trying again, but by the word of God
J, in the power Of the Spirit and in the
S that they are as impotent as the man
Mt the pool of Bethesda John " or
1 worse than the man w62 fell among
> thieves luke X, for theS are not only
o half dead, but wholly dead, guilty be-
fore God Rom. Iii, 19), but to all such
the grace of God bringeth salvation
!, and eternal life is free gift in Christ
e Jesus, and, receiving Him, the sinner
t at once becomes a child of God, a new
d creature in Christ, having a new ma
D ture which cannot sin Git ii, III.
The old sinful nature that can sin is
o still there, but the new, if yielded to
:, will hinder the old from doing as II
e would (Gal. V, 16, II, II. W. lisa. /, 1s
o Is the first step. and then the next
Il verse follows. All the haughtiness anc
lofty looks Of man must come dow
and the Lord alone be exalted (chaptel
II, II, 10; then shall there be deliver
y ance. Failure to accept Gods plan car
e only result in the final without O
IS Rev. xii, IS. the depart Of Matt vii
6 %. %: XIV, Al. These things are hid
], den from the "wise in their own eyes
j. who regard not the work Of thu
q Lord" oversees IL, 2D and are revealed
n unto babes who are willing to b.
1t taught precept upon precept, line upol
20 line chapter xviii 8, 10). See thes'
Re two sayings in connection with lesson
IT on drunkenness summarized In Matt
IS Il. 25. Oh, how He would cause all tn
sr weary to rest If they would only lister
lie to Him and build on the only founda
ID ton that will stand in the evil day
lie for other foundation for any SHINE
D. to build upon than that which God ha
he laid can no man lay.