The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson XII.-Fourth Quarter
For Dec. 20, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Luke ii, 800.
Memory Verses, s-1o-Goden Text,
Luke ii, 11-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

Memory Verses, s-1o-Golden Text,
Luke ii, 11-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Copyright, 1908, 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 in 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 xi,
4-13; Neh. xiii, 26). \
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-
| fed 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 Golgotha. He waD
set apart before the foundation Of the
world, but was manifested in the full
ness Of time, made Of woman, made
under the law, to redeem them that
were under the law q Pet. |, 20; Gal.
", 4, 81.
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 duke xiv,
27, AZ. From the days Of Malachi,
who said, 1.-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, /;
iv, 81. there had been no further mes
sage from heaven for over 300 years.
But one day while 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
60 before Him in the spirit and power
of Elijah.
Six months later the same angel,
Gabriel, was sent from heaven to a
humble home in Nazareth to virgin
called Mary with the most wonderful
message ever given to woman In the
whole history Of this world duke !, 30
33). In simple, childlike faith Mary
listened to the wonderful message and
said, Behold the handmade Of the
Lord; be it unto me according to thy
word" 1t had been foretold that the
Messiah should be born Of virgin and
thus the word Of God be literally full
filled that He should be the "seed Of
woman" also that He should be born
in Bethlehem of Judea Qsa. vii, 1G;
Gen. iii, Is; Mic. V, Q. In our lesson
we see God, who watches over His
word to perform 1t (Jer |, -, r. W,
bringing all things TO pass just as He
had said. A 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 frstborn son In lowly place
among cattle and used manSer as His
cradle (verses Z, II, 10y, 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 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 a multitude Of angels praised God
In these words: "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men" (verse ~. Then the an
gels returned to heaven, and the shep-
herds went and found 1t just as the
angels had said.
To this day how little interest Is TAX
en- on the earth In heavenly things,
the god Of this world leading his fol-
lowers to cry, LET us alone" but God
has always held a few like the shep-
herds and the others, whose hearts are
| with Him by Ills grace Notwithstand-
ing all hindrances, the child who was
born of Mary shall yet reign over the
house of Jacob and over all the earth
in righteousness, and His church shall
reign with Him. Note the angels fear
nots' Il, 13, 80; ii, 10) to the Lords
people and study the words from Gen.
xv, l, to Rev. 1, II, and if child Of God
appropriate them, for God does not
give spirit of fear UI Tim. i, .. The
good tidings Of great Joy are for all
people. but what i large proportion of
| the human race have passed away and
are passing away without hearing the
good news. as 1t nothing to you"
mall His life He glorified God, and by
His finished work He gives peace to all