Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-11-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Ix.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 20, 1903.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

pressed with this strange fact-that
we never have a lesson from the
prophets unless it is the quarterly tenn
| perance lesson, and in looking over the
| synopsis OF lessons | notice that no
lessons from prophecy appear in the
course of study till 1911 and then only
In connection with studies in the lives
of the kings. 1t would seem as If
prophecy WAS not considered a profta-
BILE study, as if it was considered a
dark subject in the midst of much
light instead Of a light shining in a
dark place whereunto we do well that
we take heed Gil Pet. /, 49, Might not
the Saviour have good reasons to say
to the protesting Christians of our
time, 20 fools and slow of heart. to
believe all that the prophets have
spoken| duke xiv, 90 Preachers
and people seem to have closed eyes
and to be in deep sleep concerning
the wonderful purpose of God concern
ing the ages and are therefore said to
be drunken, but not with wine; to
stagger, but not with strong drink
xxx, 81. Which Is wOrse-that phase
Of drunkenness or the beastly drunk
enness which is the result of literal
strong drink? If we judge from the
fact that the awful words which fell
from the Saviour's lips. and only from
His, concerning weeping, wailing and
crashing of teeth were spoken not
concerning the openly ungodly. but
concerning processing believers who
did not believe, it should not be diff
cult to decide as to what He THINKS
Of it.
1t may not be amiss to call attention
to the section Of Isaiah which this
chapter begins, the woe section, but
in another aspect 1t might be called
the section Of the cornerstone. the
tried stone. the sure foundation, laid
by God Himself Verse 16. and other
foundation there is more, for all else is
refuge Of lies, bed too short to
row to wrap oneself in, and when the
Lord comes in judgment and righteous
ness to sweep away all false refugees
and to cause Israel to blossom and
bud and fill the face of the earth with
fruit then it shall be seen verses
1920; chapter xvii. O.. Drunkenness
is the outward manifestation of q
phase Of proud sinful self which, not
xrrhn al fCfo
ton in this form and calls it n glori-
Gus good time, not considering that
there is a judgment to come. a time
when the sowing shall bring fearful
harvest of everlasting woe and all the
glory and beauty Qn their eyes Of the
present rioting shall forever fade
away. The disgusting filthiness Of
their feasts, even though accompanied
by music and much that is attractive
to the natural man chapter V, 12), is
set forth in verses s, 0. Not only the
ordinary people, but priests and prOph-
cts, those VINO should be the Lords
messengers to the people and stand for
the people before God. were guilty Of
this sin, which may perhaps have been
the sin of Nadab and Abihu when
they died before the Lord while Off
ciating as His priests Oev X. 10.
Not the energy nor the excitement Of
the flesh can serve the Lord but only
the zeal which comes by the Spirit Of
the Lord; hence the admonition. BE
not drunk with wine, wherein is ex
cess, but be filed with the Spirit"
and that other word, "Not by might
nor by power, but by my Spirit. saith
the Lord Of hosts" Qsph. Y, IS; Zcch
", O.. "Out Of the way" is the express
sion used twice in verse of our les
son concerning these erring ones. 1t IS
found also in Rom. iii, II, "They are
all gone out Of the way" In lisa. Iii.
g, 1t reads, I'VE have turned every
one to his own way" There IS only
one way that Is right, and that is
"the way" even Himself John xiv, g.
Those who followed Him are in Acts
TX, 2, margin, and elsewhere called |
people of 1.-THE way" BLESSED are
the undefled in the way who walk in
the law of the Lord" FPS. cXiX. u.
We cannot lead others into this good |
and true way unless we are walking |
m it Misunderstanding with Him in |
peace and equity. Then only shall we |
turn others from iniquity (Mal. ii, %.
How beautiful is verse u of our les
son, but how sad its ending, "This is
the rest wherewith We may cause the
weary to rest, and this is the refresh
ing, yet they would not hear" See
the same sad refrain in xxx, .: Matt.
xiii, 81, Eye would not" Hear Him
also in John V, 40, "Ye will not come to
Me-" In Matt XIV, 8, He had to use
the words of lisa. xxx, Is, "This peo-
pie draweth nigh unto Me with their
mouth and honoreth Me with their
lips, but their heart is far from Me-"
There is no hope for any sinner but
In the word of the Lord. therefore
verse IA. Hear the word Of the Lord,
We scornful men," But they made
light of Him and of it, asking If He
thought they were babes just weaned.
They did not know, and many today
DO not seem to know, that "these things
are hidden from the wise and prudent
and revealed unto babes" Matt XII.
The day is coming when all the
glory and pride and unbelief Of man
shall be laid low and the Lord alone
shall be exalted. Then shall the Lord
Of hosts be for crown Of glory and
for a diadem of beauty unto all who