The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-05-14
Matt. II: 22-3e, 3S-42.)

Golden lckt: lie tnat Is not Witl
me is against me; and he that gather
eth not with me scattereth." Matt.
IL: 80.
The last lesson left the story OF
Jesus with the Pharisees, the religious
people OF the day. plotting how they
might cause the death of Jesus. Some
one told him OF it, and he sought
safety by going away. This was not
cowardice, but precaution. But going
away did not free him from calls upon
his power He could not keep himself
out OF sight Wherever he went was
some poor sufferer, and the friends al
ways heard that Jesus was near and at
once sought his aid II hey were ready
to believe iii his power and to seek its
aid il they were nto ready to believe
in him At this point the lesson be-
gins.
vs. 81 The man had double afll-
iction His friends thought the devil
possessed him. He was i'll bad case.
1t is bad to be blind. 1t is worse to be
dumb. Dumb men are usually deaf
also. All the senses the man had left
were taste, touch and smell Every
sense lost takes away one-6ith OF a
persons power. Oh course nature
makes some conpensations. But blind
and deaf men have hard time.
How Jesus healed him is not stated.
1t makes no difference how. He did it.
That is enough. 1T astonished every
one They had probably heard about
his doing tn ngs like that, but when
they saw it, they were as amazed as
though they had never heard. 1t is
not said there was any faith i'll any
one. But some one believed he could
do what he did That is why the poor
man was brought to Jesus.
VS.. 20 Now comes the question
which was To divide the nation is
not this the Son of Dav;d?" Empha-
size the word the A particular Son
OF David WAS meant. The whole ma
ton was cxl citing and longing Tor the
coming OF one who was to be known
as the Son oil David" He was to do
mighty things; to set the nation free
from Rome, TO open prison doors; to
restore the Kingdom OF Israel.
This miracle of healing started the
crowd Ia discussing. This must be
the Son oi David they said. 1t was
a dangerous question. The authori-
ties had decided that he was not, and
it madden,d them to have any one
dare to ask IT.
vs.. p. The answer OF the Pharisccs
was a confession that he did really
cast out devils and was an attempt to
prejudice tn, crowd against him
He doth not cast out devils by any
good power or ior any good purpose
He is in icag0e with Bcclzcbub, prince
oi devils.
How did they know so much? What
a foolish answer Why would the de
VII take possession OF man. ana then
cast himself out: 1t was, al surd
Jesus saw it instantly. Hate almost
always defeats ;tseli Hate is nearly
always short sighted and foolish.
NSs. $3.50 These verses are Il little
sermon on the text. lie casteth out
devils by the prince cf the devils.
he argument is i'll verses 25-27.
The claim for the real source Of his
power is in 2crse zS. Verse 20 is an
illustration Of the abSurdity al the
position 81 the PhariSccs. The remain
ing verses are his sentence upon those
VIII" had by their words blasphcmcd
the Holy Ghost
vs.. 25 Here is a general PROPOSE
ton. Divisions in State. community
or home are ruinOuS. History has
proved it to be true The. worst wars
the world has known have been civil
wars. Strikes in cities where parties
divide have filled our own time with
bitterness. Family divisions end in
divorces and blasted lives. The talk
about Satan casting out himself was
folly For
vs., 20. Ii he is divided ;gainst HIM
self his kingdom must perish Wa, it
likely the devil would aid Jesus in
casting him out of men?
Is. p. 1t would seem from tn :
verse tina, the curing OF pc~sun, com
monty calIyd denounced was possible,
and wa, done by men other than lcsuS.
1t was Il home thrust he made VIII, II
he asked the question of this verse. Ii
the levi h, ip, me, who is helping your
Children when they do what | do:
y. - This is ChristS claim 81
spiritual power. | do not do these
WORK, "i power. The Holy Spirit does
them $50 repeat" he says. the
Kingdom al Heaven is come. How
true and ,:ron@ he was. tic did not
hesitate everywhere Ia cam that the
promised Nnadnm had come How
blinded ~ llr h> ,@cmic, became
How fearful is the rrtrinUtirn which
has bcca visited upon them
vs. 20. The illustration i, strong
You caunat rob the house ut a man