Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-12-04

Text of the Lesson, Matt. xviii, ia.
Memory Verses, 2, Golden Text,
Matt. xviii, 1o-Commentary Prepar-
cd by Rev. D. M. stesrns.
The question OF the disciples with
which this lesson begins, who is the
greatest In the kingdom of heavenF"
carries us far back in the history OF
man on the earth. even TO the sugges-
ton OF the old serpent to Eve, rYe
shall be as gods" Gen. III. -. His
own ambition Is seen in lisa. xiv. -,
Il: Il will eXalt my throne above the
stars of Ged s@% I will be like
the Most High" The significance Of
the title Most High God" is seen In
the first use of it in Gen. xiv. 1922,
where 1t evidently refers to God as the
pOssessOr Of heaven and earth. The
great adversarys ambition. therefore,
Is to possess the earth and the people
upon it.
The late DIR. Weston said that the
Bible is the record Of the conflict
between God and the devil for man and
his Inheritance. the earth. When people
join house to house and field TO field,
that they may be placed alone in the
midst Of the earth Elsa. V, 81. on which
principle all trusts and combines seem
to be carried on. IL is not difficult to
recognize the unseen ambitious. wicked
one back OF 1t all, who offered to our
Lord all the kingdoms of this world
and the glory Of them II He would
ut-orc bFr, hin, IT ,,lya "
The man will yet come, II he is not
already in sight who will accept this
offer OF the devil. and all the world will
worship him whose names are not in
the Book Of Life dan. xi. $685. 43; Rev
XIII. s.. We need to understand this In
order to be delivered from the amhi-
ton TO be great even in the kingdom.
He must be blind indeed who would de-
sire greatness or power in this present
evil age unless he could use II wholly
for God. The lifelong motto Of every
believer should be. The Lord alone
shall he exalted" Qsa. II. II. IL.
Not only on this occasion did the idea
OF personal greatness lay hold Of the
disciples. but just after He had the
second time fOretold His death they by
who should be the greatest Mark tx,
31-34. On another occasion both James
and John and their mother asked for
seats on His right and left hand in
His kingdom and glory Matt. Xxx. 20.
| 81; Mark x. $3.50. Then again at the
last passover, on the night of His he
| trayal. after He had indicated Judas as
His betrayer, there was Il strife among
them which Of them would be account
ed the greatest luke xii. 21-24. He
always taught them that genuine hui
mility was true greatness. and. as TO
| places in His kingdom. the Father had
arranged all that, aud We must leave 1t
with Him.
On the occasion of our lesson He
called 4 little child and set him in the
midst and by an object lesson taught
them humility and true greatness and
also that to enter the kingdom one must
become as little child 90. A little
child does not suggest innocence as its
| principal feature. for It is marvellous
how early very little child shows will
fullness and temper. yet once heard a
Roman Catholic bishop use these words
about becoming as little children as n
proof OF the need Of a purgatory. where
we could somehow work OFF our sins
until, as when we were innocent chill
dren. we would be fit for the kingdom.
The Scriptures. the reading OF which
the Roman Catholics do not encourage.
teach us plainly that only the blood Of
{ Jesus can cleanse our sins and that His
absolutely perfect righteousness. which
He gives freely TO all who receive Him
is our only fitness for the presence of
God (Rom. i'll. "a; V. I. Q; Cor. /, 30)
A very little child is helpless teH N
able. trustful. comes when called
in our emntineSS all His fullneSS o.
comes ours, and then we become ind
His little ones. who believe in Him
(verse g.. and He counts all treatment
OF such little ones as done to Himself
oversees 5-9).
Awful indeed are some OF the wo~f
In these verses and in Mark TX. 424S
concerning the possibility of being caSt
into everlasting hell fire. but how blceS
ed the assurance that this fearful 9"
was never prepared for man !
the devil AID his angels: that the !
is not willing that any should periSr
and that those to whom He gives eter
nal life can never perish oversees 5. ID
25-41; II Pet. ill. 8; John K, %. Ths
ministry OF angels Is beautifully re-
ferred TO In verse 10. and that they al
ways have access to our Father IL
heaven, that they minister TO US here
1 10 l.. - T0k~ "a