Middletown transcript., 1914-03-28

humbiy with tiny COO. '-hdlcan b:o.
There is no chronological order to
the lessons for the past quarter,
though they have all been selected
from the period of the Perean ministry
of our Lord. The thought of the Gold
en- Text, rather than the reading les
son, will serve to give US a connected
review.
The lessons have chiefly concerned
Jesus as the great Teacher, thus we
notice the inclusive note of the first
clause of the Golden Text, HE hath
showed thee, o man, what is good. "
AS an exposition of that note we have
presented Gods plan of action, out
ward, ito do justly, aid to love mercy,
and inwardly ito walk humbly with
thy God" With this thought in mind
let US divide lessons of the quarters
into two sections: % The first seven
lessons which have to do with mans
relation to the kingdom in its outward
manifestation, and (2) the remaining
ive that have to do with walking
humbly with thy God" e. g., the in
ward aspect of the kingdom.
AS Children.
|. The first section. In order to
keep this two-fold thought before US,
we must observe carefully the several
golden texts In the first lesson we
have set before US the manner where
by we are to enter into this new
kingdom. We must enter as chill
dren and the Golden Text, Likewise,
We younger, be subject unto the
elder for God resisteth the
proud, but giveth grace to the hum
ple," illustrates the humility of chill
dren and the necessity of our right
relationship to them. The second les
son deals with the possibility Of CO.
operation with him in service, as
when the 20 went before his face.
Great privileges, however, when
abused, bring condemnation and deg
radiation. 1T is not you that speak,
but the Spirit of your Father that
speaketh in you" The third lesson
"The Good Samaritan"-is another ex-
preston of the outward walk of life,
that of loving mercy. True love never
asks who it may, but rather who it
can, serve. 1t always manifests it.
self in sacrifice and in service-"Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
The story of service actually rem
dered to our Lord in the days of his
flesh is the subject of the fourth les
son. All other interests and ties must
be secondary to our allegiance and
obedience to m-"Inasmuch as ye
did it unto one of these, my brethren,
even these least, ye did it unto me-"
The fifth lesson concerns prayer. The
parable of the unfriendly neighbor and
the effect of prayer to bring about just
relations is revealed III the Golden
Text which is the heart Of that les
son. ASK, and it shall ha given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you" The sixth
lesson still continues to treat this out
ward aspect. and reveals to us the
factstha great as Satan is, our Lord
Jesus has far greater power. The
difference between darkness and light
and the unjust conclusions of men is
a difference of viewpoint, hence the
Golden Text, Look, therefore, wheth-
er the light that is in thee be not dark
ness" Christ's hatred of shams is
the seventh lesson God looks not
upon the outward appearance, but
upon the heart Jesus sternly de-
nounces men who lack justice and
mercy in dealing with their fellow
men. BE not deceived: God is not
Knocked, for whatsoever man soweth,
that shall he also reap"
Must Walk Humbly.
II. The second section. We now
come to a group of lessons that seem
to emphasize the second part of Gods
requirements, as expressed in the
Golden Text for today, viz, "and to
walk humbly with thy God" This
is the inward, personal. relation with
God, as against our outward, right
eous relations with men. These re-
manning lessons deal with the abiding
principles of discipIeship which
Jesus gave to his followers. The
eighth lesson reveals the principle of
a true confession of Christ to be that
of the faith which makes fear impos-
sibIe. We are to fear God alone. In
the ninth lesson we see that the true
fulfillment of life is that of having
the heart set upon the true treasure,
which is spiritual, rather than upon
the false treasure which is material,
for. "Where your treasure is, there
will be your heart also" In lesson
ten we have set before us the prin-
ciple of faithful service which is that
of watchfulness for the returning
King, and which expresses itself in per
petual service in his interest and on
behalf of his household. Blessed
are those servants whom the Lord,
when he cometh, shall ind watching.
The principle of the religion of Christ
is that of compassion Qesson ID,
and the true sanction of the Sabbath
is fulfilled in such service as makes
the Sabbath possible to those who are
in need. 1t is, therefore, lawful to
do good on the Sabbath.
Lesson 12 deals with the vital issue
of this second section, viz, that it is
of far more Importance that we be in
the kingdom than any other issue. We
must put forth strenuous efforts that
we may enter the narrow door. The
kingdom of God is doing the will of
God, rather than calling him Lord!
Lord! mot everyone that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom Of heaven"
Thus as we hastily look over these
lessons from these two viewpoints,
we are led to conclude with the fWt