Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-01-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
Comments By
Rev. Ernest BOurner Allen, D. D.
Pastor of the Washington st.
Congregational Church and the
Marion Lawrance Sunday
School, Toledo, Ohio.
For Sunday January %, 1916

Lesson Text: Romans 8: 1890.
Memorize vss. 16, II.
Golden Text: GAS many as are led by
the Spirit of God, these are the sons
of God. Romans 8: Ia.
l. The Letter to Rome
The letter to the Roman church is
one of the most thought-provoking
you ever read. Paul had never been
at Rome up to this time and he put a
great deal of work on this letter. Much
letter writing in this souvenir postal
card age of ours is slipshod. If you
want good mind tonic, read Romans.
Luther called it "The Masterpiece of
the New Testiment.'" The eighth
chapter is the climax Spurgeon de-
clared it was like the garden of Eden,
which had in it all manner of delights,
and that if man were compelled to
preach from it all his life, he would
find it ineXhaustible The whole let
ter gives thorough discussion of
Gods plan of salvation. A visitor in
n theological seminary in India asked
if any one there could give the sub
jects and progress of doctrine in Ro-
mans. To his surprise boy belong
ing to one of the low castles in India
arose and did so. Should not we
American christians be able to do as
much?
III. For the Children
Some people will think this is a
hard lesson to teach children. But
there are four simple, yet important,
lessons which we can teach them
That God is their Father, that Jesus
is their elder Brother, that themselves
are children of God, and may be led
by the Spirit of God. Almost every
thing we teach those who are older
is in these four foundation facts.
The 7th chapter and the first eleven
verses of the Sth chapter give dra-
matte picture of the battle between
the animal nature and the spiritual
nature. 1t can be made very vivid for
the children.
1t is wonderful thing to be child
of God, Howard Chidley has told this
story: "a story is told of the son of
Louis XVI of France, whose father
and mother were put to death by the
people. He was thus left an orphan,
and was sent to live with wicked
man and woman who tried to teach
him all manner of wrongdoing. But
when they tried to persuade him to do
wrong, he would refuse, and say that
ne was kings son, and would some
day be king himself, therefore he
could not stoop so low.
wish every boy, when he is tempt
ed to do some unmanly thing, would
remember his kingship, too. You are
not the son of an earthly king, but
you are each the son of a Heavenly
King, and you, too have the making
of king in you. You are too great
TO do mean things. There is an old
hymn which runs like this:
My Father is rich in houses and
lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world
in his hands;
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver
and gold
His Golfers are full, he has treas
urs untold.
I'm the child of King, the child
of n King,
With Jesus my Savior, I'm the child
of King"
And when you would do a mean thing,
ask yourself if that is worthy of your
kingship. Remember that only those
who live Kingly lives are worthy to
enter the Kingdom of Heaven"
III. Today's Suffering.
No one can tell how many hearts
have been comforted by the 2Sth
verse of Romans 8. 1t voices a calm
confidence in God. 1t is faith sorely
needed in these dreadful war days. 1t
is also needed when we stand face to
face with some personal sorrow. What
will uphold you then? How far will
your present philosophy of life go? |
What will you offer your friends and
neighbors when their hearts are des-
olate? The nation is ringing with the
call for preparedness, because foe
may sometime come. We must also
sound the call for moral preparedness.
And then there is something more, al
most deeper than the latter, the call
to preparedness for the solemn sor-
row-crisis of life, when we look into /
open graves, or face failing health, or
wander alone because friends have
passed on. Here, then, is Paul's an
swer: God knows. God cares. Cod
helps. Good shall come out of sorrow