Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-02-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson 8.-First Quarter, Feb
ruary "a, 1918
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Lesson Text, Mark q: 2f-SA-memory
Verses, Matt 1881. 32-Goiden
Text, lisa. t1:e-commentary FIRE.
pared by Rev. o. N. strarnA

Gn0 a similar saying IL MALI . 'Ao-A ~
where believers are called the salt OF
the earth and the light of the world,
but the warning Is given that salt may
lose its SAVIOR and light may be pre-
vented by circumstances from benefit
ing others. As We saw in the parable
of the sower many things may hinder
fruItfulness. In that parable 1t seems
to me that neither wayside nor rocky
soil give any evidence OF the hearers
salvation, while the thorny soil may
indicate q saved but unfruitful life.
Therefore the warning about the ne
cessity of the light shining, and the
ears hearing.
In lesson verses "a and % there is an
admonition so much needed in our day
when there is so much false teaching
Take heed what We hear"-suggesting
that we should be careful TO hear only
that which is noted In the Scripture OF
Truth (Dan. 10 :2I). Our attitude should
be, ~ will hear what God the Lord will
speak" Cps. IS 81. AS TO man losing
that which he hath, the meaning is
more plain in Luke S:lS: That which
he seemeth to have" We are to him
as his mother and brethren only when
we hear the word of God and do IT
duke SID.
When he speaks OF the Kingdom Of
God in parallels, after the Pharisees
determined to kill him, thus rejecting
him and his Kingdom, We must under
stand him to be referring TO this pres
ent age Of a rejected and postponed
of the Kingdom" Tvs. III. Some people
expect to see the seed spring up as
soon as 1t is sown, and are discouraged
If they do not see converts at every
service; but, whilst we should always
expect results, 1t does seem to me bet
ter TO leave the results with him who
assures US that his word will always
accomplish his pleasure lisa. So I'D
The farmer who commits the seed to
the ground and to God waits patiently
upon God for results (James SD, and
In due time gathers In the results. Ii
is safe to wait till harvest time.
Verses 1882 give US the parable Of
the mustard seed, which can be under
stood only in the light of the other par
ables of this discourse, which Is fully
given in Matt Is. Here is an unnatural
growth, for the mustard plant is not a
great tree, and the fowls of the air
must be understood in the light of his
exposition of the parable of the sower.
Compare verses and Is.
But let US look at the whole seven Of
his one discourse In Matt. Is, and re-
member that he is describing this
whole age between his rejection and
his return during which his followers
are to occupy till he come" making
diligent use of the pounds and the
talents he commits to US, and of which
we must give account to him. The first
four, the sower and the seed, the wheat
and the tares, the mustard seed and
the leaven, were spoken publicly, and
when they were alone he expounded all
things to his disciples MARX :341. The
last three Of the seven seem TO have
been spoken privately to his disciples
in the house (Matt. l3 :36). When
taken together as one discourse, as they
really were, the teaching seems very
plain, and in perfect accord with all
Scripture. Our great business as his
followers is to preach the word as his
messengers with his message not ex-
pecting TO find good soil everywhere,
but relying upon him who cannot fail
nor be discouraged. We must expect
that until the end Of this age tares, the
devils counterfeit will grow with the
wheat; the children Of the devil and
the children of God side by side till
the end. The little plant will become
great tree, the vast thing called the
church. In which will be many a Ju-
das Iscariot. Many a child of the devil
In the pulpit in the choir, on the board
of trustees, and in the pews; the birds
OF the air in the branches. The food,
which ought to be the pure word Of
God, will partly be mixed with evil. for
leaven is always suggestive of evil, and
we have come to days when from many
a pulpit only false doctrine is pro-
claimed. He knew that it would be so.
and told us that we might not be dis
couraged. Any who are looking for a
world won to Christ In this age are
looking for that for which there is no
authority in Scripture. Continuing to
hear him, and remembering that he
said THE field is the world" Matt.
Is :38), we see him giving up all that
he had; for our sakes becoming poor
e Cor. s: e) that he might redeem the
inheritance. the world. for the sake of
the treasure in 1t, his people Israel,
still hidden but soon to he manifest.
He also is the merchantmen, and the
pearl Of great price is his church gath
cred from the sea OF all nations, which
In due time he will present to himself
as q glorious church. holy and without
blemish, not having spot or wrinkle, or
any such thing Eph. sgd. II is of
great price because Of the price he
paid for II
When the church shall have been
completed, and Israel redeemed az his