The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-14
UNIFORM SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
March 10
RLv. JOSEPH T. WATTS, DID.
>nndas school Secretary Baptist State Mission Board,

ltats.ln sunday School Lesson
March it--Rev, Joseph T. Watts. d.
y. SUNDAY School secretary, Bap-
fist Static mission board.l
Lesson text; Joshua 20.1-e.
Golden text: Blessed are the mer-
ciful: for they shall obtain mercy"
Matthew "a.
! Senior and adult topic: Our Re-
sppnsibility Toward Offenders
/ Lesson outline.
Cities of Refuge Commanded Is
II--Cities OF Refuge Appointed 10
introduction--Our last lesson had
TO do with Joshua's call to the mill
i tary leadership of Israel and the
promises and admonitions connected
with that call. AS we have only
three lessons from this interesting
book. and today's lession is found in
the twentieth chapter. the student Is
urged to read the whole book at one
or two sitting~. and thus get not only
the connection of today's lesson. but
also note the spirit OF the great leader
/ Tor whom the book was named.
! The Lesson Briefly Considered.
/ The Irraelites had been commanded
! Through Moses to provide cities of
refuge. (See Tx. 21:13,14: Numbers
$685.: Deut- 1919 but they could
not be selected until the people were
/ In their own land. The design was
not TO screen criminals. but only to
afford the homicide. protection. from
the vengeance of the deceased rela-
tives until II should have been ascer-
tanned whether the death had resulted
from accident and rnomentary passion.
tor from prenicditated malice" When
such tragedy had occurred the man
IN mt af
cities and stand at The entrance OF the
gate where public meeting and trials
were held and declare his cause to
the elders. what he had done, and
why he found it necessary to flee
from his pursuers. They were re-
quirod to afford him the protection
OF the law and give him IA suitable
means OF support while his case was
under consideration. Under the law
I was duty to pursue a murderer,
but the elders were compelled to give
every man a fair trial. and on the
face OF such a case, where q man will
Hngly surrendered himself to the pro-
cssses OF law. It was assumed that
the killing had boon done unwit-
dnsiy. or ~ we should say. without
malice aforethought. The manslayer
when cleared would dwell IN the city
In which he had taken refuge until
the death Of the high priest. thus Sc
curing his complete deliverance.
This seemingly hardship of remain
Ing away from home and business till
the death of the high priest was neces-
sary and Just. because there is usually
some fault OF passion or carelessness.
oven In the case OF accidental muir
ders, and this great Inconvenience
would tend TO carefulncss and safety
(Peolubet).
The six Cities Of Refuge set apart
ara mentioned In verses rs. three on
the West of Jordan and three on tho
east side--alnost equally remote from
each other. .,4
Practical Lessons.
The cities of refuge prepared for
Israel are An intimation of what
Gods spiritual Israel have, and shall
have. in Chris. and heaven. not only
TO repose themselves In, but refuge
to secure themselves in And W. can
not think these cities nf refuge would
have been so often and so much
spoken OF In the law OF Moses, iss
they were not designed 70 tyrify the
relief which the gospel provides for
poor penttent sinners. and their pro- +!
lection from the curse of the law and
the wrath OF God, in our Lord Jesus, !
10 whom believers flee from refuge. |
Henry.
The Christian religion IL respon- /
sible for .hc methods OF treating Of
tenders, which have gained so much /
adherence during the past few years, |
especially with relation to the treat |
nent OF delinquent boys and girls I
rhe juvenile courts OF the land have |
been the neral salvation OF thousands |
u young people who were guilty OF |
.rfmes committed unwitfingly. or be- |
,atse OF lack Of training. Instead Of
throwing boys and girls into Jail. pro-
vision IL made for putting them on
probation for first offsnsos. under