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THE  TEACHING  OF 
THE   HOLY  SCRIPTURES 

FOR 

YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  CLASSES 

IN 

ALL    EVANGE:i,ICAt    CHURCHES 

an  <©utlxne  ^tnhp 


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DUSTON   KEMBLE;  •' 

^^IMiH.A-.' 

'-»  -i*  *,■»'«    '^  ,'•  *e  •'•,     *•" 

PHILADELPHIA 
AMERICAN  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  UNION 

1816  CHESTNUT  STREET 
1908 


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Copyright,  1908,  by  The  American  Sunday-School  Union. 


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FOREWORD. 


These  lessons  are  intended  as  a  simple  outline  of 
the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  presented  in 
logical  form,  but  free  from  the  usual  technical  terms. 
Each  lesFon  should  be  carefully  read  and  compared 
with  the  Scripture  references  as  given;  then  recited 
to  the  teacher,  parent,  or  pastor  in  answers  to  the 
printed  questions.  The  references  to  be  most  help- 
ful should  be  looked  up  and  read  in  the  class. 
The  personal  prayer  and  verses  following  each  lesson 
should  be  learned  and  repeated  from  time  to  time. 
The  entire  forty  lessons  in  this  volume  may  be 
taken  up  week  by  week  in  the  period  corresponding 
to  the  school  year  in  the  United  States,  beginning 
some  time  in  September  and  ending  in  June,  or  they 
may  be  taken  three  times  a  week,  between  the  holi- 
days and  Easter.  The  classes  may  be  composed  of 
young  persons  from  the  age  of  about  twelve  to  fifteen 
years  and  upward,  according  to  their  previous  train- 
ing and  personal  disposition;  but  some  who  are  much 
older  may  also  find  the  lessons  profitable  as  a  state- 
ment of  the  Christian  faith  from  a  present-day, 
evangelical  standpoint.  Should  these  pages  present 
a  broader  view  and  a  deeper  insight  into  the  essential 
truths  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  a  source  of  religi- 
ous authority,  the  result  will  be  well  worth  all  the 

3 


4  FOREWORD. 

effort  that  may  be  necessary.  For  ours  is  a  Christian 
civilization,  and  these  are  the  teachings  that  for 
nearly  two  thousand  years  have  underlaid  our  social 
life,  our  moral  standards,  our  humane  progress,  and 
our  spiritual  faith  and  hone  for  the  Future, 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I. 

PAGE 

I.  The  Holy  Scriptures 9 

II.  The  Supreme  Being 13 

III.  Tlie  Work  of  Creation 17 

IV.  The  Nature  and  Place  of  Man 21 

V.  The  Moral  Law 25 

VI.  Sin  and  its  Consequences 29 

VII.  The  Holy  Spirit 33 

VIII.  Prayer  and  Divine  Providence 37 

IX.  The  Covenant  with  God 41 

X.  The  Separation  of  God's  People 45 

XT.  The  Law  of  Reverence  toward  God 49 

XII.  The  Law  of  Sabbath  Rest  and  Worship. .  53 

XIII.  The  Law  of  the  Family  and  Respect  to 

Parents 58 

XIV.  The  Laws  of  Common  Morality 62 

XV.  The  Duty  of  Repentance  from  Sin 66 

XVI.  The  Necessity  of  Conflict  with  Evil 70 

XVII.  The  Principle  of  Moral  Sacrifice 74 

XVIIL  The  Prophecies  and  Prophetic  Types.,. .  78 

XIX.  The  Preparations  for  Messiah's  Coming. .  82 

PART   II. 

XX.  Jesus  Christ,  the  Saviour 89 

XXI.  His  Sermon  on  the  Mount 93 

XXII.  His  Miracles  of  Mercy  and  Power 98 

XXIII.  His  Parables  of  the  Kingdom 102 

5 


6  CONTENTS. 

PAOK 

XXIV.  His  Conversations  with  Men 107 

XXV.  His  Prophecies  of  the  Future Ill 

XXVI.  His  Discourse  at  the  Supper 116 

XXVII.  His  Sufferings,  Death,  and  Resurrection.  130 

XXVIII.  The   Apostolic  Church 125 

XXIX.  The  Gospel  Method  of  Saving  Men 130 

XXX.  The  Call  of  God  to  the  Sinner 135 

XXXI.  The  New  Birth  of  the  Soul, 140 

XXXII.  The  Law  of  Christian  Liberty 145 

XXXIIL  The  Dangers  of  Temptation 149 

XXXIV.  The  Life  of  Christian  Service 153 

XXXV.  The  Christian  Virtues 158 

XXXVI.  The  Christian  Graces 163 

XXXVII.  The  Value  of  Discipline 167 

XXXVIII.  The  Fellowship  of  Believers 172 

XXXIX.  The  Things  to  Come 177 

XL.  Personal  Responsibility 182 


PART  FIRST 


I. 

THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 

The  Bible  is  sometimes  called  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
because  it  contains  the  early  history  and  teachings  of 
the  Christian  religion  ;  and  because  it  is  composed  of 
many  different  books,  written  at  various  times  and 
places  by  men  of  the  Hebrew  race  ; — prophets,  priests, 
and  apostles,  or  their  associates  and  companions,'  but 
the  exact  date  and  authorship  of  each  book  cannot 
always  be  ascertained. 

These  Scriptures  are  usually  divided  into  two  parts 
called  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  ;  the  former  con- 
taining all  the  sacred  writings  accepted  by  the  ancient 
Jewish  Church,  and  the  latter  containing  the  personal 
history  and  sayings  of  Jesus  Christ,  also  the  writings 
of  his  apostles  and  followers  who  became  the  builders 
of  the  Christian  Church.^ 

The  Old  Testament  is  accepted  also  by  Christians  as 
containing  many  things  necessary  for  the  instruction 
of  mankind,  and  to  prepare  the  world  for  the  coming 
of  Jesus  Christ,  who  lived  and  taught  the  perfect  form 
of  religion  in  Palestine  some  1900  years  ago,  and  who 
is  still  held  in  reverence  as  the  ever-living  Saviour  of 
men,  the  head  of  a  divine  and  spiritual  kingdom. 

There  are  thirty-nine  books  or  writings  in  the 
Old  Testament,  all  of  which  are  believed  to  have  been 
written  and  collected  several  centuries  before  Christ. 
These  writings  contain  an  account  of  the  creation  of 
the  world  and  of  the  early  history  of  the  human  race  ; 
also  the  annals  of  the  Hebrew  people  from  the  patri- 
9 


10  THE   HOLY   SCRIPTURES. 

archs  down  to  Ezra,  the  builder  of  the  second  temple 
at  Jerusalem. 

They  also  give  us  the  laws  of  Moses  for  reverence, 
purity,  justice,  and  mercy;  and  the  laws  of  the 
priesthood,  sacrifices  and  offerings.  Besides  all 
these,  we  have  the  Psalms  of  meditation,  prayer,  and 
praise  to  Almighty  God,  the  Hebrew  Proverbs,  the 
Books  of  Wisdom,  and  the  story  of  Job;  also  the 
preaching  and  visions  of  the  Hebrew  prophet^.* 

The  high  morality  of  these  ancient  writings,  their 
spiritual  types  and  prophecies  which  since  have  been 
realized  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  their  general 
agreement  with  the  revelations  of  modern  science 
and  discovery,  all  lead  us  to  accept  their  claims  of 
divine  inspiration;  that  is,  that  their  teachings  were 
imparted  to  good  men  by  the  Spirit  of  God.^ 

That  a  human  element  exists  in  the  Bible,  and  that 
its  contents  have  been  slightly  modified  in  trans- 
mission through  the  centuries,  does  not  materially 
impair  either  its  essential  truth  or  its  authority  as 
an  instructor.® 

The  twenty-seven  books  of  the  New  Testament  rest 
upon  the  life,  teachings,  and  character  of  Jesus 
Christ  as  the  promised  Messiah,  and  the  Author  of 
spiritual  life  in  them  who  truly  believe  on  Him,^ 


"The  most  learned,  acute,  and  diligent  student  can- 
this  one  volume.  (The  more  deeply  he  works  the 
mine,  the  richer  and  more  abundant  he  finds  the  ore). 
New  light  continually  beams  from  this  source  of 
heavenly  knowledge,  to  direct  our  conduct  and  illus- 
trate the  work  of  God  and  the  ways  of  men:  and  he 


THE   HOLY   SCRIPTURES.  H 

will  at  last  leave  the  world  confessing  that  the  more 
he  studied  the  Scriptures,  the  fuller  conviction  he  had 
of  his  own  ignorance,  and  of  their  inestimable  value." 

Sir  Walter  Scott. 

"  There  are  no  songs  comparable  to  the  songs  of 
Zion;  no  orations  equal  to  those  of  the  prophets; 
and  no  politics  like  those  the  Scriptures  teach." 

John  Milton. 

REFERENCES. 

1  2  Tim.  3  :  14-17.  John  5  :  39.  Heb.  1  :  1-2.  Rom.  1.5  :  4, 
16  :  25-26. 

2  Deut.  31  :  9-12,  24-26.  Josh.  1  :  7-8.  Luke  4  :  16-22.  Jao. 
21  :  24-25. 

3  GaL  3  :  24-25.  John  5  :  45-47.  Luke  24  :  25-27.  Matt. 
5:  17-18. 

*  Gen.  2:4,  5:1.  Num.  36  :  13.  Deut.  1:1,4:  1-14.  Josh. 
1  :  7-8,  8  :  34-35.     2  Kings  22  :  8-13.     Neh.  8  :  1-5,  17.     John 

1  :  17,  45,  7  :  19,  22-23.  Matt.  12  :  40-42.  Luke  20  :  42, 
24:44   Jas.   5:  11,    17-18. 

6  Ex.  4  :  10-15,  33  :  9-11.  Lev.  26  :  46,  27  :  34.  1  Sam. 
23  :  1-2.  Job  32  :  8.  2  Cor.  4  :  5-7.  2  Peter  1  :  19-21, 
3:  15-16. 

8  Matt.  5  :  21-22,   33-34,  38-39,  43-44.     John  6  :  63.     Rom. 

2  :  29,  7  :  6.     1  Cor.  13  :  9-12.     2  Cor.  3  :  6. 

7  Matt.  14  :  33.  Luke  20  :  1-8.  Acts  2  :  22-24,  32-36, 
4  :  10-12.     Heb.  9  :  13-15. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  name  is  often  applied  to  the  Bible,  and  wliy? 

Into  what  two  parts  are  the  Holy   Scriptures  divided? 

Who  are  the  people  that  accept  only  tne  Old  Testament? 

What  matters  are  contained   in  the  New  Testament? 

Why  is  the  Old  Testament  accepted  also  by  Christians? 

Who  was  Jesus  Christ,  and  how  is  he  still  regarded? 

How  many  books  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  when  written? 

What  matters  of  history,  law,  devotion,  wisdom,  and 
prophecy  do  they  contain? 

What  three  reasons  have  we  for  accepting  the  claim  of 
divine  inspiration  for  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures? 


12  THE   HOLY   SCRIPTURES. 

How  is  this  claim  affected  by  a  human  element  in  the 
Bible,  or  by  slight  changes  in  long  transmission? 

Upon  what  persons's  life  and  teachings  does  the  authority 
of  the  New  Testament  chiefly  rest? 

PRAYER. 

O  Lord,  I  am  but  a  child  before  thee,  and  in  great 
need  of  thy  instructions.  Show  me,  I  beseech  thee, 
the  path  of  life,  that  I  may  walk  therein  and  find  a 
blessing.  May  thy  word  be  revealed  to  my  under- 
standing, making  me  wise  unto  salvation.  May  thy 
truth  and  grace  enable  me  to  see  the  light  in  thy 
light,  and  to  dwell  with  thee  forevermore.     Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,    BURLINGTON.) 

What  glory  gilds  the  sacred  page! 

Majestic  like  the  sun. 
It  gives  a  light  to  every  age. 

It  gives,  but  borrows  none. 

The  power  that  gave  it  still  supplies 
The  gracious  light  and  heat; 

Its  truths  upon   the   nations   rise. 
They  rise  but  never  set. 

Lord,  everlasting  thanks  be  thine 

For  such  a  bright  display, 
As  makes  a  world  of  darkness  shine 

With  beams  of  heavenly  day. 

My  soul  rejoices  to  pursue 

The  steps  of  Him  I  love, 
Till  glory  breaks  upon  my  view 

In  brighter  worlds  above. 

Wm.  Cowper. 


n. 

THE   SUPREME   BEING. 

In  all  ages  and  countries,  men  of  every  condition 
have  been  made  to  feel  from  time  to  time  their  own 
weakness  and  littleness  in  the  presence  of  the  un- 
known forces  around  them  and  in  the  vicissitudes 
incident  to  our  human  lives.  They  have  also  real- 
ized a  sense  of  dependence  upon  some  mysterious 
Power  that  is  higher  and  greater  than  themselves.^ 

Hence  some  have  turned  to  a  rock  or  a  tree,  a 
stream  of  water  or  a  mountain  top,  which  they  wor- 
shipped as  the  seat  of  a  supernatural  presence,  and 
the  source  of  some  malign  or  protecting  power. 
Others  have  sought  an  animate  thing,  as  a  bird,  or 
beast,  or  reptile,  and  worshipped  these  because  of 
the  life  in  them,  whether  manifested  in  a  beautiful 
or  repulsive  form,  not  reflecting  that  such  creatures 
are  lower  than  themselves.^ 

Again,  some  have  turned  to  the  sun,  or  moon,  or 
stars,  as  enduring  objects  far  above  the  world  and 
its  corruptions;  or  they  have  personified  and  adored 
the  powers  of  Nature,  often  representing  them  in 
images  of  human  or  partly  human  form,  to  express 
the  idea  of  a  personality.^ 

A  few  have  worshipped  their  deceased  ancestors, 
or  great  men,  as  though  these  had  not  once  been  like 
ourselves  on  the  earth,  and  equally  dependent  on 
some  higher  Power;  while  still  a  few  others  in  mod- 
ern days  have  turned  to  adore  an  abstraction,  like 
"  the  unknown  God,"  once  worshipped  at  Athens.* 

Now,  it  is  one  of  the  marks  of  inspiration  in  the 
13 


14  THE   SUPREME   BEING. 

Holy  Scriptures  that  from  the  very  first  verse  of  the 
sacred  record  they  present  us  with  a  far  higher  and 
more  satisfying  conception  of  God  than  has  yet 
been  attained  by  any  of  these  religions. 

The  teaching  of  the  Bible  on  this  subject  is  most 
clear  and  satisfactory.  The  basis  of  all  religious 
faith  and  hope  is  the  assurance  that  there  is  a  per- 
sonal and  holy  God,  of  infinite  wisdom  and  power, 
who  is  the  Author  and  Preserver  of  the  Universe, 
and  presides  over  the  lives  and  destinies  of  all  crea- 
tures, including  ourselves.^ 

Since  God  is  a  spirit.  He  is  not  dependent,  as  we 
are,  upon  any  physical  conditions  of  cold  or  heat, 
light  or  darkness,  food  or  drink,  form  or  locality; 
but  He  dwells  in  our  midst,  a  constant  Presence  and 
Power,  while  hidden  to  sight  and  sense,  and  far 
transcending  all  visible  things  in  His  nature  and 
sovereignty.® 

Since,  too.  He  is  the  Supreme  Being,  there  may  be, 
and  indeed,  we  are  told  there  are,  other  spiritual 
beings,  as  angels  and  demons,  cherubim  and  seraphim, 
and  the  souls  of  people  who  once  lived  on  this  earth; 
yet  there  is  and  can  be  only  one  Lord  God  Almighty, 
"  in  whom  we  live  and  move  and  have  our  being."  ^ 

And,  because  God  is  a  Person,  and  not  an  Abstrac- 
tion, He  is  full  of  life,  and  feeling,  and  a  prudent 
concern  for  the  order  of  the  Universe  and  for  the 
best  interests  of  His  kingdom;  so  that  He  cannot  be 
indifferent  to  the  welfare  of  His  creatures,  nor  to  the 
moral  consistency  of  things,  no  matter  where  they 
are  found.** 

Moreover,  God  is  a  perfect  Being  in  whom  there  can 
be  nothing  of  darkness,  or  defect,  or  contradiction, 
or  failure;  and  hence  His  never  ceasing  life  and 
activities  are  all  and  ever  directed  to  an  outcome  of 
truth,  righteousness,  and  love." 


THE    SUPREME    BEING.  15 

"  We  know  God  easily,  if  we  do  not  constrain  our- 
selves to  define  Him." 

JOUBERT. 

"  The  very  word  "  God "  suggests  care,  kindness, 
goodness;  and  the  idea  of  God  in  his  infinity,  is  infi- 
nite care,  infinite  kindness,  infinite  goodness.  We 
give  God  the  name  of  "  Good."  It  is  only  by  short- 
ening that  it  becomes  God." 

H.  W.  Beecher. 

"  We  should  give  God  the  same  place  in  our  hearts 
that  He  holds  in  the  universe." 

Unknown. 
REFERENCES. 

1  Gen.  4:26,  8:20,  12:7-8,  32:6-11.  .Tob  14:1-6.  Ps. 
16  ;  46  :  1-7,  71  :  1-3.     Jonah   1  :  5. 

2  Ex.  20  :  4-5.  32  :  1-6.  Deut.  12  :  1-3.  1  Kings  12  :  26-33, 
14  :  22-23.  Isa.  44  :  9-19. 

3  Deut.  4  :  15-19.  2  Kings  21  :  3-6,  23  :  4-6.  Isa.  47  :  13. 
Jer.  8  :  1-2.  Acts  19  :  35. 

*  Dan.  4  :  28-37.  Isa.  14  :  4-19.  Acts  12  :  20-23,  17  :  22-23. 
2  Thess.  2  :  3-4. 

5  Heb.  11:6.  Job  12:9-10.  Ps.  139:1-12,  145 ;  146 ; 
147.   Acts  14  :  14-18. 

«  1  Kings  8  :  27.  John  1  :  18,  4  :  24.  Acts  17  :  24-29. 
1  Tim.  1  :  17.   Rev.  1  :  8. 

'  Gen.  3  :  24,  28  :  12.  Ps.  .34  :  7,  103  :  20.  Matt.  12  :  24-28. 
25  :  31.  Heb.  1  :  4-7,  12  :  22-23.  1  Peter  3  :  22.  Rev.  3  :  5, 
5:  11. 

8  Gen.  18  :  23-26.  Job  34  :  10-12,  21-25.  Ps.  34  :  15-22. 
Jer.  16  :  17,  32  :  17-19. 

9  Matt.  5  :  48.  John  1  :  4-5.  1  Tim.  6  :  15-16.  Jas.  1  :  17. 
1  John  1  :  5. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  two  kinds  of  feeling  leading  to  some  sort  of  wor- 
ship are  natural   to  men  everj^where? 

What    is   the   first   class  of   objects   they   worship? 
Mention  another  class  of  objects  of  worship. 
Name  still  a  third  and  fourth  class  of  such  objects. 
Are  men  and  abstract  notions  ever  worshipped? 


16  THE   SUPREME   BEING. 

Where  was  found  a  case  of  the  last  mentioned? 

How  does  the  Bible  doctrine  of  God  compare  with  all 
these? 

What  is  the  basis  of  all  religious  faith  and  hope? 

How  far  is  a  spirit  God  dependent  upon  physical  con- 
ditions,   and    where    is    His    dwelling    place? 

Are  there  any  other  spirit  beings  besides  God? 

Does  God  care  for  His  creatures  or  for  moral  conduct? 

In  what  senses  is  God  a  perfect  Being? 

Toward  what  objects  are  His  activities  directed? 

PRAYER. 

Grant  me,  0  Lord,  to  know  Thee,  the  only  true  and 
living  God,  who  inhabitest  eternity,  and  who  visitest 
the  children  of  men.  Cause  me  to  see  Thy  wisdom 
and  power  in  all  Thy  works,  to  behold  Thy  glory  in 
the  sanctuary.  Verily,  Thou  art  a  God  that  hidest 
Thyself;  yet  wilt  Thou  dwell  with  him  that  is  of  a 
lowly  and  a  contrite  spirit,  that  seeketh  to  worship 
Thee.    Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,    HAMBURG.) 

Thine,  Lord,  is  wisdom,  thine  alone; 

Justice  and  truth  before  Thee  stand. 
Yet  nearer  to  Thy  sacred  throne 

Mercy  withholds  Thy  lifted  hand. 

Each  evening  shows  Thy  tender  love. 

Each  rising  morn  Thy  plenteous  grace; 

Thy  wakened  v/rath  doth  slowly  move, 
Thy  willing  mercy  flies  apace. 

To  Thy  benign,  indulgent  care, 

Father,  this  light,  this  breath  we  owe; 
And  air  we  have,  and  all  we  are. 

From  Thee,  great  Source  of  being,   flow. 

Thrice  Ho^y,  Thine  the  kingdom  is; 

The  power  omnipotent  is  Thine: 
.\\\f]  -"'hen  created  nature  dies, 

T':iy  never  ceasing  glories  shine. 

E.  Lange,  tr.  by  J.  Wesley. 


III. 

THE    WORK    OF    CREATION. 

The  teaching  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  is  that  God 
not  only  rules  the  visible  Universe/  and  its  living 
creatures;  but  that  all  these  things,  living  or  non- 
living, are  made  by  him  for  his  own  wise  and  holy 
purposes.''  What  he  was  doing  before  the  world  was 
made,  we  do  not  know,*  nor  is  it  necessary  for  us 
to  know;  although  there  are  suggestions  in  the  Bible 
of  a  previous  order  of  things  where  God  was  also 
Ruler.3 

Now  this  teaching  that  the  present  world  has  not 
always  been  in  existence  in  its  present  form  or  nearly 
so,  as  some  persons  have  fondly  imagined,  is  another 
of  the  strong  indications  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are 
true.  For  everything  around  us  appears  to  be  con- 
stantly in  a  state  of  change;  the  winds,  the  weather, 
the  seasons,  the  flowers  and  fruits  of  the  earth;  some 
are  growing,  while  others  are  maturing  or  passing 
away,  and  so  the  whole  living  world  is  being  made 
new  every  few  months  or  years. 

But  the  same  thing  is  true  of  the  very  foundations 
of  the  earth,  only  they  have  been  much  longer  on  the 
way;  yet  science  teaches  us  that  they  also  had  a 
beginning,  as  doubtless  had  also  the  sun,  moon  and 
stars  in  the  sky,  and  everything  that  we  can  possibly 
see  or  know.  Now,  all  these  things  are  so  com- 
plicated, yet  so  orderly,  so  useful,  and  in  the  main  so 
full  of  beauty  and  grace,  that  we  cannot  possibly 
think  they  have  made  themselves  or  that  they  are 
the  result  of  a  grand,  happy  set  of  chances.* 
2  17 


18  THE    WORK   OP  CREATION. 

The  Scriptures  do  not  declare  that  all  the  world 
was  made  at  once,  nor  in  a  single  day.  The  work 
of  creation  required  six  days,  according  to  the  wis- 
dom of  God;  and  as  there  was  no  sun  to  mark  the 
days  at  first,  no  one  knows  how  long  they  really 
were;  but  they  were  probably  very,  very  long,  in- 
deed, for  God  never  has  to  be  in  a  hurry  about  his 
work.^ 

The  order  of  these  days  as  given  in  Genesis  is 
wonderfully  like  that  which  appears  in  a  study  of 
the  rocks  and  other  elements  of  the  present  earth. 
First,  the  whole  earth  was  formless  and  empty,  a 
great  waste  of  waters  covered  by  thick  darkness;  but 
the  Spirit  of  God,  that  is,  his  Spirit  of  wisdom  and 
power,  brooded  over  the  face  of  the  deep,  and  He 
caused  the  light  to  break  forth  out  of  darkness.* 

Then  the  clouds  of  rain  were  separated  from  the 
deep,  and  through  their  rifts  the  sky  began  to  ap- 
pear; while  the  surface  of  the  globe  was  divided  into 
seas  and  continents,  with  smaller  islands  and  inland 
lakes  and  rivers.^  Then  vegetation  began  to  appear 
on  the  land;  the  grass,  the  herbs,  and  trees;  and 
presently  clearer  weather  began  to  let  the  sun,  moon 
and  stars  be  seen  in  their  places;  while  the  swimming 
creatures  of  the  seas  and  the  flying  things  of  the  air 
above  preceded  the  creeping  things  of  the  earth,  the 
beasts  of  the  forest,  and  the  cattle  of  the  field.^ 

At  last,  the  mighty  work  was  finished;  and  when 
there  was  a  garden-like  place  fit  for  the  abode  of 
human  beings,  man  was  created,  last  of  all,  just  as 
science  also  declares,  confirming  the  Scripture  ac- 
count." 


THE  WORK   OF    CREATION.  19 

"  The  world  is  God's  letter  to  mankind.  His 
thoughts  are  flashing  upon  us  from  every  direction." 

Plato. 

"  It  is  a  beautiful  and  blessed  world  that  we  live 
in,  and  to  lose  the  right  enjoyment  of  it  while  life 
lasts  is  a  sin." 

A.  W.  Chambers. 

"  The  heavens  and  the  earth  alike  speak  of  God, 
and  the  great  natural  world  is  but  another  Bible, 
which  clasps  and  binds  the  written  one;  for  nature 
and  grace  are  one; — grace  the  heart  of  the  flower, 
and  nature  but  its  surrounding  petals." 

H.  W.   Beecher. 

REFERENCES. 

»  Ps.  66:7;  103:19.    Dan.  4:2.5.    John  19: 10-11.     Rev.l5:3-4. 

="  Gen.  1  . 1.     Fs.  'ii  :  6-9.    John  1 :3,  10.     Col.  1  :  16-17.     Heb.  1  :  10. 

»  Job  38  : 4-7.  Ps.  90  : 1-2.  Prov  8  :  23-31.  John  17  :  5,  24.  2  Peter 
2:4.     Judel:6. 

*  Ps.  104 :  24.     146  :  5-6.    Prov.  3  :  19-20.    Jer.  10  :  10-13.    Acts  14  :  15. 

"060.2:1-4.     Ex.  20:11.     Ps.  90:4.     2  Peter  3:  8. 

e  Gen.  1 :  ;3-5.    Job  38 :  12-20.     Isa.  40  :  12-14.    2  Cor.  4 :  5-6. 

^  Gen.  1  :  «-lO.    Job  26:7-13  ;  38:8-11.     2  Peter  3  :  5. 

8  Gen.  1  :  11-2.5.    Ps.  50  :  10-12  ;  104  :  10-31.    Luke  12:  6,  24,  27. 

»  Gen.  1:25-30;  2:7,8.  Psa.  8:1-9,  94:9.  Prov.  20:12.  Isa. 
40:28-31. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  God's  relation  to  the  visible  universe  according  to  the 
Holy  Scriptures  ? 

What  was  God  doing  before  the  world  was  made  ? 

How  is  this  idea  of  world  creation  confirmed  ? 

Why  may  we  not  think  the  world  came  by  chance  ? 

How  long  did  God  work  in  creating  the  world  ? 

What  confirms  the  Bible  account  of  the  order  of  Creation  ? 

Name  the  successive  stages  of  Creation,  whether  by  days  or  aS 
steps  in  the  great  progress  of  that  work  ? 

What  was  the  last  work  of  God's  creation  ? 


20  THE   WORK   OF   CREATION. 


PRAYER. 


Help  me,  O  God,  to  remember  that  Thou  alone  art 
the  Creator.  Thou  hast  spread  out  the  heavens  like  a 
curtain.  Thou  hast  established  the  earth  upon  the 
floods.  In  thy  hands  is  the  breath  of  all  the  living. 
Thou  preserves!  man  and  beast,  and  givest  them 
their  food  in  due  season.  O  Lord,  our  Lord,  how 
excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the  earth!     Amen. 

HYMN.    (TUNE,    DIX.) 

Let  us  with  a  gladsome  mind 
Praise  the  Lord,  for  he  is  kind. 
For  his  mercies  shall  endure 
Ever  faithful,  ever  sure. 

Let  us  sound  his  name  abroad 
For  of  Gods  he  is  the  God, 
Who  by  wisdom  did  create 
Heaven's  expanse  and  all  its  state. 

Did  the  solid  earth  ordain 
How  to  rise  above  the  main; 
Who  by  his  commanding  might 
Filled  the  new  made  earth  with  light. 

Caused  the  golden  tressed  sun 
All  the  day  his  course  to  run; 
And  the  moon  to  shine  by  night 
Mid  her  spangled  sisters  bright. 

All  his  creatures  God  doth  feed. 
His  full  hand  supplies  their  need; 
He  hath  with  a  pitying  eye 
Looked  upon  our  misery. 

Let  us.  therefore,  warble  forth 
His  high  majesty  and  worth, 
For  his  mercy  shall  endure. 
Ever  faithful,  ever  sure. 

John  Milton. 


IV. 

THE   NATURE    AND   PLACE    OF   MAN. 

The  Scriptures  tell  us  that  all  mankind,  or  the 
human  race,  is  derived  from  a  single  pair  of  per- 
sons; and  therefore,  in  a  general  sense,  all  men  are 
equal  in  the  sight  of  their  Creator,  as  all  are  en- 
dowed with  the  same  nature  and  faculties,  although 
in  varying  degrees  of  development.^ 

Moreover,  woman  is  not  the  inferior  nor  the 
superior  of  man;  but  his  equal  and  helpmeet;  that 
is,  as  filling  a  peculiar  social  sphere,  which  is  indis- 
pensable to  the  well-being  of  the  race.^  It  follows 
that  children  should  yield  respect  and  obedience  to 
their  parents;  while  the  latter  are  to  exercise  a 
wise  care  and  patient  control  over  their  children.' 

More  than  this,  all  men  are  to  have  regard  for  the 
rights  of  others,  whether  rich  or  poor,  wise  or  sim- 
ple, great  or  small,  remembering  that  all  are  children 
of  one  Father,  and  that  each  is  entitled  to  sonie  of 
that  divine  favor  which  we  all  desire  for  ourselves  in 
our  earthly  life.* 

At  the  same  time,  the  Scriptures  teach  that  man 
is  the  highest  of  all  God's  creatures  in  this  visible 
world,  far  above  bird,  or  beast,  or  fish,  or  any  other 
animate  being,  because  he  alone  enjoys  the  gift  of 
reason  and  moral  sense;  thus  being  able  to  know 
right  and  wrong,  to  apprehend  his  duty  to  God,  and 
to  live  a  life  of  real  progress.^ 

Because  of  these  special  endowments,  man  is  said 
to  have  been  "created  in  the  image  of  God;  "  that 
21 


22  THE   NATURE  AND   PLACE   OF   MAN. 

is,  with  a  personality  of  feeling,  reason,  and  will, 
which  is,  in  a  sense,  like  the  personality  of  God, 
and  brings  us  to  enjoy  conscious  relations  with  Him, 
and  also  to  have  the  prospect  of  an  eternal  life  with 
Him  in  heaven.' 

To  man  was  given  the  power  of  articulate  speech, 
and  dominion  over  all  the  other  creatures,  and  also 
over  the  very  elements  of  Nature  itself;  so  as  to 
build  houses,  weave  fabrics,  work  in  metals,  till 
the  earth,  sail  the  seas,  and  a  thousand  things  that 
belong  tc  the  development  of  the  human  race,  of 
which  much  is  still  to  be  realized. 

All  this  was  ordered  that  men  might  develop 
character,  self-control,  and  responsibility,  and  show 
themselves  worthy  to  be  called  "  the  children  of 
God,"  as  He  also  permits  us  to  call  Him  "  Father." 
To  cultivate  this  highest  and  noblest  side  of  our 
human  nature  is  the  work  of  true  religion,  and  the 
object  of  God  in  giving  us  the  Bible.'' 

Many,  indeed,  have  already  realized  much  of  this 
splendid  aim  in  the  conduct  of  their  lives  and  in  the 
work  they  have  done  for  others,  often  at  the  cost  of 
great  labor  and  sacrifice;  but  no  less  with  the  reward 
of  great  moral  satisfaction  and  the  approval  of  God 
himself. 


"Man  himself. is  the  crowning  wonder  of  creation; 
the  study  of  his  nature  is  the  noblest  study  that  the 
world  affords." 

W.  E.  Gladstone. 

REFERENCES. 

»  Gen.  3  :  20,  6  :  17-20.  7  :  17-23.  0:10.  10  :  32,  11  :  1-9. 
Job  34  :  18-10.     Acts  17:  26. 

2  Gen.  1  :  27,  2  :  21-23.  Prov.  18  :  22.  10  :  14,  31  :  10-31. 
1  Cor.  11:  11-12. 


THE  NATURE   AND   PLACE   OF   MAN.  23 

3  Ex.  20 :  12.  Deut.  5  :  16.  1  Sam.  3  :  13.  Ephes. 
6-1-4.     Col.  3:20-24.     Luke  2  :  51.     Ephes.  6  :  4.     Col.  3  :  21. 

*  Prov.  22  :  2.  Luke  10  :  25-37.  Acts  10  :  28.  34-35. 
Gal.  3:28.     Col.  3:  11. 

s  Gen.  1  :  26-28,  9  :  1-3.  Ps.  8  :  3-8.  Matt.  10  :  31,  12  :  12. 
Heb.  2  :  6-8.     Rom.   1  :  19-20. 

«  Gen.  3  :  22.  Ps.  36  :  7-9.  63  :  1-7.  Matt.  4:4.  2  Tim. 
1:  10.      John   17:  3. 

^  Ps.  145  :  8-21.      Isa.  55  :  6-13.     Hosea   14.     John  20  :  31. 

QUESTIOxVS. 

What  does  the  Bible  say  of  the  origin  of  our  race? 
What  of  the  equality  of  woman  with  man? 
What  of  the  equal   rights  of  all   men  before  God? 
How  is  man  the  highest  of  God's  creations? 
What  is  meant  by  the  "image  of  God"   in  man? 
What   are  some  elements  of  progress   in  humanity? 
What  appears  to  be  the  object  of  our  existence  here? 
What  is  then  the  aim  of  true  religion  and  the  Bible? 

PRAYER. 

What  is  man,  0  Lord,  that  Thou  delightest  in 
him  ?  Thou  hast  made  him  a  little  lower  than  the 
angels.  Thou  hast  crowned  him  with  glory  and 
honor.  Thou  hast  given  him  dominion  over  the 
works  of  Thy  majesty  ;  for  he  is  created  in  Thy 
image,  and  in  Thy  likeness  of  feeling,  thought  and 
will.  Aid  us,  O  Lord,  to  be  worthy  of  our  wonderful 
gifts  and  inheritance.    Amen. 

HYMN.     (TUNE,   DUKE   STREET.) 

All  people  that  on  earth  do  dwell 

Sing  to  the  Lord  with  cheerful  voice, 

Serve  Him  with  fear.  His  praise  forth  tell. 
Come  ye  before  Him  and  rejoice. 

The  Lord,  ye  know,  is  God  indeed, 
Without  our  aid  He  did  us  make; 

We  are  His  flock.  He  doth  us  feed. 

And  for  His  sheep  He  doth  us  take. 


24         THE  NATURE  AND  PLACE  OF  MAN. 

O  enter,  then,  His  gates  with  praise. 

Approach  with  joy  His  courts  unto; 

Praise,  laud,  and  bless  His  name  always. 
For  it  is  seemly  so  to  do. 

For  why?    The  Lord  our  God  is  good. 

His  mercy  is  forever  sure, 
His  truth  at  all  times  firmly  stood. 

And  shall  from  age  to  age  endure. 

Wm.  Kethe. 


V. 

THE  MORAL  LAW. 

All  life  and  being  are  controlled,  at  least  to  some 
degree,  by  law.  Most  of  us  are  already  acquainted 
with  the  various  kinds  of  law  or  laws,  such  as  the 
civil  laws  of  the  land  in  which  we  live  ;  the  laws  of 
the  natural  world  around  us,  as  manifested  in  life 
and  physical  activity  of  all  sorts  ;  the  laws  of  so- 
ciety, or  of  trade,  or  of  health;  which  none  of  us 
may  violate  without  great  danger  of  inconvenience 
and  damage. 

But  the  highest  of  all  laws  in  the  universe  are 
those  which  are  concerned  with  God's  will  and  char- 
acter in  relation  to  His  creatures,  and  more  particu- 
larly in  relation  to  us  as  His  children.  We  must  live 
and  think  and  act  in  harmony  with  Him  in  order  to 
attain  what  He  desires  for  us.^ 

There  is  a  right  way  as  well  as  a  wrong  one  in 
every  part  of  our  life,  and  it  is  often  difficult  to  find 
the  right  way,  especially  in  matters  of  duty  and 
morals.  This  is  very  evident  from  the  low  stand- 
ards of  conduct  and  character  among  most  of  the 
nations  of  this  world  ;  and  to  a  great  extent  even 
among  many  so-called  Christians,  who  come  far 
short  of  living  creditable  lives. 

From  this  we  see  the  necessity  for  a  standard  of 
moral  law  in  relation  to  ordinary  conduct,  such  as 
we  have  in  the  Holy  Sciptures.^  This  is  found  spe- 
cifically in  that  part  of  the  law  of  Moses  called  "  the 
Ten  Commandments  ;"  and  after  a  more  refined  and 
25 


26  THE   MORAL   LAW. 

spirtual  manner,  in  "  the  Beatitudes  "  pronounced  by 
Jesus  Christ  at  the  opening  of  His  Sermon  on  the 
Mount;  but  both  of  these  outlines  of  duty  are 
further  elaborated  by  many  precepts  and  examples 
in  both  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 

The  Ten  Commandments  express  the  moral  law 
after  a  negative  manner,  by  forbidding  us  to  have  any 
other  but  the  one  true  God,  or  to  worship  idols,  or 
to  profane  the  name  of  God  or  the  Sabbath  day,  or 
to  show  disrespect  to  our  parents,  or  to  kill,  or  com- 
mit adultery,  or  to  steal,  or  bear  false  witness,  or  to 
covet  another's  goods  ;  and  each  of  these  expresses 
a  great  moral  principle.' 

But  the  Beatitudes  teach  the  more  positive  inner 
spirit  of  the  moral  law  by  declaring  the  blessing  of 
God  upon  those  who  are  poor  in  spirit,  who 
mourn  for  their  sins,  who  are  of  a  meek  disposition, 
who  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  who  are 
merciful  in  conduct,  who  are  pure  in  heart,  who  are 
makers  of  peace,  and  who  endure  persecution  for  the 
sake  of  what  is  right.* 

That  these  two  statements  of  the  moral  law  are 
one  in  essentials  is  shown  by  our  observation  of  hu- 
man nature  and  history;  also  by  the  fact  that  Jesus 
Christ  includes  them  all  in  two  great  Command- 
ments: "Thou  Shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
thy  heart,  thy  soul  and  mind  and  strength,"  and  "  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself."  Both  of  these  are  strongly  con- 
firmed by  our  daily  experience  as  true  conditions  of 
happiness  and  blessing.^ 


"  The  seat  of  law  is  in  the  bosom  of  God  ;  her 
voice  is  the  harmony  of  the  world.  All  things  in 
heaven  and  earth  do  her  homage  ;  the  very  least  as 
feeling  her  care,  and  the  greatest  as  not  exempt  from 


THE   MORAL  LAW.  27 

her  power.  Both  angels  and  men,  and  creatures  of 
whatever  condition,  though  each  in  a  different  sort 
and  name,  yet  all  with  one  uniform  consent,  do  ad- 
mire her  as  the  mother  of  their  peace  and  joy." 

Richard  Hooker. 

"  True  law  is  right  reason  in  conformity  with  na- 
ture, universal,  unchangeable,  eternal;  whose  com- 
mands urge  us  to  duty,  and  whose  prohibitions  re- 
strain us  from  sin." 

CiCEBO. 

"  Ignorance  of  the  law  excuses  no  man." 

Selden. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Ps.  19:7-11,  40:7-8,  71:15,  19,  24,  111:3.  Rom. 
2  :  1-23.     Jas.  2:10-11. 

2  Ps.  32  :  8-10.  67  :  1-2,  85  :  8-13,  119  :  1-8.  Prov.  3  :  1-26. 
Matt.  5  :  18-19.     Heb.   13  :  20-21. 

3  Ex.  20  :  1-17.  Deut.  5  :  6-22.  Luke  18  :  18-21.  Rom. 
13  :  8-10. 

*  Matt.  5  :  1-12.  Luke  6  :  20-23.  Rom.  12  :  10-21.  1  Tim. 
4:8. 

B  Matt.  22  :  34-40.  Mark  12  :  28-34.  Luke  10  :  25-37.  1 
John  4  :  16-21. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  power  controls  all  life  and  being  in  this  world? 

Mention  several  kinds  of  law  that  are  familiar. 

What  is  the  result  of  violating  any  of  these  laws? 

Which  is  the  highest  of  all  kinds  of  law? 

How  must  we  live  in  relation  to  God  in  order  to  be 
happy? 

Is  it  always  easy  to  know  what  God  requires  of  us? 

Where  do  we  see  the  lack  of  true  moral  standards? 

How  has  God  supplied  this  lack  for  his  people? 

When  and  where  were  the  Ten  Commandments  given? 

What  various  kinds  of  evil  do  they  prohibit? 

When   and  where  were  the  Beatitudes  uttered   to  men? 

How  do  they  dififer  in  spirit  from  the  Ten  Commandments? 

In  what  two  Commandments  did  Jesus  Christ  sum  up  the 
whole  duty  of  man? 


28  THE  MORAL  LAW. 


PRAYER. 


O  Lord,  Thou  art  full  of  righteousness  and  truth, 
and  Thy  kindness  ruleth  over  all.  In  equity  Thou 
dost  judge  the  world,  and  hast  given  Thy  law  to  the 
sons  of  men.  May  we  learn  to  know  Thy  law  and  to 
love  it  well!  May  we  meditate  therein  day  and 
night  that  our  profit  may  appear  before  Thee,  and  un- 
der the  shadow  of  Thy  wings  may  we  rejoice.    Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,   SALOME.) 

How  shall   the  young   secure  their  hearts 
And   guard  their  lives  from  sin? 

Thy  word  the  choicest  rule  imparts 
To  keep  the  conscience  clean. 

When  once  it  enters  to  the  mind, 

It  spreads  such  light  abroad. 
The  meanest  souls  instruction  find 

And  raise  their  thoughts  to  God. 

'Tis  like  the  sun,  a  heavenly  light, 

That  guides  us  all   the  day; 
And  through  the  dangers  of  the  night, 

A  lamp  to  guide  our  way. 

Thy  word  is  everlasting  truth; 

How  pure  is  every  page! 
That  holy  law  shall  guide  our  youth 

And  well  support  our  age. 

Isaac  Watts. 


VI. 

SIN   AND   ITS    CONSEQUENCES. 

Sin,  or  the  violation  of  God's  moral  laws,  is  one 
of  the  saddest  and  most  terrible  facts  in  human  life. 
Since  to  man  has  been  given  the  power  to  exercise 
his  own  will  for  good  or  evil,  it  is  highly  necessary 
for  us  all  to  appreciate  the  perils  of  an  evil  life. 

The  nature  of  sin  is  various  in  both  quality  and 
intensity  ;  but .  its  origin  with  our  first  parents  in 
Eden  seems  to  have  been  a  turning  from  the  inno- 
cent pleasures  and  comforts  of  life,  represented  by 
"  the  tree  of  life,"  to  taste  of  the  forbidden  fruits  of 
another  tree,  called  "  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of 
good  and  evil,"  against  which  they  had  been  warned 
by  the  voice  of  God  in  their  own  hearts.^ 

Why  they  disobeyed  this  warning  is  difficult  to 
explain,  just  as  it  is  hard  to  account  for  sin  to-day 
among  people  of  much  intelligence  and  culture. 
However,  it  now  shows  a  certain  moral  weakness, 
vanity,  oi  corrupt  tendency  from  which  none  are 
wholly  exem.pt,  and  which  is  wrought  upon  by  some 
external  power  of  influence  toward  evil,  called  in  the 
Scriptures,  "  Satan,"  or  "  the  adversary."^ 

Sin  is  the  greatest  cause  of  misery  in  this  pres- 
ent world  ;  for  while  men  are  more  or  less  subject 
to  ignorance  and  poverty,  sickness  and  accident,  all 
of  which  bring  to  us  pain  and  sorrow  in  this  life  ; 
yet  we  might  endure  these  with  some  resignation, 
but  for  sin  which  poisons  our  life  at  its  very  source, 
29 


30  SIN   AND    ITS  CONSEQUENCES. 

separates  us  from  the  love  of  God,  and  overwhelms 
us  with  shame  aud  regret  without  limit  and  with- 
out end.^ 

The  beginnings  of  sin  are  usually  small  and  in- 
sidious, perhaps  little  more  than  a  simple  missing 
of  the  mark  or  line  of  true  righteousness,  failure 
to  realize  the  purposes  of  God  with  respect  to  our 
existence.  Or,  it  may  be  an  actual  transgression  of 
the  Divine  law,  an  overstepping  of  the  bounds  of 
safely  and  obligation  as  fixed  by  our  Creator.  Or, 
it  may  be  a  spirit  of  willful  disobedience  and  rebel- 
lion against  His  holy  and  sovereign  will,  which  has 
become  irksome  to  our  heart.* 

In  any  case,  the  tendency  of  each  sinful  act, 
whether  by  word,  thought,  or  deed,  is  to  grow  hy 
repetition  or  indulgence,  and  to  become  a  constant 
element  in  our  character,  unless  it  can  be  checked, 
and  overcome,  and  rooted  out.^ 

For  the  consequences  of  sin  are  clearly  set  forth 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  this  is  also  confirmed  by 
experience.  "The  wages  of  sin  is  death  ;"  that  is, 
moral  and  spiritual  degeneracy  and  ruin,  eternal 
separation  from  God's  blessings  and  mercies,  and  re- 
ceiving in  ourselves  the  recompense  that  is  meet 
for  the  wrong  we  have  done  to  ourselves,  to  others, 
and  to  God.^ 

For,  those  who  are  led  captive  by  sin,  either  by 
open  trangressions,  or  by  carelessness  and  neglect  of 
duty,  become  incapable  of  enjoying  communion  with 
God,  or  the  society  of  the  pure  and  good  in  heaven  ; 
and  they  could  not  long  be  content  even  with  each 
other,  because  they  would  not  live  in  real  peace. 

Therefore,  such  lives  are  fit  at  last  only  for  the 
burning  refuse  heap,  unless  reached  by  the  truth  of 
God,  and  redeemed  from  the  power  of  sin  and  death 
by  His  saving  grace.^ 


SIN   AND   ITS  CONSEQUENCES,  31 

"  Sin  Ls  essentially  a  departure  from  God." 

Luther. 

"  Sin  is  first  pleasing  ;  then  it  grows  easy,  then 
frequent,  then  habitual,  then  confirmed  ;  then  the 
man  is  impenitent,  then  he  is  obstinate,  then  he  is 
resolved  never  to  repent,  and  then  he  is  ruined." 

Leighton. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Gen.  2  :  8-9,  15-17.  Prov.  3  :  13-18.  Eccles.  7  :  29.  Rev. 
2:7,  22  :  2. 

2  Gen.  3  :  1-7.  Ps.  14  :  1-4,  36  :  1-4,  12,  49  :  6-14,  20. 
Mark  1  :  13.     1  Peter  5:  8. 

3  Gen.  3 :  8-19,  22-24,  4:7,  6:5.  Num.  32 :  23.  John 
8  :  34-35.      Rom.    5  :  12-21.      Col.    3  :  5-8. 

«  Prov.  14  :  12,  27  :  12.  Ps.  19  :  12-13,  51  :  3-4,  94  :  3-7, 
20-23.     Isa.   1  :  2-15.     Rom.   1  :  28-32. 

5  Ps.  139  :  23-24.  Hosea  14  :  1-4.  1  Cor.  5  :  6-7,  15  :  33. 
Gal.    5:9,     12.      2    Tim.    2:16,    3:13-14. 

«  Gen.  2  :  17.  John  8  :  21,  24.  Rom.  6  :  23.  Gal.  6  :  7-8. 
Jas.  1  :  13-15. 

^  Zech.  3  :  1-2.  Luke  11  :  17-26.  1  Cor.  6  :  9-10.  Gal. 
4  :  3,  9.     2  Tim.  2  :  24-26. 


QUESTIONS. 

What  is  sin  in  its  most  general  sense? 
Is  man  responsible  for  doing  good  or  evil? 
What  was  the  nature  of  the  first  sin  in  Eden? 
What  is  the  real  occasion  and  cause  of  sin? 
Why  is  sin  the  greatest  source  of  human  misery? 
What  is  said  of  the  usual  beginnings  of  sin? 
What  three  classes  or  degrees  of  sin  are  noted? 
What  is  the  usual   tendency  of  sin  in  each  life? 
What  are   its   final    consequences,   if  not   overcome? 
Why    are    those    who    constantly    commit    sin    at    last    in- 
capable of  enjoying  heaven  or  God's  presence? 


S2  SIN   AND   ITS   CONSEQUENCES. 

PRAYER. 

O  Lord,  my  God,  show  me  the  error  of  my  ways, 
and  keep  me  back  from  presumptuous  sins.  Let 
them  not  have  dominion  over  me.  Be  merciful  unto 
me,  O  God,  and  preserve  me  from  falling  into  the 
pit  of  the  destroyer.  May  the  words  of  my  mouth 
and  the  meditation  of  my  heart  be  acceptable  in 
Thy  sight,  O  Lord,  my  strength  and  Redeemer. 
Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE  SPOHR.) 

I  WANT  a  principle  within 

Of  jealous,  godly  fear; 
A  sensibility  of  sin, 

A  pain  to  feel  it  near. 
I  want  the  first  approach  to  feel 

Of  pride  or  fond  desire; 
To  catch  the  wandering  of  my  will 

And   quench   the   kindling  fire. 

From  Thee  that  I  no  more  may  part. 

No  more  Thy  goodness  grieve, 
The  filial  awe,  the  fleshly  heart. 

The  tender  conscience,  give. 
Quick  as  the  apple  of  an  eye, 

O  God,  my  conscience  make! 
Awake  my  soul  when  sin  is  nigh. 

And  keep  it  still  awake. 

Charles  Wesley. 


VII. 

THE   HOLY    SPIRIT. 

God's  general  way  of  working  among  the  souls  of 
men  and  revealing  to  them  His  holy  will  and  the 
elements  of  moral  truth;  also  of  preparing  and  in- 
clining them  to  a  better  life,  and  the  fulfillment  of 
His  gracious  purposes  in  the  world,  is  by  and 
through  the  Holy  Spirit. 

This  is  a  personal  being,  part  of  God  Himself, 
for  whose  influences  a  receptive  capacity  has  "been 
implanted  in  the  souls  of  men.  By  Him  not  only 
were  the  spiritual  truths  of  the  Scriptures  first 
imparted  to  holy  men  of  God,  but  a  work  of  divine 
leading  has  been  carried  on  through  the  ages,  chiefly, 
though  not  always,  within  the  Church  of  God.^ 

Thus  we  are  taught  that  the  Holy  Spirit  strove 
with  sinful  men  in  the  days  before  the  flood  ;  that 
He  was  upon  Moses  and  the  elders  of  Israel  in  the 
wilderness  ;  that  He  raised  up  various  leaders  for 
the  deliverance  of  Israel  from  time  to  time  ;  that 
He  spake  by  the  mouth  of  David,  the  shepherd  king 
and  the  sweet  psalmist  of  Israel  ;  that  He  came  upon 
Balaam,  the  son  of  Zippor,  who  prophesied  the  fu- 
ture prosperity  of  Israel;  that  He  was  in  the  proph- 
ets, directing  their  messages  and  foretelling  things 
to  come.  We  read  also  that  He  had  much  to  do  with 
the  birth,  the  baptism,  and  the  ministry  of  Jesus 
Christ  ;  that  He  was  promised  as  the  Comforter  after 
Christ  should  go  away;  that  He  was  poured  out  upon 
3  33 


34  'A'llK    HOLY    SPIRIT. 

the  disciples  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  ;  and  that  He 
accompanied  the  preaching  of  the  apostles  to  give 
efficiency  and  power  to  their  words  among  the  Jews 
and  Gentiles." 

In  fact,  so  prominent  is  this  feature  in  the  New 
Testament  that  it  is  sometimes  called  the  dispensa- 
tion of  the  Holy  Spirit  ;  since  He  is  now  promised 
to  all  who  are  sincere  believers  in  Jesus  Christ  and 
who  are  earnestly  striving  to  do  the  will  of  God. 

Yet  there  are  many  hindrances  to  the  work  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  world  at  large,  and  sometimes  in  the 
Church.  For  instance,  it  is  said  that  the  presence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  often  simulated  by  false  proph- 
ets and  by  persons  who  have  gone  aside  into  the 
ways  of  corruption;  but  the  true  Spirit  of  God  is 
known  by  His  fruits  in  men's  lives,  and  also  by  a 
certain  consistency  with  his  own  record  in  the  past.^ 

Again,  we  read  that  there  is  an  antagonism  of  the 
flesh  against  His  work,  so  that  the  natural  and  un- 
awakened  soul  of  man  does  not  discern  nor  sympa- 
thize with  the  mind  of  the  Spirit.*  Yet  it  is  His  pres- 
ence in  the  Church  which  gives  true  spiritual  life 
and  power  to  the  body  of  believers  as  such,  and 
which  renders  the  word  of  preaching  and  testimony 
powerful  in  the  conviction  and  regeneration  of  sin- 
ful men  and  women.'* 

Thus,  in  the  Old  Testament  as  well  as  the  New, 
we  learn  that  success  in  God's  work  is  to  be  accom- 
plished "  not  by  might  nor  by  power  ;  but  by  My 
Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts." 

It  is  the  Spirit  of  God  who  warns  us  of  danger, 
convicts  us  of  sin,  and  invites  us  to  be  reconciled  to 
God  through  Christ.  One  of  the  last  passages  in  the 
New  Testament  says,  "  The  Spirit  and  the  Bride 
say.  Come  ;  and  whosoever  will,  let  him  come.""  Yet 
the  good   Spirit  may   be  grieved   and    vexed   by  our 


THE   HOLY    SPIRIT.  35 

hardness  of  heart.     Yea,  He  may  be  blasphemed  and 
driven  away  forever." 


"  What  is  there  in  man  so  worthy  of  honor  and 
reverence  as  this, — that  he  is  capable  of  commun- 
ing with  something  higher  than  his  own  reason, 
more  sublime  than  the  physical  universe, — that 
Spirit  which  alone  is  self-subsistent,  from  which  all 
truth  proceeds,   without  which   is   no  truth  ? " 

Jacobi.     (Adapted.) 

"  Love  God  and  He  will  dwell  with  you.  Obey 
God,  and  He  will  reveal  to  you  the  truth  of  His 
deepest  teachings." 

Robertson. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Gen.  1:2.  Ps.  51:11-12,  104:30.  Isa.  32:15-17, 
40  :  13.     Luke  2  :  25,  26. 

2  Gen.  6  :  3.  Num.  11  :  16-17,  24-30,  24  :  2.  Judges  3  :  10, 
6:34,  11:29,  13:25.  1  Sam.  11:6,  16:13-14.  2  Sam. 
23  :  1-2.  2  Kings  2  :  15-16.  Job  33  :  4.  Isa.  42  :  5-9,  61  :  1. 
Jer.  1:2,  4.  7,  9,  11,  13,  2:1,  30:1-2.  Ezek.  2:2,  3:::2, 
11  :  5.  Matt.  1  :  18-20,  3  :  16,  4:1,  12  :  28.  Luke  4  :  14,  18, 
11  :  13.  John  1  :  32-33.  14  :  17,  15  :  26,  16  :  13.  Acts  1  :  2, 
5,  8,  16,  2:4,  17-18,  38,  10:19,  38:44-47,  19:1-7.  20:23, 
28.  1  Cor.  12:8-11.  Ephes.  1:13.  1  Thess.  4:8.  Rev. 
1:10,   4:2,  17  :  3,  21  :  10. 

3  1  John  4:1-3.  1  Kings  22:11-25.  Isa.  8:20.  Mark 
8:32,  33.  2  Cor.  11:13-14.  Luke  6:43,  44.  Gal.  5:22. 
Ephes.  5  :  9. 

*  John  3  :  6.  Acts  8  :  14-24.  Rom.  8  :  5-13.  1  Cor. 
2:  12-15.     Gal.  4:29,  5:  16,  17. 

5  Joel  2  :  28,  29.  John  6  :  63. 
14-17.  2  Cor.  3:3,  6-8,  14-18. 
2:  18,  3:5.  4:3,  4,  6:  17.  18. 

«  Zech.  4:  6.     Luke  12:  11-12. 
1  Thess.   1  :  5.     Heb.  4  :  12,   13. 
13,  22,  4  :  5.   22  :  17. 

7  Gen.  6:3.  Ps.  78  :  40.  41.  Matt.  12  :  31-32.  Acts  7  :  51. 
1  Thess.  4  :8,  5:19.  Ephes.  4  :  30  Heb.  3:7,  8,  6  :4-6. 
1  John  5  :  16. 


Acts 

4  : 

31. 

Rom.  8 

:  1-4, 

Gal. 

4  : 

6. 

Ephes.    1 

:  13, 

John 

16 

:  7-1 

5.     Acts 

1  :  8. 

Rev.  2 

:  7 

,   11, 

,   17,  29, 

3:6, 

36  THE   HOLY   SPIRIT. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  God's  general  way  of  working  among  men  for 
their   moral   enlightenment   and   improvement? 

What  do  you  understand  by  the  Holy  Spirit  and  his  work? 

Mention  some  scriptural   instances  of   his  work. 

What  kind  of  dispensation  is  the  Gospel  sometimes  called? 

IIow  may  the  Spirit  of  God  be  known  from  false  spirits? 

What  do  the  Scriptures  say  about  the  Spirit  and  the  flesh  ? 

What  do  they  say  about  the  Spirit  in  the  Church? 

What  is  the  final  result  of  continued  resistance  to  the 
voice  of  God's  Spirit  in  our  hearts? 

PRAYER. 

Grant  unto  me,  0  merciful  Lord,  the  kindly  light 
and  the  gracious  leading  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  day  by 
day,  that  I  may  know  Thy  will,  that  I  may  walk  in 
Thy  ways,  and  be  kept  from  the  power  of  evil.  So 
may  my  heart  be  purified,  and  my  mind  made  clear 
and  strong,  to  do  only  those  things  that  are  well- 
pleasing  in  Thy  sight,  and  to  be  a  blessing  unto 
others.     Amen. 

HYMN.        (TUNE,     ST.     MARTIN'S.) 

Come,  Holy  Ghost,  our  hearts  inspire. 

Let  us  Thine  influence  prove. 
Source  of  the  old  prophetic  fire. 

Fountain  of  life  and  love. 

Come,  Holy  Ghost,  for  moved  by  Thee, 
The  prophets  wrote  and  spoke, 
'  Unlock  the  truth.  Thyself  the  key, 
Unseal  the  sacred  book. 

Expand  Thy  wings,  celestial  Dove, 

Brood  o'er  our  nature's  night, 
On  our  disordered  spirits  move, 

And  let  there  now  be  light. 

God    through    Himself   we    then    shall    know. 

If  Thou  within  us  shine. 
And  sound,  with  all  Thy  saints  below. 

The  depths  of  love  divine. 

Charles  Wesley. 


VIII. 

PRAYER  AND  DIVINE  PROVIDENCE. 

When  people  find  themselves  in  trouble  because  of 
their  wrong  doings  and  sins,  like  Jacob  fleeing  from 
his  brother  Esau,  and  especially  when  danger  threat- 
ens them,  as  David  in  exile  from  the  Court  of  Saul, 
they  are  often  impelled  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  call 
upon  God  for  help  and  comfort  ;  and  this  is  a  very 
natural  and  reasonable  practice,  for  there  is  no  other 
power  so  well  able  to  relieve  our  real  sorrows,  or  to 
direct  us  in  our  ignorance,  or  to  assist  us  to  be  bet- 
ter and  to  make  us  acceptable  unto  God  in  life  and 
character.^ 

By  thus  lifting  up  our  thoughts,  and  even  our 
voices,  in  prayer  for  the  Divine  favor,  or  in  songs  of 
praise  and  honor  to  our  Heavenly  Father  for  His 
daily  mercies  and  benefits  toward  us,  we  are  greatly 
aided  in  realizing  the  personal  presence  and  power 
of  the  Lord.2  This  blessed  sense  of  communion  with 
Him  also  grows  with  practice  and  experience  in  the 
things  of  the  soul  as  contrasted  with  those  of  the 
world.' 

The  Scriptures  teach  us  that  God  is  always  ready 
and  willing  to  hear  the  prayer  of  all  who  call  upon 
Him  in  sincerity  and  with  persevering  faith,  pro- 
viding their  motives  are  pure  and  worthy,  and  also 
provided  that  their  petitions  can  be  granted  con- 
sistently with  His  own   wisdom   and   goodness.* 

Thus  we  learn  both  from  the  Bible  and  from  per- 
sonal experience  that  the  Almighty  does  often  grant 
37 


38  PRAYER   AND   DIVINE   PROVIDENCE. 

special  mercies  of  grace  and  providential  kindness 
to  those  who  call  upon  Him  ;  and  this  is  so  true 
that  the  history  of  the  world  itself  seems  marked 
by  many  instances  of  Divine  control  over  the  course 
of  human  interests  and  affairs.  Yet  God's  chief  aim 
is  not  to  show  wonders  and  marvels.^ 

We  may  know  that  there  is  a  special  providence 
of  God  in  the  affairs  of  men  from  the  fact  that  He 
is  not  only  the  Creator,  but  also  the  Preserver  of 
this  visible  world,  "  upholding  all  things  by  the  word 
of  His  power,"  and  having  regard  to  the  least  as 
well  as  the  greatest  of  His  creatures.® 

Yet  we  are  not  to  expect  that,  simply  because  God 
is  able,  He  would  therefore  do  any  of  those  things 
which  would  bring  confusion  into  the  natural  world, 
or  gratify  our  weakness  and  selfishness,  or  would 
destroy  the  wholesome  discipline  of  our  lives  on 
earth  by  bringing  full  reward  or  punishment  before 
their  time.  God  prefers  to  do  His  favors  in  a  more 
quiet  and  appropriate  way." 

Even  in  the  Scriptures  we  read  only  of  three  brief 
periods  of  the  open  and  miraculous  signs  of  God's 
wonder-working  power  among  men,  in  the  days  of 
Moses,  and  of  Elijah,  and  of  His  Son  Jesus  Christ  ; 
and  those  signs  were  barely  sufficient  to  establish 
the  faith  of  the  people  in  ages  of  great  spiritual  need. 

But  prayer  for  God's  secret  care  over  our  daily 
affairs,  and  more  especially  for  His  grace  and  guid- 
ance in  our  heart  life  and  in  our  spiritual  relations 
with  Himself,  are  always  encouraged  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  promises  are  made  that  He  will  in  some 
way  answer  such  petitions.  Yet  these  must  be  some- 
thing more  than  mere  formal  prayers.  They  must 
be  earnest,  and  from  the  soul  of  him  who  prays  ; 
and  such  a  one  will  often  also  need  special  prepara- 
tion in  order  to   be   able  to  claim   an   answer  from 


PRAYER   AND    DIVINE    PROVIDENCE.  39 

God,  especially  In  the  more  serious  and  really  diffi- 
cult matters  of  human  experience,  and  in  purely  tem- 
poral matters.^ 


"  Prayer  is  a  sincere,  sensible,  affectionate  pour- 
ing out  of  the  soul  to  God,  through  Christ,  in  the 
strength  and  assistance  of  the  Spirit,  for  such  things 
as  God  has  promised." 

John  Bunyan. 

"  Practice  in  life  whatever  you  pray  for,  and  God 
will  give  it  to  you  more  abundantly." 


John  Pusey. 


REFERENCES. 


1  Gen.  32  :  9-12.  Ex.  2  :  2.3-2o.  1  Sam.  7  :  1-12,  23  :  7-15. 
Ps.   51  :  56,  86  :  130.      Lam.  3  :  45-58. 

2  Gen.  12  :  7-8,  26  :  1-5,  28  :  10-19,  35  :  9-15.  Ex.  19  :  3, 
9,   20.      Ps.    23  :  27,   40  :  1-4. 

3  Gen.  18  :  17-33.  Num.  14  :  11-25.  Ps.  39  :  4-7,  61  :  1-4, 
63.     Rom.  8  :  26-28. 

*  Ex.  3  :  7,  9-10.  Job  33  :  26.  Ps.  32  :  6.  Prov.  15  :  8.  29. 
Matt.  7  :  7-12,  21  :  22.  Luke  18  :  1-7,  9-14.  John  9  :  31. 
Mark  11:22-26.  Jas.  4:3,  5:15-16.  1  Peter  3:12.  Rev. 
5:8,  8:3,  4. 

6  1  Kings  8  :  22-61,  18  :  17-40.  2  Kings  19  :  14-20,  35. 
Neh.  1:4-11.  Acts  4:31,  9:11.  10:30-31,  12:1-19, 
16  :  19-26.     John  4  :  48.     Luke  16  :  31. 

«  Ps.  103  :  104,  145  :  8-21.  Isa.  55  :  8-13.  Mai.  3  :  10-12. 
Matt.  6  :  2.5-33.     Luke  12  :  22-30. 

7  Eccles.  3  :  1-17.  Luke  13  :  1-5.  John  9  :  1-3,  12  :  23-28. 
Mark  10  :  35-40. 

8  Matt.  6:5-15,  17:20-21.  Luke  11:1-13.  Mark 
11  :  23-26.      1    John    3  :  22,    5  :  14-16. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  are  some  Scriptural  instances  of  prayer? 
What  are  we  helped  to  realize  by  prayer? 
What  other  things  add   to  a  prayerful  disposition? 
What  do  the  Scriptures  teach  about  answers  to  prayer? 


40  PRAYER  AND   DIVINE   PROVIDENCE. 

Does  God  interfere  by  His  providence  in  our  affairs? 
Why  does  He  not  seem  to  do  this  more  frequently? 
What  kind  of  prayers  cannot  be  consistently  answered? 
What  kind  of  prayers  are  most  encouraged? 
What  is  sometimes  necessary  in  the  serious  and  doubtful 
affairs  of  human  life? 

PRAYER. 

Teach  me,  0  Lord,  to  pray.  Show  me  my  own 
need,  and  Thy  abundant  power  to  supply  it  all.  Help 
me  to  look  to  Thee  for  daily  grace  and  blessings 
from  above.  So  may  I  come  to  feel  Thee  near,  to 
rejoice  in  Thy  mercy,  and  also  to  acknowledge  Thee 
in  all  my  ways.  Thus  shall  I  find  grace  in  Thy  sight, 
O  God.    Amen. 

HYMN.    (TUNE,   PLEYEL'S  HYMN.) 

Lord,  we  come  before  Thee  now, 
At  Thy  feet  we  humbly  bow: 

O  do  not  our  suit   disdain; 

Shall  we  seek  Thee,  Lord,  in  vain? 

Lord,  on  Thee  our  souls  depend: 
In  compassion  now  descend; 

Fill  our   hearts   with    Thy   rich   grace, 
Tune  our  lips  to  sing  Thy  praise. 

In  Thine  own  appointed  way. 

Now  we  seek  Thee,  here  we  stay. 

Lord,  we  know   not  how  to  go, 
Till  a  blessing  Thou  bestow. 

Wm.  Hammond. 


IX. 


THE    COVENANT    WITH    GOD. 

The  essence  of  true  personal  religion  must  not 
be  thought  of  as  merely  a  sentiment  or  feeling 
toward  God  on  our  part,  nor  as  a  mere  influence 
from  God  on  our  behalf  ;  but  it  comes  in  a  more 
definite  form  as  an  agreement  between  God  and  our- 
selves leading  to  a  life  of  service  and  blessings.  It 
requires  not  only  a  disposition  to  pray  and  to  seek 
the  favor  of  God,  but  also  a  disposition  of  obedience 
and  surrender  to  His  Holy  will.^ 

This  was  the  reason  why  in  ancient  times,  when 
Moses  gave  the  Law  to  the  children  of  Israel  by  the 
direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  called  upon  them  to 
take  the  Lord  for  their  God,  excluding  all  other  so- 
called  gods,  to  honor  and  serve  Him  with  a  sincere 
heart,  and  to  keep  His  laws  forever  ;  for  this  was 
to  be  the  condition  of  God's  favor  to  them.'^ 

It  was  the  same  way  in  the  days  of  Joshua,  and 
of  Samuel,  and  of  Elijah,  when  all  those  prophets 
called  upon  the  people,  then  in  a  backslidden  and 
sinful  state,  to  forsake  their  evil  practices  and  their 
idols,  and  to  serve  only  the  one  true,  living,  and  holy 
God.' 

It  is  no  less  true  at  the  present  day,  that  if  we 

would  escape  the  bondage  and  guilt  of  a  sinful  life 

to  become  the  children  of  God  and  heirs  of  heaven, 

we  must  commit  our  way  fully  unto  Him  alone,  and 

41 


42  THE   COVENANT   WITH   GOD. 

confess  Him  as  our  Lord  before  men  in  order  that 
He  may  one  day  confess  us  before  the  angels  in 
heaven.* 

Some  people  try  to  take  a  middle  course,  by  doing 
as  little  wrong  as  possible  and  yet  refusing  to  accept 
the  duty  of  coming  out  openly  for  God  before  the 
world  ;  but  there  are  no  promises  of  God  for  such 
persons,  because  they  ignore  the  basis  of  Christian 
character  ;  and  He  will  not  have  us  keep  back  a  part 
of  our  heart  from  Him  for  our  own  pleasure  and 
selfishness.^ 

Such  were  the  conditions  of  God's  saving  grace 
in  the  days  of  Moses,  when  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant 
was  the  visible  sign  both  of  God's  promises  and  of 
man's  acceptance  of  them.  So  to-day,  we  are  offered, 
in  effect,  the  same  conditions  of  salvation  in  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  of  which  His  Cross  is  the 
sign  and  seal.® 

The  Old  and  New  Testaments  of  the  Bible  are 
simply  the  old  and  new  Covenants  of  God  as  given 
by  Moses  and  by  Christ  ;  the  first  rude  and  prepara- 
tory the  second  spiritual  and  complete;  but  fitting 
into  each  other  as  equal  parts  of  God's  wise  and 
eternal  plan  for  saving  men  from  sin.  Now,  when 
God's  word  is  offered  to  us  in  these  later  days,  we 
have  only  to  accept  its  teachings  and  promises,  put- 
ting them  into  daily  practice  in  our  lives,  looking 
for  God  to  do  His  part  by  us  and  trusting  Him  for 
the  salvation  of  our  souls." 

In  all  this,  we  have  help  and  assurance;  for  the 
Holy  Spirit  of  truth  and  grace  is  always  with  the 
sincere  servants  of  God,  as  the  pillar  of  fire  and 
cloud  was  with  ancient  Israel,  going  before  them  on 
the  march,  and  resting  on  them  at  every  camping- 
place,  until  they  reached  the  promised  land  of  their 
inheritance.® 


THE   COVENANT   WITH   GOD,  43 

"  No  principle  is  more  noble,  as  there  is  none 
more  holy,  than  that  of  a  true  obedience." 

Giles. 

"  All  the  world  over  it  is  true  that  a  double-minded 
man  is  unstable  in  all  his  ways,  like  a  wave  on  the 
streamlet,  tossed  hither  and  thither  with  every  im- 
pulse of  its  tide."  Punshon. 

"  There  is  no  road  to  success  but  through  a  strong, 
clear  purpose.  Nothing  can  take  its  place,  for  pur- 
pose underlies  character." 

Unknown. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Gen.  17:1-8.  Ps.  89  :  1-5.  28  :  34.  Ill  :  5.  Isa.  54  :  8-10, 
55  :  3.  6-7.  Jer.  32  :  40.  Matt.  11  :  28-30.  Rom.  15  :  8,  9. 
2  Cor.   1  :18-22. 

2  Ex.  24  :  3-8.  Deut.  4  :  1-13,  23,  7  :  9-11,  29  :  1,  9  :  10-15, 
31  :  24-26. 

3  Josh.  1:7.  8.  24:25-27.  1  Sam.  7:3,  4.  12:14.  15. 
1  Kings  2  :  3-4.  2  Kings  23  :  3-25.  Neh.  9  :  1-3,  38,  10  :  28, 
29. 

*  Luke  6  :  46-49,  9  :  23-26,  12  :  8-9.  John  15  :  14.  Jas. 
4  :  7-10.     1  John  2  :  3-5. 

5  Matt.  6:24,  12:30.  John  3:19-21.  Eph.  5:1-11.  1 
Tim.  6:9-11. 

«  Exod.  25:8-22,  40:17-21.  Josh.  3,  4:1-18,  6:6-13. 
Matt.  16  :  24.  Luke  14  :  27.  1  Cor.  1  :  17,  18.  Gal.  6  :  14. 
Ephes.  2  :  15-17. 

7  Jer.    3  :  16,    17.    31  :  31-34.      Ezek.    37  :  26,    27.      2    Cor.  \ 
5:17-21.     Gal.   4:22-24.     Heb.   8:6-13. 

8  Exod.  40:34-38.  Num.  9:15-23.  1  Kings  8:10-11. 
Rom.  8  :  14.     1   Cor.   10  :  1-4.     Ephes.  4  :  4. 

QUESTIONS. 

"What  besides  a  sentiment  or  influence  is  religion? 
What   personal   disposition  does   this  require? 
What  was   God's  covenant   with   His  ancient  Church? 
Who  renewed  this  covenant  from   time  to  time? 
What  is  also  required  of  us  at  the  present  day? 
Why  is  it  impossible  to  take  a  middle  course? 


44  THE    COVENANT    WITH    GOD. 

What  two  objections  to  a  partial  pledge  to  God? 
What  does  God's  pledge  demand  from   us  and  whj? 
What  is  said  of  the  promises  in  God's  word? 
What  are  the  two  signs  of  the  old  and  new  covenant? 
What  is  the  difference  between  these  covenants? 
What  are  the  witnesses  to  these  covenants? 


PRAYER. 

0  Thou  Almighty  One,  clouds  and  thick  darkness 
are  around  about  Thee,  and  Thy  glory  is  hidden 
from  the  eyes  of  sinful  men.  Yet  in  Thy  great 
mercy.  Thou  hast  caused  us  to  hear  Thy  voice  ; 
Thou  hast  invited  us  to  serve  Thee  ;  and  Thou  hast 
entered  into  covenant  relations  with  men  by  sacri- 
fice and  sacrament.  So  may  we  hearken  unto  Thee, 
and  obey  Thy  word,  that  we  may  also  receive  Thy 
heavenly  care  and  blessing.     Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,   SILVER  STREET.) 

Come  ye  that  love  the  Lord, 

And  let  your  joys  be  known. 
Join  in  a  song  with  sweet  accord. 

While  ye  surround  His  throne. 

Let  those  refuse  to  sing 

Who  never  knew  our  God, 
But  servants  of  the  heavenly  King 

May  speak  their  joys  abroad. 

The  men  of  grace  have  found 

Glory  begun  below. 
Celestial  fruit  on  earthly  ground 

From  faith  and  hope  may  grow. 

Then  let  our  songs  abound 

And  every  tear  be  dry, 
We're   marching   thro'   Immanuel's   ground 

To  fairer  worlds  on  high. 

Isaac  Watts. 


X. 

THE  SEPARATION  OF  GOD'S  PEOPLE. 

A  siXGULAR  thing  in  the  history  of  ancient  Israel 
was  their  separation  from  the  people  of  Egypt,  and 
their  long  wandering  in  the  desert  on  the  way  to 
finally  inherit  the  land  of  Canaan  which  was  prom- 
ised by  the  Lord  to  their  forefathers.  This  was  no 
doubt  ordered  of  God,  so  that  after  they  had  made  a 
covenant  with  Him,  they  should  not  immediately  be 
contaminated  again  by  the  evil  example  and  influ- 
ence of  the  heathen,  by  hearing  their  wicked  con- 
versation, and  sharing  in  their  idolatrous  manners 
and  customs  of  life.^ 

Moses  also  gave  them  many  special  laws  to  en- 
force the  principle  of  purity,  by  habits  of  chastity  and 
cleanliness,  by  the  choice  of  their  food,  the  materi- 
als of  their  garments,  the  care  of  their  houses,  and 
many  other  such  marks  of  separation  from  the  rest 
of  the  peoples  around   them   in  the   world.^ 

All  these  rules  had  a  spiritual  meaning,  and  so 
long  as  the  Israelites  observed  them  in  their  lives 
and  conduct,  they  seem  to  have  been  blessed  and 
prospered;  but  when  they  departed  from  God's  laws 
by  adopting  the  customs  of  their  heathen  neighbors, 
they  declined  in  prosperity,  and  fell  under  both  the 
displeasure  of  God  and  the  power  of  their  enemies, 
by  whom  they  were  finally  carried  away,  some  into 
the  land  of  Assyria,  and  some  into  Babylon.^ 

True,  after  great  affliction  and  sore  repentance,  a 
part  of  them  were  restored  to  Palestine,  as  it  was 
45 


46         THE  SEPARATION  OF  GOD's  PEOPLE. 

called  in  later  times,  and  to  the  observance  of  the 
laws  and  manners  of  their  great  leader,  Moses;  but 
now  they  were  greatly  limited  in  their  civil  liberties, 
and  seem  to  have  lost  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant.* 

Under  the  Christian  Dispensation,  all  these  out- 
ward restrictions  of  manners  and  customs  have  been 
done  away,  and  the  emphasis  of  purity  is  placed 
upon  the  state  of  the  person's  mind  and  heart;  yet 
the  principle  of  some  sort  of  separation  from  evil 
still  remains  highly  necessary  to  a  Christian  life." 

In  the  early  days  of  Christianity,  we  are  told  there 
was  such  a  contrast  between  the  lives  of  the  Chris- 
tians and  those  of  the  heathen  around  them  that  the 
former  were  distinctly  seen  to  be  "  a  peculiar  peo- 
ple," "  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  perverse  gen- 
eration," **  holding  forth  the  word  of  life "  to  the 
unconverted  world.** 

The  same  practices  of  purity  in  life  and  conver- 
sation, or  carefulness  in  reading,  in  amusements,  in 
occupations,  and  in  our  devotional  habits,  is  needed 
also  at  the  present  day  to  mark  the  children  of  God, 
and  to  preserve  them  uncontaminated  from  the  cor- 
ruption of  the  world.  While  we  must  live  here  and 
do  our  work  as  good  citizens  and  members  of  the 
social  community,  we  must  avoid  the  sins  of  the 
world  and  its  idolatry  of  worldly  things,  lest  we  go 
dowji  at  last  in  the  same  destruction  that  awaits  all 
who  live  in  sin  and  reject  the  grace  of  God  in  their 
hearts."    Therefore  we  must  keep  the  laws  of  God. 


"A  religion  that  never  suffices  to  govern  a  man 
will  never  suffice  to  save  him.  That  which  does  not 
distinguish  him  from  a  sinful  world  will  never  dis- 
tinguish him  from  a  perishing  world." 

John   Howe. 


THE    SEPARATION    OF   GOD's   PEOPLE.  47 

"  The  silent,  serene  beauty  of  a  holy  life  is  the 
most  pov/erfiil  influence  in  the  world,  next  to  the 
might  of  the  Spirit  of  God." 

Pascal. 

"  The  beauty  of  holiness  has  done  more  and  will 
do  more  to  regenerate  the  world  and  bring  in  ever- 
lasting righteousness  than  all  other  agencies  put 
together." 

Chalmers. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Deut.  4  :  1-40.  Ps.  1  :  1-4,  26  :  9.  1  Cor.  15  :  33.  Jas. 
4:4.      1   Johu  2:  15-17. 

2  Exod.  19  :  5,  33  :  16.  Lev.  20  :  22-26.  Deut.  7  :  1-6. 
Neh.  13  :  1-3. 

3  1  Kings  3  :  3-15,  28,  4  :  20-25,  9  :  1-9.  2  Kings  17  :  6-23. 
2  Chron.  24  :  17-25,   36  :  11-21. 

4  Ezra.  1,  2:1,  64-70,  3.  Neh.  7:66-73.  Zech.  7:8-14, 
8  :  1-8.      Haggal   2  :  1-9. 

B  Acts  11  :  1-18,  15  :  22-29.  Rom.  2  :  28-29,  12  :  1-2.  1 
Cor.  5:9-11.     2  Cor.  6:  14-18. 

6  Matt.  5:14-16.  John  12:35-36.  Phil.  2:15.  1  Peter 
2:9-10.     1  John  2  :  15-17. 

■^  Ephes.  5  :  1-16.  Col.  3  :  1-8,  4  :  5-6.  1  Thess.  4  :  9-12. 
1  John.  5:21. 

QUESTIONS. 

Why  did   God  call   His  ancient  people  out  of  Egypt? 
What  danger  comes  after   making  a  covenant? 
How  did  He  separate  them  from  other  peoples? 
What  was  the  result  of  their  obedience  to  God? 
What  was  the  result  when  they  disobeyed   Him? 
How  did  God  later  show  His  mercy  to  them? 
What  treasures  had  they  lost  meanwhile? 
Where  is  the  emphasis  laid  in  the  New  Dispensation? 
Does  the  principle  of  separation  from  evil   still  hold? 
What  was  the  moral  state  of  the  early  Christians? 
In  what  ways  should  Christians  be  careful  now? 
How    are    we    to    live    in    the   world    and    not    be    of    the 
world  ? 


48  THE   SEPARATION   OP   GOD's   PEOPLE. 

PRAYER. 

O  Lord.  Thou  desirest  truth  in  the  inward  parts. 
Therefore  we  beseech  Thee  to  separate  us  from  our 
sins,  and  from  the  workers  of  iniquity,  that  we 
may  be  a  chosen  people,  zealous  for  righteousness 
and  the  glory  of  Thy  holy  name.  Sacrifice  and  burnt 
offering  Thou  dost  not  desire,  but  rather  the  works 
of  faith  and  obedience.  So  may  we  be  Thy  children, 
Lord,  forevermore.     Amen, 

HYMN.      (TUNE,   CONSECRATION.) 

Take  my  life  and  let  it  be 
Consecrated,  Lord  to  Thee, 
Take  my  moments  and  my  days. 
Let  them  flow  in  ceaseless  praise. 
Take  my  hands  and  let  them  move 
At  the  impulse  of  Thy  love. 
Take  my  feet  and  let  them  be 
Swift  and  beautiful   for  Thee. 

Take  my  voice  and  let  me  sing 
Always,  only,  for  my  King, 
Take  my  lips  and  let  them  be 
Filled  with  messages  from  Thee. 
Take  my  silver  and  my  gold; 
Not  a  mite  would   I   withhold. 
Take  my  intellect  and  use 
Every  power  as  Thou  shalt  choose. 

Take  my  will  and  make  it  Thine; 
It  shall  be  no  longer  mine. 
Take  my  heart,  it  is  Thine  own; 
It  shall  be  Thy  regal  throne. 
Take  my  love,  my  Lord,  I   pour 
At  Thy   feet  its  treasure   store, 
Take  myself,  and  I  will  be 
Ever,  only,  all  for  Thee. 

Frances  R.  Hav'ergal. 


XI. 

THE  LAW  OF   REVERENCE  TOWARD  GOD. 

Of  the  ten  Commandments  given  by  Moses  to  the 
children  of  Israel,  the  first  four  relate  to  the  duty 
of  reverence  toward  God.  A  knowledge  of  the  one 
true,  everlasting,  holy  God  is  surely  one  of  the  high- 
est and  most  precious  of  our  privileges,  and  should 
have  a  very  great  influence  for  good  on  the  conduct 
of  our  lives.  Therefore,  this  knov/ledge  is  not  to  be 
abused  nor  neglected  by  us  under  any  circumstances; 
but  we  should  cherish  it  as  a  sacred  possession,  and 
endeavor  in  all  possible  ways  to  grow  better  ac- 
quainted with  God  and  all  that  pertains  to  His 
holy  will> 

Certainly  we  should  avoid  everything  that  savors 
of  disrespect  toward  Him,  especially  in  the  wrong 
use  of  His  name,  of  His  written  or  spoken  messages 
to  mankind,  or  of  anything  pertaining  to  His  wor- 
ship or  His  Spirit  of  grace;  for  all  these  evil  acts 
will  bring  our  souls  into  condemnation  by  turning  the 
light  that  is  given  us  into  darkness.- 

But  this  feeling  of  reverence  toward  God  may  also 
be  kept  alive  and  quickened  in  our  hearts  by  study- 
ing the  Scriptures,  especially  those  portions  of  them 
which  reveal  His  great  power  and  majesty  in  lofty 
descriptions  and  in  the  visions  of  patriarchs,  proph- 
ets and  apostles;  or  when  his  wisdom  and  tender- 
ness toward  all  of  his  creatures  are  shown  to  us  by 
the  writers  of  the  Psalms,  or  by  the  prophets,  or  by 
Christ  our  Saviour  in  his  discourses  in  the  Gospels.* 
4  49 


50  THE    LAW    OF    REVERENCE   TOWARD   GOD. 

In  both  these  respects  the  character  of  God  and 
our  dependence  upon  him  for  all  the  mercies  and 
blessings  of  life  are  further  to  be  seen  by  a  contem- 
plation of  his  works  in  the  natural  world  around  us, 
which  contains  so  many  evidences  of  his  handiwork 
and  of  his  constant  presence  and  beneficent  oper- 
ations. Sometimes,  like  Elijah  at  Mt.  Horeb,  we 
are  much  impressed  by  these  tokens,  as  when  we  see 
a  great  storm  of  clouds  and  lightning  and  rain,  or 
a  mighty  earthquake,  or  a  volcanic  eruption,  or  a 
great  conflagration,  or  a  mighty  flood  of  waters,  or 
a  time  of  pestilence,  or  other  natural  phenomena 
which  show  us  our  littleness  and   weakness.* 

Yet,  W2  also  need  to  learn  that  God  is  ever  with  us, 
in  the  stars  and  In  the  sunshine,  in  the  sea  and  in 
the  mountains,  and  no  less  in  the  springing  of  the 
grass,  the  opening  of  the  buds  and  flowers,  the  songs 
of  the  birds,  the  moving  of  the  wild  creatures  in  the 
woods  and  the  tame  animals  in  the  field,  in  the 
harvest  and  fruitful  autumn,  in  the  life  of  all  the 
living.'^ 

Most  of  all.  He  is  revealed  to  the  hearts  of  them 
that  seek  Him  in  prayer,  that  honor  Him  in  their 
lives,  and  that  endeavor  to  obey  His  will  in  all 
things,  turning  from  sin  and  vanities  of  every  sort 
to  learn  his  saving  truth.  To  such  persons  the 
majesty  of  his  power,  the  beauty  of  his  holiness,  the 
tenderness  of  his  love,  are  a  real  vision  of  the  heart 
and  a  constant  feafet  to  the  soul." 

God  of  my  fathers!   holy,  just  and  good!' 
Creator!    Father!    and  unfailing  Hope! 
Jehovah!   let  the  incense  of  Thy  praise 
Accepted  burn  before  Thy  mercy-seat; 
And  let  Thy  presence  burn  both  day  and  night. 

Adapted  from  Pollock. 


Sam.    7  : 

:  If). 

Ps.  18:  7 

-15. 

Acts  14  : 

:16, 

THE  LAW   OP   REVERENCE   TOWARD   GOD.  51 


REFERENCES. 

1  Job    11  :  7-9,    22  :  21-30.      Ps.    34  :  1-10.      Jer.    10  :  10-16. 
Hab.  2  :  20.     Nahum   1  :  1-8.     John   1  :  1-14.     Ileb.  1  :  1-2. 

2  Job  21  :  7.    14-21,   22  :  12-17.      Ps.    10  :  4-6.      Malt.   6  :  23, 
21  :  12,  13.     John  3  :  19-21.     Rom.   1  :  16-25,  28. 

3  Ex.     20:1-7.       Ps.     11:4,     5,     19:9-11,     111:10.       Isa. 
6  :  1-5,   40  :  12-31.      Matt.  6  :  25-33.      Luke    10  :  21.   22. 

*  Ex.  19:16,  20:18.  Num.  16:31-35.  1 
2  Sam.  22  :  8-16.  1  Kings  18  :  17-39,  19  :  11-13. 
Heb.   12  :  29. 

5  Job  36  :  26-33,  37.  Ps.  65,  104,  145,  147. 
17. 

e  Ps.  63:1-8,  89:1-18,   103,  140.     Jas.   4:8.     2  Pet.  3:9. 


QUESTIONS. 

What  is  a  knowledge  of  God  as  compared  with  a  knowl- 
edge of  other  things? 

How  should  we  cherish  this  knowledge  of  God? 

How  should  we  avoid  all  disrespect  toward  God? 

What   is  the  consequence  of   such   disrespect? 

Ho\v  may  our  reverence  toward  God  be  ouickened  and 
developed  by  a  studj;  of  the  Scriptures? 

What  signs  of  God  may  we  find  in  the  w^orld  around  us? 

What  tokens  of  God  commonly  impress  us  most? 

What  other  tokens  of  Him  are  equally   instructive? 

To  what  kind  of  persons  is  God  most  clearly  revealed  and 
under  what   conditions  of  life? 

What  three  things  become  to  such  persons  a  vision  of  the 
heart  and  a  feast  of  the  soul? 

MEDITATION  AND   PRAYER. 

The  Lord  reigneth;  let  the  people  tremble.  He  sit- 
teth  between  the  cherubim;  let  the  earth  be  moved. 
Clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  him;  right- 
eousness and  judgment  are  the  habitations  of  his 
throne.  The  Lord  is  great  in  Zion;  He  is  high  above 
all  the  people.  Let  them  praise  Thy  great  and  ter- 
rible name,  for  it  is  Holy.  Exalt  ye  the  Lord  our 
God,  and  worship  at  His  footstool;  for  the  Lord  our 
God  is  Holy.     Amen. 


52  THE   LAW   OF   REVEKENCE    TOWARD   GOD. 

HYMN.    (TUNE,    MILLENIUM.) 

Thk  Lord  Jehovah  reigns, 

His  throne  is  built  on  high; 
The  garments  He  assumes 

Are  light  and  majesty; 
His  glories  shine  with  beams  so  bright 

No  mortal  eye  can  bear  the  sight. 

The  thunders  of  His  hand 

Keep  the  wide  world  in  awe; 
His  wrath  and  justice  stand 

To  guard  His  holy  law; 
And  when  His  love  resolves  to  bless, 

His  truth  confirms  and  seals  the  grace. 

And  will  this  sovereign  King 

Of  glory  condescend. 
And  will  He  write  His  name. 

My  Father  and  my  Friend: 
I  love  His  name,  I  love  His  word; 

Join  all  my  powers  to  praise  the  Lord. 

Isaac  Watts. 


XII. 
THE  LAW  OF  SABBATH  REST  AND  WORSHIP. 

The  law  of  the  Sabbath,  which  was  also  first 
given  by  Moses,  is  a  consequence  of  the  moral  na- 
ture of  man,  because  he  needs  time  to  rest  from  his 
daily  cares,  to  lay  aside  his  worldly  interests,  and  to 
seek  after  the  things  of  God  for  the  good  of  his  own 
soul.^ 

Our  bodies  find  rest  in  leisure  and  sleep.  They 
are  also  nourished  by  our  daily  food,  and  refreshed 
by  a  change  of  place  and  exercise,  which  are  good 
for  both  young  and  old.  So  again,  our  minds  are 
benefitted  by  rest  and  relaxation,  by  meeting  with 
new  things  and  people;  and  especially  do  they  need 
ample  time  for  learning  the  lessons  and  ways,  the 
arts  and  duties,  that  are  necessary  for  our  later 
years. 

In  like  manner  the  moral  nature  in  the  immortal 
soul  of  man,  needs  time  and  attention  for  its  nourish- 
ment in  spiritual  things,  for  development  in  the 
habits  of  religion  and  in  preparation  for  the  life  to 
come.  For  this  reason  God  has  given  to  His  children 
one  day  in  seven,  called  the  Holy  Sabbath,  to  be  set 
apart  for  rest  from  ordinary  labor,  and  to  be  used 
as  a  day  of  quietness  and  worship,  and  of  learning 
to  know  and  to  do  the  things  which  are  pleasing  to 
Him.2 

When  rightly  used,  the  Sabbath  is  a  precious  day 
to  all,  not  only  because  it  is  a  day  of  rest  for  both 
53 


54  THE    LAW   OF    SABBATH    REST    AND    WORSHIP. 

body  and  mind;  but  because  it  reminds  us  of  God 
and  Heaven,  of  mercy  and  purity  and  all  good  things, 
and  even  of  our  own  high  estate  as  children  of  the 
Almighty;  while  the  neglect  of  the  Sabbath  destroys 
all  these  ideas.^ 

In  many  places  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is 
now  greatly  neglected  or  actually  cast  aside  for  mere 
business,  or  traveling,  or  for  various  amusements; 
and  this  tends  to  the  great  detriment  of  morality 
also,  because  it  destroys  the  main  support  of  religion, 
which  is  the  influenjce  of  the  Gospel  in  human 
lives.  The  ancient  prophets  declared  that  this  was 
one  principal  cause  of  the  downfall  of  Israel  and 
Judah,  that  God  had  cast  them  off  because  they  de- 
spised his  covenant  by  profaning  his  Holy  Sabbath 
day;  and  the  same  principles  may  apply  to  the  con- 
duct of  many  who  are  called  Christians  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  no  matter  how  specious  are  their  reasons 
and  excuses.* 

It  is  true,  however,  that  Jesus  Christ  spoke  out 
against  the  foolishness  and  insincerity  of  the  Jewish 
Pharisees,  because  they  prohibited  even  works  of 
mercy  and  necessity  on  the  Sabbath  day  and  intro- 
duced many  useless  restrictions  which  were  of  no 
real  help  to  religion.'  Jesus  Himself  and  his  apos- 
tles did  many  good  works  on  the  Sabbath  day.® 

Moreover,  it  appears  from  his  own  words  and  from 
the  writings  of  the  apostles  that  He  authorized  them 
to  change  the  old  order  and  to  place  the  Christian 
Sabbath  on  the  first  instead  of  the  seventh  day  of 
the  week/  Thus,  his  resurrection  occurred  on  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  and  also  the  descent  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  on  the  disciples  at  Jerusalem;  after 
which  it  was  regularly  observed  by  them  as  the  day 
of  religious  assembly,  of  church  collections,  and  of 
the  worship  of  God.* 


THE   LAW   OF    SABBATH   REST   AND   WORSHIP.  55 

"  He  who  ordained  the  Sabbath  loves  the  poor." 

J.  R.  Lowell. 

"  The  longer  I  live,  the  more  highly  do  I  estimate 
the  Christian  Sabbath,  and  the  more  grateful  do  I 
feel  to  those  who  impress  its  importance  on  the 
community." 

Daniel  Webster. 

"Without  a  Sabbath,  no  worship;  without  wor- 
ship, no  religion;  and  without  religion,  no  permanent 
freedom." 

Montalembeet. 

"  I  have  found  by  long  and  sound  experience  that 
the  due  observance  of  the  Sabbath  day,  and  of  the 
duties  of  it,  have  been  of  singular  comfort  and  ad- 
vantage to  me.  The  observance  of  the  day  hath  ever 
had  joined  to  it  a  blessing  on  the  rest  of  my  time; 
and  the  week  so  begun  hath  been  blessed  and  pros- 
pered to  me." 

Sir  Matthew  Hale. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Gen.  2:2,  3.  Ex.  16  :  23,  29-30,  20  :  8-11,  31  :  13-17. 
Deut.  5  :  12-15. 

2  Exod.  35  :  2.  Lev.  23  :  3.  1  Chron.  23  :  30-31.  Ps.  92, 
title. 

3  Neh.  9:14.     Isa.   56:1-7,   58:18-14.      Jer.    17:21-27. 

*  2  Chron.  36 :  20,  21.  Ezek.  20  :  12-16,  10-21.  Neh. 
13  :  15-22.      Lam.   1  :  7. 

5  Matt.  12  :  1-8.     Mark  2  :  23-28.     Luke  6  :  1-5.     CoL  2  :  16. 

6  Matt.  12  :  10-13.  Mark  1  :  21,  3  :  1-5.  Luke  4  :  16, 
6:6-10,  13:10.  John  5:9-10,  16,  9:14-16.  Acts  13:14, 
42,   44,    16:  13,    17:  2,    18:  4. 

'  Luke  6:5,  23  :  56,  24  :  1.     John  20  :  1,  19.  26. 

8  Acts  2:1.  (Explain  the  day  of  the  week  on  which 
Pentecost  fell:  see  Lev.  23:15,  16.)  Acts  20:7.  1  Cor. 
16  :  2.     Rev.   1  :  10. 


56  THE   LAAV   OF   SABBATH   KEST   AND   WORSHIP. 

QUESTIONS. 

When  was  the  law  of  the  Sabbath  first  given? 

How  is  the  Sabbath  a  requirement  of  man's  moral  nature? 

IIow  is  it  also  a  benefit  to  his  body  and  mind? 

f'or  what  moral  ends  do  we  need  time  and  attention? 

What  then  are  the  purposes  of  Sabbath  observance? 

How  may  the  Sabbath  be  to  all  a  precious  day? 

What  is  the  present  state  of  Sabbath  observance? 

What  did  the  prophets  say  was  the  result  of  the  violation 
of  the  Sabbath  among  the  Jews? 

How  did  Christ  criticize  Jewish   Sabbath  observance? 

What  use  did  Jesus  make  of  the  Sabbath  day? 

What  proofs  have  we  that  he  authorized  the  apostles  to 
place  the  Christian  Sabbath  on  the  first  day  of  the  week? 

PRAYER. 

Lord,  I  thank  Thee  for  the  Holy  Sahbath  day;  for 
its  sweet  rest,  its  precious  associations  and  privileges. 
I  pray  for  grace  to  appreciate  them  fully,  and  to 
make  a  sacred  and  worthy  use  of  them  under  all 
circumstances,  that  I  may  live  aright  on  earth  and 
be  fully  prepared  to  dwell  with  Christ  in  Heaven  for- 
evermore.     Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE,    MENDEBUAS.) 

O  DAY  of  rest  and  gladness,  O  day  of  joy  and  light; 
O    balm    of   care    and    sadness,    Most   beautiful,    most 

bright. 
On  Thee  the  high  and  lowly,  Through  ages  joined  in 

'  tune. 
Sing  holy,  holy,  holy.  To  the  great  God  Triune. 

On  Thee,  at  the  creation.  The  light  first  had  its  birth; 
On  Thee,  for  our  salvation,  Christ  rose  from  depths  of 

earth; 
On  Thee,  our  I^ord,  victorious,  The  Spirit  sent  from 

heaven ; 
And  thus  on  Thee,  most  glorious,  A  triple  light  was 

given. 


THE    LAW   OF    SABBATH   REST    AND    WORSHIP.  57 

To-day,  on  weary  nations,  The  heavenly  manna  falls; 
To   holy  convocations,   The   silver  trumpet  calls. 
Where  gospel  light  is  glowing.  With  pure  and  radiant 

beams. 
And     living     waters     flowing,     With     soul-refreshing 

streams. 

New  graces  ever  gaining,  From  this  our  day  of  rest, 
We  reach  the  rest  remaining,  To  spirits  of  the  blest; 
To  Holy  Ghost  be  praises,  To  Father  and  to  Son; 
The  Church  her  voice  upraises.  To  Thee,  blest  Three 
in  One. 

Christopher   Wordsworth. 


XIIL 


THE     LAW     OF     THE      FAMILY     AND     RESPECT     TO 
PARENTS. 

The  institution  of  the  Home  and  Family  is  among 
the  first  things  in  all  social  order,  civilization,  and 
morality,  and  was  so  recognized  by  Moses  and  by 
Jesus  Christ.  While  men  were  permitted  to  have 
more  than  one  wife  in  the  earlier  ages,  it  was  no 
longer  so  in  later  times,  when  people  became  more 
settled  in  their  homes,  and  there  was  better  protec- 
tion for  the  weak  and  defenceless.^ 

The  family  tie  is  one  that  unites  one  man  and  one 
woman  for  their  natural  lives,  obliging  them  to  re- 
strict their  desires,  and  even  their  intimate  friend- 
ships, to  such  as  are  consistent  with  their  mutual 
relations  to  each  other  and  to  their  own  children;  to 
live  together  and  labor  for  the  maintenance  of  their 
own  household;  and  to  provide  for  their  common  wel- 
fare in  all  things.- 

This  obligation  is  one  that  cannot  be  annulled  by 
sickness,  disappointment,  or  even  distress;  and  hence 
it  is  a  very  serious  burden  in  many  cases.  Yet  with- 
out it,  children  would  often  be  left  in  the  direst 
poverty  and  neglect  by  their  own  parents.' 

But  this  also  brings  an  obligation  on  the  part  of 
the  children  to  respect  and  obey  their  parents,  who 
are  their  natural  guides  and  protectors.  Even  in 
later  years  this  obligation  does  not  wholly  cease;  for 
as  the  child  is  nourished  and  defended  by  his  parents 
when  young,  so  he  should  care  for  them,  if  necessary, 
in  old  age.* 

58 


LAW  OP   THE   FAMILY   AND   RESPECT   TO  PARENTS.  59 

These  relations  are  the  more  important  and  sacred 
because  the  family  circle  is  the  place  of  our  earliest 
impressions,  our  tenderest  affections  and  recollec- 
tions, and  usually  of  the  influences  that  form  our 
character  in  life.  There  also  we  are  most  likely  to 
act  out  our  real  character,  whether  for  good  or  bad, 
happiness  or  misery,  regardless  of  how  we  may  speak 
or  act  in  public.^ 

The  home,  therefore,  should  be  carefully  preserved 
from  all  evil  and  made  happy  by  the  spirit  of  order, 
obedience,  and  respect.  Children  must  bear  in  mind 
that  their  parents  are  older  than  themselves,  that 
they  have  more  experienc,  and  that  usually  their 
counsels  are  intended  for  the  good  of  their  children. 
If  some  things  are  hard  to  be  borne  at  times,  it  is 
better  to  await  one's  maturer  years  with  patience 
than  to  bring  in  confusion  by  disobedience.® 

This  is  an  important  part  of  that  training  which 
is  necessary  to  fit  each  one  of  us  for  our  own  re- 
sponsibilities in  later  life,  for  our  duties  as  members 
of  society  and  as  good  citizens  of  the  community 
where  we  shall  reside.  It  is  no  less  important  in 
order  to  fit  us  for  habits  of  love  and  obedience 
toward  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  and  for  useful- 
ness and  honor  in  His  kingdom  forever.^ 

Still,  if  a  parent  should  command  his  child  to  do 
an  act  that  is  expressly  against  the  laws  of  truth,  of 
justice,  or  of  chastity,  it  is  possible  that  the  child 
may  have  to  obey  God  rather  than  man.  But  this 
will  not  be  likely  ever  to  occur  if  the  parents  them- 
selves fear  God  and  do  the  right;  and  especially  if 
they  maintain  the  custom  of  family  worship,  with  a 
daily  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  a  prayer  for 
God's  personal  guidance  and  blessing  upon  their 
home. 


60         LAW   OF   THE   FAMILY   AND   RESPECT   TO   PARENTS. 

"  Home,   the   spot  of   earth  supremely   blest, 
A  dearer,  sweeter  spot  than  all  the  rest." 

Montgomery. 

"  Our  home  joys  are  the  most  delightful  that  earth 
affords,  and  the  joy  of  parents  in  their  children  is 
the  most  holy  joy  of  humanity.  It  makes  their 
hearts  pure  and  good;  it  lifts  men  up  to  their  Father 
in  Heaven." 

Pestalozzi, 

"  He  is  the  happiest,  be  he  king  or  peasant,  who 
finds  peace  in  his  home." 


Goethe. 


REFERENCES. 


1  Gen.  2:2.3-24.     Ps.  127,  128.     John  2:1-2,   11.     1  Tim. 
3:2,   4:3,   5  :  14.      Heb.    13  :  4. 

2  Gen.    24:15-67.      Ps.    45:10-17.      Prov.    18:22,    19:14. 
Ephes.  5  :  23-33.     1  Peter  3  :  1-7. 

3  Matt.    19:3-9,    13-15.      Mark    10:2-16.       Luke    16:18. 
Gen.  21  :  9-21. 

*  Ex.    20  :  12.      Lev.    19  :  3.      Deut.    5  :  16.      Matt.    15  :  3-6, 
19:  19.      Ephes.    6:  1-4. 

5  Gen.    27:37.      2    Sam.    15:1-18.    18:31-33.      Luke    15: 
11-32. 

6  Prov.  1  :  7-9,  3  :  11-12,  4  :1-13,  6  :  20-23,  17  :  25,  19  :  18-26, 
20  :  20. 

7  Col.  3:20-21.     1  Tim.  3:4-5,  12.     Titus  1:5-6.     Judges 
»     11  :  30-40.     1   Sam.  14  :  36-40. 


QUESTIONS. 

What  is  the  place  of  the  family  in  social  order? 
By  what  two  authorities  is  it  recognized   in   the  Bible? 
Is  it  permitted   to   liave  more  than  one   wife  or   husband? 
What  is  the  general  obligation  of  husband  and  wife? 
How  can   this   marriage  obligation   be  set  aside? 
How  would  children  be  affected  by  such  action? 
What,   then,   is  the  duty  of  children   to  their  parents? 
Why  are  these  family  ties  so  sacred  and  important? 


LAW    OF   THE    FAMILY    AND    RESPECT    TO    PARENTS.  61 

How  then  should   family   life  and   affairs  be  conducted? 
What  should  children   think  of  a   parent's  counsel? 
What  should  they  do  when  duty  seems  very  hard? 
When  only  may  a  child  be  possibly  exempt  from  the  duty 
of  obedience  to  parents? 

How    many    such    conflicts   of    duty    be    prevented? 

PRAYER. 

Help  me,  0  Lord,  to  be  thankful  for  the  blessings 
and  the  restraining  and  uplifting  influences  of  a 
Christian  home.  Here  may  I  learn  obedience,  pa- 
tience, and  holy  love,  in  return  for  the  loving  care 
so  freely  given  to  me.  May  Thy  divine  grace  rest 
daily  upon  us  all,  and  guide  us  in  the  duties  of 
righteousness,  for  thine  own  name's  sake.     Amen. 


HYMN.    (    TUNE    BRADBURY.) 

Saviour,  like  a  shepherd  lead  us. 
Much  we  need  Thy  tender  care, 

In  Thy  pleasant  pastures  feed  us, 
For  our  use  Thy  folds  prepare. 
Blessed   Jesus, 

Thou  hast  bought  us,  Thine  we  are. 

We  are  thine;   do  Thou  befriend  us. 

Be  the  Guardian  of  our  way. 
Keep  Thy  flock,  from  sin  defend  us. 

Seek  us  when  we  go  astray. 
Blessed   Jesus, 
Hear,  0  hear  us,  when  we  pray. 

Early  let  us  seek  Thy  favor 

Early  let  us  do  Thy  will; 
Blessed  Lord  and  only  Savior, 

With  Thy  love  our  bosoms  fill; 
Blessed   Jesus, 
Thou  hast  loved  us;    love  us  still. 

Unknown. 


XIV. 

THE    LAWS    OF    COMMON    MORALITY. 

There  are  certain  classes  of  wrong-doing  that 
offend  against  the  order  and  welfare  of  society,  or 
the  whole  body  of  people,  wherever  such  wrong-doing 
takes  place;  and  which  are  also  forbidden  in  the 
Ten  Commandments  and  in  many  other  portions  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures.  Among  these  sins  or  crimes 
are  such  as  murder,  adultery,  stealing,  lying,  and 
coveting  or  desiring  to  obtain  another  person's  goods 
by  any  practical  means,  regardless  of  his  own  feel- 
ings or  his  interests.^ 

It  is  easy  to  see  that  all  such  evil  deeds  must 
bring  confusion,  pain,  and  trouble  upon  somebody, 
and  often  the  consequences  of  such  actions  will  come 
back  upon  the  doer  of  them  in  shame,  or  in  the  di- 
vine judgment;  which  at  last  will  overtake  all  trans- 
gressors, unless  they  do  truly  and  earnestly  repent 
of  their  sins,  seeking  the  forgiveness  of  God.  Be- 
cause life  and  property,  honor  and  reputation,  are 
never  long  safe  where  such  things  are  tolerated  by 
public  sentiment,  we  may  put  all  these  commands 
together  on  a  common  basis  as  the  Laws  of  common 
Morality.^ 

But  each  of  these  laws  is  broader  in  spirit  than 
the  mere  letter  of  the  Commandment,  and  includes 
the  inward  disposition  of  the  heart.^  For  instance, 
the  spirit  of  the  Sixth  Commandment  forbids  not  only 
murder,  but  hatred,  cruelty,  and  every  unmerciful 
act  toward  men,  or  even  toward  the  dumb  animals 
62 


THE  LAWS  OF  COMMON  MORALITY,         63 

that  God  has  made.*  So,  too,  in  spirit,  the  Command- 
ment against  adultery  forbids  all  base,  impure,  and 
wanton  acts  or  words  whereby  our  own  lives  or 
those  of  other  persons  would  be  made  unclean.^  So, 
the  Commandment  against  stealing  covers  in  effect 
all  robbery,  cheating,  gambling,  and  other  forms  of 
unjust  dealing  whereby  one  obtains  what  is  not 
rightfully  his  own.^ 

The  Commandment  against  false  witness  is  also 
directed  against  all  forms  of  gossip,  evil  speaking, 
deceit,  and  hypocrisy,  whereby  people  are  disturbed 
and  used  unjustlyJ  The  last  Commandment  is 
against  selfishness  and  meanness  of  conduct  toward 
others,  especially  such  as  is  commonly  practised  in 
this  world.** 

The  opposite  of  all  this  is  expressed  by  our  Saviour 
in  the  words,  "  Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should 
do  unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  unto  them."  This  is  often 
called  "  the  Golden  Rule,"  and  it  is  the  only  real 
guarantee  of  public  peace  and  private  security  among 
men,  no  matter  how  simple  or  how  cultured  their 
social  condition,  nor  how  prominent  may  be  their 
personal  position  before  the  world. 


"  Let  us  with  caution  indulge  the  supposition  that 
morality  can  be  maintained  without  religion.  Reason 
and  experience  both  forbid  us  to  expect  that  na- 
tional morality  can  prevail  in  exclusion  of  religious 
principles." 

Washington. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Ex.  20:a3-17.  Deut.  5:17-21.  Hos.  4:1-3.  Matt.  19: 
16-18.     Rom.   1  :  28-32. 

2  Prov.  11:37.  13:15.  Eccles.  9:18.  Isa.  1:28-31,  59: 
1-15.  Jer.  7:1-16.  Micah.  2:1-3.  MaL  3:5.  Matt.  23: 
13-33.     Gal.  5  :  19-21. 


64  THE   LAWS   OF   COMMON   MORALITY. 

3  Prov.  4  :  23.  Matt.  12  :  33-35.  Luke  6  :  43-4r).  Rom. 
8:  27. 

*  Gen.  37  :  18-28,  45  :  3-5.  1  Sam.  24  :  1-7.  Prov.  1  : 
10-19.      Matt.   5:7,   21-23.      Luke  6:36.     Jas.   2:13. 

6  Gen.  39  :  7-9.  1  Sam.  2  :  22-25,  3  :  11-14.  Ps.  50  :  16-22. 
Prov.  2  :  10-22,  6  :  23-32.  IIos.  5  :  3-5.  Matt.  5  :  27-28.  1 
Peter  4  :  1-5. 

8  1  Kings  21  :  1-19.  Ps.  10  :  8-15.  73  :  1-20.  Prov.  21  :  7. 
Isa.  5  :  7-10.     Micah  2  :  1-5.     Matt.  23  :  14.     .Tas.  5  :  1-4. 

7  Gen.  37  :  31-35.  Ex.  23  :  1-2.  Ps.  15  :  2-3.  52  :  1-5,  101  : 
5.  7.  Prov.  6  :  12-19,  19  :  5.  Isa.  59  :  1-15.  Matt.  12  :  36-37. 
Eph.  4  :  25. 

8  Ps.  10:3,  119:36.  Prov.  28:16.  Isa.  5:8-10.  .Ter. 
6:13,8:10.  Micah  2  :  2.  Hab.  2  :  9.  Luke  12  :  15,  21.  1 
Tim.  6  :  7-10. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  various   kinds   of   wrong  doing  have  we   here? 

Who  are   injured   by   these  moral   offenses? 

What  is   the  final   result  to  the  doer  of  such   things? 

What  interests  are  not  safe  where  these  are  tolerated? 

How  are  these  commands  to  be  understood  by  us? 

What   things   are   forl)idden   by    the   Sixth   Commandment? 

What  things  are  forbidden  by  the  Seventh  Commandment? 

What  things  are  forbidden  by  the  Eighth  Commandment? 

What   things  are   f()rl)idden   l)y    tlie   Ninth    Commandment? 

What  things  arc  forbidden  by  the  Tenth  Commandment? 

IIow   did  our   Saviour   sum   up  our  whole  duty? 

Of"  what  things  is  the  Golden  Rule  the  only  guarantee? 

MEDITATION    AND    PllAYKR. 

Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord?  Or  who 
shall  stand  in  His  Holy  place?  He  that  hath  clean 
hands  and  a  pure  heart,  who  hath  not  lifted  up  his 
soul  unto  vanity  nor  sworn  deceitfully.  He  shall 
receive  the  blessing  from  the  Lord,  and  righteous- 
ness from  the  God  of  his  salvation.  Therefore,  keep 
my  heart,  O  God,  from  evil,  and  my  lips  from  speak- 
ing guile.  So  may  I  find  favor  in  Thy  sight.  O 
Lord  of  Hosts.     Amen. 


5 


THE   LAWS  OF   COMIMON   MORALITY.  ^5 

HYMN.       (TUNE,    SPOHR.) 

I  WANT  a  principle  within 

Of  jealous,  godly  fear; 
A  sensibility  of  sin, 

A  pain  to  feel  it  near. 

I  want  the  first  approach  to  feel 

Of  pride  or  fond   desire; 
To  catch  the  wandering  of  my  will 

And  quench   the  kindling  fire. 

From  Thee  that  I  no  more  may  part, 
No  more  Thy  goodness  grieve. 

The  filial  awe,  the  fleshly  heart. 
The  tender  conscience,  give. 

Quick  as  the  apple  of  an  eye 
O  God,  my  conscience  make; 

Awake  my  soul  when  sin  is  nigh. 
And  keep  it  still  awake. 

Chables  Wesley. 


XV. 

THE    DUTY    OF   REPENTANCE    FROM    SIN. 

The  duty  of  turning  away  from  all  known  sin 
with  sincere  sorrow  and  true  repentance  is  found  in 
many  parts  of  the  Old  Testament,  but  more  espe- 
cially in  the  Psalms  and  Prophets,  where  we  are  also 
taught  to  ask  forgiveness  of  God  and  power  from 
Him  to  lead  a  better  life  thereafter.^ 

Since  all  men  are  naturally  weak  and  fallible, 
there  is  none  that  keeps  the  moral  laws  of  God  to 
perfection,  although  in  this  respect  there  is  a  great 
difference  in  conduct.-  But  whenever  any  one  truly 
and  earnestly  asks  forgiveness  of  God,  expecting  to 
receive  His  gracious  blessings,  and  to  be  spiritually 
saved  in  this  life  and  for  the  world  to  come,  he  must 
and  will  repent  of  all  his  sins  by  turning  away  from 
them  with  all  his  heart.'' 

As  previously  stated,  the  effect  of  sin  is  always  to 
destroy;  first,  our  innocence  and  peace  of  mind;  then, 
finally,  our  moral  nature,  and  the  very  soul  itself. 
But  this  work  of  sin  is  gradual,  and  may  often  be 
arrested  before  it  has  passed  beyond  recovery.  Yet 
there  are  certain  results  that  must  follow  each  sinful 
act,  since  what  is  done  can  never  be  truly  undone, 
nor  can  all  of  its  consequences  be  averted.* 

Like  the  flower  that  has  been  rudely  torn,  like  the 
fresh  new  garment  that  has  been  soiled,  or  like  the 
person's  face  or  body  that  has  been  scarred  by  acci- 
dent or  violence,  so  the  first  innocent  impulses  and 
affections  of  the  soul,  when  once  injured  or  corrupted 
66 


THE  DUTY  OF  REPENTANCE  FROM  SIN.        67 

by  sin,  can  hardly  be  restored  to  their  earliest  state. 
And  while  our  sins  may  be  forgiven  in  answer  to 
prayer,  yet  some  of  the  harm  that  we  have  caused 
to  ourselves,  or  perhaps  to  other  people,  can  never  be 
fully  recalled,  although  we  may  regret  them  forever, 
and  try  to  make  up  for  them  by  earnest  and  holy 
living.^ 

Yet  there  is  a  great  difference  between  sins  that 
are  committed  in  ignorance  or  thoughtlessness  and 
those  that  are  committed  knowingly  and  wilfully. 
The  ignorant  sinner  may  easily  be  instructed  In  the 
right  way,  and  be  convicted  of  his  duty,  and  turn  to 
become  a  different  kind  of  person  by  the  help  of 
God." 

But  when  one  knows  that  he  is  committing  sin, 
and  wilfully  continues  in  his  wickedness,  by  and  by, 
his  conscience  becomes  deadened  to  a  sense  of  right, 
his  heart  grows  cold  and  hard  against  good  impres- 
sions, and  the  Holy  Spirit  is  compelled  to  leave  him 
to  his  sins;  until  at  last  it  is  very  difficult,  if  not 
wholly  impossible,  for  him  to  be  brought  to  repent- 
ance and  salvation.' 

This  is  a  great  and  important  reason  why  every 
one  should  seek  the  Lord  in  his  youth,  before  he  is 
drawn  into  gross  sin  and  falls  away  from  God 
forever. 


"  True  repentance  consists  in  the  heart  being 
broken  for  sin  and  broken  from  sin.  Some  often  re- 
pent, yet  never  reform.  They  are  like  a  man  travel- 
ling on  a  dangerous  path,  who  frequently  starts  and 
stops,  but  never  turns  back  from  his  danger." 

Thornton. 


68  I'HE  DUTY   OF   REPENTANCE   FROM   SIN. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Ex.  32  :  30.  Ps.  32  :  1-6.  51 :  1-3,  130  :  3-4,  7-8.  Isa.  1 
16-18,  55:6,  7.  Jer.  3:12-13,  22.  Matt.  3:2,  4:17,  9 
10-13.  Mark  1:4,  15.  Luke  13:3-5,  15:7-10.  Acts  3 
19.     2  Peter  3  :  9.     Rev.  2  :  5,  16,  22.  3  :  3,  19. 

2  Job  15:14-16.  Prov.  20:9.  Psa.  14:3,  53:3.  Eccles. 
7  :  20.     Rom.  3  :  23.     1  John  1  :  8. 

3  2  Chron.  15:12,  15.  Jer.  29:11-13.  2  Cor.  7:9-11. 
Heb.  12  :  1.     1  John  1  :  9. 

*  Gen.  3:7.  Num.  20:7-12,  27:12-14.  1  Sam.  15: 
16-23.      I   Kings   11  :  9-11. 

5  Matt.  26  :  31-35,  69-75.  Acts  7  :  58-60,  9  :  19-22.  1 
Cor.   15  :  9. 

«  Luke  12:47-48,  23:34.  John  16:1-3.  Acts  3:17. 
1  Tim.   1  :  13. 

7  Prov.  29:1.  Matt.  13:11-15.  Luke  11:45-52.  John 
9  :  39-41,  15  :  21-24.     Eccles.  12  : 1. 

QUESTIONS. 

In  what  spirit  must  men  turn  away  from  sin? 

For  what  may  they  then  ask  God  in  prayer? 

Are  any  exempt  from  the  transgression  of  the  law? 

What   may   one   expect   from    God   after   true   repentance? 

What    final    results    follow   from    a    sinful    life? 

When   and   to   what   extent  can   these   results  be  averted? 

Can  the  first  innocence  of  the  soul  be  fully  restored? 

What  becomes  of  the  harm  that  we  have  committed? 

What  excuse  or  advantage  has  the  ignorant  man  here? 

What   is  the  final   result  of  sinning  against  the  light? 

Why,  then,  should  everyone  seek  the  Lord  in  youth? 

MEDITATION    AND    PRAYER. 

Hearken  unto  the  voice  of  my  cry,  my  King  and  my 
God;  for  unto  Thee  will  I  pray.  My  voice  shalt 
Thou  hear  in  the  morning,  O  Lord;  in  the  morning 
will  I  direct  my  prayer  unto  Thee.  For  Thou  art 
not  a  God  that  hath  pleasure  in  wickedness;  nor 
shall  evil  doers  dwell  with  Thee.  Have  mercy  upon 
me,  O  God,  according  to  Thy  loving  kindness;    and 


THE  DUTY  OF  REPENTANCE  FROM  SIN.        69 

according  to  the  multitude  of  Thy  tender  mercies, 
blot  out  my  transgressions  from  Thy  book,  forever. 
Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,   TOPLADY.) 

Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me 

Let  me  hide  myself  in  Thee; 
Let  the  water  and  the  blood 

From   Thy   wounded   side   which  flowed. 
Be  of  sin  the  double  cure. 

Save  from  wrath  and  make  me  pure. 

"Could  my  tears  forever  flow, 

Could  my  zeal  no  languor  know. 

These  for  sin  could  not  atone; 

Thou  must  save  and  Thou  alone; 

In  my  hand  no  price  I  bring; 
Simply  to  Thy  cross  I  cling. 

While  I  draw  this  fleeting  breath. 

When  my  eyes  shall  close  in  death, 

When  I  rise  to  worlds  unknown 

And  behold  Thee  on  Thy  throne, 

Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me, 

Let  me  hide  myself  in  Thee. 

A.    M.    TOPLADY. 


XVI. 

THE    NECESSITY    OF    CONFLICT    WITH    EVIL. 

Besides  our  first  repentance  from  sin,  and  the  daily 
renewal  of  our  covenant  with  God,  there  is  a  certain 
conflict  against  opposing  influences  within  ourselves 
and  outside  of  ourselves,  which  every  one  must  un- 
dertake who  truly  desires  to  continue  in  the  favor 
of  God  and  reach  final  salvation.^ 

Sometimes,  when  one  is  surrounded  by  heathen  or 
other  bad  people  who  are  bitterly  opposed  to  the 
truth  of  God  and  the  Christian  life,  there  are  so 
many  and  such  severe  difficulties  to  be  met  that 
these  may  occasion  a  real  war  for  existence;  and  in 
extreme   cases  this  seems  to   be  justifiable. 

Such  cases  are  seen  in  the  situation  of  ancient 
Israel  in  the  midst  of  powerful  heathen  neighbors, 
who  would  have  utterly  destroyed  God's  people  if 
they  had  been  permitted  to  do  so;  and  again  in  the 
Dark  Ages  when  the  Mohammedan  people  tried  to 
destroy  the  Christian  nations  of  Europe;  and  again 
in  the  struggles  for  liberty  and  conscience  in  the 
era  of  the  great  Reformation  in  the  Sixteenth  Cen- 
tury.^ Yet,  generally,  there  is  another  and  a  better 
way,  more  in  accord  with  the  teachings  of  Jesus 
Christ;  which  is,  to  bear  all  things  with  patience 
and  prayer,  trusting  God  to  make  it  right  at  last.^ 

Even  where  there  is  no  open   persecution   of  the 

good,  with  personal  abuse  and  suffering,  or  perhaps 

with  the  loss  of  home  and  friends,  or  property,  or 

position,   for   the   sake  of   conscience   and   of   doing 

70 


THE   NECESSITY   OF   CONFLICT   WITH   EVIL.  71 

the  will  of  God,  there  is  still  a  great  moral  conflict 
going  on  about  us  which  none  may  hope  to  escape 
wholly. 

The  three  great  opposing  influences  that  come  to 
test  the  Christian  life  of  every  one  are  commonly 
called  "the  world,"  "the  flesh,"  and  "the  devil;" 
and  these  terms  are  also  found  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures to  express  the  enemies  of  the  true  servant 
of  God. 

The  "  world "  embraces  all  those  influences  of 
social  pride,  pleasure,  and  vanity  which  minister  to 
our  natural  love  of  applause,  of  companionship,  and 
of  excitement,  regardless  of  our  moral  surroundings 
or  of  the  effects  of  the  same  upon  our  inner  life.^ 

The  "  flesh "  designates  our  own  physical  appe- 
tites, passionate  impulses,  or  tendencies  to  indolence, 
and  all  the  weaknesses  that  seem  chiefly  due  to  the 
inherent  qualities  of  our  physical  frame,  when  left 
to  themselves   without    proper    control." 

The  "  devil,"  or  "  Satan,"  refers  more  especially  to 
those  strange  and  often  unaccountable  moods  of 
selflshness,  or  of  doubt,  or  of  idle  curiosity,  or  evil 
surmising,  or  sudden  lure  to  sin,  which  so  often 
overtake  the  unwary  soul,  dragging  him  down  to 
perdition,  and  which  are  attributed  in  the  Bible  to 
the  Enemy  of  God  and  man.''  Against  all  these  the 
good  man  must  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God,  and 
watch  and  pray  lest  he  fall. 


"  A  certain  amount  of  opposition  is  a  great  help 
to  a  man.  It  is  what  he  wants  and  must  have  to  be 
good  for  anything." 

John  Neal. 


72  THE   NECESSITY   OF   CONFLICT   WITH   EVIL. 

REFERENCES. 

»  Ps.  3:1-7,  35:11-26.  56:64.  Jer.  28.  Dan.  6.  Matt. 
10  :  16-22.     Luke  22  :  46.     Acts   14  :  22.     2  Tim.  3  :  11-12. 

»  Gen.  14:13-20.  2  Sam.  5:17-25,  18:1-8.  1  Kings 
20  :  1-21.  Neb.  4  :  1-23.  Acts  13  :  6-13,  16  :  35-39,  22  :24-29, 
25:  10-12. 

«  Matt.  5  :  38-48.  Luke  6  :  27-31,  23  :  34.  Acts  7  :  60. 
Rom.    12:18-21.      1   Pet.    2:21-23.   3:9. 

*  Matt.  16:24-27.  2  Cor.  10:3-5.  Ephes.  6:13-18.  1 
Tim.  6:12.      2  Tim.   2:3.  4:7,   8. 

5  Matt.  5  :  2-4.  6  :  24.  John  15  :  18.  19,  17  :  14-16.  Rom. 
12:2.     1  Cor.  7:  29-31.     Jas.  4:4.     1  John  2:15-17. 

•Rom.  6:12-17.  8:1-17.  Gal.  5:16-21.  Ephes.  5:3-7. 
Col.  3:5.     1  Peter  4:  1-5. 

7  Matt.  4:1-11.  13:38.39.  Ephes.  6:11,  12.  Jas.  4:7. 
1  Peter  5  :  8-9.     1  John  3  :  8. 


QUESTIONS. 

What  comes  to  every  servant  of  God  after  his  conversion? 

Is  resistance   to  evil   and   persecution  ever  justifiable? 

Mention    some   historic    instances   of   that   kind. 

What  better  way   is  usually   to  be   preferred? 

What   conflict   must  we  meet  besides  open   persecution? 

What  are  the  three  great  influences  opposed  to  the  right? 

State  some  of  the  evil  influences  that  come  from  the 
"  world." 

What  kind  of  evil  influences  are  inherent  in  the  "flesh?" 

What  sort  of  temptations  are  more  especially  attributed 
to  the  "devil"  or  "Satan?" 

What  must  a  child  of  God  do  with  reference  to  all  these 
enemies  of  his  soul? 


MEDITATION    AND    PRAYER. 

Give  ear,  0  Lord,  unto  my  prayer,  and  attend  unto 
the  voice  of  my  supplication.  In  the  day  of  my 
trouble  I  will  call  upon  Thee;  for  Thou  wilt  an- 
swer me.  In  God  have  I  put  my  trust;  I  will  not  be 
afraid  what  man  can  do  unto  me.  Thy  vows  are 
upon  me,  O  God.     I  will  render  praises  unto  Thee, 


THE   NECESSITY   OF   CONFLICT   WITH   EVIL.  73 

for  Thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from  death.  Wilt 
Thou  not  preserve  my  feet  from  falling,  that  I  may 
walk  before  Thee  in  the  land  of  the  living?    Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,  ST.  GERTRUDE.) 

Onward,  Christian  soldiers. 

Marching  as  to  war, 
With  the  cross  of  Jesus, 

Going  on  before. 
Christ,  the  royal  Master 

Leads  against  the  foe; 
Forward  into  battle, 

See,  His  banners  go. 

Cho. — Onward,   Christian   soldiers. 
Marching  as  to  war, 
With  the  cross  of  Jesus 
Going  on  before. 

Crowns  and  thrones  may  perish, 

Kingdoms  rise  and  wane, 
But  the  church  of  Jesus 

Constant  will  remain; 
Gates  of  hell  can  never 

'Gainst  that  church  prevail; 
We  have  Christ's  own  promise. 

And  that  cannot  fail. — Cho. 

Onward,  then,  ye  people. 

Join  the  happy  throng, 
Blend  with  ours  your  voices 

In  the  triumph-song; 
Glory,  laud,  and  honor 

Unto  Christ  the  King; 
This  through  countless  ages, 

Men  and  angels  sing. — Cho. 

Sabine  Baring  Gould, 


XVII. 

THE  PRINCIPLE   OF  MORAL  SACRIFICE. 

In  this  earthly  life  of  so  many  opposing  elements, 
it  is  clear  that  no  one,  and  certainly  no  good  man, 
can  enjoy  all  the  things  that  come  to  him  as  ob- 
jects of  desire  or  even  of  honest  ambition. 

Some  things  must  be  set  aside  in  order  that 
others  may  be  attained;  and  some  things  that  are 
possibly  very  dear  to  him  must  be  given  up  in  order 
that  others  dearer  still  may  not  be  lost.  Physical 
ease  must  often  be  put  away  to  make  room  for  un- 
folding our  talents,  and  even  the  beautiful  things  of 
life  may  have  to  be  laid  aside  at  the  call  of  duty  or 
for  the  good  of  souls.^ 
for  the  good  of  souls.^ 

To  get  rid  of  the  power  of  sinful  habits  or  evil 
associations  is  often  like  plucking  out  an  eye  or  cut- 
ting off  the  right  hand  of  the  sufferer  who  is  thus 
involved;  but  the  Gospel  declares  it  is  far  better  so 
than  to  lose  one's  soul  forever;  and  therefore,  we 
must  cut  them  off  at  all  hazards.^ 

Again,  much  of  the  most  important  and  precious 
work  in  this  world  must  be  done  by  good,  earnest 
people  who  are  willing  to  forego  their  own  ease, 
pleasure,  comforts,-  or  opportunities  in  life  for  the 
sake  of  others,  like  the  mother  for  her  children;  and 
without  this,  the  world  would  not  be  saved  at  all. 
Yet  it  might  be  hard  to  show  that  self-sacrifice  is 
any  more  the  duty  of  those  people  who  have  lived 
such  lives  than  of  many  others  who  are  living  only 
for  their  own  pleasure  and  selfish  ends.' 
74 


THE  PRINCIPLE   OF   MORAL   SACRIFICE.  75 

A  sense  of  the  absolute  necessity  of  separation 
from  evil,  even  at  the  cost  of  suffering  and  death, 
seems  to  be  expressed  in  the  custom  of  offering  ani- 
mals on  the  altar  of  sacrifice  by  the  patriarchs, 
and  also  in  the  ancient  church  of  Israel.*  The  same 
thing,  with  the  additional  idea  of  a  propitiatory 
offering  to  sustain  the  dignity  and  authority  of 
God's  moral  government  over  men,  seems  to  find 
place  in  the  offering  of  Jesus  Christ  upon  the  cross 
of  Calvary,  in  the  course  of  His  labors  for  the 
world's  redemption  from  the  power  and  consequences 
of  sin.® 

At  any  rate,  we  cannot  suppose  for  a  moment  that 
the  Master  would  have  suffered  voluntarily  such  a 
death  without  some  great  and  compelling  motives; 
and  these  are  just  the  motives  ascribed  to  Him  in 
the  Gospels.  We  may  never  be  able  to  fully  fathom 
the  mystery  of  this  redemption;  but  it  appears  that 
both  before  and  after  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  the 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  has  often  been  sus- 
tained or  advanced  among  men  only  as  some  were 
willing  to  sacrifice  their  ease,  or  even  their  very 
lives,  for  that  holy  cause.®  And  the  need  of  gifts 
and  offerings,  nay,  of  real  sacrifice,  for  the  kingdom 
of  God  among  men,  has  not  yet  ceased  in  the  world; 
nor  is  it  likely  to  cease  for  many  years,  until  "  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  shall  fill  the  whole  earth,"  ^ 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  4  :  18-22,  6  :  19-21.  10  :  .37,  38,  13  :  44-46,  19  :  27-20. 
Mark  10  :  21,  28-30.  Luke  6  :  20-26,  9  ;  57-62,  10  :  38-42, 
12:16-34,    18:28-30.      Phil.   3:7-8. 

2  Matt.  5:29,  30,  16:25,  26,  18:7-9.  Mark  9:43-45,  47. 
Luke   9  :  23-26,    18  :  22-25. 

'Ex.  2:11-15.  Judges  6:11-35.  Neh.  2:1-8.  Esther 
4  :  10-17,  5  :  1-3.  Acts  18  :  1-3,  20  :  33-35.  Phil.  2  :  4-8. 
John  12:24-25. 


76  THE   PRINCIPLE   OF   MORAL   SACRIFICE. 


♦  Gen. 

8:20-21.    15:0  11.     Ex.    12:3-14,  21-30,   29:38-46. 

Lev.  16. 

2  Sam.  6:  17-18. 

6  Heb. 

9  :  6-28.       Matt.    20  :  28.       John    1  :  29,     11  :  49-52. 

Acts    13 

:  38-39.      Rom.    4  :  24-25,    5  :  6-21.      1    Pet.    1  :  18-19, 

2:24,   3 

:  18. 

«   1    Ki 

ngs    19  :  2-3.    10  :  14.      Mark.   6  :  14-30.      Acts   5  :  41, 

7  :  59-60, 

14  :  19,  20.   15  :  25-26.     1  Cor,  4  :  8-15.     2  Cor.   11  : 

23-28.     1  Thess.  2  :  9.     Rev.  1  :  9. 

7  Matt.  27:57-60.  Mark  15:40-41.  Luke  8:3.  John  \'2 
1-8.19:39.  2  Cor.  8  :  7-9,  9  :  5-8.  Phil.  4  :  10-18.  Ex.35 
20-29.      Ezra   1  :  2-6,    68-69,   7  :  24-30.      Neh.    7  :  70-72. 


QUESTIONS. 

Can  any  person  enjoy  all  good   things  in  life? 

How  then  must  he  choose  between  his  ob.1ects? 

To  what  is  the  removal  of  some  evil  things  compared? 

How  must  this  world  be  saved,  if  it  is  saved  at  all? 

What  was  the  idea  expressed   in  the  ancient  sacrifices? 

What  other  idea   is  also   found   in   them,   but   made   more 
clear  by  the  offering  of  Jesus  on  the  cross? 

Would  Jesus  so  have  suffered  without  good  reasons? 

Is  it   a   strange   thing  or  a   matter  of   common   experience 
that  sacrifice   is  essential   to   moral   welfare? 
When  will   the  need  of  gifts  and  offerings  to  God   cease? 

Is  a  man's  love  to  God  complete  without  a  sacrifice? 


MEDITATION    AND    PRAYER. 

Gather  my  saints  together  unto  me;  those  that  have 
made  a  covenant  unto  me  by  sacrifice.  The  sacri- 
fices o,f  God  are  a  broken  spirit;  a  broken  and  a 
contrite  heart  Thou  wilt  not  despise.  Offer  unto 
God  thanksgiving,  and  pay  thy  vows  unto  the  most 
High;  and  call  upon  Him  in  the  day  of  trouble. 
He  will  answer  thee  and  thou  shalt  glorify  Him. 
So  may  the  words  of  my  mouth  and  the  meditation 
of  my  heart  be  acceptable  in  Thy  sight,  O  Lord,  my 
strength  and  Redeemer.     Amen. 


THE   PRINCIPLE   OF    MORAL    SACRIFICE.  77 

HYMN.      (TUNE,    ST.   AGNES.) 

Lord,  it  belongs  not  to  my  care 

Whether  I  die  or  live; 
To  love  and  serve  Thee  is  my  share. 

And  this  Thy  grace  must  give. 

If  life  be  long  I  will  be  glad 

That  I  may  long  obey; 
If  short,  yet  why  should  I  be  sad 

To  soar  to  endless  day? 

Christ  leads  me  through  no  darker  rooms 
Than  He  went  through  before; 

He  that  into  God's  Kingdom  comes 
Must  enter  by  this  door. 

Come,  Lord,  when  grace  hath  made  me  meet 

Thy  blessed  face  to  see; 
For  if  Thy  work  on  earth  be  sweet. 

What  will  Thy  glory  be? 

Richard  Baxter. 


XVIII. 
THE  PROPHECIES  AND   PROPHETIC  TYPES. 

The  real  connection  between  the  Old  Testament 
and  the  New  Is  clearly  seen  in  the  numerous  types 
and  prophecies  of  the  former,  which  have  no  ex- 
planation except  as  they  look  forward  to  a  more 
spiritual  dispensation  and  find  their  fulfillment  in 
the  person  and  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  Thus  it  ap- 
pears that  the  true  religion,  given  from  God  and 
adapted  to  the  instruction  and  salvation  of  men,  is 
one  in  all  lands  and  ages;  but,  like  a  tender  plant 
growing  from  the  sprouting  seed  into  a  mighty  tree, 
each  of  whose  branches  was  in  early  ages  coming 
slowly  into  form.' 

The  types  of  the  Old  Testament  are  of  various 
kinds;  the  Passover,  the  sacrifices,  the  utensils  of 
the  sanctuary,  and  the  garments  of  the  high-priest, 
as  foreshadowing  the  mystery  of  the  Messiah  who 
should  come  and  make  an  atonement  for  the  sins 
of  the  world;  ^  also  the  history  of  Israel  coming 
out  of  Egypt,  as  a  type  of  the  spiritual  history  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  in  bringing  men  from  the 
house  of  bondage  under  sin  into  a  promised  land  of 
liberty  and  abundance;  ^  also  many  visions,  historical 
incidents,  and  the  entire  lives  of  various  historical 
personages,  as  Joseph,  Joshua,  David,  Solomon, 
Daniel,  Jeremiah,  and  others  whose  experience  was 
repeated  after  a  spiritual  manner,  in  the  life  and 
character  of  Christ.* 

The  Old  Testament  prophecies  begin  with  the 
promise  to  our  first  parents  that  "  the  offspring  of 
the  woman  should  bruise  the  serpent's  head,"  which 
78 


THE    PKOPHECIES   AND   PROPHETIC   TYPES,  79 

is  seen  to  be  fulfilled  in  Jesus  Christ,  the  son  of  the 
Virgin  Mary.  Then  we  have  the  promise  to  Abraham, 
saying,  "  In  thy  seed  shall  all  the  families  of  the 
earth  be  blessed,"  which  evidently  points  to  a  world 
Redeemer.  Next,  is  the  promise  given  by  Moses  to 
the  children  of  Israel,  "  And  a  Prophet  shall  the 
Lord  thy  God  raise  up  unto  thee  of  thy  brethren, 
like  unto  me,  and  unto  him  shall  ye  hearken,"  which 
looks  toward  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  by  Jesus 
Christ. 

The  Psalms  contain  various  passages  indicating 
that  the  Messiah  should  be  born  of  the  royal  line  of 
David,  and  that  He  should  establish  the  kingdom  of 
God  among  men  of  all  nations  and  for  all  time. 
Isaiah  tells  us  that  the  Messiah  is  to  bear  such 
names  as  "  Wonderful,"  "  Counsellor,"  "  The  mighty 
God,"  "  The  everlasting  Father,"  "  The  Prince  of 
Peace,"  and  that  he  should  inherit  the  throne  of 
David  forevermore.^ 

In  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel,  Daniel,  and  the  other 
prophets,  are  various  other  passages  which  foretell 
the  preaching  of  the  Messiah,  his  sufferings  and  final 
triumph  over  the  grave,  the  spiritual  nature  of  his 
kingdom,  the  conversion  of  the  Gentiles,  and  many 
other  particulars  of  his  career;  also  the  descent  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  upon  his  followers.  The  Jews  un- 
doubtedly possessed  and  cherished  these  prophecies 
for  centuries  before  the  coming  of  Christ,  in  whom 
they  were  all  so  wonderfully  fulfilled.^  The  New 
Testament  also  contains  various  prophecies  which 
are  now  being  fulfilled,  and  which  we  shall  notice 
later  on  in  these  lessons. 


"  Christ  is  the  great  central  fact  in  the  world's 
history.  To  Him  everything  looks  forward  or  back- 
ward.    All  the  lines  of  history  converge  upon  Him. 


80      THE  PROPHECIES  AND  PROPHETIC  TYPES. 

All  the  march  of  providence  is  guided  by  Him.  All 
the  great  purposes  of  God  culminate  in  Him.  The 
greatest  and  most  momentous  fact  in  the  history  of 
the  world  is  the  fact  of  His  birth." 

Spuegeon. 

"  All  history  is  incomprehensible  without  Christ." 

Ren  AN. 

"  History  is  but  the  unrolled  scroll  of  prophecy." 

J.  A.  Garfield. 
REFERENCES. 

»  1  Peter  1  :  10-12.  Heb.  11  :  39-40.  Matt.  5  :  17.  Luke 
24:27.  44.  Acts  3:18,  22-25.  Rom.  3:31,  15:4,  8-9.  1 
Cor.    10:  11. 

2  John  1  :  29.  1  Cor.  5  :  7.  Heb.  8  :  4-5,  9  :  1,  23,  24-28. 
10  :  1-14.    1    Peter    1  :  18,    19. 

3  1  Cor.  10:1-4,  11.  Ps.  95:7-11.  Heb.  3:7-19,  4:1-9. 
1   Peter   2:     9-10. 

*  Ezek.  47  :  1-12.  Dan.  2  :  44-45.  Zech.  3  :  4.  Mai.  8  :  1. 
Gen.  37:27-28.     Deut.   31:23.     1   Sam.  7:8-11. 

6  Gen.  3  :  15,  22  :  18.  Deut.  18  :  15-19.  2  Sam.  7  :  16. 
Ps.   2:72.   89:35-37.    110:64.      Isa.   9:1-7. 

6  Isa.  25  :  1-10,  35,  42  :  1-7,  53.  55  :  1-5.  59  :  16-21,  61  :  1-3, 
9,  11.  Jer.  23:. 5-6.  Dan.  9:24-27.  Mic.  5:2.  Hag.  2: 
6-9.     Zech.  9:9-10. 

QUESTIONS. 

How  is  the  connection  between  the  Old  Testament  and  the 
New  most  clearly  seen  ? 

How  only  can  these  types  and  prophecies  be  explained? 

How  is  the  true  religion  one,  and  yet  different  in  form? 

Mention  some  of  the  Old  Testament  types  and  their  mean- 
ing. 

What  was  prefigured  in  Israel  coming  out  of  Egypt  and 
into   the    land   of   Canaan? 

Mention  some  of  the  Old  Testament  persons  who  were  also 
types  of  the  Messiah  or  Christ,  and  briefly  explain  the 
types. 

What  was  the  promise  of  a  Christ  to  our  first  parents? 
To  Abraham?     To  Moses?     To  David?     To  Isaiah? 

What  additional  facts  concerning  the  Messiah  are  found 
in  the  Psalms  and  the  various  prophetical  writings? 


THE  PROPHECIES  AND  PROPHETIC  TYPES.  81 

MEDITATION    AND    PRAYER. 

My  times  are  in  Thy  hand,  O  God.  Deliver  me  from 
the  hand  of  mine  enemies  and  from  them  that  perse- 
cute me.  Make  Thy  face  to  shine  upon  Thy  servant; 
save  me  for  Thy  mercies'  sake.  Oh  how  great  is  Thy 
goodness,  which  Thou  hast  laid  up  for  them  that  fear 
Thee;  which  Thou  hast  wrought  for  them  that  trust 
in  Thee  before  the  sons  of  men.  So  may  my  soul 
hope  in  Thee,  O  Lord,  and  find  Thy  blessing  at  the 
latter  end.     Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,   ST.   GEORGE'S.) 

Watchman,  tell  us  of  the  night, 

What  its  signs  of  promise  are. 
Traveler,  o'er  yon  mountain  height 

See  that  glory-beaming  star! 
Watchman,  does  its  beauteous  ray 

Aught  of  hope  or  joy  foretell? 
Traveler,  yes!   it  brings  the  day 

Promised  day  of  Israel, 

Watchman,  tell  us  of  the  night; 

Higher  yet  that  star  ascends. 
Traveler,  blessedness  and  light. 

Peace  and  truth  its  cause  portends. 
Watchman  will  its  beams  alone 

Gild  the  spot  that  gave  them  birth? 
Traveler,  ages  are  its  own; 

See  it  bursts  o'er  all  the  earth! 

Watchman,  tell  us  of  the  night. 

For  the  morning  seems  to  dawn. 
Traveler,  darkness  takes  its  flight; 

Doubt  and  terror  are  withdrawn. 
Watchman,  let  thy  wandering  cease; 
Hie  thee  to  thy  quiet  home. 
Traveler,  lo,  the  Prince  of  Peace. 
Lo,  the  Son  of  God  has  come. 

Sir  John  Bowbing. 


XIX. 

THE    PREPARATIONS    FOR    MESSIAH'S    COMING. 

NoTWiTHSTATs^DiNG  the  decline  of  the  Jewish  nation 
about  the  time  of  the  Captivity  and  afterward,  yet 
the  writings  of  the  prophets  in  their  latter  days 
show  a  great  advance  in  spiritual  ideas  over  the 
earlier  times  of  the  patriarchs,  and  even  of  Moses.^ 
Less  emphasis  was  laid  on  the  observance  of  the 
ceremonial  law  of  the  priesthood  and  sacrifices,  while 
far  more  stress  was  placed  upon  righteousness  and 
the  real  state  of  the  heart  in  relation  to  the  moral 
law  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  our  fellowmen.^ 

It  was  also  shown  that  the  calamities  of  the  nation 
were  chiefly  due  to  a  general  lapse  into  sin,  such  as 
avarice,  oppression,  cruelty,  bloodshed,  deceitfulness, 
unchastity,  and  idolatry,  which  had  aroused  God's 
wrath  against  them,  because  they  had  wholly  for- 
saken his  covenant.' 

At  the  same  time,  the  prophets  showed  the  respon- 
sibility of  individuals,  each  for  himself,  declaring 
that  to  please  God  something  more  was  required 
than  to  be  of  Jewish  or  Israelitish  blood;  and  that 
the  good  character  of  parents  should  not  save  their 
children,  nor  should  children  suffer  on  account  of 
their  bad  parents-,  unless  they  were  like  them.*  Thus 
the  whole  idea  of  a  religious  life  was  gradually  sep- 
arated from  the  services  of  the  tabernacle,  or  the 
temple,  and  framed  upon  a  more  moral  and  spiritual 
basis  of  personal  loyalty  to  God  and  fidelity  in  the 
ways  of  righteousness." 

Moreover  it  was  promised  by  the  prophets  that  the 
82 


THE    PREPAKATIONS   FOR   MESSIAH  S   COMING.  83 

new  kingdom  to  be  established  in  the  world  by  the 
coming  Messiah  should  be  seen  to  have  for  its  prin- 
cipal object  the  promotion  of  peace,  justice,  good- 
will, and  happiness  among  men  of  all  nations,  both 
Jews  and  Gentiles.  Thus  the  hearts  of  the  people 
were  kept  full  of  hope  for  a  better  day,  and  their 
minds  were  lifted  up  toward  a  right  view  of  the 
coming  kingdom,  so  that  they  might  be  prepared  to 
appreciate  and  enjoy  its  practical  benefits,  and  also 
to  understand  its  spiritual  aims.® 

It  is  true  that  many  of  the  Jews  still  held  to  the 
hope  of  a  Messiah  who  should  be  a  great  temporal 
ruler  and  conqueror.  But  this  was  partly  compen- 
sated by  the  many  Gentiles  who  had  also  heard  of 
the  Messiah,  and  who  looked  for  the  world  to  be 
blessed  through  Him.  Whatever  men  might  think 
of  the  ancient  writings  of  the  Jews,  it  is  certainly 
wonderful  how  fully,  and  even  beyond  all  possible 
human  anticipation,  this  far-spread  desire  and  hope 
was  actually  fulfilled  in  the  coming  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  to  be  the  spiritual  Savior  of  mankind.^ 

REFERENCES. 

^  Compare  the  writings  of  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah  with  the 
glimpses  we  have  of  Samuel,  or  of  Elijah  and   Elisha. 

2  Ps.  40  :  6-8,  .50  :  7-21,  51  :  16-17.  Isa.  1  :  10-20.  .Ter.  3  : 
16-17.  7:1-7.  Hos.  4:1-9,  10:1-4,  12,  l.'i  :  1.  9,  14.  .Joel 
2:  12-19.      Mlc.    4  :  1-4,    7:  18-19. 

3  Isa.  .5:1-25.  .Ter.  7 :  21-.34,  11:6-12.  Ezek.  5:5-11, 
6  :  1-10.  Dan.  9  :  4-14.  Hab.  2  :  9-20.  2  Chron.  36  :  14-16. 
Neh.  1  :  6-11. 

*  .Ter.  31  :  29-30.      Ezek.   3  :  17-21,   18  :  1-4,   26-32,   33  :  1-20. 

6  Isa.  55:61.  Jer.  17:5-10,  31:31-34.  Ezek.  11:19  20, 
86  :  25-27. 

«  Isa.  11:1-10,  32:1-20,  35,  42:1-7.  Jer.  33:15-16. 
Zech.  8  :  1-8. 

^  Isa.  49:5-10,  18-23,  60:1-9.  Jer.  16:19-21.  Hos.  2: 
21-23.     Zech.   2:  11,  8:20-23. 


84  THE   PREPARATIONS   FOR   MESSIAH's  COMING. 

QUESTIONS. 

WTiat  change  is  found  in  tlie  writings  of  the  later 
prophets  as  compared  with  the  earlier  writings  of  the  Old 
Testament? 

What   matters  are  emphasized  less,   and   what  more? 

To  what  did  they  say  that  the  calamities  of  the  Jewish 
nation   were   chiefly   due? 

What  new  emphasis  was  placed  upon  the  subject  of  per- 
sonal  responsibility? 

How  did  their  teachings  change  the  popular  idea  of  the 
essentials  of  a   religious  life? 

What  kind  of  a  kingdom  did  the  prophets  say  should  be 
established  by  the  coming  Messiah? 

Did   all   of  the  Jews  accept  these  spiritual   ideas? 

Were  any  Gentiles  interested  in  the  coming  of  the  Mes- 
siah? 

What   was  the   basis  of   their   hope? 

MEDITATION    AND    PRAYER. 

Give  the  king  thy  judgments,  O  God,  and  Thy  right- 
eousness unto  the  king's  son.  He  shall  come  down 
like  rain  upon  the  mown  grass,  as  showers  that 
water  the  earth.  For  He  shall  deliver  the  needy 
when  He  crieth;  the  poor  also,  and  him  that  hath  no 
helper.  His  name  shall  endure  forever;  it  shall  be 
continued  as  long  as  the  sun;  and  men  shall  be 
blessed  in  Him.  All  nations  shall  call  him  blessed. 
Amen. 

HYMN.     (TUNE.     ITALIAN    HYMN.) 

Thoit,  whose  almighty  word 
Chaos  and  darkness  heard. 

And  took  their  flight; 
Hear   us,   we   humbly   pray. 
And  where  the  Gospel   day 
Sheds  not  its  glorious  ray. 

Let  there  be  light ! 


THE  PREPARATIONS  FOR   MESSIAH'S  COMING.  85 

Thou,  who  didst  come  to  bring 
On  Thy  redeeming  wing 

Healing  and  sight, 
Health  to  the  sick  in  mind. 
Sight  to  the  inly  blind, 
O  now,  to  all  mankind, 

Let  there   be   light! 

Spirit  of  truth  and  love, 
Life-giving,  holy  Dove, 

Speed  forth  Thy  flight; 
Move  o'er  the  water's  face 
Bearing  the  lamp  of  grace, 
Bearing  the  lamp  of  grace, 
And  in  earth's  darkest  place 

Let  there   be   light! 

John  Marriott. 


PART  SECOND. 


XX. 

JESUS   CHRIST,    THE    SAVIOUR. 

The  New  Testament  contains  four  different  Gos- 
pels, or  histories,  of  the  life,  character,  teachings, 
crucifixion,  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
who  is  called  the  Christ;  that  is.  the  Messiah  fore- 
told by  the  prophets  in  the  Hebrew  Scriptures.^ 

While  these  four  Gospels  purport  to  be  written  by 
different  authors  from  among  the  disciples  of  Christ, 
and  while  they  vary  much  in  the  detailed  incidents 
of  his  life  and  ministry,  as  also  in  the  reports  of  his 
sayings  and  discourses,  yet  they  substantially  agree 
in  all  general  matters,  both  as  to  his  person  and  the 
nature  of  his  doctrines,  and  are  further  confirmed  by 
the  other  books  of  the  New  Testament.^  The  first 
three  Gospels  agree  more  closely,  and  are  often  called 
the  Synoptists.  The  fourth  Gospel  was  written  a 
few  years  later. 

They  tell  us  that  Jesus  was  miraculously  born  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  espoused  wife  of  Joseph,  at  the 
city  of  Bethlehem  in  Judea  during  the  reign  of  Herod 
the  Great,  king  of  that  country  under  the  Romans,  of 
which  we  have  more  particulars  in  secular  history. 
His  birth  was  foretold  by  an  angel  and  heralded  by 
angels  to  shepherds  keeping  their  flocks  by  night  in 
the  fields  near  the  city.  These  visited  the  infant 
Saviour  in  His  manger  cradle;  and  later,  Wise  Men 
came  from  the  East  and  gave  Him  costly  presents  as 
a  token  of  their  faith  and  veneration.  To  escape  the 
envy  of  Herod,  He  was  carried  by  His  parents  into 
89 


90  JESUS  CHRIST,    THE   SAVIOUR. 

Egypt,  whence  He  returned  in  two  years  to  Nazareth 
in  Galilee.^ 

After  this,  little  is  said  of  His  personal  history, 
save  a  happy  youth  and  a  single  visit  to  Jerusalem, 
until  He  began  His  public  preaching  of  the  Gospel  of 
the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  or  the  New  Spiritual  Dis- 
pensation, in  the  cities  and  villages  of  Galilee,  where 
also  He  gathered  about  Him  His  first  disciples. 
This  beginning  of  His  ministry,  as  Luke  informs 
us,  was  during  the  preaching  of  John  the  Baptist  in 
Judea,  and  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Tiber- 
ius Ca?sar  over  the  Roman  Empire,  which  corre- 
sponds to  the  year  twenty-six  of  our  common  era.* 

There  is  no  statement  as  to  how  long  His  public 
preaching  continued  before  His  crucifixion  by  Pilate 
at  the  instigation  of  the  Jewish  leaders;  but  tradi- 
tion, which  is  confirmed  by  several  circumstances  in 
connection  with  the  date  of  Pilate,  and  by  the  dates 
In  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  tends  to  fix  the  length 
of  His  ministry  at  three  and  one-half  years.° 

Many  wonderful  things,  such  as  His  Baptism,  His 
Temptation,  His  Transfiguration,  and  Resurrection, 
are  related  as  having  confirmed  the  faith  of  His  dis- 
ciples; *  but  to  us,  His  fulfillment  of  the  ancient 
prophecies.  His  transcendent  moral  and  spiritual  doc- 
trines, and  also  His  abiding  and  beneficient  influence 
upon  mankind,  are  a  sufficient  basis  for  His  claims 
on  our  faith  and  reverence,  while  they  also  tend  to 
confirm  our  confidence  in  the  history  of  Christ  as 
related  in  the  Gospels.^ 


"  The  nature  of  Christ's  existence  is  a  mystery,  I 
admit;  but  this  mystery  meets  the  wants  of  man. 
Reject  it,  and  the  world  is  an  inexplicable  riddle;  be- 
lieve it,  and  the  history  of  our  race  is  satisfactorily 
explained." 

Napoleon, 


JESUS   CHRIST,    THE   SAVIOUR.  91 

"As  little  as  humanity  will  ever  be  without  re- 
ligion, SO  little  will  it  be  without  Christ." 

Strauss. 

"  In  His  life,  Christ  is  an  example,  showing  us  how 
to  live;  in  His  death,  He  is  a  sacrifice,  satisfying  for 
our  sins;  in  His  resurrection,  a  conqueror;  in  His  as- 
cension, a  king;   in  His  intercession,  a  high  priest." 

LUTHEE. 
REFERENCES. 

1  See  the  titles  of  the  four  Gospels  ;  and  also  Matt.  1 :  1. 
Mark   1  :  1.     Luke   1  :  1-4.     John   1  :  14,  41,  45,  21  :  24-25. 

2  Acts  1  :  1-3,  21-22,  2  :  22-24.  32-36.  Heb.  2  :  3-4.  1 
Peter  5:1.     2  Peter  1  :  16-18.      1   John  1  :  1-3. 

3  Matt.  1 :  18-25,  2  :  1-2,  11-14,  19-23.  Luke  1 :  5,  26-37, 
2  :  1-20. 

*  Luke  2  :  40-52.  John  1  :  19-27,  35-45.  Mate  4  :  17-25. 
Mark  1  :  14-22.     Luke  3  :  1-3,  4  :  14-15. 

6  (See  Josephus :  "Ant.  of  the  Jews,"  B.  18.)  Acts  1: 
13-15,   2  :  1,   14,   41,  4  :  5-6,  13,  27,  11  :  27-30,   12  :  20-23. 

«  Matt.  3  :  13-17,  4  :  1-11,  17  :  1-9,  28,  and  all  the  other 
Gospels. 

7  Luke  24  :  25-27,  44-48.  Matt.  7  :  28-29.  Mark  1 :  22. 
John  6  :  66-68,  7  :  46,  8  :  30-32. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  the  main  subject  of  the  four  Gospels? 

What    is   the    meaning    of   the   title    "Christ"? 
How  do  the  four  Gospels  differ  from  one  another? 
How  do  they   substantially   agree   among   themselves? 
How  are  they  further  confirmed   in  a  general  way? 
What  do  they  tell  us  of  the  birth  and  childhood  of  Jesus? 
What  general  account  and  incident  of  his  youth  is  given? 
What  was  the  principal  theme  of  his  public  preaching? 
When  and  where  did   his  public  ministry  begin? 
How  long  is  his  ministry  thought  to  have  continued? 
What  finally  brought  his  earthly  work   to  an  end? 
What  wonderful  things  confirmed  his  disciple's  faith? 
What  other  things  in  him  appeal  to  our  faith  to-day? 
What  is  the  bearing  of  these  things  on  the  Gospel  history? 


92  JESUS  CHRIST,    THE   SAVIOUR. 

PRAYER. 

O  God,  I  thank  Thee  for  the  wonderful  gift  of  Thy 
Son,  who  came  to  save  a  sinful  world  from  eternal 
death.  May  I  become  blessedly  acquainted  with 
Him,  to  know  the  divine  beauty  of  His  words  and 
works,  and  the  power  of  His  spiritual  grace  unto 
salvation,  both  in  this  world  and  in  the  world  to 
come.  So  may  He  be  my  friend  and  guide  forever- 
more.     Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE,    ANTIOCH.) 

Joy  to  the  world!   the  Lord  is  come; 

Let  earth  receive  her  King! 
Let  every  heart  prepare  Him  room. 

And  heaven  and  nature  sing. 

Joy  to  the  world,  the  Saviour  reigns; 

Let  men  their  songs  employ; 
While  fields  and  floods,  rocks,  hills,  and  plains, 

Repeat  the  sounding  joy. 

No  more  let  sin  and  sorrow  grow. 

Nor  thorns  infest  the  ground; 
He  comes  to  make  His  blessings  flow 

Far  as  the  curse  is  found. 

He  rules  the  world  with  truth  and  grace, 

And    makes   the   nations   prove. 
The  glories  of  His  righteousness 

And  wonders  of  His  Love. 

Isaac  Watts. 


XXI. 
HIS  SERMON  ON  THE  MOUNT. 

This  is  the  first  and  broadest  statement  of  Jesus 
Christ  concerning  moral  and  spiritual  principles, 
and  the  real  nature  of  true  religion.  It  is  most  fully- 
reported  by  Matthew,  and  begins  with  the  nine  Beati- 
tudes, the  most  beautiful  and  perfect  description  of 
a  happy  and  blessed  character  that  the  world  has 
heard  from  any  teacher  or  prophet;  for  they  are 
like  the  strings  of  a  mystic  harp,  all  tuned  in  per- 
fect accord,  and  full  of  all  manner  of  melodies  and 
harmonies  and  hidden  cadences  that  come  to  us  over 
and  over  in  life's  experiences,  bringing  us  into  a 
sense  of  personal  harmony  with  God.^ 

The  Lord  then  says  that  His  disciples  are  to  be 
as  the  salt  of  the  earth  and  the  light  of  the  world 
in  the  influence  of  their  example  and  conversation 
among  men.  After  this,  He  proceeds  to  explain  the 
quality  of  true  righteousness,  which  is  the  same 
under  His  Gospel  as  under  the  Law  and  the  Proph- 
ets; but  which  must  be  realized  by  something  more 
than  a  mere  formal  observance  of  the  Law,  such  as 
was  practised  by  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees.- 

It  demands  that  the  conscience  shall  be  sensitive 
to  the  spirit  of  the  law  even  more  than  to  its  literal 
requirements;  and  therefore  that  we  must  guard 
against  evil  thoughts  and  wicked  desires  and  little 
indulgences  in  sin  which  corrupt  the  heart,  and  make 
our  service  to  God  wholly  unacceptable.^ 
93 


94  HIS   SERMON    ON   TUE   MOUNT. 

He  warns  men  to  be  of  a  forgiving  disposition,  to 
cut  loose  from  sin  at  all  costs,  to  be  pure  and  inno- 
cent in  life,  to  be  careful  not  to  use  profane  words, 
and  above  all  not  to  harbor  revenge  against  our 
neighbors;  but  rather  to  do  them  good  as  becomes 
the  children  of  God,  who  is  kind,  not  only  to  the 
good,  but  to  the  unthankful  and  the  evil.* 

Again,  He  goes  on  to  caution  men  against  a  spirit 
of  vanity  and  hypocrisy  in  religion,  as  in  almsgiving 
and  in  the  making  of  prayers  to  be  seen  and  heard 
of  men;  but  He  commends  rather  the  practice  of 
religion  without  ostentation,  and  gives  us  a  model 
of  petition  to  God  which  is  commonly  called  "  The 
Lord's  Prayer,"  and  which  Christians  are  in  the  habit 
of  using  everywhere.*^ 

He  teaches  us  to  call  every  man  our  brother,  and 
to  know  God  as  "  Our  Father  in  Heaven,"  who  will 
not  fail  to  reward  all  those  who  serve  Him  and  put 
their  trust  in  Him.  He  says  it  is  better  to  do  good 
and  thus  lay  up  treasure  in  Heaven  than  to  lay  up 
treasure  on  earth  where  it  is  liable  soon  to  pass 
away.  He  tells  us  not  to  be  too  anxious  about  the 
things  of  this  world,  but  to  remember  that  all  good 
things  are  the  gift  of  God,  who  cares  for  His 
children." 

This  sermon  closes  with  a  number  of  practical  sug- 
gestions against  a  hasty  judgment  of  others,  or 
making  holy  things  cheap  and  common  among  bad 
men.  We  are  taught  to  seek  God  diligently  in 
prayer  and  in  earnest  efforts  to  do  right.  We  are 
warned  against  false  prophets  in  sheep's  clothing 
and  told  to  judge  of  men's  professions  by  their  real 
actions.  Finally,  Jesus  tells  us  the  story  of  two  men 
who  built  their  houses,  the  one  on  the  sand  and  the 
other  on  a  rock,  and  the  consequences  in  each  case.^ 


HIS   SERMON   ON   THE   MOUNT.  95 

"  As  to  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  my  opinion  of  whom 
you  particularly  desire.  I  think  His  system  of  morals 
and  His  religion,  as  He  left  them  to  us,  are  the  best 
the  world  ever  saw  or  is  likely  to  see." 

Benj,  Franklin. 

"  Religion  finds  the  love  of  happiness  and  the  prin- 
ciples of  duty  separated  in  us,  and  its  mission  is  to 
reunite  them." 

ViNET. 

"  Morality  looks  that  the  skin  of  the  apple  be  fair, 
but  religion  looketh  to  the  very  core." 

CULVERWELL. 

"  Anything  that  makes  religion  a  second  object 
makes  it  no  object." 

RUSKIN, 

"  Religion's  home  is  in  the  conscience.  Its  watch- 
word is  the  word  ought.  Its  highest  joy  is  simply  in 
doing  God's  Holy  will." 

CUYLER. 

"  So  comprehensive  are  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel 
that  they  involve  all  moral  truth  known  by  man;  so 
extensive  are  its  precepts  that  they  require  every 
virtue  and  forbid  every  sin;  nothing  has  been  added 
either  by  the  labors  of  philosophy,  or  the  progress 
of  human  knowledge." 

Unknown. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  5:1-12.  Luke  6:20-23.  Isa.  40:1-11,  42:1-4, 
57  :  15.  61  :3.      1   Peter  1  :  6-9. 

2  Matt.  5  :  13-20.  Mark  9  :  50.  Luke  11  :  33-36.  Jas.  2: 
10-18. 

3  Matt.  5  :  21-37,  18  :  7-9.  Mark  9  :  43.  45,  47.  Rom.  7  : 
6.     2   Cor.   3  :  6.      Ephes.    5  :  1-4.      1   John   3  :  6-10. 

*  Matt.  5  :  38-48.  Luke  6  :  27-38.  Rom.  12  :  19-21.  Jas. 
3:  11-13.     1  Jno.  3:  11-15. 


96  HIS   SERMON   ON   THE   MOUNT. 

^  Matt.  6:1-18.  Luke  11:1-4.  Rom.  12:12.  Ephes.  5: 
17-21.      Phil.   4:   6. 

«  Matt.  6  :  19-34.  Luke  12  :  22-34.  Phil.  4  :  11-14.  1  Tim. 
G  :  6-10. 

7  Matt.  7.     Luke  6:37-49,  18:1-14.     Jas.  1:22-25. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  the  first  and  broadest  statement  of  his  doctrines 
by  Jesus  Christ? 

Where  is  it  found?     And  in  how  many  chapters? 

What    are    the    first    few    verses    called?      Describe    them. 

What  did  .Tesus  say  about  enduring  persecution? 

What  did  he  remark  about   salt  and   light? 

What  did  he  say  here  about  the  scribes  and  Pharisees? 

Mention  some  of  his  examples  of  the  spirit  of  righteous- 
ness, as  contrasted  with  the  letter  of  the  laws  of  Moses. 

How  does  a  life  of  evil  thoughts  and  indulgences  affect  our 
religion? 

What  did  Jesus  say  about  revenge  and  forgiveness? 

What  did  he  say  about  giving  alms,  praying,  and  fast- 
ing? 

Can   you    repeat   the   Lord's  Prayer  from   Matthew? 

What  did  Jesus  say  about  laying  up  treasure  on  earth? 

Why  are  we  to  trust  God  for  our  daily  necessities? 

What   is   the  difference   between   prudence  and    anxiety? 

What   is   said    about   hasty   judgment   of   others? 

What  about  placing  holy  things  before  the  reckless? 

What  about  the  duties  and  privilege  of  nrayer  to  God? 

What  is  said  about  the  straight  path?     Of  false  prophets? 

How  are  the   lives  of  men  roinpnred  to  trees? 

How  will  some  people  be  disappointed  at  last? 

dive  the  story  of  the  two  men  and  their  houses. 

PRAYER. 

O  Lord  of  all  light  and  truth,  do  Thou  enable  me  to 
receive  Thy  wondrous  words  into  an  honest  and 
obedient  heart,  that  I  may  profit  by  them,  and  not 
come  into  condemnation  by  sinning  against  the  truth 
of  the  blessed  Gospel  of  Christ.  So  may  I  come  into 
the  way  of  life  eternal  for  His  Name's  sake.    Amen. 


HIS   SERMON   ON   THE   MOUNT.  97 

HYMN.        (TUNE.     ROCKINGHAM.) 

How  sweetly  flowed  the  Gospel's  sound 
From  lips  of  gentleness  and  grace 

While  listening  thousands  gathered   round 
And  joy  and  gladness  filled  the  place! 

From  heaven  He  came;   of  heaven  He  spoke 
To  heaven   He  led  His  follower's  way  ' 

Dark   clouds   of  gloomy   night   He   broke. 
Unveiling  an  immortal  day. 

Come,  wanderers,  to  my  Father's  home; 

Come,  all  ye  weary  ones,  and  rest. 
Yes,  sacred  Teacher,  we  will  come. 

Obey  Thee,  love  Thee,  and  be  blest. 

Sib  John  Bo  wring. 
7 


XXII. 
HIS  MIRACLES   OF   MERCY   AND   POWER. 

But  Jesus  did  not  teach  by  words  only.  He  taught 
by  example,  and  went  about  doing  good  to  all  sorts 
and  conditions  of  people,  especially  to  those  who 
seemed  to  need  Him  most  because  of  their  infirmi- 
ties, whether  physical  or  moral.'  While  engaged  in 
this  blessed  work,  He  healed  many  who  were  sick, 
halt,  maimed,  blind,  deaf,  and  dumb,  and  those  who 
were  possessed  with  evil  spirits,  whatever  may  be 
really  meant  by  that  expression,  which  seems  to 
involve  affections  of  the  mind.- 

His  cures  were  performed  without  medicine,  and 
usually  by  a  word  or  a  command,  or  in  some  in- 
stances, merely  by  a  touch  of  His  hand  or  garment.^' 
Most  of  these  cures  were  performed  in  public  places, 
some  of  them  in  the  presence  of  such  persons  as  the 
leading  scribes  and  Pharisees,  who  mocked  at  Him 
and  said  that  He  cast  out  the  devils  in  the  name  of 
Beelzebub,  the  prince  of  devils.  But  Jesus  only  re- 
minded them  that  since  He  was  doing  good  and  not 
evil,  this  was  not  the  work  of  Satan.  He  also 
warned  them  against  the  wickedness  and  folly  of 
rejecting  these  proofs  that  He  came  from  God,  and 
that  He  was  thereby  manifesting  the  goodness  and 
power  of  God  toward  humanity  in  this  world  of  error, 
infirmity,  and  sin,* 

Sometimes  he  wrought  these  miracles  in  direct 
support  of  His  divine  claims,  as  when  He  said  to  the 
Jews  before  healing  the  man  with  the  palsy,  "  That 
ye  may  know  that  the  Son  of  man  hath  power  on 
earth  to  forgive  sins,  I  say  unto  thee,  Arise,  take  up 
98 


4 


71^. 


HIS   MIRACLES  OP   MERCY  AND   POWER.  99 

thy  bed  and  walk,"  and  immediately  the  sick  man 
arose  and  took  up  his  mattress  and  went  to  his 
home. 

Also,  when  the  Jews  looked  to  see  whether  He 
would  heal  the  man  with  the  withered  hand  on  the 
Sabbath  day.  He  said  unto  them,  "  The  Son  of  man 
is  Lord  also  of  the  Sabbath  day;  "  and  to  show  it.  He 
said  to  the  man,  "  Stretch  forth  thine  hand,"  and  im- 
mediately it  was  made  sound  as  the  other.^ 

Among  His  other  miracles  were  the  feeding  of 
four  and  five  thousand  people  with  only  five  and 
seven  loaves;  his  stilling  the  storm  on  the  sea  of 
Galilee;  His  walking  on  the  water  and  enabling 
Peter  to  do  the  same;  the  miraculous  draught  of 
fishes;  and  His  raising  of  three  persons  from  the 
dead,  including  Lazarus  of  Bethany,  who  had  lain 
for  four  days  in  the  tomb.^ 

In  all  these  miracles,  there  is  a  blending  of  divine 
power  with  nature,  a  beautiful  simplicity  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  His  supernatural  gifts,  and  a  wise  mani- 
festation of  God's  abounding  mercy  and  power;  but 
there  is  nothing  of  mere  magic  to  gratify  vain  curi- 
osity. Only  once  did  He  show  the  destructive  power 
of  God,  when  He  cursed  the  barren  fig  tree  and  it 
withered  away.'' 

We  need  not  speak  further  of  the  miracles  of  His 
birth.  His  baptism,  and  temptation.  His  transfig- 
uration, and  resurrection,  as  these  are  a  part  of  the 
Gospel  history,  to  be  established  on  the  general 
grounds  of  competent  testimony  and  of  consistency 
with  His  lofty  character  and  utterances. 


"  The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained.  It  droppeth 
as  the  gentle  dew  from  Heaven  upon  the  place  be- 
neath; it  is  twice  blessed;  it  blesseth  Him  that  gives 
and  Him  that  takes;   'tis  mightiest  in  the  mightiest; 


100  HIS   MIRACLES   OF   MERCY    AKD    POWER. 

and  becomes  the  throned  monarch  better  than  His 
crown.  Mercy  is  an  attribute  to  God  Himself,  and 
earthly  power  doth  then  shine  likest  God's,  when 
mercy  seasons  justice." 

Shakespeabe. 

"  Miracles  are  the  educating  expedients  of  the  early 
periods  of  the  world.  As  such  they  are  divinely 
wise;  but  after  they  have  served  their  purpose  as 
such,  it  is  foolish  to  pretend  to  have  them." 

H.  W.  Beecheh. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  9  :  10-33.  Liike  5  :  30-32.  John  4  :  46-54.  Acts 
10 :  38. 

2  Mark  1  :  23-84,  39-4.5,  5  :  1-20.  Matt.  8:1-4,  28-34.  15  : 
29-31.  Luke  4:33-36,  40-41,  5:12-15,  7:21-22,  8:26-36, 
9  :  37-42. 

3  Matt.  8  :  5-13.  16-17,  9  :  20-22,  27-31.  32-35,  18  :  22-25. 
Luke  7  :  l-io.  8  :  43-48.  John  9  :  1-12.  Mark  5  :  24-34.  6  : 
55-56,    10  :  46-52. 

*  Matt.  9:32-34,  12:22-30.  Mark  3:22-30.  Luke  11: 
15-20.     John  3  :  18-21,  9  :  13-37,   10  :  37-38. 

6  Matt.  9  :  2-8,  12  :  10-13.  Mark  2  :  1-12,  28.  3  :  1-5.  Luke 
5:18-26.    6:1-11.    13:11-17,    14:1-6.      John    5:1-16. 

«  Matt.  8:23-27,  9:18-25,  14:15-21,  22-33.  15:32-38. 
Mark  4  :  36-41,  5  :  21-24,  35-43.  6  :  35-52.  8  :  1-9.  Luke  5  : 
1-11,  7:11-18,  8:22-25,  41-42,  49-56,  9:10-17.  John  6: 
5-15,  11:  1-46. 

'Matt.  12:38-40,  13:54-58.  16:1-4.  26:51.-4.  Mark 
8:11-12.  Luke  20:1-8,  23:8-9.  John  1:14.  2:1-11.  5: 
17-18,-36. 

•   QUESTIONS. 

What  generous  example  did  Jesus  set  for  men? 
What   defense  did   he   make   for   eating  with   sinners? 
What   ph.vsical   maladies   did   he   lieal  ? 
ITow  wcro   tliose  cures  commonly   performed? 
How  did   the   Pharisees  explain   his   miracles? 
What  was   Jesus'   reply   to  them  ? 

When  and  how  did  ne  work  miracles  in  support  of  his 
divine    claims? 

Mention  some  of  his  miracles  which  were  not  cures. 


HIS   MIRACLES   OF    MERCY    AND   POWER.  101 

What  are   the   general   qualities  of  Christ's  miracles? 
Why   would   he   not   gratify   the   curiosity   of   men? 
Which    was   his   only    miracle   of    destroying   power? 
What    is    here    said    of    the    greater    miracles    of    his    own 
personal  history  while  here  on  the  earth? 

PRAYER. 

Grant  me,  also,  0  God,  to  have  a  share  in  the  bene- 
fits of  the  wonder-working  power  of  Thy  dear  Son, 
that  my  conscience  may  be  quickened,  my  sins  for- 
given, and  my  whole  nature  renev/ed  and  sanctified 
by  His  Blessed  Grace.  For  in  this  I  greatly  need 
His  help,  and  the  aid  of  a  power  far  above  my  own. 
Grant  these  things  to  me  for  His  sake.     Amen, 

HYMN.      (TUNE.    DENNY.) 

We  may  not  climb  the  heavenly  steeps 
To  bring  the  Lord  Christ  down, 

In  vain  we  search  the  lowest  deeps 
For  Him  no  depths  can  drown. 

But  warm,  sweet,  tender,  even  yet 

A  present  help  is  He; 
And  faith  has  still  its  Olivet, 

And  love  its  Galilee. 

The  healing  of  the  seamless  dress. 

As  by  our  beds  of  pain; 
We  touch  Him  in  life's  throng  and  press, 

And  we  are  whole  again. 

Through  Him  the  first  fond  prayers  are  said 

That  lips  of  childhood  frame; 
The  last  low  prayers  of  our  dead 

Were  burdened  with  His  name. 

O  Lord  and  Master  of  us  all, 

Whate'er  our  name  or  sign, 
We  own  Thy  sway,  we  hear  Thy  call. 

We  test  our  lives  by  Thine. 

John   G.   Whittieb. 

By  permission  of 

Houghton,  Mifflin  &  Co., 

Owners  of  Copyright. 


XXIII. 

HIS   PARABLES   OF  THE  KINGDOM. 

A  LARGE  part  of  Jesus'  preaching  was  about  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven,  or  of  God,  which  He  was  come 
to  establish  among  men  on  this  earth;  and  in  order  to 
explain  the  nature  and  object  of  this  spiritual  King- 
dom, He  uttered  many  parables  which  are  easily  un- 
derstood and  which  linger  long  in  the  memory.* 

Some  of  the  earliest  of  these,  as  the  parables  of  the 
Hidden  Treasure  and  the  Pearl  of  Great  Price,  were 
to  impress  the  great  importance  of  attending  to  the 
salvation  of  the  soul  before  anything  else.  But  the 
great  parable  of  the  Sower  was  put  forth  in  order  to 
show  how  the  spread  of  the  Kingdom  is  effected  by 
scattering  or  preaching  the  word  of  divine  truth 
among  all  kinds  of  men  everywhere,  and  that  they 
will  receive  it  in  different  ways  according  to  their 
dispositions.  Yet,  although  many  will  make  a  fail- 
ure for  various  reasons,  some  will  yield  a  bountiful 
return  to  God  for  the  gifts  of  His  truth  and  grace.' 

In  the  parable  of  the  Leaven,  the  Mustard  Seed, 
and  the  Blade  of  Corn,  He  showed  the  gradual  prog- 
ress of  the  work  of  grace  in  the  hearts  of  men;  and 
in  that  of  the  Wheat  and  the  Tares,  He  sets  forth  the 
mixed  quality  of  the  persons  composing  the  visible 
Church,  and  the  reasons  why  it  must  be  so  until  the 
Judgment,  when  the  good  shall  at  last  be  separated 
from  the  bad,  and  each  shall  receive  according  to 
his  own  works.  Here  belongs  also  the  parable  of 
the  Rich  man  and  Lazarus.^ 
102 


HIS   PARABLES   OF   THE    KINGDOM.  103 

This  last  point  is  further  opened  up  in  the  beauti- 
ful parable  of  The  Ten  Virgins,  and  the  terrible  one 
of  The  Sheep  and  the  Goats  at  the  last  great  day. 
Many  of  the  parables  are  short  and  almost  fragmen- 
tary, as  those  of  the  two  ways,  the  friend  who  goes 
to  ask  for  bread  at  midnight,  and  the  evil  spirit 
who  returns  to  his  home  after  he  had  left  it  for  a 
while.  Others,  as  the  parables  of  the  Great  Supper, 
the  Marriage  of  the  King's  Son,  and  the  Wedding 
Garment  are  brought  forth  to  illustrate  God's  gra- 
cious invitations  to  men.* 

Such  also  is  the  more  elaborate  story  of  The 
Prodigal  Son,  which  has  no  parallel  in  literature. 
The  story  of  the  Good  Samaritan  is  likewise  as  re- 
markable for  its  beauty  as  its  teaching  power.  The 
parables,  of  the  Dishonest  Steward  and  the  Unjust 
Judge  were  doubtless  intended  to  stir  up  the  prayers 
and  the  earnest  service  of  God's  children.^ 

Those  of  the  Laborers  in  the  vineyard,  and  the 
Pounds  and  the  Talents  are  equally  for  saint  and 
sinner,  who  are  all  responsible  to  God  for  the  use 
of  their  opportunities;  while  those  of  the  Children 
playing  in  the  Market-place,  of  the  Pharisee  and  the 
Publican,  and  of  the  Wicked  Husbandmen  are 
doubtless  directed  against  the  Jews  for  their  ob- 
stinacy in  refusing  to  hear  the  Gospel.^ 

Two  of  the  sweetest  and  richest  of  all  the  parables 
are  those  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  and  the  Vine  and  its 
Branches,  both  of  which  are  designed  for  the  Inner 
circle  of  true  believers  to  illustrate  their  spiritual 
relation  to  Christ.^ 


To  know  how  to  suggest  is  the  art  of  teaching.* 

Amiel. 


104  HIS  PARABLES  OF   THE   KINGDOM. 

"  Allegories,  when  well  chosen,  are  like  so  many 
tracks  of  light  in  a  discourse,  that  make  everything 
about  them  clear  and  beautiful." 

Addison. 
"Late,  late,  so  late  and  dark  the  night  and  chill! 
Late,  late,  so  late!   but  we  can  enter  still," 

"  Too  late,  too  late!   ye  cannot  enter  now." 

"No  light  had  we; — for  that  we  do  repent. 
And  learning  this,  the  Bridegroom  will  relent." 
"Too  late,  too  late!   ye  cannot  enter  now." 

"No  light!  so  late!  and  dark  and  chill  the  night, — 
O  let  us  in  that  we  may  find  the  light." 
"  Too  late,  too  late!   ye  cannot  enter  now." 

"  Have  we  not  heard  the  Bridegroom  is  so  sweet? 
O  let  us  in.  though  late,  to  kiss  his  feet!  " 
"No!   no!   too  late!   ye  cannot  enter  now." 

Alfred  Tennyson. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  4:17,  23,  9 :  .35.  Mark  1:14,  15.  Luke  4: 
14-21.  31-32,  43. 

2  Matt.  13:1-13,  18-2.3,  44-46.  Mark  4:1-20.  Luke  8: 
4-1.5. 

3  Matt.  13  :  24-43,  47-52.  Mark  4  :  26-34.  Luke  13  : 
18-21. 

*  Matt.  25:1-13.  31-46.  22:1-14.  Luke  11:5-13,  24-26, 
12  :  35-48,  14  :  15-24.   16  :  19-31. 

5' Luke  15:1-32.   10:25-37.   16:1-12,   18:1-8. 

«  Matt.  25:14,30.  11:16-19,  20:1-16,  21:33-46.  Luke 
19  :  12-27,    7  :  31-35,    18  :  9-14,   20  :  9-20. 

'  John   10  :  1-18,    15  :  1-8. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  was  a  large  part  of  .Tesus'   preaching  about? 
What  did  be  use  to  explain  his  kingdom,  and  why? 
What  were  the  parables  of  the  Treasure  and  the  Pearl? 
Give  and  explain  the  parable  of  the  Sower. 


HIS   PARABLES   OF   THE    KINGDOM.  105 

State  the  parables  of  the  Leaven,  Mustard  Seed,  and 
Blade  of  Corn. 

State  the  parables  of  the  Wheat  and  Tares,  and  the  Net 
full   of   Fish. 

Give  and  explain  the  parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins. 

State  the  parable  of  the  Sheep  and   the  Goats. 

State  the  parables  of  the  Two  Ways,  the  Barren  Fig-tree, 
the  Friend  at  Midnight,  and  the  Evil  Spirit's  Return. 

What  other  parables  illustrate  God's  invitation  to  men? 

Recite  the  parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son, 

Recite   also   the   parable   of  the   Good    Samaritan. 

What  are  the  parables  of  the  Unjust  Judge  and  Dishonest 
Steward  ? 

What  is  the  lesson  of  the  parables  of  the  Pounds  and  the 
Talents? 

Give  the  parables  of  the  Children  playing  in  the  Streets, 
the  Pharisee  and  the  Publican,  and  the  Wicked  Husband- 
men. 

W^hat  are  three  of  the  last  and  sweetest  among  all  the 
parables,  and  what  is  their  meaning? 

PRAYER. 

Show  me,  O  Lord,  the  way  of  true  salvation  amid 
the  confusion  and  distractions  of  this  sinful  world. 
Aid  me  to  know  the  best  things,  those  that  make  for 
spiritual  life  and  blessing  rather  than  for  a  little 
brief  and  foolish  pleasure.  Grant  me  the  gift  of  a 
pure  heart  and  a  sound  unders-tanding,  that  I  may 
be  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE,     OLNEY.) 

"All  things  are  ready,"  come; 

Come  to  the  supper  spread; 
Come,  rich  and  poor;  come,  young  and  old. 

Come,  and  be  richly  fed. 

"All  things  are  ready,"  come; 

The   invitation's  given. 
Through  Him  who  now  in  glory  sits 

At  God's   right  hand  in  heaven. 


106  HIS   PARABLES    OF   THE   KINGDOM. 

"All  things  are  ready,"  come; 

The  door  is  open  wide; 
O  feast  upon  the  love  of  God, 

For  Christ,  His  Son,  has  died, 

"All   things   are   ready,"    come; 

To-morrow  may  not  be; 
O  Sinner,  come;   the  Saviour  waits 

This   hour   to   welcome   thee. 

Albert  Midland. 


XXIV. 

HIS    CONVERSATIONS    WITH    MEN. 

Much  of  the  Master's  teaching  was  imparted  in 
conversations  with  one  or  more  persons  at  a  time, 
which  gives  an  air  of  practical  force  and  of  natural- 
ness not  always  to  be  realized  in  His  more  formal  dis- 
courses either  to  the  disciples  or  before  the  general 
public. 

Indeed,  His  ministry  seems  to  have  begun  in  the 
personal  interviews  which  He  had  with  some  of  the 
followers  of  John  the  Baptist,  who  were  also  fisher- 
men of  Galilee,  and  their  friends;  as  it  also  closed 
men  of  Galilee,  and  their  friends,  as  it  also  closed 
at  last  in  a  similar  manner  in  the  days  that  followed 
His  resurrection  at  Jerusalem.^ 

Many  of  these  conversations  are  only  mentioned, 
and  scarcely  reported  at  all;  as  the  first  talks  with 
His  disciples,  His  meeting  with  His  mother  and  His 
brethren  at  Capernaum,  which  must  have  been  of 
surpassing  interest,  and  His  conference  with  Moses 
and  Elijah  in  the  Mount,  where  only  the  subject  of 
their  talk  is  given.^ 

In  many  other  instances,  only  a  few  words  of  the  . 
conversation  are  reported,  though  these  are  very 
important;  as  when  He  talked  with  John  the  Baptist, 
with  Nathaniel,  with  the  centurion  whose  servant 
was  sick,  with  the  woman  of  Syrophenicia,  with  the 
people  at  Nazareth,  with  Levi,  and  Zaccheus,  and 
blind  Bartimeus,  with  the  rich  young  man,  and  the 
Jewish  lawyer,  and  others  not  a  few.^ 

Among  the  most  important  of  these  occasions  was 
when  the  Master  talked  with  the  woman  of  Samaria 
107 


108  HIS  CONVERSATIONS   WITH   MEN. 

at  Jacob's  well,  disregarding  the  race  prejudice  be- 
tween Jews  and  Samaritans,  revealing  to  her  the 
secrets  of  her  past  life,  telling  her  the  nature  of  true 
worship,  that  it  consists  not  in  forms  or  in  places, 
but  in  tho  knowledge  of  God  and  the  sincerity  of  the 
worshipper.  Another  great  conversation  was  that 
of  the  Lord  with  Nicodemus,  the  Jewish  ruler,  who 
visited  him  by  night,  and  to  whom  he  declared  the 
doctrine  of  the  second  birth  by  water  and  the  spirit, 
without  which  a  man  shall  not  see  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven;  also  the  doctrine  of  the  world's  redemption 
in  Christ,  who  is  the  true  and  only-begotten  Son  of 
God.* 

In  various  conversations  with  His  disciples,  he 
not  only  explained  His  parables,  but  instructed  them 
more  fully  as  to  the  nature  of  the  Kingdom  of  God, 
and  also  as  to  their  work  of  the  ministry  of  the 
Gospel,  and  how  they  should  behave  toward  the 
world.^  When  the  mother  of  James  and  John  came 
to  him  asking  preferment  in  the  Kingdom  for  her 
two  sons,  He  took  occasion  to  instruct  them  all  in 
the  grace  of  humility.  Likewise,  when  dining  at 
the  house  of  Simon  of  Bethany,  and  when  Mary  came 
in  to  anoint  the  Saviour  with  spikenard.  He  took 
occasion  to  tell  His  host  of  the  grace  of  gratitude.® 

Other  important  conversations  were  those  with  the 
ILcrodians,  the  Sadducees,  and  the  Pharisees  at 
Jerusalem;  and  with  the  Jewish  High  Priest  and 
Pilate  before  His  crucifixion;  also  with  Thomas  and 
Peter  after  His  resurrection;  and  especially  that 
with  the  two  disciples  on  the  way  to  Emmaus.^ 


"  A    single    conversation    across    the    table    with 
wise  man  is  worth  a  month's  study  of  books." 

Chinese  Proverb. 


HIS   CONVCR8ATIONS    WITH    MEN.  109 

•'  Conversation  derives  its  greatest  charm,  not 
from  the  multitude  of  our  ideas,  but  from  their 
application."         / 

Unknown. 

"  As  iron  sharpeneth  iron,  so  a  man  sharpeneth  the 
countenance  of  his  friend." 

Hebrew  Proverb. 

"  I  had  rather  sit  on  one  end  of  a  log  with  Mark 
Hopkins  on  the  other,  and  listen  to  his  conversation, 
than  enjoy  the  whole  curriculum  of  some  universi- 
ties." 

JAS.  A.  Garfield. 


REFERENCES. 

1  Mark 

1  :  16-21.     Acts  1  :  3-8.     1  John  :  1-4. 

2  John 

1  :  35-44.       Matt.    4  :  18-22,     12  :  46-50. 

Luke    9: 

30-31. 

3  John 

1  :  45-51.       Matt.    3  :  13-15.    15  :  21-28. 

Mark    2  : 

24-30,  10; 

:  17-22.     Luke  4  :  16-32,  5  :  1-11,  7  :  1-10, 

10  :  25-28, 

38-43,    19 

:  1-10. 

*  John  4  :  1-42,  3  :  1-21. 

6  Matt.  10  :  1-20,  16  :  5-28,  18  :  1-22,  19  :  23-30.  Mark  13  : 
1-13.     Luke  7  :  19-23. 

8  Mark  10:35-45.   14:3-9.     Luke  7:36-50.     John  12:1-9. 

T  Matt.  21  :  23-27,  22  :  15-46.  26  :  57-68.  John  18  :  19-23. 
33-38,  19:8-12,  20:11-18,  24-29,  21:15-22.  Luke  20:1-8, 
19-26.  27-40.  22  :  66-71,  24  :  13-53.  Mark  Ix  :  27-33,  12  :  13- 
34,    14:60-65. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  the  special   value  of  Jesus'  conversations? 

What  were  some  of  his  first  and   last  conversations? 

What  are  some  of  his  unreported  conversations? 

Mention  some  of  his  conversations  of  a  personal  nature 
that  have  been  briefly  reported,  and  give  the  subject  that 
was  discussed   in  each. 

Give  a  report  of  his  conversation  with  Nicodemus,  and 
the  two  doctrines  that  Jesus  then  enunciated. 

Give  a  report  of  his  conversation  with  the  woman  of  Sa- 
maria,  and  his  doctrine  of  true  worship. 


110  HIS  CONVERSATIONS   WITH    MEN. 

What  were  some  of  the  themes  on  which  Jesus  conversed 
privately   with   his  disciples? 

What  did  he  say  to  Zebedeo's  sons  and  their  mother? 

What  did  he  say  in  the  home  of  Simon  »t  Bethany? 

What  did  he  say  to  the  Herodians.  the  Saddiicees.  and  the 
Pharisees? 

What  did  he  say  to  the  high  priest  at  his  trial? 

What  did  he  say  to  Pilate  before  his  crucifixion? 

What  did  he  say  to  Mary  Magdalene  after  his  resurrec- 
tion? 

What  did  he  say  to  Thomas  after  his  resurrection? 

What  did  he   say   to   Peter  after  his   resurrection? 

PRAYER. 

Teach  me  Thy  ways,  0  Lord,  and  reveal  Thyself  to 
me  as  Thou  dost  to  the  humble  and  contrite  in  heart. 
Give  me  a  teachable  spirit,  and  open  to  me  the  doors 
of  secret  communion  with  Thee  by  meditation  and 
prayer.  So  may  I  delight  in  Thy  instructions  more 
than  in  all  the  wisdom  of  this  present  world.    Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE,    WOODSTOCK.) 

Talk  with  us.  Lord,  Thyself  reveal. 
While  here  o'er  earth  we  rove; 

Speak  to  our  hearts  and  let  us  feel 
The  kindlings  of  Thy  love. 

With  Thee  conversing,  we  forget 
All  time,  and  toil,  and  care; 

Labor  is  rest,  and  pain  is  sweet. 
If  Thou,  my  God,  art  here. 

Thou   callest  me  to  seek  Thy  face. — 

'Tis  all  I  wish  to  seek; 
To  attend  the  whispers  of  Thy  grace. 

And  hear  Thee  inly  speak. 

Let  this  my  every  hour  employ. 

Till   I   Thy  glory  see; 
Enter  into  my   Master's  joy, 

And  find  my  heaven  in  Thee. 

Charles  Wesley. 


XXV. 

HIS  PROPHECIES  OF  THE  FUTURE. 

Besides  the  circumstance  that  Jesus  Christ  never 
said  anything  which  is  really  in  conflict  with  the 
world's  far  riper  general  knowledge  of  things  at  this 
day,  we  have  the  important  fact  set  forth  in  the 
Gospels  that  He  possessed  a  knowledge  of  the  future.^ 

Not  only  is  this  declared  in  the  parable  of  the 
Rich  Man  and  Lazarus,  and  elsewhere  in  His  teach- 
ings; but  he  foretold  to  His  disciples  various  events 
which  came  to  pass  in  their  own  lifetime  and  experi- 
ence; such  as  that  He  Himself  would  be  betrayed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Jews  by  Judas  Iscariot,  one 
of  the  twelve  apostles;  that  Simon  Peter,  another 
apostle,  would  deny  him  in  that  night;  that  the  chief 
priests  and  elders  would  deliver  Him  into  the  hands 
of  the  Romans  to  be  put  to  death;  that  He  should 
suffer  upon  the  cross;  that  on  the  third  day  He  would 
rise  again.^ 

He  also  foretold  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
upon  the  disciples  at  Pentecost,  and  their  successful 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  thereafter;  the  great  perse- 
cutions that  should  come  upon  the  early  Church  of 
true  believers;  and  a  time  of  great  trouble  in  which 
Jerusalem  should  be  compassed  with  armies  and 
standards  of  eagles,  and  destroyed,  so  that  not  one 
stone  of  the  temple  should  be  left  upon  another. 
All  of  these  things,  as  we  are  well  informed  by  secu- 
lar history,  came  to  pass  about  forty  years  thereafter, 
111 


112        HIS  PROPHECIES  OP  THE  FUTURE. 

and  the  Jewish  nation  has  been  in  exile  since  that 
time.' 

Moreover,  Jesus  uttered  other  prophecies  which 
are  still  in  process  of  fulfillment  before  our  eyes  in 
these  modern  and  enlightened  ages  of  the  world. 
One  of  these  is  in  reference  to  the  permanence  of 
His  Church,  of  which  He  said  to  Peter,  after  his 
confession  concerning  the  Master's  divine  nature, 
•'  On  this  rock  will  I  found  My  Church,  and  the  gates 
of  Hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it."  It  is  certainly  a 
remarkable  fact  that  the  small,  obscure,  and  perse- 
cuted band  of  His  disciples  should  have  been  able  to 
hold  out,  and  that  the  Church  stands  to-day  after  so 
many  trials  from  without  and  within." 

Another  of  His  prophecies  was  that  "  this  Gospel 
of  the  Kingdom  shall  be  preached  unto  all  nations," 
which  was  apparently  impossible  when  the  words 
were  spoken,  and  has  in  fact  been  delayed  for  many 
centuries;   but  is  now  being  wonderfully  fulfilled.^ 

Finally,  we  have  the  Master's  promise,  "  Lo,  I  am 
with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world," 
by  which  we  understand  that  the  evidence  of  His 
spiritual  power  and  blessing  are  to  follow  the  preach- 
ing of  His  Gospel  throughout  all  lands  and  ages 
until  the  end."  No  other  religion  can  boast  of  such 
promises  as  these,  which  are  still  going  on  to  ful- 
fillment, year  by  year. 

Besides  all  these,  Jesus  Christ  has  left  on  record 
other  promises,  which  are  in  the  nature  of  prophe- 
cies; the  promise  of  His  own  Second  Coming,  of  a 
Day  of  Final  Judgment,  of  rich  rewards  for  the 
righteous  and  punishment  for  the  wicked,  and  of  a 
place  that  he  has  now  gone  to  prepare  for  His  dis- 
ciplesJ 


HIS  PROPHECIES  OF  THE  FUTURE.         113 

"  Whatever  is  foretold  by  God  will  be  done  by 
man;  but  nothing  will  be  done  by  man  because  it  is 
foretold  by  God." 

Wordsworth. 

"  The  golden  age  is  not  in  the  past,  but  in  the 
future;  not  in  the  origin  of  human  experience,  but 
in  its  consummate  flower;  not  opening  in  Eden, 
but  coming  out  from  Gethsemane." 

E.  H.  Chapin. 

"  God  will  not  permit  man  to  have  a  knowledge  of 
things  to  come;  for  if  he  had  a  foreknowledge  of  his 
prosperity,  he  would  be  careless;  and  if  he  had  an 
understanding  of  his  adversity,  he  would  be  despair- 
ing and  senseless." 

St.  Augustine. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  11  :  27,  19  :  27-30.  Mark  6:11.  Luke  6  :  20-26. 
.Tohn  2:18-21,  24-25,  6:61,  64,  7:6,  8:14,  28,  11:40-42, 
12  :  23-24,  13  :  1.  21  :  17-19. 

2  Matt.  26:21-25,  31-35.  Mark  8:31,  9:31,  10:32-34. 
Luke  16:  19-31,    18:  31-34. 

3  John  14:16-17.  26,  16:7-13.  Luke  24:49.  Acts  1: 
4-8.  Matt.  10  :  16-22,  23  :  34-39,  24  :  9-28.  Mark  13  :  2, 
9-13.       Luke    17  :  25-37,     19  :  41-44,     21  :  20-24. 

*  Matt.  16  :  18,  21  :  42-44,  24  :  35.  Mark  12  :  10.  Luke 
-0:  17-18. 

5  Matt.  24:14,  26:13,  28:18-19.  Mark  13:10.  Luke 
24  :  47. 

6  Matt.  28  :  20.  Mark  16  :  20.  Acts  2  :  21,  39  :  46-47. 
Rom.    10:  13. 

■<  Matt.  24  :  30,  25  :  31-33.  Mark  13  :  24-37.  Luke  12  : 
31-48,  13  :  24-30.  John  5  :  25-29,  10  :  27-29,  11  :  25-26,  12  : 
26,    14  :  1-3,    17  :  24. 

QUESTIONS. 

How  is  the  divine  wisdom  of  Jesus  seen  in  our  modern 
days? 

What  were  some  of  the  things  that  he  knew  of  men? 
What    things   did    he   prophecy   concerning  himself? 

8 


114        niS  PROPHECIES  OF  THE  FUTURE. 

What  concerning  two  of  his  own  apostles? 

Which  of  his  promises  was  fulfilled  at  Pentecost? 

What  did   he  foretell   concerning  persecution? 

What  did   he  saj'  about   the  City   of  Jerusalem? 

What  prophecj'  concerning  the  permanence  of  his  Church 
is  still  in  process  of  fulfillment? 

What  prophecy  concerning  the  extent  to  which  the  Gospel 
would   be  preached   is   also  being  fulfilled? 

What  other  prophecy  still  stands  in  experience? 

Has  any  other  so-called  religion  such  prophecies? 

What  further  prophecies  of  Christ  are  yet  before  us? 

PRAYER. 

O  Lord,  how  wonderful  are  Thy  words,  and  Th3^  ways 
past  finding  out!  Thou  alone  knowest  all  things 
from  the  beginning,  and  Thou  hast  sometimes  lifted 
a  little  the  veil  which  hides  the  future  from  our 
eyes,  that  we  may  be  assured  of  Thy  presence  and 
power  in  the  world.  Help  us  to  see  Thy  hand  in  the 
events  of  time,  and  to  trust  Thee  for  the  fulfillment 
of  Thy  promises  in  days  to  come.  All  this  we  ask  in 
Jesus'  name.    Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE,    LIGHT    OP    DAWN.) 

Through  the  night  of  doubt  and  sorrow, 

Onward  goes  the  pilgrim  band. 
Singing  songs  of  expectation, 

Marching   to   the   promised    land. 
Clear  before  us  through  the  darkness 

Gleams  and   burns  the  guiding  light; 
Brother  clasps  the  hand  of  brother. 

Stepping  fearless  through  the  night. 

One  the  light  of  God's  own  presence. 

O'er   His   ransomed    people   shed, 
Chasing  far  the  gloom   and  terror, 

Brightening  all   the  path  we  tread; 
One  the   object   of  our  journey. 

One  the  faith  which  never  tires. 
One  the  earnest  looking  forward, 

One  the  hope  our  God  inspires. 


HIS  PROPHECIES  OF  THE  FUTURE.        115 

One  the  strain  that  lips  of  thousands 

Lift  as  from  the  heart  of  one; 
One  the  conflict,  one  the  peril, 

One  the  march  in  God  begun; 
One  the  gladness  of  rejoicing 

One  the  far  eternal  shore. 
Where  the  one  Almighty  Father 

Reigns  in  love  forevermore. 
R.  S.  INGEMANN.     Tr.  by  S.  Baring-Gould. 


XXVI. 

HIS   DISCOURSE  AT   THE    SUPPER. 

In  the  fourth  Gospel  are  several  discourses  of 
Jesus  which  are  of  a  more  or  less  mystical  character; 
that  is,  they  treat  of  spiritual  matters  which  cannot 
be  fully  expressed  to  our  understanding  without 
using  a  great  deal  of  figurative  language.  This  is 
harder  to  grasp  than  the  simpler  teaching  of  the 
other  Gospels,  but  not  on  that  account  untrue  or  at 
all  misleading.^ 

Indeed,  some  parts  of  these  discourses  are  among 
those  most  cherished  of  all  by  Christians,  and  are 
not  at  all  difficult  to  be  understood ;  as,  for  instance, 
the  Parable  of  the  Good  Shepherd.  But  others,  as 
the  discourse  on  the  Spiritual  Resurrection,  that  on 
Spiritual  Freedom,  that  on  the  Bread  of  Heaven,  and 
the  one  on  Spiritual  Blindness,  based  upon  the 
restoration  of  sight  to  the  man  who  was  born  blind, 
are  somewhat  more  difficult,  although  not  beyond  the 
reach  of  ordinary  minds.- 

The  greatest  of  all  these  mystical  discourses,  how- 
ever, is  that  which  the  Lord  delivered  to  His  apos- 
tles after  He  had  celebrated  the  Jewish  feast  of  the 
Passover  with  them  for  the  last  time,  and  had  in- 
stituted the  Supper  as  a  perpetual  memorial  of  his 
sacrificial  death  for  us.^ 

He  began  with  a  reference  to  His  own  departure 

from  them,  which  was  now  very  near  at  hand,  and 

said,   "Let   not   your  heart  be  troubled.     Ye   believe 

in  God,  believe  also  in  Me.     In  My  Father's  house  are 

116 


HIS  DISCOURSE   AT  THE    SUPPER.  HJ 

many  mansions.  If  it  were  not  so  I  would  have  told 
you.  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you,  and  if  I  go,  I 
will  come  again,  and  receive  you  to  Myself;  that 
where  I  am,  ye  may  be  also.  And  whither  I  go,  ye 
know,  and  the  way  ye  know."  After  these  things. 
He  went  on  to  tell  them,  in  answer  to  their  questions 
of  wonder  and  anxiety,  of  His  unity  with  the  Father 
and  the  manifestation  of  the  Father  through  Himself 
unto  the  disciples.  Also,  that  after  His  departure. 
He  would  send  to  them  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  should 
guide  them  into  a  more  perfect  knowledge  of  the 
truth,  and  would  bring  back  His  words  to  their 
remembrance.* 

Again,  He  continued  and  uttered  the  beautiful 
parable  of  the  Vine  and  its  Branches  to  illustrate 
the  spiritual  union  of  the  disciples  with  Himself. 
He  besought  them  to  become  as  branches  that  bear 
much  fruit;  and  said  they  should  no  longer  be  His 
servants,  but  His  friends,  because  they  were  in  His 
fullest  confidence.^  Finally,  he  told  them  to  be  faith- 
ful and  of  good  courage,  and  that  in  a  little  while 
they  should  see  Him  again.®  After  this  He  prayed 
for  them  all  in  the  most  wonderful  prayer  that  was 
ever  uttered  on  earth,  a  prayer  in  which  all  who 
should  believe  on  Him  through  their  word  were  re- 
membered, and  in  which  He  clearly  anticipates  a 
future  life  that  is  far  beyond  our  present  compre- 
hension.^ 


"  A  religion  without  mystery   must  be  a   religion 
without  God." 

Unknown. 

"  In  dwelling  on  divine  mysteries,  keep  thy  heart 
humble,  thy  thoughts   reverent,   thy   soul   holy." 

Jeremy  Taylor. 


118  HIS    DISCOURSE   AT   THE   SUPPER. 

"  As  a  defect  of  strength  in  us  makes  some  weights 
to  be  immovable,  so  likewise,  a  defect  of  understand- 
ing makes  some  truths  to  be  mysterious." 

Sherlock. 

"  Like  a  morning  dream,  life  becomes  more  and 
more  bright,  the  longer  we  live,  and  the  reason  of 
everything  appears  more  clear.  What  has  puzzled 
us  before  seems  less  mysterious,  and  the  crooked 
paths  look  straighter  as  we  approach  the  end." 

RiCHTER. 
REFERENCES. 

1  John  3  :  11-13,  16  :  12-14.     1  Cor.  3  :  1-2.     Heb.  5  :  11-14. 

2  John  10:1-18,  5:19-29,  8:31-39.  6:27-58,  9:39-41,  3: 
19-21.    12:  35-48. 

3  John  13:  1-3,  31-38,  14,  15,  16.  Matt.  26:  l<-20.  Mark 
14  :  12-17.      Lev.    22:  7-20. 

*  John  14  :  1-4.  20-24,  15-19,  25-27.  Matt.  11  :  25-30.  Lev. 
10:  17-24,    11  :  13. 

5. John  15:  1-7,  8,  16,  13-15,  18-21.  Matt.  7  :  16-20.  Luke 
22  :  28-30. 

8  John  16  :  1,  16-20,  22-24,  28-33.  Matt.  10  :  16-33.  Luke 
12  :  32-40. 

7  John  17.  Mark  1  :  35-36,  6  :  46.  Luke  6  :  12,  9  :  18, 
2S-'2d,    22  :  31-32,    39-41. 

QUESTIONS. 

Which    Gospel   contains   the   most   mystical   discourses? 

What   is  the   meaning  of  this  word  "mystical?" 

Is   mystical    teaching   either   untrue   or   misleading? 

Why  is  it  used  to  some  extent  in   the  Scriptures? 

Is  all  mystical  teaching  hard   to  understand? 

Give  the  parable  of  the  Good  Shepherd  and   its  meaning. 

State   the  main   idea  of  the  Spiritual    Resurrection. 

Tell   what  is  meant  by   Spiritual   Freedom. 

What   did   Jesus   mean   by  the  Bread   of   Heaven? 

What   did   he   say  about   Spiritual    Blindness? 

Which   is  the  greatest  of  Christ's  mystical  discourses? 

On  what  occasion  and  to  whom  was  it   uttered? 


HIS  DISCOURSE   AT    THE   SUPPER.  119 

Is   it   arranged    in   logical   order? 
What  is  the  first  leading  thought  it  contains? 
What  does   it  say   of   Christ's   unity  with   the   Father? 
What  does   it  say  of  the  Holy  Spirit,   the  Comforter? 
What  does  it  say  ahout  the  Vine  and   its  Branches? 
How  did  the  Lord  then  encourage  his  disciples? 
For  whom   did   he  pray  after   this  discourse? 
(The  class  Instructor  should  assist  in  finding  suitable  an- 
swers.) 

PRAYER. 

Give  me,  0  Lord,  a  reverent  and  enlightened  mind, 
that  I  may  behold  the  beauty  and  glory  of  Thy 
Word,  and  that  I  may  grow  in  knowledge  and  also  in 
grace.  But  grant  that  I  may  walk  where  I  cannot 
run,  and  that  I  may  feel  my  way  where  I  cannot  see, 
until  I  shall  know  as  I  am  known  at  last.     Amen. 


HYMN.       (TUNE,    PENITENTIA.) 

Here,  O  my  Lord,  I  see  Thee  face  to  face; 

Here  would  I  touch  and  handle  things  unseen; 
Here  grasp  with  firmer  hand  eternal  grace. 

And  all  my  weariness  upon  Thee  lean. 

Here  would  I  feed  upon  the  bread  of  God; 

Here  drink  with  Thee  the  royal  wine  of  heaven; 
Here  would   I   lay  aside  each  earthly  load, 

Here  taste  afresh  the  calm  of  sin  forgiven. 

Too  soon  we  rise;    the  symbols  disappear; 

The   feast,   though   not   the   love,   is   passed   and 
gone, 
The  bread  and  wine  remove,  but  Thou  are  here. 

Nearer  than  ever,  still  my  shield  and  sun. 

I  have  no  help  but  thine,  nor  do  I  need 

Another  arm  save  Thine  to  lean  upon; 

It  is  enough,  my  Lord,  enough  indeed; 

My  strength  is  in  Thy  might.  Thy  power  alone. 

H.    BONAR. 


XXVII. 
HIS    SUFFERINGS,    DEATH     AND    RESURRECTION. 

The  leaders  of  the  Jewish  people  had  long  been 
envious  of  Jesus  because  of  His  popularity,  His  ap- 
parently lowly  origin,  His  disregard  of  their  own 
authority  and  traditions,  and  His  plain  reproofs  of 
their  prevailing  religious  shallowness  and  avarice.^ 

On  the  same  night  after  His  memorable  discourse 
at  the  Last  Supper,  the  officers  of  the  Jews  were 
guided  by  Judas  to  the  garden  of  Gsthsemane  whither 
the  Master  had  retired  to  pray  with  His  disciples. 
There  they  took  Him  without  resistance,  and  brought 
Him  to  the  high  priest's  house  in  Jerusalem. 

Peter  and  the  rest  of  the  apostles  would  have  de- 
fended Him  by  force;  but  He  forbade  them,  saying 
that  He  could  have  assistance  from  the  heavenly 
powers;  but  that  it  was  the  will  of  God  that  it  should 
be  done  to  Him  according  to  all  that  was  written  in 
the  prophets.'^  Afterwards,  when  Peter  saw  his  Mas- 
ter in  the  hands  of  His  enemies  and  being  foully  mis- 
used, his  courage  failed,  and  he  denied  being  one  of 
Jesus'  disciples  when  accused  of  it  by  the  servants.^ 

The  Jewish  council  was  called  together  very  early 
in  the  morning,  and  went  through  the  form  of  a 
trial  which  was  only  a  farce.  The  high  priest  finally 
asked  Jesus  whether  He  were  the  Christ,  and  He 
frankly  admitted  the  charge.  On  this  charge  He 
was  voted  guilty,  and  sent  to  Pilate,  the  Roman 
governor,  with  a  declaration  that  He  was  making 
Himself  a  king  of  the  Jews.* 

Pilate  did  not  wish  to  punish  an  innocent  man, 
120 


HIS   SUFFERINGS,    DEATH,    AND   RESURRECTION.       121 

as  he  believed  Jesus  to  be;  but  learning  that  He 
was  from  Galilee,  he  sent  Him  to  Herod,  king  of 
Galilee,  who  was  then  in  the  city.  Herod  soon  be- 
came vexed  because  Jesus  would  not  talk  to  him,  nor 
perform  a  miracle  to  gratify  his  vain  curiosity.  He 
therefore  directed  his  soldiers  to  make  a  mock  king 
of  Jesus,  and  after  shameful  abuse,  sent  Him  back 
again  to  Pilate. 

After  this,  Pilate  talked  further  with  the  Master, 
and  finding  that  His  was  only  a  spiritual  kingdom  of 
truth  and  righteousness  among  men,  he  brought  Him 
forth  again  to  the  Jews  and  asked  their  permission 
to  release  Him.  But  to  this  they  would  not  consent, 
preferring  one  Barabbas,  a  robber.  Finally,  after 
further  parley,  and  washing  his  hands  in  token  of 
laying  the  guilt  of  the  matter  on  the  fanatical  Jews, 
Pilate  weakly  consented  to  the  death  of  Jesus,  who 
was  immediately  scourged  by  the  soldiers  and  then 
led  away  to  be  crucified.^ 

Along  the  way,  many  people  followed  Him,  lament- 
ing and  weeping,  and  one  Simon  of  Cyrene  carried 
his  cross;  yet  Jesus  bade  them  not  to  weep  for  Him, 
but  for  themselves  and  their  children,  because  of 
His  rejection  as  the  Messiah.  When  they  came  to 
the  hill  of  Calvary,  He  was  crucified  between  two 
thieves,  and  His  raiment  divided  among  the  soldiers. 
Meanwhile,  He  prayed  for  His  enemies,  comforted  one 
of  the  thieves  who  asked  for  His  Divine  Mercy,  and 
commended  His  Mother  to  the  care  of  the  apostle, 
John. 

All  the  agonies  of  the  cross  He  endured  with  forti- 
tude, calling  upon  God  at  the  last  in  His  bitter  an- 
guish, and  soon  afterward  bowed  His  head  in  death, 
saying,  "  It  is  finished,"  in  token  that  the  work  was 
accomplished  which  had  been  the  object  of  His  com- 
ing into  this  world.    Then  the  Roman  centurion  whg 


122      HIS   BUFFERINGS,    DEATH,    AND   RESURRECTION. 

was  in  charge  of  the  execution,  cried  out,  saying, 
"Truly,  this  was  the  Son  of  God!  "  The  body  of 
Jesus  was  then  taken  down  by  Nicodemus  and 
Joseph  of  Arimathea,  and  laid  in  a  new  rock  tomb 
which  v;as  closed  and  sealed  and  watched  by  Roman 
soldiers.^ 

But  on  the  third  day,  which  was  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  certain  women  from  Galilee,  and  also  the 
apostles  Peter  and  John,  coming  to  the  tomb,  found 
it  empty.  Angels  told  them  that  the  Master  had 
risen  from  the  dead,  and  many  of  the  disciples  both 
saw  and  talked  with  Him  again  before  His  ascension 
at  Bethany,  which  took  place  forty  days  thereafter.' 


"  Self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature;  self- 
sacrifice  the  highest  rule  of  grace.  Yet  sacrifice  is 
found  in  nature,  too." 

Unknown. 

"  The  deep  undertone  of  the  world  is  sadness,  a 
solemn  bass,  occurring  at  measured  intervals,  and 
heard  through  all  other  tones.  Ultimately,  all  the 
strains  of  this  world's  music  resolve  themselves  into 
that  tone;  and  I  believe  that,  rightly  felt,  the  cross, 
and  the  cross  alone,  interprets  all  the  mournful  mys- 
tery of  life,  the  sorrow  of  the  Highest,  the  Lord  of 
Life,  the  result  of  error  and  sin;  but  ultimately  reme- 
dial, purifying,  and  exalting." 

F.  W.   Robertson. 

"  The  cross  of  Christ,  on  which  He  was  extended, 
points,  in  the  length  of  it,  to  heaven  and  earth,  rec- 
onciling them  together;  and  in  the  breadth  of  it, 
to  former  and  following  ages,  as  bringing  equally, 
salvation  to  both." 

Unknown. 


HIS  SUFFEKINGS,    DEATH,    AND   RESURRECTION.       123 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  12:14-15.  22-23,  13:54-57,  15:1-9,  12-14,  16: 
1-12,  21  :  12-16,  23-27,  45-46.  23.  Mark  11  :  18.  Luke  19  : 
47-48.  20  :  1-8,  19-20,  45-47,  22  :  1-6.  John  5  :  10,  17-18, 
6:41-42,  7:1.     10-15,  20.  25,  30-32,   40-53,   11:47-57. 

2  Matt,  26  :  36-57.  Mark  14  :  26-53.  Luke  21  :  39-54. 
John   18:  1-14. 

3  Matt.  26  :  69-75.  Mark  14  :  54,  66-72.  Luke  22  :  54-62. 
John    18  :  15-18,    25-27. 

*  Matt.  26:57-68,  27:1-2.  Mark  14:55-65,  15:1.  Luke 
22:63-71,   23:1-12.     John   18:19-24,   28. 

5  Matt.  27:11-32.  Mark  15:2-21.  Luke  23  :  13-26.  John 
18  :  29-40,    19  :  1-17. 

«  Matt.  27  :  33-50.  Mark  15  :  22-41.  Luke  23  :  27-49. 
John   19:  17-30. 

'  Matt.  27  :  57-66,  28.  Mark  15  :  39,  42-47,  16.  Luke  23  : 
50-56.  24.  John  19  :  31-42,  20.  Acts  1 :  1-3,  9-11.  1  Cor. 
15  :  1-20. 


QUESTIONS. 

What  were  some  of  the  reasons  why  the  Jewish  leaders 
opposed   Christ's   teaching  and   sought  to   kill   him? 

When  and   in  what  manner  was  he  taken  by  them? 

Why  was  he  not  defended  liy  Peter  and  the  other  apostles? 

Whither  was  he  taken  and  how  was  he  treated  there? 

What  did  Peter  do  when  he  saw  the  Master  in  that  place? 

What  did  the  high  priest  ask  Jesus,  and  what  was  his 
answer? 

To  whom  did  they  send  him.  and  with  what  accusation? 

To  whom  did  Pilate  send   him.  and  with  what  result? 

What  did  Jesus  say   to  Pilate  about  his  kingdom? 

When  Pilate  sought  to  release  him,  whom  did  the  Jews 
prefer? 

How  did   Pilate   finally  end   the   matter? 

How  did  the  people  behave  when  they  saw  him  led  away? 

What  things  did  Jesus  do  and   say  while  upon   the  cross? 

Who  took  charge  of  his  body,  and  what  did  they  do  with 
it? 

What  witnesses  and  proof  have  we  of  his  resurrection? 


124      HIS   SUFFERINGS,    DEATH,    AND   RESURRECTION. 
PRAYER. 

In  the  cross  of  Christ,  O  God,  may  I  behold  the  won- 
drous mystery  of  Thy  love  to  sinful  man;  and,  thus 
beholding,  may  I  be  ashamed  of  sin  forever.  Teach 
me,  O  God,  to  be  crucified  with  my  Saviour  to  all 
forms  of  sin  and  selfishness,  and  to  also  bear  my 
cross  from  day  to  day  for  His  blessed  sake.     Amen. 

HYMN.        (TUNE,     RATH  BURN.) 

In  the  cross  of  Christ  I  glory. 

Towering  o'er  the  wrecks  of  time; 

All  the  light  of  sacred  story, 

Gathers  round  its  head  sublime. 

When  the  woes  of  life  o'ertake  me, 
Hopes  deceive,  and  fears  annoy, 

Never  shall  the  cross  forsake  me; 
Lo,  it  glows  with  peace  and  joy. 

When  the  sun  of  life  is  beaming 
Light  and   love  upon   my  way. 

From   the   cross,   its   radiance   streaming 
Adds  more  luster  to  the  day. 

Bane  and  blessing,  pain  and  pleasure, 

By  the  cross  are  sanctified. 
Peace  is  there  that  knows  no  measure, 

Joys  that  through  all  time  abide. 

Sir  John   Bowring. 


XXVIII. 
THE   APOSTOLIC    CHURCH. 

Just  before  His  ascension,  which  occurred  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  number  of  His  disciples,  Jesus 
left  two  important  directions  to  His  followers;  first, 
that  they  should  "  Go  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing 
them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Spirit,  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
which  I  have  commanded  you;  "  and  second,  that 
they  should  *'  tarry  at  Jerusalem  until  they  should 
be  endowed  with  power  from  on  High,"  after  which 
they  should  be  witnesses  to  His  name  and  His  Gospel, 
"  in  Jerusalem  and  in  all  Judea  and  Samaria,  and 
unto  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth."  ^ 

All  this  was  fulfilled  when  the  disciples,  to  the 
number  of  one  hundred  and  twenty,  had  spent  ten 
days  after  the  ascension  of  their  Master  in  waiting 
upon  God  in  prayer  in  an  upper  room  in  Jerusalem. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  the  Holy  Spirit  was  sent 
upon  them  from  heaven  with  remarkable  manifesta- 
tions of  the  presence  and  power  of  God.  All  the 
disciples  are  said  to  have  spoken  in  strange  tongues, 
and  the  apostles  immediately  began  to  preach  to  the 
people  in.  the  city,  declaring  with  great  boldness  and 
convincing  arguments  that  Jesus,  who  had  lately 
been  crucified,  was  risen  from  the  dead,  and  that  He 
was  the  Messiah  promised  in  the  Old  Testament.' 

Thousands  of  people  were  soon  converted  to  the 
new  faith  and  baptized  into  the  Church,  where  they 
were  as  brothers  and  sisters  in  Christ,  uniting  in 
125 


126  THE   APOSTOLIC   CHURCH. 

their  prayers  and  testimonies,  celebrating  again  the 
Last  Supper  as  had  been  commanded  by  the  Lord, 
and  sharing  each  other's  goods  and  property  in  com- 
mon.^ They  also  appointed  deacons  who  should  at- 
tend to  the  temporal  interests  of  the  congregation, 
and  later  some  of  these  also  became  preachers  of 
the  Gospel.  Meanwhile  special  provision  was  made 
for  the  widows  and  orphans  and  other  dependent 
persons  who  were  members  of  the  congregation  of 
believers  in  Christ,  so  that  they  should  not  depend 
on  the  outside  world.* 

After  matters  had  continued  in  this  way  for  some 
time,  and  various  persecutions  had  occurred,  a 
fierce  attack  was  made  by  the  Jews  upon  the  Church, 
in  which  Stephen,  a  deacon,  was  stoned  and  died  a 
glorious  death.  This  caused  the  members  of  the 
Church  at  Jerusalem  to  be  scattered  abroad  in  Judea, 
Samaria,  Galilee,  and  even  as  far  as  Antioch,  carry- 
ing the  Gospel  and  gathering  new  converts  where- 
ever  they  went.  One  of  these  new  converts  was  Saul 
of  Tarsus,  a  young  student  of  the  Jewish  rabbis,  '' 
who  had  been  present  at  the  death  of  Stephen.^ 

At  first  only  Jews  were  admitted  to  the  Church; 
but  when  Cornelius,  a  Roman  centurion,  and  his 
family,  were  converted  under  the  preaching  of  Peter 
at  Caesarea,  there  was  a  council  of  the  apostles  over 
the  matter,  and  Gentiles  were  admitted  thereafter.® 
Barnabas,  and  Saul,  whose  name  was  changed  to 
Paul,  were  sent  out  from  Antioch,  where  the  disci- 
ples were  first  called  Christians,  to  preach  to  the 
people  of  Asia  Minor,  and  to  ordain  elders  for  the 
churches  which  they  had  founded  in  every  city. 
Thus  the  Gospel  was  soon  spread  throughout  the 
Roman  Empire,  which  then  embraced  most  of  the 
civilized  worldj 


THE   APOSTOLIC   CHURCH.  12? 

"  Christianity  is  not  a  theory  nor  a  speculation, 
but  a  life  of  fellowship  with  God." 

Coleridge.      (Adapted.) 

"  It  matters  little  whether  or  not  Christianity 
makes  men  richer.  But  it  does  make  them  truer, 
purer,  and  nobler." 

Beckwith. 

"  Christianity   everywhere    gives   dignity   to    labor, 
sanctity   to   marriage,   and   brotherhood   to   man.     It 
is  profitable  alike  for  this  world  and  the  world  to 
•  come." 

Lord  Lawrence. 

"  Christianity  is  a  missionary  religion,  converting, 
advancing,  aggressive,  encompassing  the  world.  A 
non-missionary  church  is  in  the  hands  of  death." 

Max  Muller. 

"Had  the  doctrines  of  Jesus  been  preached  always 
as  pure  as  they  came  from  his  lips,  the  vv^hole  civi- 
lized world  would  now  have  been  Christians." 

Thos.  Jefferson. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  28  :  19-20.  Mark  16  :  1.5-16,  19,  20.  Luke  24  :  45- 
49.     .Tohn  15  :  27,  20  :  30-31.     Acts  1  :  4-8. 

2  Acts  1  :  12-14,  2  :  1-36.   3  :  12-20.  4  :  5-13. 

3  Acts  2  :  37-47,   4  :  4,  31-37.   5  :  12-16.   24-42. 

*  Acts  6  :  1-8,  8  :  5.  26  :  21.  8.     1  Tim.   .5  :  4-10. 

5  Acts  6:9-l.">,  7:54-60.  8:1-4,  5-6.  14-17,  25:26-27, 
9 : 1-31. 

6  Acts   11:19-21,   10:19-34,  44-48.   11:1-18,   15:1-33. 

T  Acts  11  :  22-30,   12  :  24-25,   13,   14  :  23,   15  :  35-41,   16,  etc. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  were  .Tesus'  last  two  commands  to  his  disciples? 
What  was  the  numher  of  the  first  disciples  in  .Jerusalem? 
Where  were  they  to  witness  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ? 
Where  and  how  did  they  spend  the  first  ten  days? 


128  THE   APOSTOLIC   CHURCH. 

What  came  upon  them  at  the  end  of  that  period? 

What  were  some  manifestations  of  supernatural  power? 

What  was  the  substance  of  the  apostles'   first  preaching? 

What  was  the  first  believers'  manner  of  living  and  wor- 
ship? 

For  what  purpose  were  deacons  appointed? 

Who  was  the  first  Christian  martyr  and  who  was  present? 

What   was  the  effect  of  this  first   bloody   persecution? 

Under  what  circumstances  was  Saul  of  Tarsus  converted? 

What  proselyte  was  converted  under  Philip's  preaching? 

What  Gentiles  were  converted  under  Peter  at  Caesarea? 

What  decision   did  the  apostles  make  in  this  matter? 

What  three  things  occurred  at  Antioch?  (Acts  11  :  20,  21, 
26,   IH:  1-3.) 

What  countries  were  evangelized  by  Paul  and  Barnabas? 

What  country  later,  by  Paul,  with  other  fellow  laborers? 


PRAYER. 

"  Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  Thy 
name,  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done  on 
earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread.  And  forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive 
those  who  trespass  against  us.  And  lead  us  not  into 
temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil.  For  thine  is 
the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  forever 
and  ever."    Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE,    AURELIA.) 

The  Church  s  one  foundation 

Is  Jesus  Christ  her  Lord; 
She  is  His  new  creation. 

By   water   and   the  word. 
From  heaven  He  came  and  sought  her 

To  be  His  holy  Bride; 
With  His  own  blood  He  bought  her. 

And  for  her  Life  He  died. 

Elect  from  every  nation. 

Yet  one  o'er  all  the  earth. 
Her  charter  of  salvation, 

One  Lord,  one  faith,  one  birth. 


THE   APOSTOLIC   CHURCH.  129 

One  holy  name  she  blesses, 

Partakes  one  holy  food. 
And  to  one  hope  she  presses. 

With   every   grace  endued. 

'Mid  toil  and  tribulation, 

And  tumult  of  her  war, 
.She  waits  the  consummation 

Of  peace  for  evermore. 
Till  with  the  vision  glorious 

Her  longing  eyes  are  blest. 
And  the  great  Church  victorious 

Shall  be  the  Church  at  rest. 

Samuel  J.  Stone. 
9 


XXIX. 

THE    GOSPEL   METHOD   OF    SAVING    MEN. 

The  new  plan  of  salvation  as  preached  by  the  apos- 
tles and  their  successors  was  something  like  this: 
First,  they  followed  the  example  of  Christ,  the  Mas- 
ter, in  so  presenting  the  truth,  the  beauty,  and  the 
blessedness  of  a  perfectly  sincere  and  holy  life,  that 
men  were  charmed  by  its  view  and  led  to  compare 
their  own  lives  with  the  pattern  set  before  them  in 
the  Gospel.^ 

Second,  the  personal  application  of  spiritual  truth 
as  found  in  the  parables  and  conversations  of  Jesus 
was  now  pressed  home  to  men  in  a  way  to  reveal 
their  hidden  motives  and  secret  affections,  thereby 
searching  the  soul  as  with  a  lighted  candle,  and 
showing  to  each  his  own  sinful  condition,  in  order  to 
lead  him  to  repentance.^ 

Third,  the  story  of  the  Saviour's  life.  His  teachings 
and  miracles,  and  of  His  sufferings  on  the  Cross  and 
His  glorious  resurrection,  was  repeated  to  men  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  touch  the  heart  and  the  con- 
science. The  purpose  of  His  death  was  also  explained 
as  an  atonement  for  human  sins  and  a  means  of 
reconciliation  between  God  and  man,  so  as  to  lead 
each  one  to  an  earnest  effort  to  amend  his  life  with 
the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which  is  freely  promised 
in  the  Gospel.' 

Sometimes  the  particulars  of  this  preaching  took 
one  form,  and  sometimes  another,  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. Frequently,  the  process  of  instruction 
and  persuasion  was  a  short  one;  but  it  was  always 
130 


THE   GOSPEL    METHOD    OF    SAVING    MEN.  131 

intended  to  lead  up  to  the  vision  or  knowledge  of 
Christ  Himself  as  the  one  Master  and  Friend,  the 
everliving  and  all-sufficient  Saviour  of  those  who 
to  the  Father  by  Him.  No  one  was  so  high  or  so 
lowly,  so  good  or  so  evil,  that  he  might  not  receive 
this  Gospel  of  Salvation  through  Christ,  regardless 
of  race,  language,  or  condition  in  life.* 

Moreover,  all  who  accepted  the  Gospel  by  prayer 
and  faith,  however  long  or  short  their  spiritual  con- 
flicts, were  brought  into  the  Christian  life  and  made 
members  of  the  spiritual  kingdom  of  God  in  Christ. 
Here  we  see  a  new  principle  of  religion,  that  of  a 
Mediator,  or  a  personal  Redeemer,  which  was  a 
powerful  factor  in  arousing  and  developing  the 
minds  and  spiritual  consciousness  of  men,  and  be- 
came, in  fact,  a  new  force  for  the  conversion  of  the 
world  to  God.* 

At  the  same  time,  this  did  not  set  aside  the  Old 
Testament  doctrines  of  worship  and  morality,  nor 
of  God's  own  eternal  truth  and  righteousness;  but  it 
rather  confirmed  and  fulfilled  them.^  Besides  all 
this,  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  had  the  advantage 
in  its  appeal  to  men  of  being  founded  on  a  series  of 
wonderful  events  and  practical  doctrines,  all  spring- 
ing from  the  person  and  instruction  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Thus  men  saw  a  definite  source  of  authority  for  the 
promises,  and  also  rested  their  faith  in  the  tangible 
facts  of  history.' 

To  be  sure,  not  all  could  have  an  opportunity  to 
hear  the  Gospel,  or  capacity  to  understand  and  ac- 
cept it  when  heard;  but  even  such  persons  are  not 
wholly  left  without  some  provisions  of  grace;  for 
there  are  the  "  uncovenanted  mercies,"  or  general 
blessings  of  temporal  good  and  moral  intelligence 
which  God  bestows  in  some  degree  on  all  men, 
whereby  they  may  seek  Him  in  prayer  and  be  saved.* 


132  THE   GOSPEL   METHOD  OF   SAVING    MEN. 

There  are  also  the  "  unconditioned  benefits "  of 
Christ's  atoning  sacrifice,  by  which  all  young  chil- 
dren and  unenlightened  persons  become  the  objects 
of  divine  mercy,  and  are  held  to  a  lesser  responsi- 
bility than  those  v^ho  are  older  and  better  instructed.® 

Finally,  we  have  the  blessed  way  of  positive  grace 
and  salvation  by  faith  in  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
which  is  the  only  direct  and  sure  method  of  ap- 
proach to  God  for  all  who  are  in  any  wise  able  to 
receive  and  appropriate  its  holy  privileges.^" 


"  The  preaching  of  the  Gospel  is  the  form  in  which 
human  agency  has  been  and  still  is  most  efficaciously 
employed  for  the  spiritual  improvement  of  men." 

Websteb. 

"  I  preached  as  never  sure  to  preach  again. 
And  as  a  dying  man  to  dying  men." 

Baxter. 

"  My  grand  point  in  preaching  is  to  break  the  hard 
heart,  and  to  heal  the  broken  one." 

John  Newton. 

"  The  only  way  to  realize  that  we  are  God's  chil- 
dren is  to  let  Christ  lead  us  to  our  Father." 

Phillips  Brooks. 


1  Matt.   7  :  28-29. 
7:46. 

2  Matt.   13  :  18-23,    36-43, 
10:14-31,     12:2 
3:  14-21,  4:  17-19.  28-29. 

3  Acts  2  :  22-24,  32-33.  36-30.  3  :  12-21,  4  :  8-13,  13  :  23-47, 
18  :  28.  Rom.  1  :  4,  16-17,  3  :  20-26,  5  :  1-11,  8  :  1-17. 
10:4-10. 


REFERENCES. 

Mark   1  :  21-22.      Luke  4  :  31-32. 

.Tohn 

56-43,    52.    1.5:1.5-20,    20  :  2.-)-28. 

Mark 

37.      Luke    5  :  8-11,    7  :  40-.50. 

.Tohn 

THE   GOSPEL   METHOD   OF   SAVING    MEN,  133 

*  Acts  8  :  26-39,  9  :  17-22,  10  :  34-48,  16  :  25-34.  Rom. 
10  :  12-13.     Gal.  3  :  28. 

5  2  Cor.  1  :  19-20,  4  :  5-6.  Gal.  4  :  4-7.  Ephes.  1:3,  7,  10, 
12.     1   Tim.  2  :  5-6. 

6  Rom.  3  :  31,  6  :15-18,  10  :  1-13.  2  Cor.  3  :  12-16.  Heb. 
1:  1-4,   9:8-15.  23. 

'  Matt.  28  :  16-20.  Mark  16  :  9-14,  19-20.  Luke  24  :  45-48. 
John  20  :  30-31. 

8  Matt.  5  :  45.  Acts  10  :  34-35,  14  :  16-17.  Rom.  3  :  13-15, 
10  :  13-18.     1  Peter  3  :  10-12. 

9  Matt.  19  :  13-15.  Luke  12  :  47-48,  18  :  15-17.  John 
9:  40-41.     Acts  17:  30. 

"  Mark  2  :  10-12.  Luke  10  :  16-22.  John  3  :  14-21,  5  :  20- 
24.     Heb.   10  :  19-22. 

QUESTIONS. 

Whose  example  did  the  apostles  follow  in  preaching  the 
Gospel,  and  how  did  they  do  this? 

What  truths  were  thus  pressed  home  to  men's  consciences 
and  with  what  results? 

What  was  the  last  and  most  touching  element  in  their 
message,  and  how  was  the  death  of  Christ  presented? 

Were  all  sermons  and  conversions  alike  as  to  manner  ;  and 
if  not,  how  were  they  different? 

What  was  the  new  principle  of  the  Gospel  in  saving  men? 

How  was  this  related  of  the  Old  Testament  doctrines? 

What  was  the  basis  of  facts  and  authority  for  the  Gospel? 

What  is  meant  by  the  "uncovenanted  mercies'  of  God? 

What  are  the  "unconditional  benefits"  of  Christ's  death? 

What  is  the  only  direct  and  sure  way  of  salvation,  and  to 
whom  is  it  especially  given? 

PRAYER. 

0  God,  I  thank  Thee  for  the  blessings  of  Gospel 
light  and  Christian  privileges.  Help  me  at  all  times 
to  appreciate  their  inestimable  value,  and  to  profit 
by  them  to  the  salvation  of  my  soul  through  Jesus 
Christ,  Thy  Son.  Grant  me  also  a  love  for  the  per- 
ishing souls  of  men,  and  a  zeal  for  the  glory  of  Thy 
kingdom  in  the  earth,  that  I  may  finally  share  it  in 
heaven,  for  Jesus'  sake.    Amen. 


134  THE   GOSPEL   METHOD   OF   SAVING  MEN. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,   ROCKINGHAM.) 

Of  Him  who  did  salvation  bring 
I  could  forever  think  and  sing; 

Arise,  ye  needy,  he'll  relieve; 

Arise  ye  guilty,  he'll  forgive. 

Ask  but  His  grace,  and  lo,  'tis  given! 

Ask,  and  He  turns  your  hell  to  heaven; 
Though  sin  and  sorrow  wound  my  soul, 

Jesus,  Thy  balm  will  make  it  whole. 

To  shame  our  sins  He  blushed  in  blood; 
He  closed  His  eyes  to  show  us  God; 
Let  all  the  world  fall  down  and  know. 

That  none  but  God  such  love  can  show. 

Bernard  of  Clairvaux. 
Tr.  by  A.  W.  Boehm. 


XXX. 

THE  CALL  OF  GOD  TO  THE  SINNER. 

If  the  true  religion  were  only  a  set  of  principles 
and  of  rules  of  conduct,  or  if  the  Gospel  plan  of  salva- 
tion were  merely  a  series  of  precepts  and  promises 
leading  to  certain  kinds  of  emotion  in  the  believer, 
there  would  be  lacking  the  vast  variety  of  the  per- 
sonal divine  call  to  the  sinner  which  is  of  more  than 
romantic  interest;  since  upon  it  depends  not  only  our 
character  in  this  present  life,  but  our  possibilities 
for  weal  or  woe  in  a  world  to  come.^ 

This  is  a  great  element  of  charm  in  the  Scriptures, 
— the  stories  of  the  personal  calling  and  conversion 
to  God  of  men  and  women,  young  or  old,  in  many 
different  times  and  circumstances.  The  call  of  Abra- 
ham to  leave  his  native  city,  Ur  of  the  Chaldees, 
and  go  forth  to  a  land  which  God  would  show  him,  is 
an  instance.  So  was  the  experience  of  young  Jacob 
at  Bethel,  when  he  dreamed  of  the  ladder,  and  after- 
ward, when  he  wrestled  with  an  Angel  for  a  blessing. 
So  was  the  case  of  Moses,  whom  the  Lord  met  in  the 
burning  bush  in  the  desert  and  sent  him  to  rescue 
his  people  from  bondage  in  Egypt.^ 

And  there  are  many  more,  such  as  Gideon,  who 
was  called  to  destroy  the  idol  standing  near  his 
father's  home;  Samuel,  the  child,  who  was  called  by 
the  Lord  while  sleeping  in  the  tent  of  the  Holy  Tab- 
ernacle; Saul,  the  young  man,  who  was  called  while 
seeking  his  father's  beasts  that  had  strayed  from 
home;  David,  whose  youthful  heart  was  touched  by 
135 


136  THE   CALL   OF   GOD   TO  THE   SINNER. 

the  Spirit  while  he  kept  his  sheep  in  the  fields;  and 
Elisha,  who  was  called  from  the  plow  with  his  yoke 
of  oxen.' 

The  New  Testament  also  furnishes  many  ex- 
amples; the  young  fishermen  by  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
Nathanael  under  the  fig  tree,  Levi  at  the  receipt  of 
Roman  customs,  Saul  of  Tarsus  on  his  way  to  Damas- 
cus, the  dying  thief  on  the  Cross,  the  eunuch  of 
Ethopia  in  his  chariot,  and  the  jailer  of  Philippi  at 
the  hour  of  midnight.*  Women,  too,  are  not  wanting, 
for  there  was  Mary  of  Nazareth  at  her  devotions, 
the  Samaritan  woman  at  Jacob's  well,  Martha  busy 
with  her  domestic  cares,  and  Lydia,  the  seller  of 
purple,  wandering  by  the  river  bank  near  the  city; 
all  these  and  many  more  there  were  who  heard  and 
accepted  the  Call.** 

It  is  an  important  hour  in  any  one's  life  when  this 
voice  from  God  begins  to  stir  and  awaken  the  soul, 
when  the  sense  of  religious  duty  and  privilege  comes 
to  the  heart.  Sometimes,  as  we  have  seen,  it  comes 
in  early  life,  while  the  dew  of  youth  is  upon  us. 
Again,  it  seems  to  arrive  in  later  years,  in  the  midst 
of  pleasures  and  vanities,  or  among  our  earthly  toils 
and  perplexities.  Or,  again  it  comes  just  as  the  last 
hour  of  earthly  opportunity  is  approaching;  but 
always  and  every  where  it  is  God's  call  to  the  sin- 
ner, saying  to  us,  "  Son,"  "  Daughter,"  "  Give  Me 
thine  heart."  "  Take  My  yoke  upon  you  and  learn  of 
Me;'  and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For  My 
yoke  is  easy  and  My  burden  is  light."  ®  The  mani- 
fold voices  of  the  Church,  the  ever  constant  testi- 
mony of  the  Word  in  the  Scriptures,  the  silent  but 
powerful  whisperings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  will  come 
to  us  all  sooner  or  later,  perhaps  have  come  to  us 
already,  and  we  cannot  afford  to  reject  the  CallJ 


THE  CALL  OF  GOD   TO   THE   SINNER.  137 

"  Thou  wind  !  which  art  the  unseen  similitude  of 
God,  the  Spirit,  His  most  sweet  and  mightiest  sign." 

Bailey. 

"As  Martha  came  and  spoke  to  her  sister  Mary  in 
a  "  psychological  moment,"  as  modern  writers 
would  say;  that  is,  in  the  crisis  of  her  life  experi- 
ence; so  to  us  and  to  many  has  come  the  same  glad 
message  by  the  Spirit,  "  The  Master  is  come  and 
calleth  for  thee."  It  is  a  call  to  the  Divine  Presence, 
to  a  personal  interview  with  the  great  Healer  of 
sorrows  and  of  souls.  It  may  come  and  be  unheeded; 
it  may  come  and  be  rejected;  but  it  comes  to  all." 

The  Author. 

"The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say,  Come;  and  let 
him  that  heareth  say,  Come;  and  whosoever  will,  let 
him  come  and  take  of  the  water  of  life  freely." 

Bible. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Prov.  1:23,  33.  Jer.  11:7.  Isa.  43:1-7.  John  6:37, 
44,  65,  10  :  3.  Acts  2  :  39.  Rom.  8  :  28.  Ephes.  4:4.  1 
Thess.  2  :  12.     1  Peter  2:9.  5:10. 

2  Gen.   12  :  1-2,   28  :  10-15,  32  :  24-30.      Ex.   3  :  1-10. 

3  Judges  6:11-24.  1  Sam.  3:1-10,  10:9-13,  16:1-13.  1 
Kings  19  :  19-21. 

*  Matt.  4  :  18-22.     John  1  :  47-51.     Luke  5  :  27-29,  19  :  1-10, 

23  :  39-43.     Acts  8  :  26-40,  9  :  1-22,   16  :  25-34. 

5  Luke  1  :  26-28,  7  :  36-50,  10  :  38-42.  John  4  :  5-30.  Acts 
16:  14-15. 

«  Eccles.    12  :  1-7.      Luke    15  :  17-18.      Acts    16  :  1,    18  :  8, 

24  :  25,  26  :  28. 

7  Matt.  20  :  1-7,  21 :  28-32.  John  9  :  39-41.  Isa.  65  :  12, 
66  :  4.     Rev.   22  :  16-17. 

QUESTIONS. 

Does  true  religion  consist  only  in  rules  or  principles? 
Does  it  consist  entirely  in  certain  kinds  of  emotion? 
What  important  matter  would  there  be  lacking? 
What  things  depend  upon  God's  call  to  the  soul? 


138       THE  CALL  OF  GOD  TO  THE  SINNER. 

Are  all   mpn   called  of  God   in  same  manner? 
State  the  call   of   Abraham,  of  Jacob,   and  of  Moses. 
How  was  Gideon  called?     Samuel?  Saul?  David?  Elisha? 
Tell  about  the  calling  of  the  first  disciples  of  Christ. 
Of     Nathanael,     of     Levi,     of     the    dying     thief,     of     the 
Ethiopian. 

Of  Saul  of  Tarsus,  and  of  the  Philippian  jailer. 
Tell  of  the  calling  of  several  women  also. 
Mention   some  general  circumstances  of  this  call. 
What  is  the  language  of  God's  sweetest  invitation? 
In  what  various  ways  is  God  calling  to-day? 


PRAYER. 

0  Thou  ever-blessed  Lord,  who  hast  given  me  life, 
and  hast  watched  over  me  all  my  days  until  now, 
help  me,  I  humbly  pray  Thee,  to  hear  and  hearken 
to  the  voice  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  and  to  answer  His 
call  aright.  May  I  be  willing  and  obedient,  repenting 
of  every  sin  and  giving  myself,  with  all  my  hopes 
and  plans,  to  Thee,  to  live  according  to  Thy  Holy 
Will  forevermore,  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


HYMN.        (TUNE,     RIVAULX.) 

God  calling  yet!   shall  I  not  hear? 

Earth's  pleasures  shall  I  still  hold  dear? 
Shall  life's  swift  passing  years  all  fly 

And  still  my  soul  in  slumber  lie? 

God  calling  yet!   shall  I  not  rise? 

Can  I  His  loving  voice  despise? 
And  basely  His  kind  care  repay? 

He  calls  me  still,  can  I  delay? 

God  calling  yet!    and  shall  He  knock. 
And  I  my  heart  the  closer  lock? 

He  still  is  waiting  to  receive, 

And  shall  I  dare  His  Spirit  grieve? 


THE  CALL  OF  GOD  TO  THE  SINNER.        139 

God  calling  yet!     And  shall  I  give 
No  heed,  but  still  in  bondage  sin? 

I  wait,  but  He  does  not  forsake; 

He  calls  me  still;  my  heart,  awake! 

God  calling  yet!     I  cannot  stay; 

My  heart  I  yield  without  delay; 
Vain  world,  farewell,  from  thee  I  part; 

The  voice  of  God  hath  reached  my  heart. 
Gebhard  Gersteegen.     Tr.  by  J.  B. 


XXXI. 

THE  NEW  BIRTH  OF  THE  SOUL. 

The  doctrine  of  the  New  Birth  of  the  soul,  or 
spiritual  regeneration,  as  taught  by  Christ  and  the 
apostles,  is  also  found  to  some  extent  in  the  Old 
Testament,  as  the  doctrine  of  a  new  heart,  or  a 
change  of  heart,  or  the  receiving  of  a  right  spirit/ 
But  in  the  Gospels  and  the  Epistles,  the  second 
birth  of  the  soul  appears  as  the  sign  or  standard 
of  a  state  of  salvation,  or  of  personal  acceptance 
with  God,  and  is  usually  accompanied  by  the 
unction  or  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  is  also 
symbolized  in  the  Sacrament  of  Baptism.^ 

Other  types  of  this  change  are  seen  in  the  history 
of  Naaman,  the  Syrian  captain,  who  was  healed  of 
his  leprosy  by  washing  seven  times  in  Jordan;  and 
the  healing  by  Christ  of  lepers  and  other  persons 
with  incurable  infirmities;  of  the  man  who  was  born 
blind,  and  to  whom  Jesus  restored  his  sight;  and  es- 
pecially of  the  man  out  of  whom  the  evil  spirits 
were  cast,  so  that  he  was  afterward  found,  "  clothed, 
and  in  his  right  mind,  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus." ' 

The  real  nature  of  this  heart  experience  i-s  always 
the  same,  but  its  manifestation  is  largely  dependent 
upon  the  age,  the  natural  temperament,  and  the  per- 
sonal history  of  the  individual  soul  who  thus  be- 
comes a  true  spiritual  child  of  God,* 

However,  a  young  child,  particularly  if  he  has 
been  carefully  trained  and  brought  up  in  the  true 
Christian  faith  and  in  habits  of  daily  prayer  to  God, 
140 


THE  NEW  BIRTH  OF  THE  SOUL.  141 

may  often  come  into  this  state  of  personal  faith, 
hope,  and  love  toward  Jesus  Christ  as  his  Saviour, 
without  knowing  precisely  when  and  how  it  oc- 
curred, since  it  comes  almost  with  his  sense  of 
responsibility.^ 

But  in  other  cases,  perhaps  in  the  vast  majority, 
there  is  a  manifest  tendency  of  the  young  soul  to 
follow  the  natural  impulses  and  desires  of  the  unre- 
generate  heart,  which  must  be  repented  of  and  put 
away  before  we  can  receive  the  grace  of  God.  Every 
such  one  who  has  been  regenerated  is  likely  to 
know  and  remember  his  change  of  heart.  Some  who 
are  older  and  have  become  either  great  unbelievers 
or  great  sinners  are  liable  to  have  a  still  sharper  ex- 
perience, if  they  are  ever"  converted  at  all.® 

The  child  Timothy  is  an  illustration  of  the  first 
kind  of  conversion,  and  Saul  of  Tarsus  of  the  last 
kind;  but  the  first  is  th.e  safest  and  far  preferable, 
for  those  who  receive  it  are  thus  "  kept  for  the 
Master's  use."  Indeed,  the  idea  of  the  new  birth  of 
the  soul  consists  largely  in  going  back  to  the  spirit- 
ual state  of  a  child,  in  humility,  sincerity,  and  obedi- 
ence to  all  that  God  requires  of  us,  as  babes  in 
Christ;  yet,  as  true  members  of  the  great  spiritual 
family  of  God  in  whose  fellowship  we  may  sooner 
or  later  grow  up  to  the  full  spiritual  stature  of  men 
and  women  in  the  service  of  Jesus  Christ.'^ 

The  experience  of  this  new  birth  in  millions  of 
souls  is  one  of  the  greatest  facts  in  support  of  the 
Gospel  religion. 


"  Conversion  "  is  a  deep  work,  a  heart  work.  It 
goes  throughout  the  man,  throughout  the  members, 
throughout  the  entire  life." 

AlXEINE. 


142  THE    NEW    BIUTH    OF    THE    SOUL. 

"  Grace  comes  into  the  soul,  as  the  morning  sun 
into  the  world;  first  a  dawning;  then  a  light;  and 
at  last  the  sun  in  all  his  brightness." 

F.  Adams. 

"  The  religion  of  Christ  reaches  and  changes  the 
heart,  which  no  other  religion  does." 

Ho  WELLS. 

"The  religion  of  a  (saved)  sinner  stands  on  two 
pillars;  namely,  what  Christ  does  for  us  in  the  flesh, 
and  what  He  performs  in  us  by  His  Spirit.  Most 
errors  arise  from  an  attempt  to  separate  these  two." 

Cecil. 

"Grace  is  but  glory  begun;  and  glory  is  but  grace 
perfected." 

Jonathan  Edward.s. 

REFERENCES. 

1  1    Sam.   10:6,  9.      Ps.   51:10.      Ezek.   11:19-20.      Zech. 

3  :  1-5. 

2  Matt.  11  :  27.  Luke  11  :  13.  .Tohn  3  :  3-7.  2  Cor.  5  :  17. 
Rom.  8  :  14-17.  Acts  1:5.  19  :  1-7.  Ephos.  1  :  1314.  1  Pet. 
1  :  23.     Gal.  6:15.   1  .John  5  :  4-6. 

3  2  Kings  5:1-14.  Matt  8:3.  Mark  5:15.  Luke 
7:  19-23.     .John  9:  1-7. 

♦Acts  9:17-19,  10:44-46.  13:12,  48,  16:14-15,  25-34, 
18:8. 

6  Prov.  22  :  6.  Ps.  78  :  5-8.  Ephes.  6:4.  2  Tim.  1  :  5, 
3:  ,14-1 5. 

«  Gen.  6  :  5.  Ps.  81  :  11-12.  Isa.  53  :  6.  Rom.  3  :  19-20. 
Luke    18:  26-27. 

T  Matt.    18:3.      Luke    10:21.      1    Peter    2:1-3.      Ephes. 

4  :  11-15. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where  is  tne  doctrine  of  a  new  or  clean  heart  first  found? 

Where  is  it  taught  as  a  new  birth  of  the  soul? 

Of    what    is    this    new    birth    made    a    sign    or    standard? 

By   what   witness   is   it   usually   accompanied? 

In  what  sacrament  is  this  witness  symbolized? 


THE    NEW    BIRTH    OF    THE    SOUL.  143 

Mention  some  historical  incidents  of  the  Bible  which  also 
appear  to  symbolize  the  new  birth. 

Is  the  real  nature  of  this  change  always  the  same? 

How  about   its  manifestation  in  our  experience? 

What  is  sometimes  a  child's  experience,  and  why  so? 

What   is  true  in   the  great  majority  of  people? 

What  is  usually  the  experience  of  those  who  have  grown 
older  under  the  power  of  sin  and  unbelief? 

Mention  some  examples  of  the  two  extremes  of  experience. 
Which  of  the  two  is  preferable,  and  why  so? 

How   is  the  new   birth    like  going   back   to  childhood? 

What  is  expected  of  all  who  are  babes  in  Christ? 

What  does  such  experience  prove  to  the  world? 

PRAYER. 

Grant  me,  O  Lord,  to  know  the  meaning  of  the  new 
birth  unto  the  Spirit  of  God.  Forgive  all  my  past 
sins,  take  away  my  inclinations  toward  sin,  and  so 
fill  me  with  Thy  Holy  Grace  and  Love  that  I  may 
abide  in  Christ  and  do  His  will  in  all  things.  So 
may  I  be  of  the  number  of  Thy  spiritual  children, 
and  have  my  name  written  among  the  good  in  heaven, 
for  Christ's  sake,  who  gave  Himself  for  me.     Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE.    TRUMAN.) 

I  HEARD  the  voice  of  Jesus  say, 

"  Come  unto  Me  and  rest. 
Lay  down,  thou  weary  one.  lay  down, 

Thy  head  upon  My  breast." 
I  came  to  Jesus  as  I  was. 

Weary  and  worn  and  sad, 
I  found  in  Him  a  resting  place. 

And  He  hath  made  me  glad. 

\ 

I  heard  the  voice  of  Jesus  say, 

"Behold;    I  freely  give 
The  living  water,  Thirsty  one, 

Stoop  down,  and  drink,  and  live." 
I  came  to  Jesus,  and  I  drank 

Of  that  life-giving   stream; 
My  thirst  was  quenched,  my  soul  revived. 

And  now  I  live  in  Him. 


144  THE   NEW   BIRTH   OF   THE   SOUL. 

I  heard  the  voice  of  Jesus  say, 

"  I   am  this  dark  world's  light; 
Look  unto  me.  Thy  morn  shall  rise. 

And  all  Thy  days  be  bright." 
I  looked  to  Jesus  and  I  found 

In  Him  my  star,  my  sun; 
And  in  that  light  of  life  I'll  walk 

Till  traveling  days  are  done. 

HOBATIUS    BONAR. 


XXXII. 

THE   LAW    OP   CHRISTIAN    LIBERTY. 

When  the  prophecies  and  types  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment had  been  fulfilled  in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Mes- 
siah and  Redeemer  of  the  world,  and  after  the 
Christian  Church  began  to  be  established  by  the 
apostles,  it  was  seen  by  them  that  the  old  ceremonial 
law  of  the  Jewish  Church  was  no  longer  of  any  neces- 
sary force  or  binding  obligation.^ 

This  was  the  more  evident  after  some  of  the  Gen- 
tiles were  converted,  and  the  question  arose  whether 
they,  too,  should  have  to  keep  the  ceremonial  law, 
which  was  clearly  unnecessary  if  they  had  only  a 
genuine  saving  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Yet 
the  true  moral  law  is  always  the  same,  and  could  not 
be  abolished  nor  set  aside,  because  it  rests  on  the 
eternal  principles  of  righteousness.'^ 

The  true  follower  of  Jesus  Christ  is  always  the 
man  or  woman  who  truly  intends  to  do  what  is  right 
under  any  and  all  possible  circumstances.  They 
intend  to  do  this  because  they  have  turned  away 
from  sin  and  accepted  the  Gospel  call  to  a  new  life; 
because  they  have  been  born  again  from  above  and 
are  full  of  affection  and  zeal  for  Jesus  Christ  as 
their  Saviour;  because  they  have  been  received  into 
the  one  great  spiritual  family  of  God,  and  are 
bound  not  so  much  by  formal  rules  as  by  filial  love.^ 

These  high  privileges  of  believers  were  taught  by 
Jesus  when  he  said  to  his  disciples,  "  Henceforth,  I 
10  145 


146  THE    LAW    OF   CHRISTIAN    LIBERTY. 

call  you  not  servants,  but  friends;  for  the  servant 
knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth;  but  I  have  called 
you  friends."  On  another  occasion  he  said,  "  Whoso- 
ever shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother  and  sister  and 
mother."  * 

But  the  sign  of  a  true  child  of  God  is  found  in 
his  readiness  to  follow  the  leadings  of  the  Spirit  of 
truth  and  grace.  Otherwise,  "  the  love  of  God  is  not 
in  him,"  or  "  he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch  and 
withered."  Even  the  effort  to  seek  salvation  by  the 
observance  of  certain  forms  or  special  precepts  is 
not  good,  "  for  the  letter  killeth,  but  the  Spirit 
maketh  alive. "^ 

No  prescribed  rules  are  necessary  to  make  an  hon- 
est man  honorable  in  his  business  dealings,  or  even 
to  make  a  patriotic  man  stand  for  the  interests  of 
his  country,  since  he  cannot  do  anything  else  without 
changing  his  character.  So  the  true  Christian  cannot 
bear  that  which  is  dishonorable  to  his  Lord.*  As  in 
our  social  and  civil  life  the  boon  of  freedom  depends 
on  the  right  and  honorable  intentions  of  each  neigh- 
bor and  citizen,  so  it  is  in  the  kingdom  of  God;  and 
whenever  one  deliberately  and  wilfully  does  wrong, 
he  puts  himself  back  again  in  the  power  of  Satan.' 


"  True  liberty  consists  only  in  the  power  of  doing 
what  we  ought  to  will,  and  in  not  being  constrained 
to  do  what  we  ought  not  to  will." 

Jonathan  Edwards. 

"  If  liberty  with  law  is  fire  on  the  hearth,  then 
liberty  without  law  is  fire  on  the  floor." 

HiLLIARD. 


THE   LAW    OF   CHRISTIAN    LIBERTV.  147 

REFERENCES. 

1  Luke    16  :  16.      Matt.    5  :  20.      Rom.    9  :  31,    10  :  3.      Heb. 
7:  18-19,    10:  1-14. 

2  Acts  15  :  1-31.     Rom.  2  :  28-29,  3  :  31,  7:6.     Gal.  4  :  9-11, 
5:1-14.     Jas.   1:25.      1   Peter  2:11-16. 

3  John    8  :  31-32.      Rom.    6  :  1-4,    17-18,    22.    13  :  8-10.      Jas. 
2:12.     1   Peter  4  :  1-5.      1  Jno.   5  :  3. 

*  Matt.    12  :  46-50.      John   15  :  14-15.      Col.   3  :  1-4.      Ephes. 
2  :  19-22. 

6  John   15:5-6.     Rom.  8:14.     2  Cor.  3:6.     Gal.  5:16-18, 
6:7-8.      1   John  2:  15-17. 

8  Matt.  7:16-20,   12:33-35.     Luke  6:43-45.     John  14  :  til, 
23-24.     1   Peter  2  :  9. 

7  Luke     11:23.        John     8:34-39.       Rom.     6:16.       Phil. 
2:  12-16.     1  John  3:  8. 


QUESTIONS. 

What  portions  of  the  Old  Testament  were  fulfilled  in  Jesus 
Christ  as  the  Messiah  and  Redeemer? 

What  then  became  of  the  Jewish  ceremonial   law? 

What  circumstance  soon  rendered  this  evident? 

What  was  essential   now   instead   of   the  Jewish   law? 

How  did  this  change  affect  the  moral  law  of  God? 

What  does  the  true  disciple  of  Christ  always  mean  to  do? 

Give   three  reasons  why   his  intentions  must  be  good. 

What  did  Jesus  call  his  disciples  and  followers? 

Mention  a  special  sign  of  a  true  child  of  God. 

Why  may  not  the  observance  of  forms  and  precepts  save 
us? 

How  do  rules  of  conduct  affect  an  honest  man  or  a 
patriot? 

What   is  that  which   a   true  Christian  cannot  bear? 

On  what  does  freedom  depend  in  social  and  civil   life? 

How  does  this  rule  work  in  the  kingdom  of  (iod? 

What  is  the  result  when  a  Christian  wilfully  and  de- 
liberately does  what  he  knows  to  be  wrong? 


PRAYER. 

O  Lord,  I  thank  thee  for  the  great  privilege  of  walk- 
ing in  thy  ways  under  the  sweet  influence  of  love 
to  Christ  and   of  love   for   the   truth,   the   right,  and 


148  THE    LAW    OF    CHRISTIAN    LIBERTY. 

the  good.  May  I  ever  abide  in  this  blessed  way,  and 
may  my  heart  be  kept  by  thy  tender  grace  from  the 
love  of  sin  and  evil  in  all  of  their  forms.  This  I 
ask  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  my  Saviour.    Amen. 

HYMN.    (TUNE,   LOVE  DIVINE.) 

Love  divine,  all  love  excelling, 

Joy  of  heaven,  to  earth  come  down. 
Fix  in  us  Thy  humble  dwelling, 

All   Thy   faithful   mercies   crown. 
Jesus,  Thou  art  all  compassion, 

Pure,  unbounded   love  Thou  art. 
Visit  us  with  Thy  salvation, 

Enter  every  trembling  heart. 

Breathe,  O  breathe.  Thy  loving  spirit 

Into  every  troubled   breast, 
Let  us  all  in  Thee  inherit, 

Let  us  find  that  second   rest. 
Take  away  our  bent  to  sinning. 

Alpha  and  Omega  be, 
End  of  faith  as  its  beginning, 

Set  our  hearts  at  liberty. 

Come,  Almighty  to  deliver, 

Let  us  all  Thy  grace  receive. 
Suddenly  return,  and  never, 

Nevermore  Thy  temples  leave; 
Thee  we  would  be  always  praising. 
Serve  Thee  as  Thy   hosts  above, 
,     Pray  and  praise  Thee  without  ceasing. 
Glory  in  Thy  perfect  love. 

Charles  Wesley. 


XXXIII. 

THE    DANGERS    OP    TEMPTATION. 

We  must  remember,  however,  that  when  one  be- 
comes a  true  Christian  and  a  child  of  God,  he  does 
not  thereby  cease  to  be  a  human  being,  nor  does 
he  go  immediately  out  of  this  world;  but  remains 
for  some  time  subject  to  its  conditions,  as  a  member 
of  society  with  personal  duties.^ 

His  moral  nature  has  been  renewed,  and  he  has 
been  "  strengthened  with  might  in  the  inner  man," 
so  that  in  a  manner,  "all  things  have  become  new;  " 
yet  he  must  "  walk  worthily  before  them  that  are 
without,"  he  must  keep  himself  as  "  a  vessel  unto 
honor,"  and  "  do  all  things  to  the  glory  of  God."  - 

Yet,  if  some  of  the  angels  in  heaven  were  once 
tempted  and  "  kept  not  their  first  estate,"  so  must 
the  Christian  beware  of  the  assaults  of  Satan,  who 
"  goeth  about  as  a  roaring  lion,"  seeking  whom  he 
may  devour  and  destroy.  It  was  the  Lord's  injunc- 
tion to  his  own  chosen  ones,  "  Watch  and  pray,  lest 
ye  enter  into  temptation;  "  and  this  is  still  the  duty 
of  every  Christian.^ 

There  are  pitfalls  on  every  side  for  the  unwary, 
deceit  for  the  ignorant,  discouragement  for  the  inex- 
perienced, and  perils  for  those  of  weak  courage; 
so  that  generally  speaking,  it  takes  a  right  manly 
man  to  be  a  true  man  of  God,  and  one  must  be  on 
his  guard  in  constant  prayer  and  watchfulness  to 
escape  being  cast  down  by  sudden  temptation.* 

Like   a    strong   but   tender    Father,    who   loves   his 
child  and  does  not  charge  him  with  every  little  mis- 
149 


150         THE  DANGERS  OF  TEMPTATION. 

take,  because  he  knows  his  heart  is  right,  so  the 
Lord  does  not  hold  us  sharply  for  every  slip;  "  for 
he  knoweth  our  frame,  that  we  are  dust;  "  yet  every 
yielding  to  sin  is  dangerous.'* 

We  must  be  positive,  decided,  and  steady  in  char- 
acter, holding  fast  to  the  truth,  making  no  com- 
promise with  wrong,  avoiding  every  appearance  of 
evil,  always  doing  good  as  we  have  opportunity,  and 
zealous  for  the  honor  of  the  Lord,  if  we  would  stand 
in  the  evil  day,  and  come  off  the  field  victorious.* 

If  some  mistake  has  been  made,  some  error  com- 
mitted, some  weakness  in  us  revealed,  we  can  come 
like  a  child  to  its  Father,  and  ask  not  only  forgive- 
ness, but  strength  to  resist  for  the  future;  and  God 
will  surely  answer  our  prayers,  if  sincere,  and  if  ut- 
tered in  a  spirit  of  earnest  desire  for  strength.'^ 

But  wilful  sin  and  a  selfish  desire  to  please  God 
while  holding  on  to  our  wrong  doing,  whatever  may 
be  its  nature,  cannot  long  endure;  for  we  may  be 
sure  our  sin  will  find  us  out.  Then,  either  there 
must  be  quick  and  earnest  repentance,  or  our  hearts 
will  be  swallowed  up  by  the  elements  of  the  world 
to  see  the  glory  of  God  no  more." 


"  Occasions  of  adversity  best  discover  how  great 
virtue  or  strength  each  one  hath.  For  occasions  do 
not  make  a  man  frail  but  show  what  he  is." 

Thomas  a  Kempis. 

"  Every  moment  of  resistance  to  temptation  is  a 
victory." 

Faber. 

"  Temptations  are  like  a  file.  They  rub  off  much 
of  our  self-confidence." 

Fenelon. 


THE  DANGERS  OF  TEMPTATION  151 

"  To  Fi"ay  against  temptations,  and  yet  rush  into 
occasions  of  them,  is  to  thrust  your  fingers  into  the 
fire,  and  then  pray  that  they  might  not  be  burnt." 

Secker. 

REFERENCES. 

1  John  17  :  14-15.  1  Cor.  5  :  9-10.  7  :  20,  24.  2  Cor.  4  :  6-7. 
Titus  2:  11-12. 

2  Titus  3:  5.     Ephes.  3  :  14-19,  4  :  1.     1  Cor.   10  :  31.     Col. 

4  :  5-6.     2  Tim.  2  :  19-21. 

3  2  Peter  2  :  4  Jude  6.  1  Peter  5  :  8-9.  Luke  22  :  40,  46. 
Ephes.  6:  10-18. 

*  Matt.  24  :  4-5,  11-12,  24.  Luke  21  :  25-26,  34-36.  1  Cor. 
16:13.  2  Cor.  11:13-15.  1  Tim.  4:1-4,  6:9-12.  2  Tim. 
2  :  1,  3,  16,  17,  3  :  1-5,  13,  14.     Jas.  1  :  12.     1  Peter  1  :  3-9. 

6  Ps.     79  :  38-39,     103  :  8-18.       Luke    23  :  34.       Rom.     2  :  4, 

5  :  10.     2  Peter  3:9.     1  John  5  :  16-17. 

6  Luke  9:57-62,  14:25-35.  1  Cor.  10:12-13,  15:58.  2 
Thess.  3:6-7,  14-15.     Gal.  6:9-10. 

7  Matt.  23:12.  Luke  18:9-14.  John  13:8-10.  Jas. 
4  :  10.  5:  14-15.     1  John  1  :  9. 

8  Luke  16  :  13.  Acts  8  :  18-24.  Heb.  12  :  14-17.  Jas.  1  :  8, 
13-15.     2  Pet.  2  :  20-21. 


QUESTIONS. 

Where  must  one  live  after  becoming  a  child  of  God? 
What  are  a  Christian's  duties  with  respect  to  the  world? 
Is  it  needful   to   make  an  effort  after   conversion? 
What   are  some  things  a  Christian   must  try   to  do? 
What  great  example  have  we  of  the  power  of  temptation? 
What  is  said  of  the  character  of  Satan,  the  enemy? 
What   was   the  Lord's   injunction   to   his   apostles? 
Mention  some  common  kinds  of  temptation. 
What  kind  of  a   man,   then,   must  a  Christian   lie? 
Does  God  enter  into  sharp  judgment  with  his  children? 
Is  every  yielding  to  temptation  really  dangerous? 
What  attitude  must  we  then  take  toward  all  sin? 
Is  it  possible  to  overcome  every  sort  of  temptation? 
If  we  have  made  a  mistake,  what  must  we  do? 
What   is  the  promise  of  forgiveness  for   such   sins? 
What  is  the  speedy  result  of  self  deception,  or  indulgence 
in  a  deliberate  life  of  sin? 


152  THE   DANGERS  OF   TEMPTATION. 

PRAYER. 

Help  me,  0  Lord,  to  watch  and  pray  daily  and  hourly, 
lest  I  enter  into  temptation  unawares  and  be  taken 
in  the  snare  of  the  enemy.  Make  me  strong  and 
true,  brave  and  consistent,  in  all  my  conduct,  that 
others  may  see  that  I  am  indeed  a  true  child  of 
God;  and  in  every  hour  of  trial,  grant  me  some  way 
to  escape  or  overcome  the  evil,  through  Christ,  my 
Redeemer,  that  I  bring  no  reproach  upon  his  name. 
Amen. 

HYMN.      (TUNE,   ARLINGTON.) 

"Am  I  a  soldier  of  the  cross 

A  follower  of  the  Lamb, 
And  shall  1  fear  to  own  His  cause. 

Or  blush  to  speak  His  name? 

Must  I  be  carried  to  the  skies 

On  flowery  beds  of  ease, 
Whilst  others  fought  to  win  the  prize 

And  sailed  through  bloody  seas? 

Are  there  no  foes  for  me  to  face? 

Must  I  not  stem  the  flood? 
Is  this  vile  world  a  friend  to  grace 

To  help  me  on  to  God? 

Sure  I  must  fight  if  I  would  reign; 

Increase  my  courage,  Lord; 
I'll  bear  the  toil,  endure  the  pain, 

Supported  by  Thy  word. 

Thy  saint's  in  all  this  glorious  war 
Shall  conquer,  though  they  die; 

They  see  the  triumph  from  afar; 
By  faith  they  bring  it  nigh." 

Isaac  Watts, 


XXXIV. 
THE  LIFE  OF  CHRISTIAN   SERVICE. 

Besides  prayer  and  watchfulness,  probably  there  is 
no  better  defense  against  all  kinds  of  temptation 
than  a  life  of  earnest  service  to  Christ,  and  of  fol- 
lowing as  best  we  can  the  example  of  Him  who 
went  about  while  here  on  earth,  doing  all  possible 
good  both  to  the  bodies  and  the  souls  of  our  fellow- 
men,  thus  promoting  the  interests  of  the  kingdom 
of  God.^ 

The  Lord  has  various  ways  of  working  in  this 
world.  Many  things  are  done  by  him  directly  in  the 
course  of  his  providence.  Other  things  are  done  or 
have  been  done  through  the  Son  of  God  and  the 
Holy  Spirit.  But  it  seems  to  be  a  part  of  God's  all- 
wise  purpose  that  many  things  should  be  done  by  us 
as  his  personal  agents  and  children.  Surely  this  is 
a  very  great  and  high  privilege  for  us.  Angels  are 
represented  in  the  Scriptures  as  being  often  sent 
forth  on  errands  of  love  and  mercy  to  fulfill  God's 
gracious  pleasure.  But  this  is  the  same  kind  of  work 
that  is  set  for  us  to  do,  in  making  the  world  better 
and  brighter  where  we  pass,  and  bringing  in  the 
spirit  of  Christ  among  men.^ 

Many  of  the  greatest,  sweetest,  and  most  wonderful 
lives  ever  known  to  the  world  have  been  spent  in 
this  way  of  service  to  Christ  and  humanity,  whether 
as  prophets,  apostles,  missionaries,  reformers,  or  as 
workers  in  other  and  less  conspicuous  places  among 
men.  No  one  is  excused  because  his  lot  is  a  humble 
153 


154  THE   LIFE   OF   CHRISTIAN   SERVICE. 

one,  or  because  he  has  only  a  single  talent  to  be 
given  to  the  Lord.  What  the  Master  thinks  of  such 
service  v.'as  shown  more  than  once  in  his  ministry; 
as  when  he  commended  the  poor  widow  who  had  cast 
her  two  mites  into  the  Lord's  treasury,  or  when  he 
declared  that  whosoever  should  give  so  much  as  a 
cup  of  cold  water  in  His  name  should  be  rewarded.^ 

Every  age,  and  especially  our  own,  abounds  in  op- 
portunities for  engaging  in  this  service  of  Christ, 
who  is  calling  still  for  laborers  to  enter  the  fields 
that  are  "  white  unto  harvest."  There  is  no  place 
in  city  or  country,  at  home  or  abroad,  where  there 
are  not  calls  for  service;  and  always  both  the  sower 
and  the  reaper  shall  have  their  wages.* 

Christian  work  is  not  always  easy,  and  often  it  is 
very  hard,  indeed;  but  then,  the  difficult  places  are 
usually  where  there  is  the  greatest  need  of  all,  and 
where  the  spirit  of  Christ  is  most  a  stranger.  Who- 
ever can  and  will  enter  these  needy  places,  and  do 
the  Lord's  work,  is  as  truly  a  hero  as  any  soldier  on 
the  field  of  battle;  and  this  is  a  holy  warfare  for  the 
honor  and  success  of  the  kingdom  of  God." 

Every  sad  heart  cheered,  every  weak  one 
strengthened,  every  weary  one  helped  along  in  life's 
dusty  highway,  every  soul  rescued  from  the  power 
of  evil,  shall  be  like  so  many  jewels  in  our  crown, 
by  and  by.  For,  said  the  Master,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these,  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me."® 


"  Do  all  the  good  you  can,  in  all  the  ways  you  can, 
to  all  the  souls  you  can,  in  every  place  you  can,  at 
all  the  times  you  can,  as  long  as  ever  you  can." 

John  Wesley, 


THE   LIFE   OF   CHRISTIAN   SERVICE.  155 

"  A  kind  heart  is  a  fountain  of  gladness,  making 
everything  in  its  vicinity  freshen  into  smiles." 

Irving. 

"  I  expect  to  pass  through  life  but  once. — If,  there- 
fore, there  be  any  kindness  I  can  show,  or  any  good 
thing  I  can  do  to  any  fellow-being,  let  me  do  it  now, 
and  not  defer  or  neglect  it,  as  I  shall  not  pass  this 
way  again." 

Wm.  Penn. 

"  I  had  rather  never  receive  a  kindness  than  never 
bestow  one." 

Seneca. 

"  Sow  good  services;  sweet  remembrances  shall 
grow  from  them." 

Mme.  de  Stael. 

"  Kind  hearts  are  more  than  coronets. 
And  simple  faith  than  Norman  blood." 

Alfred   Tennyson. 

"  With  malice  toward  none  and  charity  for  all, 
let  us  go  forward  and  do  the  right  as  God  gives  us 
to  see  the  right." 

A.  Lincoln. 
REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  20:1-2.  26-27.  21:28-31,  33-34.  John  12:26. 
Acts  10:  38.  Rom.  12  :  10-13.  14  :  17-18.  1  Cor.  14  :  1-5,  26. 
Phil.  4:  10-19.     Jas.   2:  14-17. 

2  Luke  10  :  1-9,  22  :  43.  Ps.  103  :  20-21.  2  Cor.  8:7,  9, 
12,  9:6-15.  Phil.  2:12-16.  1  Thess.  3:12.  1  Tim.  6:17- 
19.     Heb.   1:7,  14.  13:15-16.     1  Peter  4:9-10. 

3  Matt.  10  :  40-42.  Luke  7  :  38,  21  :  1-4.  Phil.  4:3,  2  :  17. 
Heb.  11:24-26,  12:2. 

♦  Matt.  9  :  36-38.  John  4  :  35-36.  1  Cor.  3  :  8-9,  12-14. 
Gal.    6:9-10. 

6  Matt.  10  :  16,  34-.36.  Luke  12  :  4-5,  49-53.  1  Cor.  4  :  9-13. 
2  Cor.  4  :  8-12.  23-28. 

«  Matt.  25  :  40,  45.  Acts  3  :  6.  Rom.  15  :  1-3,  14  :  20-21. 
1  Cor.  9  :  19-22.     Gal.  6  :  1-2,     Jas.  5  :  19-20. 


156  THE   LIFE   OF   CHRISTIAN   SERVICE. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  one  of  the  best  defenses  against  temptation? 

Whose  example  should  we  follow  in   this  service? 

What  two  classes  of  benefits  may  we  confer  upon  others? 

What  general   interests  are  always  thereby   promoted? 

Mention  three  ways  by  which  God  works  among  men. 

What  other  agency  does  He  very  frequently  employ? 

What  appears  to  be  the  employment  of  angels? 

How,   then,  may  we  share   the  privileges  of  angels? 

What  have  been  among  the  greatest  lives  in  history? 

Why  are  we  not  excused  on   accoun.    of  a   humble   lot? 

What  is  said  of  the  man  with   but  a  single   talent? 

State  two  instances  where  a  small  service  was  commended 
by  Christ  as  worthy  of  mention  or  deserving  a  reward. 

Are   there   many   opportunities   to   work   for  Christ? 

In  what  places  are  these  calls  Christian  service? 

Is  such  service  usually  easy  or  difiBcuit?  What  is  said  of 
the  heroic  spirit  of  some  Christian  workers? 

What  kind  of  deeds  will  add  to  our  joy  by  and  by? 

Repeat  the  promise  of  Christ  to  those  who  have  rendered 
some  service  to  their  needy  fellowmen. 

PRAYER. 

0  Lord,  I  thank  thee  for  the  great  privilege  of  doing 
some  good  in  the  world,  and  being  of  some  use  to 
thy  kingdom.  Make  me  to  be  diligent  and  faithful 
in  every  duty  and  opportunity,  that  I  may  have 
cause  to  rejoice  in  the  day  of  Christ,  when  He  comes 
to  reckon  with  his  servants.  I  ask  it  all  in  His 
blessed  name.     Amen. 

IIYMX.      (TUNE,    ILLINOIS.) 

Go.  labor  on;  spend  and  be  spent. 

Thy  joy  to  do  the  Father's  will; 
It  is  the  way  the  Master  went; 

Should  not  the  servant  tread  it  still? 

Go,  labor  on;   'tis  not  for  naught; 

Thine   earthly   loss   is  heavenly   gain; 
Men  heed   thee,   love  thee,   praise   thee  not; 

The  Master  praises, — what  are  men? 


THE   LIFE   OF   CHRISTIAN    SERVICE.  157 

Go,  labor  on;  your  hands  are  weak; 

Your  knees  are  faint,  your  soul  cast  down; 
Yet  falter  not;  the  prize  you  seek 

Is  near, — a  kingdom  and  a  crown! 

H.    BONAB. 


XXXV. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  VIRTUES. 

There  are  certain  noble  qualities,  or  traits  of  per- 
sonal character,  which  come  out  sooner  or  later  in 
every  truly  strong  and  consistent  Christian  life;  and 
which  are  the  ornaments  and  attractions  of  such  a 
life  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  man,  and  the  holy 
angels.' 

These  we  may  call  the  Christian  Virtues,  because 
they  are  the  manifestation  of  a  sincere  Christian 
spirit;  and  at  least  seven  of  these  are  noted  by  the 
apostle  Peter,  namely:  diligence,  virtue,  knowledge, 
temperance,  patience,  godliness,  brotherly  kindness. 
He  also  mentions  faith  and  charity;  but  these  will 
go  into  the  next  lesson.  It  will  be  well  for  us  to  lay 
up  this  list  in  memory,  and  consider  from  time  to 
time  in  which  of  them  we  may  most  lack.* 

The  first  is  diligence;  or  activity,  punctuality,  and 
faithfulness  in  performing  all  the  ordinary  duties  of 
a  Christian;  such  as  daily  prayer,  reading  the 
Scriptures,  doing  all  possible  good,  and  attending  on 
the  customary  -means  of  grace  with  God's  people; 
also  seeking  out  our  best  opportunities  for  improve- 
ment and  usefulness.^ 

The  second  is  virtue  itself;  or  as  here  presented,  a 
genuine  manly  or  womanly  spirit  of  moral  courage 
and  firmness  in  our  profession  at  all  times  and  in  all 
places,  regardless  of  bad  example  or  temptation;  and 
glorying  in  loyalty  to  Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour.* 
158 


THE    CHRISTIAN    VIRTUES.  159 

The  third  is  knowledge ;  or  a  personal  understand- 
ing and  sound  judgment  of  the  teachings  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures;  and  of  all  matters  connected  with  the 
practice  of  religion,  and  of  our  proper  deportment 
toward  our  fellowmen.^ 

The  fourth  is  temperance ;  which  means  not  only 
a  care  to  avoid  things  hurtful  in  eating  and  drink- 
ing, but  a  wise  and  steady  self-control  over  all  our 
appetites  and  passions;  that  we  be  not  led  into 
trouble  and  evil  habits  thereby.  It  may  also  include 
moderation  in  our  words  and  opinions.® 

The  fifth  is  patience;  or  a  spirit  of  constancy  and 
endurance  under  the  trials  that  come  to  us;  either 
in  the  things  that  are  incident  to  the  common  lot  of 
human  life,  such  as  injustice,  sickness,  disappoint- 
ment, and  sorrow;  or  in  those  things,  such  as  tempta- 
tion, or  personal  sacrifice,  and  duty,  which  belong 
to  our  Christian  profession.^ 

The  sixth  is  godliness;  which  means  the  cultiva- 
tion of  true  devotion  to  God  in  the  heart,  the  conse- 
cration of  all  our  powers  to  him,  and  abstention  from 
undue  levity,  or  unseemly  conversation,  or  other  con- 
duct that  would  tend  to  bring  reproach  upon  our 
holy  religion.^ 

The  seventh  is  hrotherly  kindyiess ;  which  certainly 
needs  no  definition;  for  it  is  of  the  very  spirit  of 
Christ,  in  all  gentleness  and  humility,  in  all  sym- 
pathy and  mercy,  in  opening  our  hearts,  our  hands, 
and  even  our  homes  to  comfort  or  encourage  any 
who  are  trying  to  please  God,  or  to  do  what  we  can 
for  any  who  need  assistance.^ 

To  the  above  we  may  yet  add  another  general 
trait  of  the  true  Christian  which  is  commended  to  us 
by  the  apostle  Paul  in  his  epistle  to  the  Philippians. 
It  may  be  called  highmindedness.  or  the  spirit  of 
honesty    and    justice,    of    purity    and    loveliness,    of 


100  THE   CHRISTIAN    VIRTUES. 

honor  and  loyalty  to  all  that  Is  true  and  beautiful 
and  good  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man." 


"To  be  innocent  is  not  to  be  guilty;  but  to  be 
virtuous  is  to  overcome  our  evil  feelings  and  inten- 
tions." 

Wm.  Penn. 

"  I  am  no  herald  to  inquire  of  men's  pedigrees; 
it  suflaceth  me  if  I  know  their  virtues." 

Sir  Philip  Sidney. 

"  Every  virtue  gives  a  man  a  degree  of  felicity  in 
some  kind." 

Walsingham. 

"  The  virtues,  like  the  Muses,  are  always  seen  in 
groups." 

Jane   Porter. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  7  :  16-20,  12  :  33-37.  Luke  6  :  43-45.  John  15  :  1-8. 
Phil.  1:9-11. 

»2  Peter  1:1-12.  Ephes.  4:11-16,  5:25-27.  Heb. 
13:20-21. 

8  Rom.  13  :  11-12.  1  Cor.  15  :  34.  1  Thess.  5  :  5-11.  Rev. 
3:  15-16.      2   Peter   3:  14. 

♦  Matt.  10:26.  28-31.  Luke  12:4-8,  32-40.  Acts  4:13, 
19-20.     1  Cor.  15  :  58. 

'"  Rom.  15  :  14.  Col.  1  :  9-10.  2  :  1-9.  1  Tim.  1  :  3-7,  4  :  6, 
13.     2  Tim.   1  :  7,  13,  2:15.     2  Peter  3  :  18. 

"Luke  16:19.  Rom.  13:13-14.  Gal.  5:16-24.  Phil. 
3  :  19,  4  :  5.     1  Peter  2:11,  4  :  2-4. 

7  Luke  21  :  16-19.  Rom.  5  :  3-4,  15  :  4-5.  Col.  1:11.  Heb. 
10  :  35-36.      .Tas.    1  :  2-4,  5  :  7-8. 

8  Matt.  22  :  36-37.  Ephes.  2  :  1-7,  4  :  25-32,  5  :  1-21.  Col. 
3:15-17.      1  Tim.  4:8.   12-16,  6:6,  11-16. 

•  Luke  10  :  29-37.  Rom.  12  :  10.  Ephes.  4  :  31-32.  Col. 
3:  12-13.      1  Jno.  3:  14-17. 

I**  Phil.  4  :  8-9.  Rom.  8  :  12-21.  Psa.  29  :  1-2,  90  :  16-17, 
96  :  6-9. 


THE   CHKISTIAN    VIRTUES.  161 

QUESTIONS. 

Are  there  any  special   traits  of  Christian  character? 

Do  these  add   to   the   attraction  of  a  Christian   life? 

How  many  and  what  traits  are  named  by  St.  Peter? 

Why  are  these  called  the  Christian  Virtues? 

State  some  of  the  things  included  in  Diligence, 

Mention   some  qualities  implied  in   Virtue  itself. 

Tell  what  is  understood  by  Christian  Knowledge. 

Give  a  definition  of  Christian   Temperance^ 

Under  what  conditions  do  we  require  Patience? 

What    positive    and    negative   traits    in    true    Godliness? 

What  are  some  manifestations  of  brotherly  kindness? 

Repeat  the  passage  quoted  from  the  epistle  to  the  Philip- 
plans. 

What  is  this  general  trait  here  called  by  the  one  general 
name   of   High-mindedness? 

How  does  it  compare  with  the  other  standards  of  honor 
that  are  recognized  in  this  world? 

PRAYER. 
Lord,  keep  me  from  living  a  poor,  selfish,  barren 
life,  like  the  unfruitful  tree  or  vine.  But  make  me 
to  delight  and  abound  in  all  the  qualities  of  a  true 
Christian,  doing  my  duty  toward  Thee,  to  myself,  and 
my  fellow-men,  in  a  spirit  of  love  and  honor.  So 
may  my  life  be  a  blessing  to  others,  and  receive 
a  daily  blessing  from  Thee,  for  Jesus'  sake.    Amen. 

HYMN.    (TUNE,   SOMETHING    FOR  THEE.) 

Saviour,  Thy  dying  love,  Thou  gavest  me, 

Nor  should   I  ought  withhold.   Dear  Lord,  from 
Thee. 
In  love  my  soul  would  bow,  My  heart  fulfill  its  vow. 
Some   offering   bring   Thee   now.   Something  for 
Thee. 

At  the  blest  mercy  seat.  Pleading  for  me. 

My  feeble  faith  looks  up,  Jesus,  to  Thee; 
Help  me  the  cross  to  bear,  Thy  wondrous  love  de- 
clare, 
Some   song   to   raise   or   prayer.   Something   for 
Thee. 
11 


1(32  TUE    CHRISTIAN    VIRTUES. 

Give  me  a  faithful  heart,  likeness  to  Thee, 

That  each  departing  day,  Henceforth  may  see. 
Some   work   of   love   begun,    Some   deed   of   kindness 
done, 
Some  wanderer  sought  and  won,  Something  for 
Thee. 

All  that  I  am  and  have,  Thy  gifts  so  free, 

In    joy,    in    grief,    through    life.    Dear    Lord,    for 
Thee; 
And   when  Thy  face  I  see,  My  ransomed   soul  shall 
be. 
Through  all  eternity.  Something  for  Thee." 

S.  D.  Phelps. 


XXXVI. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  GRACES. 

There  are  still  other  elements  of  the  Christian 
life  which  are  higher,  deeper,  and  broader  than 
those  we  have  last  discussed;  but  which  form  the 
very  soil,  the  nourishment,  and  the  spiritual  life 
principles  in  and  by  which  the  virtues  are  planted 
and  developed;  while  they  are  yet  also  the  very  at- 
mosphere of  our  holy  religion  because  they  are  felt 
wherever  a  Christian  life  exists.^ 

The  three  Christian  Graces,  often  so-called,  are 
Faith,  Hope  and  Charity,  which  are  beautifully  de- 
scribed in  several  portions  of  the  New  Testament  as 
being  the  common  inheritance  of  all  true  Christians.'' 

Faith  is  belief,  confidence,  trust  in  a  person,  or  in 
a  promise,  or  in  a  statement  of  facts  or  principles. 
We  are  often  urged  in  the  Scriptures  to  have  faith 
in  God;  that  is,  in  his  wisdom,  his  righteousness,  his 
providence,  his  Word,  and  his  Holy  Spirit.  Again 
we  are  taught  to  have  faith  in  Christ  as  the  Son 
of  God  in  his  gospel  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  among 
men,  and  in  his  promises  of  grace  and  salvation  unto 
all  who  come  to  God  by  him.  This  faith  is  a  realiz- 
ing sense  of  the  truth  and  power  of  the  religion 
which  is  given  to  us  in  the  Gospel;  and  it  is  also  a 
duty  because  it  comes  to  us  in  proportion  as  we 
attend  to  the  truths  and  privilege  which  it  presents. 
The  soul  which  is  seeking  after  God  and  his  spiritual 
favor,  which  is  truly  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
the  virtues  of  the  Christian  life  and  personal  salva- 
tion from  all  sin,  will  usually  find  the  matter  of  faith 
vastly  easier  to  grasp  than  one  who  is  wholly  given 
163 


164  THE    CHRISTIAN    GRACES. 

over  to  secular  pursuits,  or  perhaps  to  things  di- 
rectly opposed  to  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel.^ 

Hoi)e  is  an  aspiration,  a  prospect,  an  expectation 
of  the  soul  concerning  something  that  is  desirable 
and  good;  but  more  especially,  and  in  the  highest 
sense,  the  looking  for  a  final  and  lasting  state  of 
spiritual  comfort  and  safety,  beyond  the  reach  of  sin 
and  shame,  trial  and  sorrow,  forevermore.  This 
hope  iB  held  out  to  us  in  the  Christian  religion  with 
a  definiteness  and  a  reasonableness  found  nowhere 
else  in  the  wide  world,  and  it  is  an  anchor  to  the 
soul  who  has  thus  committed  his  future  to  the 
hands  of  the  Lord.  It  makes  him  strong  in  adversity, 
steadfast  in  good  purposes,  patient  in  temptation,  and 
joyful  under  afflictions,  and  helps  him  to  develop  a 
strong  Christian  character.  Besides,  the  fact  of  hope 
buoys  up  the  soul  in  age  and  weakness,  when  all 
things  earthly  are  passing  away,  because  we  look  for 
*'  an  house  from  heaven  not  made  with  hands,"  and 
for  a  city  which  hath  eternal  foundations.* 

But  Charity  is  the  flower  and  crown  of  the  Christ- 
ian Graces,  the  ripest  and  richest  fruit  of  the  Christ- 
ian life.  More  than  faith  and  hope,  it  is  something 
to  be  seen,  and  felt,  and  enjoyed  by  the  possessor, 
and  by  those  who  come  into  personal  relations  with 
him;  for  it  yields  fragrance  and  delight  wherever 
it  goes.  True  charity,  however,  is  the  mark  of  a  soul 
made  great  by  the  grace  of  God,  often  through  much 
trial;  for  that  spirit,  strong  and  loving,  innocent  and 
patient,  humble  and  yet  victorious,  which  compels 
even  one's  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him  and  to 
admire  him,  is  of  the  highest  culture  and  the  rarest 
refinement.  Yet  it  is  sometimes  possessed  by  obscure 
Christian  people  who  are  unaware  of  any  greatness 
in  themselves,  content  to  serve  God  wherever  it  may 
please   Him   to   give  them   a   place, — choice  souls  of 


THE   CHRISTIAN    GRACES.  165 

whom  this  world  is  not  worthy,  and  whom   it  does 
not  understand.^ 


"  The  Christian  graces  are  like  perfumes,  the  more 
they  are  present,  the  sweeter  they  smell;  like  stars 
which  shine  brightest  in  the  dark;  like  trees,  which, 
the  more  they  are  shaken,  the  deeper  root  they  take, 
and  the  more  fruit  they  bear." 

Beaumont. 

"  Grace  is  but  glory  begun,  and  glory  is  but  grace 
perfected." 

Jonathan  Edwards. 

REFERENCES. 

1  John  14  :  21.  23.  26-27.  Rom.  8  :  31-39,  12  :  1-2.  Ephes. 
3:14-21.  Phil.  1:9-11.  Col.  1:9-11,  3:15-17.  Heb. 
12:1-2,   13:20-21.      1   Peter  5:10. 

2  1  Cor.  13  :  1-13.  Phil.  2  :  1-3,  12-16.  1  Thess.  1  :  2-4. 
Col.  1  :  4-5. 

3  Matt.  9  :  29.  Mark  11  :  22.  Luke  17  :  6.  Acts  3  :  16, 
15:9.  Rom.  1 :  17,  5  :  1.  1  Cor.  16  :  13.  2  Cor.  5  :  7.  Gal. 
2 :  16,  20.  Eph.  1  :  15-19,  3  :  17.  Col.  2:5,  7.  Heb.  10  :  22, 
38,  11  :  1-40.     Jas.  1  :  5-6.     1  Peter  1 :  5.  7,  9.     1  John  5  :  4. 

*  Ps.  39:7,  71:5,  146:5.  John  14:1-3,  18-19.  Acts 
26  :  6-7.       Rom.     5  :  2-5,     8  :  24-25.     15  :  13.       Ephes.     1  :  18, 

2  :  12-13.       Phil.    1  :  20.      Col.     1  :  5,    23,    27.      Titus    1  :  2, 
2:13,  3:7.     Heb.  3:6,  6:10-11,   18-20.     1  Peter  1:3-4,  21, 

3  :  15.     1  John  3  :  1-3. 

6  Matt.    5:4.3-48.  Luke   9:51-56,    23:34.      John    13:34. 

Acts  3:  17-18.     Rom.  14  :  14-15,  19-21.     1  Cor.  8  :  1.  13  :  1-13, 

16  :  14.     Col.  3  :  14.  2  Thess.   1:3.      1   Peter  4:8.     2   Pet. 

1  :  7.     Ephes.  4  :  32.  1  Jno.  3  :  10-14. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  here  said  concerning  other  elements  of  a  Christian 
life  besides  the   virtues  last  mentioned? 

How  are  these  related  to  the  Christian  virtues? 

Why  do  we  also  call  them  the  atmosphere  of  religion? 

Where  are   the  Christian   Graces  described? 

What  is  Faith  in  a  general  sense? 

What  is  meant  by  having  faith  in  God? 


166  THE   CHRISTIAN   GRACES. 

What  is  meant  by  having  faith  in  Christ? 

What,  then,  is  the  place  of  faith  in  our  religion? 

What  things   tend   to  make  faith  easy  or  difficult? 

What  is  Hope  in  a  general  way? 

What  is  the  great  object  of  a  religious  hope? 

How  does  the  Christian  hope  compare  with  other  hopes? 

What  is  its  effect  upon   him   who  possesses  it? 

What  place  does  Charity  hold  in  the  Christian  life? 

In  what  ways  is  it  even  more  than  faith  and  hope? 

What  does  true  charity  indicate  in  its  possessor? 

What  is  its  influence  upon  those  around  us? 

In  what  sort  of  people   is  it  often  found? 

PRAYER. 

O  God,  my  heavenly  Father,  assist  me  day  by  day 
that  I  may  grow  in  the  knowledge  and  grace  of 
Jesus  Christ,  my  Saviour,  and  come  up  to  the  full 
stature  of  a  Christian  man.  Fill  my  heart  with  thy 
spirit,  my  mind  with  thy  truth,  my  lips  and  my 
hands  with  thy  service.  So  may  I  be  made  to  abound 
in  faith,  hope,  and  Christian  charity,  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen. 

HYMN.       (TUNE.    BELLEVILLE.) 

Lord,  Thou  hast  promised  grace  for  grace 
To  all  who  daily  seek  Thy  face; 

To  them  who  have.  Thou  givest  more 
Out  of  Thy  vast,  exhaustless  store. 

Each  step  we  take  but  gathers  strength 
For  further  progress,  till  at  length 

With  ease,  the  highest  steps  we  gain 

And  count  the  mountain  but  a  plain. 

Who  watch  and  pray,  and  work  each  hour 
Receive  new  life  and  added  power, 

A  power  fresh  victories  to  win, 

Over  the  world,  and  self,  and  sin. 

Help  us,  O  Lord,  that  we  may  grow 

In  grace,  as  Thou   dost  grace  bestow; 

And  still  Thy  richest   gifts  repeat 
Till  grace  in  glory  is  complete. 

Samuel  K.  Cox. 


XXXVI  I. 

THE   VALUE    OF   DISCIPLINE. 

The  full  measure  of  Christian  grace  and  character 
is  not  to  be  reached  by  any  one  in  a  day  or  a  year; 
but  is  usually  the  outgrowth  of  much  experience  and 
earnest  devotion  to  the  work  of  God.  Thus  the  soul 
is  gradually  perfected  in  the  knowledge  and  love 
of  God  through  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  this  is 
supplemented  by  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit.^ 

For  whether  one  be  a  farmer,  or  a  craftsman,  or  a 
soldier,  or  a  sailor,  or  a  merchant,  or  a  physician,  or 
a  teacher,  or  a  ruler  of  men,  he  must  engage  in  the 
exercise  of  his  calling  in  order  to  master  it.  So,  too, 
the  Christian  must  exercise  himself  in  religion  in 
order  to  acquire  real  power,  wisdom,  and  sympathy 
in  things  pertaining  to  the  spiritual  side  of  life.' 

Thus  he  will  presently  come  to  stand  for  something 
in  the  cause  of  God,  and  to  be  of  some  real  worth 
in  the  cause  of  God,  and  to  be  of  some  real  worth 
to  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  Yet  these  positive  ele- 
ments of  character  are  gained  no  less  by  a  steady 
perseverance  and  patient  endurance  than  by  the  out- 
ward successes  that  we  accomplish;  for  even  these 
do  not  always  mark  the  highest  attainments  in 
strength  of  personal  character.^ 

As  iron  is  wrought  into  useful  forms  upon  the 
forge  with  many  blows,  and  as  gold  is  refined  by 
passing  through  the  fire,  so  it  must  be  with  God's 
children,  and  so  it  has  been  with  the  noblest  men 
and  women  of  all  the  ages.  Even  Moses,  the  mighty 
lawgiver  of  Israel,  was  sorely  discouraged  at  times. 
167 


168  THE   VALUE   OF   DISCIPLINE. 

So  was  Elijah,  when  he  fled  from  Ahab  and  Jezebel 
to  Mt,  Horeb;  and  so  was  Jeremiah  among  his  peo- 
ple at  the  fall  of  Jerusalem.* 

The  life  of  the  apostle  Paul  was  no  less  wonderful 
for  the  great  fight  of  afflictions  that  he  endured  than 
for  his  great  successes  in  preaching  the  Gospel;  and 
like  nearly  all  the  rest  of  the  apostles,  he  sealed  his 
testimony  at  the  last  with  a  martyr's  death.  Thus  it 
is  also  written  of  Christ  himself,  that  "  the  Captain 
or  our  Salvation  "  was  "  made  perfect  through  suffer- 
ings; "  and  that  having  been  "  tempted  in  all  points 
like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin,  he  is  able  to  succor 
them  that  are  tempted."^ 

Such  experiences  as  these  are  doubtless  hard  to  be 
borne,  and  they  are  often  the  occasions  of  sore  per- 
plexity to  true  Christians;  yet  they  have  their  use 
in  revealing  to  us  the  hidden  strength  of  the  Spirit, 
in  weaning  our  hearts  away  from  the  perishing 
things  of  this  world,  and  in  thus  preparing  us  to 
better  appreciate  and  enjoy  a  home  in  heaven.® 

It  would  appear  from  the  Scriptures  that  there  is 
special  honor  in  the  world  to  come  for  such  as  have 
been  thus  perfected  in  grace  while  on  earth,  and 
have  glorified  the  Lord  by  their  constancy,  showing 
that  He  saves  even  unto  the  uttermost."' 


"God  had  one  Son  on  earth  without  sin;  but  never 
one  without  suffering." 

St.  Augustine. 

"  Blessed  be  the  discipline  which  makes  me  reach 
out  to  a  closer  union  with  Jesus!  Blessed  be  the 
dews  of  the  Spirit  which  keep  my  leaf  ever  green! 
Blessed  be  the  trials  which  shake  down  the  ripe 
golden  fruits  from  the  branches! 

CUYLEB. 


THE   VALUE   OF   DISCIPLINE.  169 

"Many  secrets  of  religion  are  not  perceived  till 
they  be  felt,  and  are  not  felt  but  in  the  day  of  a  great 
calamity." 

Jeremy  Taylor. 

"  With  the  wind  of  tribulation,  God  separates  the 
wheat  from  the  chaff  in  the  threshing-floor  of  the 
soul." 

MOLINOS. 

"  Extraordinary  afflictions  are  not  always  the  pun- 
ishment of  extraordinary  sins;  but  sometimes  the 
trial  of  extraordinary  graces." 

Matthew  Henry. 

"There  is  no  Christian  but  has  his  Gethsemane; 
but  every  praying  Christian  will  find  there  is  no 
Gethsemane  without  an  angel." 

BiNNEY. 

"A  stern  discipline  pervades  all  nature;  which  is 
a  little  cruel  that  it  may  be  very  kind." 

Spenseb. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  13:31-33,  17:21.  Mark  4:26-32.  Luke  13:6-9. 
Rom.  5  :  1-5.  Ephes.  4  :  11-15.  Col.  1  :  27-28.  Heb. 
10  :  19-25. 

2  Matt.  10:38-39,  16:24-27.  Phil.  2:12-13.  1  Tim. 
4:  7-8,  11-16.     Heb.  5:  12-14. 

3  Matt.  5  :  10-12.  Acts  5  :  41,  14  :  21-22.  2  Tim.  2  :  3, 
11-12.     1  Peter   1  :  6-7,   4  :  12-19. 

*  Num.  11:10-15.  1  Kings  19:1-4.  Ps.  73:1-18.  Lam. 
1 :  12.      Jonah   4:3,   8. 

6  Luke  22  :  39-44,  24  :  46.  .John  12  :  23-33.  2  Cor.  4  :  7-11, 
11:18-28.     Heb.   2:9-10,   17-18,  5:7-8.      1   Peter  2:21-23. 

«  1  Cor.  4  :  9-14,  7  :  29-31.  2  Cor.  6  :  1-10.  Heb.  10  :  32-34, 
11:32-40,   12:1-11.      Jas.    1:12.      1    Peter   4:16-19. 

T  Matt.  19  :  27-30.  Luke  22  :  28-30.  2  Cor.  4  :  17-18. 
Rev.  7:  13-17, 


170  THE   VALUE   OF    DISCIPLINE. 

QUESTIONS. 

Is  the  full  measure  of  grace  to  be  reached  at  once? 

By    what    agencies    is    this    state    to    be    attained? 

What  must  the  Christian  himself  do  to  this  end,  and  why? 

What  eCfect  will   these  efforts  have  on  him  personally? 

What  other  experiences  tend  to  a  positive  Christian  char- 
acter? 

Mention  some  symbols  of  this  sort  of  training. 

Mention  some  Bible  examples  of  the  same  kind. 

What  are  some  things  said  about  Christ's  suffering? 

Why  are  such  experiences  so  very  hard  to  endure? 

However,  what  are  some  of  their  uses  to  us? 

What  appears  to  be  an  especial  outcome  of  such  trials  for 
those  who  have  met  and  borne  them  successfully? 


PRAYER. 

Help  me,  O  Lord,  to  be  faithful  under  temptation, 
submissive  in  affliction,  steady  and  true  in  all  the 
trials  of  a  Christian  life,  that  I  may  show  myself  to 
be  thy  child,  and  that  I  may  also  know  the  way  of 
blessing  and  the  vision  of  glory.  Keep  me  in  every 
hour  of  conflict  from  falling  away  from  thee,  for 
Jesus'  sake.    Amen. 


HYMN.      (TUNE,  CUTLER.) 

The  Son  of  God  goes  forth  to  war, 

A  kingly  crown  to  gain; 
His  blood-red  banner  streams  afar; 

Who  follows  in  His  train? 
Who  best  can  drink  his  cup  of  woe. 

Triumphant   over   pain. 
Who  patient  bears  his  cross  below. 

He  follows  in  His  train. 

The  martyr  first,  whose  eagle  eye 
Could  pierce  beyond  the  grave. 

Who  saw  his  Master  in  the  sky. 
And  called  on  Him  to  save: 


THE   VALUE  OF    DISCIPLINE.  171 

Like  Him,  with  pardon  on  His  tongue, 

In  midst  of  mortal  pain, 
He  prayed  for  them  that  did  the  wrong. 

Who  follows  in  His  train? 

A  glorious  band,  the  chosen  few 

On  whom  the  Spirit  came, 
Twelve  valiant  saints,  their  hope  they  knew, 

And  mocked  the  cross  and  flame; 
They  climbed  the  steep  ascent  of  heaven 

Through  peril,  toil  and  pain. 
O  God,  to  us  may  grace  be  given 

To  follow  in  their  train! 

R.  Hebeb. 


XXXVIIL 

THE   FELLOWSHIP   OF    BELIEVERS. 

In  order  to  serve  the  Lord  more  efficiently,  to 
sustain  and  encourage  each  other  in  the  Christian 
life,  and  to  labor  together  for  the  salvation  of  souls 
and  the  extension  of  Christ's  kingdom  among  men, 
we  need  the  union  or  fellowship  of  all  true  believers 
as  established  by  Jesus  Christ  in  his  Church.^ 

The  basis  of  the  Church  is  one  Lord,  one  faith,  one 
baptism,  one  God  and  Father  of  all,  who  is  above 
all,  and  through  all,  and  in  the  hearts  of  all  true 
believers,  who  bear  witness  to  the  fact  by  their 
Christian  profession,  and  also  by  the  godly  character 
of  their  daily  lives.=^ 

The  work  of  the  Church  is  to  instruct  the  people 
in  the  principles  and  practice  of  the  Gospel,  to  test- 
ify to  a  living  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Son  of 
God  and  the  Saviour  of  men,  to  show  forth  and  cher- 
ish the  spirit  of  fellowship  among  Christians,  to  train 
up  the  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of 
the  Lord,  and  to  seek  for  the  conversion  of  sinners.' 

The  institutions  of  the  Church  are  the  Christian 
Ministry,  the  Christian  Sabbath,  the  Christian  Fam- 
ily, and  the  Christian  Sacraments  of  Baptism  and 
the  Lord's  Supper.  The  administration  of  these  sac- 
raments, the  taking  of  the  marriage  vows,  the  solemn 
rites  for  the  burial  of  the  dead,  and  the  conducting  of 
public  worship,  are  all  usually  in  charge  of  the  Min- 
istry; that  is,  of  men  called  and  set  apart  for  that  pur- 
pose.* 

172 


THE    FELLOWSHIP   OF   BELIEVERS.  173 

As  it  is  the  duty  of  all  men  to  seek  the  grace  of 
God  in  the  forgiveness  of  their  sins  and  the  renew- 
ing of  their  hearts  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
so  it  is  also  the  duty  of  every  true  believer  in  Christ 
to  unite  with  some  branch  of  his  visible  Church;  in 
order,  to  confess  publicly  his  faith  in  Christ  as  a 
Saviour,  to  share  the  sympathies  and  privileges  of 
God's  children,  and  to  bear  his  portion  of  their  re- 
sponsibilities for  the  maintenance  and  extension  of 
Christ's  kingdom  on  earth.' 

Moreover,  every  duly  constituted  Church  is  in- 
vested with  a  measure  of  authority  over  its  own 
members,  to  receive  those  who  are  truly  seeking 
after  the  grace  of  God,  to  conduct  its  own  services 
and  manage  its  own  affairs  decently  and  in  order, 
and  also  to  exclude  those  who  become  persistently 
neglectful,  unworthy,  and  subversive  of  good  order." 

As  the  Apostolic  Church  was  spread  abroad  with- 
out absolute  unity  of  rule  and  visible  organization, 
so  we  believe  that  such  visible  unity  is  not  absolutely 
required  at  the  present  day  in  order  to  our  salvation. 
Yet  we  desire  to  cherish  "  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in 
the  bonds  of  peace,"  and  we  hope  to  see  a  day  when 
all  branches  of  the  Church,  still  holding  to  the  plain 
teachings  of  the  Gospel,  shall  be  more  closely  united 
in  the  name  and  work  of  our  common  Lord,  even  as 
most  of  us  are  already  united  to  Him  by  a  historic 
succession  of  the  hands  of  the  elders.' 


"  Christ  alone  is  the  Head  of  the  Church,  by  his 
truth  to  instruct  it;  by  his  authority  to  govern  it; 
by  his  grace  to  quicken  it;  by  his  providence  to  pro- 
tect and  guide  it;  by  his  Holy  Spirit  to  bless  and 
sanctify  it" 

Unknown. 


174  THE   FELLOWSHIP  OF   BELIEVERS. 

"  The  Church  is  the  great  uplifting  and  conserving 
agency  in  the  world,  without  which  the  race  of  men 
would  soon  relapse  into  barbarism,  and  press  its  way 
to  perdition." 

Sample. 

"The  Church  of  Christ  glories  in  her  history,  in 
her  brotherhood,  in  her  conquering  march  over  the 
world,  as  being  the  custodian  of  great  ideas,  as  hav- 
ing furnished  a  complete  account  of  the  moral  econ- 
omy,— explaining  sin,  interpreting  conscience,  mani- 
festing God,  and  paving  the  way  for  man's  return  to 
the  Almighty." 

F.  L.  Patton. 
REFERENCES. 

1  John  10:16,  17:11,  20-24.  Acts  1:13-14,  2:1,  41-47, 
4:32.  5:12-14,  8:1,  9:31,  11:22-26.  1  Cor.  1:2.  Gal. 
1:2.     1  Thess.  1 :  1,  etc. 

2  Matt.  16  :  16-18.     Acts  4  :  11-12.     1  Cor.  3  :  9-11.     Ephes. 

2  :  19-22,  4  :  1-6.     1   Peter  2  :  4-10. 

3  Matt.  28  :  18-20.  Acts  10  :  42-43.  Rom.  12  :  4-8.  1  Cor. 
12:7-13,14:26.  Luke  18  :  16.  Ephes.  6  :  4.  Col.  3  :  15-17. 
1  Peter  2:  12.      Jas.  5:  19-20. 

*  Acts  1:17,  24-26,  6:2-5.  1  Cor.  12:27-28.  Ephes. 
4:11-12.  Acts  20:  7.  1  Cor.  16  :  2.  Ephes  5  :  22-23,  6  :  1-4. 
1  Peter  3  :  1-7.  Matt.  28  :  19.  Luke  22  :  15-20.  Acts  2  :  41- 
42,  8:12,  9:18,  10:47-48.  1  Cor.  10:14-17,  21,  11:20-29. 
Acts  13  :  1-3,   14  :  23.      1  Tim.  4:6,   5  :  17-19. 

6  Matt.  10  :  32,  11  :  30.  12  :  29-30.  Luke  11  :  23,  12  :  8. 
Mark  8  :  38.     John  5  :  23-24.     1  Cor.   12  :  12-26.     «al.  6  :  2-«. 

6'  Matt.  16  :  10,  18  :  15-20.  John  20  :  20-23.  Acts  8  :  18-24. 
Rom.   16:17.      1   Cor.  5:6-13.     1  Thess.  5:12-13.     2  Thess. 

3  :  14,   15.     Heb.   13  :  7,  17.     1  Peter  5  :  1-5. 

T  Luke  9:49-50.  Acts  18:24-28.  19:1-7.  1  Cor.  1:9-13, 
3  :  1-9.  Gal.  1  :  15-24,  2  :  1-13.  Ephes.  4  :  1-3.  Rev.  2  : 1-3. 
1  Tim.  4:14,  5  :  22.     Acts  6  :  6,  13  :  3.     2  Tim.  1  :  6-14. 

QUESTIONS. 

Why  do  we  need  the  fellowship  of  all  true  believers? 

State  the  general  basis  of  union  in  doctrine. 

What  are  the  two  marks  of  this  faith  in  true  Christians? 


THE   FELLOWSHIP  OF   BELIEVERS.  175 

• 

State  five  objects  of  the  work  of  the  Church. 

Name  five  institutions  of  the  Christian  Church? 

What  matters  are  usually  in  charge  of  the  Ministry? 

Give  two  reasons  why  all  men  should  seeli  the  grace  of 
God. 

Give  three  reasons  why  every  one  should  unite  with  the 
Church. 

In  what  respects  is  each  true  Church  clothed  with  au- 
thority? 

Is  absolute  unity  of  visible  organizations  essential?  Why 
not? 

How  is  a  spiritual  unity  still  possible  and  desirable? 


PRAYER. 

O  God,  I  thank  Thee  for  the  Institution  of  Thy 
Church,  with  all  its  precious  associations,  its  sacred 
teachings,  its  spiritual  power,  its  holy  ordinances, 
and  its  privileges  of  fellowship  with  Thy  children, 
with  Thy  Son,  and  with  Thyself.  May  I  ever  be  ready 
to  confess  Christ  before  men,  to  take  up  my  own 
duties  in  a  manly  spirit,  and  thus  to  seek  the  peace, 
the  sanctity,  and  the  rule  of  Thy  kingdom  among 
men,  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 

HYMN.    (TUNE,    ST.   THOMAS.) 

I  LOVE  Thy  kingdom,  Lord, 

The  house  of  Thine  abode. 
The  Church  our  blest  Redeemer  saved 

With  His  own  precious  blood. 

I  love  Thy  Church,  O  God! 

Her  walls  before  Thee  stand. 
Dear  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye, 

And  graven  on  Thy  hand. 

For  her  my  tears  shall  fall; 

For  her  my  prayers  ascend; 
To  her  my  cares  and  toils  be  given; 

Till  toils  and  cares  shall  end. 


176  THE    FELLOWSHIP    OF    BELIEVERS. 

Beyond  my  highest  joy 

I   prize  her  heavenly  ways, 

Her  sweet  communion,  solemn  vows. 
Her  hymns  of  love  and  praise. 

Sure  as  Thy  truth  shall  last 

To  Zion  shall  be  given 
The  brightest  glories  earth  can  yield, 

And  brighter  bliss  of  heaven. 

Timothy   Dwight. 


XXXIX. 

THE    THINGS    TO    COME. 

Human  life  on  this  earth  is  brief  and  uncertain, 
for  it  is  as  "  a  vapor  which  appeareth  for  a  little 
while,  and  then  vanisheth  away."  The  Scriptures 
treat  this  fact  sometimes  with  simple  pathos,  and 
sometimes  with  an  air  of  serene  majesty,  based  on 
the  fact  that  God  still  rules  above,  and  that  He  will 
surely  care  for  his  own,  both  in  this  life  and  in  the 
world  to  come.^ 

Jesus  Christ  and  the  apostles  speak  of  death  as  a 
mere  passing  of  the  soul  out  of  one  world  into  an- 
other; and  the  importance  of  this  transition  is 
chiefly  because  it  precedes  the  judgment  of  God 
which  fixes  our  moral  and  spiritual  state  forever. 
To  the  child  of  God,  therefore,  death  is  but  entering 
into  a  larger  and  more  blessed  life  with  Christ;  but 
to  the  unsaved  it  is  the  end  of  hope  and  joy.- 

The  parable  of  the  Rich  Man  and  Lazarus  is  in- 
structive here,  but  it  leaves  many  questions  still 
unanswered.  We  learn,  however,  that  the  final  state 
of  the  righteous  and  that  of  the  impenitent  is  seen, 
in  part,  immediately  after  the  death  of  the  body,  and 
that  beyond  the  grave  there  is  no  place  for  repent- 
ance.^ But  the  Gospel  seems  to  declare  that  this 
world  and  human  history  are  but  running  a  course 
that  will  presently  come  to  an  end  in  God's  own 
appointed  time,  after  the  Gospel  shall  have  been 
preached  unto  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  all 
the  divine  plans  and  prophecies  have  been  fulfilled.* 
12  177 


178  THE   THINGS   TO   COME. 

It  is  usually  understood  that  the  Millenium,  or  age 
of  righteousness  and  peace,  will  precede  the  end; 
but  what  that  shall  be  is  not  fully  known,  either  as 
to  its  extent  or  its  precise  moral  nature.  Then  will 
be  the  second  coming  of  Christ,  the  Lord,  to  this 
world,  accompanied  by  the  angels  of  God  and  all  the 
glory  of  his  Father's  kingdom,  to  call  the  dead  to 
life,  and  to  judge  the  world  according  to  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body,  whether  they  be  good  or  bad,  and 
to  gather  his  elect  from  the  four  quarters  of 
heaven.' 

Here  again,  we  are  in  great  ignorance  as  to  the 
way  and  manner  in  which  these  things  shall  come  to 
pass;  but  we  are  assured  that  the  event  will  be  aw- 
ful and  mysterious,  and  that  it  will  mark  the  end 
of  earthly  time;  after  which  the  good  will  be  re- 
ceived into  the  kingdom  prepared  for  them  by  the 
Father,  while  the  evil  and  reprobate  will  be  cast 
away  from  him  forever.^ 

That  the  present  world  should  come  to  an  end 
is  not  only  not  impossible,  but  it  is  in  harmony  with 
all  that  we  see  and  know  of  created  things;  neither 
is  it  strange  that  earthly  time  should  come  to  a 
close  in  a  manner  befitting  the  dignity  of  human 
nature  and  the  glorious  majesty  of  God. 

Beyond  the  judgment,  we  are  told  that  the 
reprobate  shall  be  cast  into  an  abyss  of  fire,  which  is 
the  second  death;  but  the  children  of  God  shall 
dwell  in  the  city  of  saints  called  the  New  Jerusalem, 
where  Christ  is,  and  the  tree  of  eternal  life,  and 
the  celestial  river.  Even  if  these  expressions  are  to 
be  taken  as  figurative,  that  does  not  materially  affect 
the  outcome  of  eternal  life  in  a  future  state  of 
blessedness  or  woe.' 


THE   THINGS   TO   COME.  179 

"  It  is  impossible  that  anything  so  natural,  so 
necessary,  and  so  universal,  as  death,  should  ever 
have  been  designed  by  Providence  as  an  evil  to 
mankind." 

Swift. 

"  If  thou  expect  death  as  a  friend,  prepare  to  en- 
tertain him;  if  as  an  enemy,  prepare  to  overcome 
him.  Death  has  no  advantage,  except  when  he  comes 
as  a  stranger." 

QUARLES. 

"Let  the  end  come  when  it  will,  it  can  do  the 
Christian  no  harm,  for  it  will  be  a  passage  out  of  a 
prison  into  a  palace;  out  of  a  sea  of  troubles  into  a 
haven  of  rest;  out  of  a  crowd  of  enemies,  to  an  in- 
numerable company  of  angels;  out  of  shame,  re- 
proach and  contempt,  into  exceeding  great  and 
eternal  glory. 

BuNYAN.     (Adapted.) 

"  If  God  hath  made  this  world  so  fair. 
Where  sin  and   death   abound. 
How  beautiful   beyond   compare. 
Will  Paradise  be  found!  " 

Montgomery. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Job  7:6-10,  9:25-20.  IG :  22.  Ps.  90:3-6,  10,  12, 
103 :  13-16.  Jas.  4  :  13-16.  1  Peter  1  :  24-2.5.  1  John 
2  :  15-17.      1   Cor.  7  :  29-31. 

2  .John  7  :  33-34.  13  :  36,  14  :  1-4.  Acts  7  :  59-60.  2  Cor. 
5:1-10.  Phil.  1:21-23.  2  Tim.  4:6-8.  Heb.  9:27.  2 
Peter    1  :  12-15.      Luke    12  :  15-21. 

3  Luke  16:19-31.  13:25-30,  23:43.  Matt.  24:42-51, 
25:1-13.      Heb.    12:  16-17.     Rev.  6  :  12-17. 

*  Matt.  24  :  3-14.  Mark  13  :  3-10.  Luke  21  :  7-24,  34-36. 
1  Thess.  5  :  1-8.  2  Thess.  2  :  1-4,  7-10.  2  Peter  3  :  1-13. 
Rev.  10  :  1-7. 


180  THE   THINGS   TO   COME. 

^  Isa.  11:9-11.  Zech.  14:6-9.  Mai.  1:11.  Heb.  2:14. 
Rev.  20  :  1-8.  Matt.  24  :  27-31,  25  :  31-46.  26  :  64.  Mark 
8:38.13:24-27,14:62.  Luke  17  :  24,  21  :  27.  Acts  1  :  0-11. 
Rev.    20:  11-15. 

6  Matt.  13  :  36-43,  47-50,  24  :  36-51.  Mark  13  :  32-37. 
Luke  12  :  32-48.  Acts  17  :  30-31.  Rom.  2  :  3-12.  2  Thess. 
1  :  7-10.     Rev.  1  :  7. 

7  Heb.  4  :  9-11.  John  12  :  25-26,  17  :  24.  Mark  9  :  42-50. 
1  Thess.  4  :  13-18.  Rev.  4  :  1-5,  7  :  9-17,  17  :  8,  20  :  12-15, 
21,  22. 

QUESTIONS. 

To   what   is   human    life   compared   by   James? 

How  do  the  Scriptures  treat  this  great  subject? 

How  do  Jesus  Christ  and  the  apostles  speak  of  death? 

What  then  is  the  real  importance  of  this  change? 

Where  do  we  learn  the  conditions  of  souls  just  after 
death? 

What  will  Anally  become  of  this  world,  and  when? 

What  is  meant  by  the  Millenium? 

What  events  will  occur  at  Christ's  second  coming? 

What  do  we  know  about  the  time  and  manner  of  this 
event  ? 

Is  it  anything  strange  that  the  world  should  come  to  an 
end? 

Is  it  to  be  expected  that  this  end  will  be  majestic?  Why? 

What  will   become  of  the  reprobate  after  the  judgment? 

Where  will  the  redeemed  of  Christ  then  dwell? 


PRAYER. 

0  Xord,  make  me  to  know  mine  end,  and  the  meas- 
ure of  my  days,  what  it  is;  that  I  may  know  how 
frail  I  am.  Yet  help  me  to  fill  ray  heart  and  hands 
with  happy  service;  because  blessed  is  that  servant, 
whom,  when  his  Lord  cometh,  he  shall  find  at  the 
post  of  duty.  In  Thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy,  and 
at  Thy  right  there  are  pleasures  forevermore.     May 

1  so  live  on  earth  that  I  may  never  come  short  of 
thy  mercies;    for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


THE   THINGS   TO  COME.  181 

HYMN.      (TUNE,  DIES  IRAE.) 

Day  of  wrath,  O  dreadful  day! 
When  this  world  shall  pass  away. 
And  the  heavens  together  roll, 
Shriveling  like  a  parched  scroll. 
Long  foretold  by  saint  and  sage, 
David's  harp  and  sibyl's  page. 

Day  of  terror,  day  of  doom. 
When  the  Judge  at  last  shall  come! 
Through  the  deep  and  silent  gloom. 
Shrouding  every  human  tomb, 
Shall  the  archangel's  trumpet  tone. 
Summon  all  before  the  throne. 

O  just  Judge,  to  whom  belongs 
Vengeance   for  all   earthly  wrongs, 
Grant  forgiveness.  Lord,  at  last, 
Ere  the  dread  account  be  past! 
Lo,  my  sighs,  my  guilt,  my  shame! 
Spare  me  for  Thine  own  great  name. 

Thou  who  bad'st  the  sinner  cease 
From  her  tears,  and  go  in  peace. 
Thou  who  to  the  dying  thief 
Spakest  pardon  and  relief. 
Thou,  0.  Lord,  to  me  hast  given. 
E'en  to  me,  the  hope  of  heaven. 
Thomas  of  Celano.    Tr.  by  Arthur  P.  Stanley. 


XL. 

PERSONAL  RESPONSIBILITY. 

Out  of  the  midst  of  this  wonderful  history,  these 
lofty  moral  and  spiritual  truths,  and  these  mysterious 
shadows  of  the  future  which  come  to  us  from  the 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  there 
arises  always  one  high  clear  note  of  invitation  and 
warning  from  God.  It  is  the  note  of  our  personal 
responsibility  to  him  for  the  use  or  neglect  of  our 
present  opportunities  to  become  acquainted  with  his 
law  and  reconciled  to  His  will  through  His  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Word  of  the  Gospel,  the  exercises 
of  personal  prayer,  and  the  appointed  means  of 
grace. ^ 

However  simple,  or  narrow,  or  strange  the  Way 
may  seem,  it  is  the  Way  that  leads  to  eternal  life; 
and  those  who  seek  it  find  a  personal  peace  and  bless- 
edness therein  that  is  above  all  words  and  all  price, 
so  that  even  their  neighbors  call  it  a  blessed  life; 
whereas  all  who  go  to  the  contrary  way  find  nothing 
at  last  but  darkness  and  ashes  as  their  reward.^ 

-The  Holy  Spirit  of  God  is  calling  on  all  men  every- 
where, especially  in  these  days  of  enlightenment,  to 
forsake  their  evil  ways,  to  trust  in  God  and  do  the 
right,  to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  who  hath 
brought  life  and  immortality  to  light  through  the 
Gospel,  and  to  confess  Him  before  men  that  He  may 
confess  us  before  his  Father.  We  are  thus  called 
not  only  to  a  theoretical  faith;  but  to  a  holy  life  of 
prayer  and  righteousness,  and  to  an  experience  of 
divine  grace  in  our  inmost  soul.^ 
182 


PERSONAL   RESPONSIBILITY.  183 

The  question  then  before  every  human  soul  is, 
Will  I  hear  the  voice  of  the  good  Spirit?  Will  I 
accept  the  teachings  of  Jesus  Christ  as  my  rule  of 
life?  Will  I  obey  the  requirements  of  the  Gospel  for 
salvation?  This  is  sometimes  easy,  and  sometimes  it 
seems  hard;  but  the  result  is  surely  worth  all  pos- 
sible cost,  both  for  this  present  life  and  the  world 
to  come.* 

Two  great  practical  hindrances  are  commonly  met 
with  in  this  connection.  One  is  the  disposition  to 
put  off  our  definite  religious  consecration  to  God 
until  a  more  convenient  time,  which  never  comes; 
but  leaves  us  at  the  last  betrayed  by  our  own 
neglect.  The  other  is  a  desire  to  compromise  the 
matter  by  pleasing  God  in  part  and  ourselves  still 
more,  or  by  serving  Christ  in  part  and  the  world  still 
more;  but  against  all  such  half-hearted  resolutions 
we  are  earnestly  warned  in  the  Scriptures,  "  Ye  can- 
not serve  God  and  Mammon,"  was  said  by  our  Lord; 
and  the  apostle  James  says,  "A  double-minded  man 
is  unstable  in  all  his  ways."* 

Therefore  there  is  no  other  way  remaining  to  the 
sincere  and  earnest  soul  than  that  of  the  fishermen 
by  the  sea  of  Galilee,  who,  when  they  heard  the 
voice  of  the  Master,  "  immediately  forsook  all  and 
followed  him."  And  later,  when  they  asked  him 
what  they  should  have,  he  answered,  "  In  the  regen- 
eration, when  the  Son  of  Man  shall  sit  upon  the 
throne  of  his  glory,  ye  also  shall  sit  upon  twelve 
thrones  judging  the  twelve  Tribes  of  Israel."^ 


"  If  ever  I  reach  heaven  I  expect  to  find  three 
wonders  there;  first,  to  meet  some  I  had  not  thought 
to  see  there;    second,  to  miss  some   I  had   expected 


184  PERSONAL   RESPONSIBILITY. 

to  see  there;   and  third,  the  greatest  wonder  of  all, 
to  find  myself  there." 

John  Newton. 

"  One  sweetly  solemn  thought,  comes  to  me  o'er  and 
o'er, 
I'm  nearer  to  my  home  to-day,  than  I  ever  have 
been  before: 
Nearer  my  Father's  house,  where  the  many  mansions 
be; 
Nearer  the  great  white  throne,  nearer  the  crystal 
sea; 
Nearer   the  bound   of   life,   where    I   lay   my   burden 
down; 
Nearer    leaving    my    cross;    nearer    wearing    my 
crown? 

Phoebe  Gary. 

REFERENCES. 

1  Matt.  10:. 39-41,  16:24-27,  18:12-14,  22:1-14.  Mark 
8  :  .34-38.  Luke  0  :  46-49.  11  :  9-13.  23,  12  :  8-9,  33  48,  13  :  l-.j, 
24-30,  14  :  16-24.  John  1  :  12,  3  :  14-21,  6  :  35-40,  12  :  35-36, 
44-48.  Rom.  14:12.  Gal.  6:7-8.  1  John  1:8-9,  2:1-5. 
Rev.  22:  17. 

2  Matt.  7:13-14.  Luke  14:25-33.  Rom.  8:1-6.  Col. 
1  :  9-14.  Ps.  40  :  1-3.  Isa.  35  :  8-10,  59  :  1-2.  Rev.  21  :  8, 
27.   22:  11,   15. 

3  1  Tim.  2:3-6.  2  Tim.  1:9-10.  Titus  2:11-14,  3:3-7. 
Phil.  2  :  12-13.      Heb.   13  :  20-21. 

*  Rom.  8  :  26-27.  1  Thess.  4  :  7-8.  1  John  4  :  9-10.  Matt. 
7  :  24-27.     Luke  8:11-18.   18  :  28-30. 

5'  Matt.  6  :  24.  Luke  16  :  13.  Acts  24  :  25,  26  :  27-28.  2 
Tim.  4  :  10.     Jas.   1-:  5-8,  4  :  7-10.     1  Peter  4  :  17-19. 

«  Matt.  4:18-22  19:27-29.  Luke  22:28-30.  Rom. 
8:18-19.      1   John  3  :  1-2. 

QUESTIONS. 

What  is  the  leading  and  most  practical  theme  in  the 
entire  ranj:?e  of  teaching  in  the  Scriptures? 

What  are  some  of  the  present  means  ofifered  us  for  be- 
coming acquainted  with  God  and  saved  through  Christ  V 


PERSONAL  RESPONSIBILITY.  185 

Is  this  way  sometimes  felt  to  be  a  narrow  road? 
What  are  some  of  its  precious  compensations? 
What  is  the  result  of  following  the  contrary  way? 
What  is  the  Holy  Spirit  calling  on  all  men  to  do? 
What  besides  a  formal  faith  is  included  in  this  call? 
What  then  is  the  practical  question  for  each  soul? 
How  is  the  cost  of  this  life  to  be  estimated? 
What   two   hindrances  are   commonly   met  with? 
What  do  the  Scriptures  say  of  a  divided  mind? 
What  great  example  of  decision  is  in  the  Gospels? 
What  was  the  promise  of  Christ  to  his  disciples? 


PRAYER. 

O  God,  my  heavenly  Father,  and  the  Father  of.  my 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  grant  that  I  may  not  spend  my 
years  in  vanity,  nor  delay  the  consecration  that  shall 
make  me  forever  a  true  child  of  thine.  May  I  come 
to  the  throne  of  everlasting  grace  to-day,  leaving  all 
sin  and  evil  affection  behind  me,  and  may  thy  seal 
of  pardon  and  love  be  set  upon  me  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 
So  may  I  live  for  thee,  through  Christ  my  Redeemer, 
that  I  may  also  dwell  with  thee  in  heaven  at  last, 
for  thy  mercy's  sake.     Amen. 


HYMN.       (TUNE,    ELLESDIE.) 

Jesus,  I  my  cross  have  taken 

All  to  leave  and  follow  Thee; 
Destitute,  despised,  forsaken. 

Thou  from  hence  my  all  shalt  be; 
Perish  every  fond  ambition, 

All  I've  sought,  or  hoped,  or  known. 
Yet  how  rich  is  my  condition, 

God  and  heaven  are  still  my  own. 

Let  the  world  despise  and  leave  me. 
They  have  left  my  Saviour  too, 
Human  hearts  and  looks  deceive  me, 
'^Thou  art  not,  like  them,  untrue. 


186  PERSONAL  RESPONSIBILITY. 

And  while  Thou  shalt  shine  upon  me, 
God  of  wisdom,  love  and  might, 

Foes  may  hate  and   friends   may   shun  me; 
Show  Thy  face,  and  all  is  bright. 

Men  may  trouble  and  distress  me, 

'Twill  but  drive  me  to  Thy  breast; 
Life  with  trials  hard  may  press  me; 

Heaven  will  bring  me  surer  rest. 
"  Haste  Thee  on  from  grace  to  glory 

Armed  by  faith  and  winged  by  prayer; 
Heaven's   eternal   day's   before   thee, 

God's  own  hand  shall  guide  thee  there." 

Henry  F.  Lyte. 


THE  HEAVENLY  CITY. 
HYMN.      (TUNE,  MATERNA.) 


O  MOTHER  dear,  Jerusalem! 

"When  shall  I  come  to  thee? 
When  shall  my  sorrows  have  an  end? 

Thy  joys  when  shall  I  see? 
O  happy  harbor  of  God's  saints! 

O  sweet  and  pleasant  soil! 
In  thee  no  sorrow  may  be  found, 

No  grief,  no  care,  no  toil. 

Thy  gardens  and  thy  goodly  walks 

Continually  are  green; 
Where  grow  such  sweet  and  pleasant  flowers 

As  nowhere  else  are  seen; 
Right  through  Thy  streets  with  silver  sound. 

The  living  waters  flow, 
And  on  the  banks  on  either  side 

The  trees  of  life  do  grow. 

Those  trees  forevermore  bear  fruit 

And  evermore  do  spring; 
There  evermore  the  angels  are. 

And  evermore  do  sing, 
O  my  sweet  home,  Jerusalem, 

Thy  joys  when  shall  I  see? 
The  King  which  sitteth  on  thy  throne 

In  His  felicity? 


Unknown. 


A  MANUAL 

of 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL 

METHODS 


By  Addison  Pinneo  Foster,  D.D., 
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This  Manual  is  comprehenswe.  Every 
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It  is   systematic   in  arrangement,    has 
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BANDY  HELPS 

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BUSY  WORKERS 


By  Edwin  W.  Rice,  D.D.  Author 
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"  We  are  impressed  with  the  special  adaptation  of  this  book  to  the 
man  or  woman  v/ho  wishes  to  do  something  for  his  Redeemer."— 
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'">  AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION.  Philadelphia.  Pa. 


t4««MMMIMMI>m««t»IIH»HMM<»<4lH<«««««ll»»tH*»«»>»t»««*«»*«<»« 


DR.  RICE'S 
COMMENTARIES 


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COMMENTARY  ON  THE  GOSPEL  OF  MATTHEW 

Cloth,  octavo.  320  pages.     New  map  of  Palestine.     13  full  pages  of 
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JS        JS 
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Each  volume  has  the  texts  of  the  Common  English  Version  of 
1611  and  of  the  Revised  Version  of  1  88  1  ( with  the  American  Com- 
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texts  and  comments  are  so  arranged  as  to  facilitate  quick  reference  to 
any  verse  or  clause,  and  special  notes  upon  leading  topics,  events, 
places  and  customs,  throw  clearer  light  on  the  text.  It  has  been  the 
author's  aim  to  enable  the  student  to  read  these  portions  of  the  Bible 
as  if  he  were  by  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  in  Jericho,  or  on  the  slopes  of 
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No^  I*     Diploma. 

For  graduating  scholars,  or  for  scholars  movlngf-away 
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to  any  Sunday-school  or  body  of  Christian  workers. 

No.  2.    Certificate  of  Membership. 

Besides  blanks  for  names  of  scholar  and  school,  it 
provides  for  date  of  admission  and  name  of  superin- 
tendent. 

No.  3.     Certificate  for  Bringing  in  New  Scholars. 

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No.  4.     Certificate  of  Promotion  from  Intermediate 

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No.  5.     Certificate  of  Promotion  from  Primary  Department. 

Certificates  Nos.  4  and  5  are  certain  to  be  prized  by 
the  scholars,  and  will  interest  and  be  appreciated  by 
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