LESSON II. OUTLINE: EASTER SUNDAY. The Resurrection. 1 Cor. 15: 12-20. Commit to memory verses 13-14. 12. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 1. THE FACT OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. { 2. THE GENERAL RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. Ques. 15. What sort of a mediator and deliverer, then, must we seek for? Ans. For one who is very man, and per 16. For if the dead rise not then is not Christ raised. 17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. GOLDEN TEXT.-“Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 1 Cor. 15: 20. April 9, 1882. 19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. INSTRUCTION. Verse 12. He rose. Not merely came back to earth, or lived again, but rose to a new lifeabove the power of death. Preached, etc. This was done by all of the Apostles and Evangelists. Some among you. Not the faithful members, but certain men of a speculative turn of mind, questioned a general resurrection of the dead. 14. Vain-empty, deceitful. 15. False witnesses; witnesses who told untruth. 17. In your sins; not saved by a living Redeemer. 18. Fallen asleep-deceased believers. Perished--lost. 19. Miserable, to be pitied. First fruits-the first who actually rose, to die no more; others are to follow. 20. CATECHISM. Verse 12. On what day of the week did Christ rise from the dead? Who first saw Him after He had risen? Who else? 1 Cor. 15: 5-8. Did any among the Corinthians deny Christ s resurrection, or only that of men in general? 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 13. Was Jesus truly Man? Has not a man, then, really risen from the dead? 14. If Christ had not risen, would preaching inspire any hope? Could the Crucified One, without first overcoming death, save others? 15. Had the Apostles testified that they had seen the Risen One? If the fact were that no dead arise, would that contradict the testimony of all early Christians? See ver. 16. QUESTIONS. fectly righteous; and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is also very God. April 9th, 1882. are saved, v. 20. Faith giveth us the Easter Sunday. I. THE FACT OF CHRIST'S RESUR- The resurrection of Jesus is the most RECTION. No event in the life of Jesus joyful event in His life. All other is better attested by faithful witnesses events were followed by sorrow; this than His resurrection. His birth was only by joy. For Himself it was joyful, private. His fasting and tempta- because His labors and sufferings were tion He endured unseen; but His cru- ended, and His victory over sin, death cifixion and resurrection were witnessed and Satan was complete for ever; for by friends and foes. The guards at the His disciples of all ages it was joyful, tomb saw Him rise. Angels declared that because their Redeemer lives to die no He had risen; sincere women testified more. that He had conversed with them; and FAITH builds chiefly on the resurrecthe Apostles were ready to seal their tion of Jesus, for thereby was manitestimony with their blood, and did so. ifested His innocence, His power and Read 1 Corinthians 15: 4-8, where the His Divinity. "He was declared to be evidence is summed up. Notice, then, the Son of God with power, * * * (1) There were many witnesses of the by the resurrection from the dead," fact that Jesus rose from the dead. (2) Rom. 1: 4. Therefore believers trust in They all agree that it was on the third the Risen Redeemer day. (3) They do not report what HOPE, as a distinctly Christian virtue, others told them, but what they them- is the offspring of the resurrection of selves saw as eye-witnesses. (4) They Christ. The crucifixion filled all hearts were all reliable persons. (5) They had with despondency; on Easter morning nothing to gain by their testimony, but hope was revived, never to be beclouded incurred the danger of death by bearing such witness. In short, they were neither deceived, much less deceivers. again. II. THE GENERAL RESURRECTION. In the Old Testament there were prophecies of the general resurrection. "Thy dead men shall live; together with my dead body shall they arise. * * * V. 12. There were a few converts from heathenism to Christianity in the Church of Corinth, who said there was no resurrection from the dead. St. Paul The earth shall cast out the dead," Is. proceeds to show that if this general 26: 19. But it was a thing unknown, and proposition were true, the particular in its very nature, beyond comprehenone, that Christ has risen, would fall sion. It was Christ who "brought life also; and with its fall the whole super- and inmortality to light by the Gospel," structure of Christianity would lie in 2 Tim. 1: 10. He foretold a general resruins. (1) Preaching would be vain, urrection on several occasions. John useless. (2) Faith would be a mere de- 5: 28-29; and also His own resurrection. lusion, a grasping at a shadow, and not On three occasions He raised the dead a clinging to a real Saviour, (vs. 13-14.) to life-rather restored them to their (3) The Apostles would stand convicted former mode of life. as being false witnesses, (v. 15.) And you have been believing false testimony. Vain is your faith; ye are yet in your sins, (v. 17.) You are not saved at all. And your friends that have died in the faith are not asleep in Christ, waiting to be awakened, but they have perished, (v. 18.) That is what your misbelief leads to. Yes, more, you convict us of being fools; for we, too, might enjoy ourselves in this life, instead of suffering persecutions for Christ's sake, if there be no resurrection. Why should we make ourselves miserable by hoping for a future life, (v. 19.) But, no, you are The resurrection proper is a rising to a new mode of life, freed from the ordinary limitations of the fallen life. As the soul rises to newness of life in regeneration, the body rises to a more glorious mode of existence after the resurrection. It will be free from the effects of sin-suffering and death. The resurrection of the body is not a restoration, but rather a new creation. The general resurrection is the result of Christ's resurrection. He is the firstfruits, which implies an after harvest. "Because I live, ye shall live also." We "are raised together with Him." mistaken. Now is Christ risen, and we "Risen with Christ.' Our Catechism, LESSON 2. THE SECRET OF GENIUS. NO TIME TO LOSE. "They talk," said Tom Marshall to an intimate friend, "of my astonishing bursts of eloquence, and doubtless imagine it is my genius bubbling over. It is nothing of the sort. I'll tell you how I do it: I select a subject, and "We often speak of a 'long life' be- have mastered it fully I write a speech study it from the ground up. When I cause it reaches to fourscore. But a on it. Then I take a walk, and come little arithmetic will show that the ac- back, and revise and correct. In a few tual working period of a life of three days I subject it to another pruning, score and ten is very short. We must and then recopy it. Next I add the deduct the twenty preparatory years of finishing touches, round it off with childhood and youth. This leaves 18,- graceful periods, and commit it to 250 days. Of this abridged time we memory. Then I speak it in the fields, must deduct one-third for sleep, and that in my father's lawn, and before my leaves only 12,000 days. It is hardly mirror, until gesture and delivery are too much to say that fully one-half of perfect. It sometimes takes me six this is consumed in eating, drinking, weeks or two months to get up a speech. Washing, recreation, exercise and other When I have one prepared I come to unproductive occupations. When all town. I generally select a Court day, these deductions have been made, only when there is sure to be a crowd. I 6,000 days of solid time are left for effec-am called on for a speech, and am pertive activities. So that a man of three-mitted to select my own subject. I score and ten has only a working life of speak my piece. It astonishes the peoabout fifteen years! Yet if those fleet-ple, as I intended it should, and they ing years are devoted to life's highest go away, marveling at my power of end-to serving God and the interests oratory. They call it genius, but it is of our fellow man-they may work the hardest kind of work." wonders. Bacon in his lifetime revolutionized philosophy; James Watt carpeted the stormy seas with steamships, and Morse made the ocean a whispering gallery." Ans. 45, states the truth very clearly. "We are by His power raised up to a new life. And the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection." "Albert Barnes, of Philadelphia, by rising at four o'clock every morning, won enough extra time to prepare a commentary on every book in the Bible, and has taught ten thousand Sundayschool teachers how to teach God's Word. An eminent London physician prepared an able work while riding in his carriage to visit his patients. The young man in this house who has not learned the value of an hour is doomed to failure. On an hour often swings a destiny to eternity." REV. DR. CUYLER. "THERE is a very ancient precedent of judges going circuit. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.'-1 SAM. vii. 16."-Legal Bibliography. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? It is like a beautiful tree which bears sweet fruit for those that are hungry, and affords shelter and shade for pilgrims on their way to the kingdom of heaven. It is like a cabinet of jewels and precious stones which are not only to be looked at and admired, but used and worn. It is like a telescope which brings distant objects and far-off things of the world very near, so that we can see something of their beauty and impor tance. It is like a treasure-house, a storehouse for all sorts of valuable and useful things, and which are to be had without money and without price. It is like a deep, broad, calm flowing river, the banks of which are green and flowery, where birds sing and lambs play, and dear little children are loving and happy.-Ex. LESSON III, FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. The Five Thousand Fed.-MARK 6: 30-44. OUTLINE: { Commit to memory Verses 41-44. 30. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 35. And when the day was now far spent, his di ciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36. Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 1. THE COMPASSION OF JESUS. Vs. 30-38. 37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred penny-worth of bread, and give them to eat? 38. He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. April 16, 1882. 41. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 2. HIS POWER TO SATISFY THE NEEDY. Vs. 39-44. 39.-40. Why in companies? did they sit? 42. And they did all eat, and were filled. 43. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. Verse 30. From what did the Twelve return? What did they tell Jesus? 31.-32. What did they need? Where did they go to find it? 33. By whom were Jesus and the Apostles followed? How did these come? 34. What stirred the compassionate heart of Jesus? What did He do for the people? 35.-36. What request did the disciples make? 37. What reply did they receive? How much is a penny ? 200 penny-worth? 38. How many loaves had the disciples? Was it enough for themselves? On what GOLDEN TEXT. “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread." Psalm 132: 15. INSTRUCTION. Verse 30. Apostles gathered together; returned after their mission, recorded in 1st lesson. They gave a report of their work. 31. Rest-needed retirement, and a conference after their labors. 32. Ship-boat. Desert place-not a barren region, but thinly peopled. 33. Outwent. Earnestness to be with Jesus made them travel rapidly. Afoot-by land around the head of the lake. 34. Compassion, love, pity, sympathy. Without a shepherd, neglected by their religious guides, the Pharisees, scribes and priests. 35. Far spent, evening. 36. Country, the farms, cultivated land. 37. 200 penny-worth: about $30 00. A penny, denarius, is 15 cents. 38. Loaves-small cakes. 39. Companies, for convenience and order. 41. Blessed; same as ་ grace "at heals, and consecration of bread and wine in the Lord's Supper. CATECHISM. Ques. 16. Why must He be very man, and also perfectly righteous? | same human nature, which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one who is himself a sinner cannot satisfy for others. Ans. Because the justice of God requires that the QUESTIONS. 41. What did Jesus first do? What next? To whom did He give the food? Who gave it to the people? 42. How many ate of the food? each receive merely a crumb? Did they 43. Was anything left? What was done with it? What lesson.does this teach us? 44. Were there more than the 5000 men? Who else? Could the multitude have found provisions for themselves? Could the Apostles have satisfied them? Can any one but God create and multiply? Who is Jesus? Is His power as great as His compassion? Is there any need which He cannot satisfy? He saw much people. He desired rest and privacy, but behold! a new crowd and new labor. Without a Shepherd. The scribes and priests cared little or nothing for the common people, and neglected to teach and guide them. Hence these neglected sheep were moved more earnestly to seek the Good Shepherd. Where shall we buy bread that these may eat? (John 6:5-6). Philip was of Bethsaida (Fishtown), where the Saviour now was. After Philip had conferred with the Apostles, they come and request Jesus to send the people away. Prudence suggested as much. V. 37. Give ye them to eat. The duty of Christians is contained in this command. Give what ye have. Our ability is increased by its exercise. "How many persons, who thought they had no ability to teach a class of youth in the Scriptures, have gotten their ability by doing it!" Shall we go and buy? They perhaps had in the treasury 200 pennies, or denariia denarius being about 15 cents. It was a day's wages. They were willing to spend this; but where could they get the bread for it? They had the will without the means. Our Lord knew all along what He would do. He was now teaching one of the best lessons. II. HIS POWER TO SATISFY THE NEEDY. Vs. 38-40. Saith unto them. Inquire into your resources, that “their scantiness might enhance the impression of the subsequent supply, and cut off all suspicion of its being anything less than Five-one cake for each a miracle." thousand men ! And that only a coarse barley cake! He commanded them. A serene consciousness of power on His part to supply the multitude with food. He uses plan and foresight, to prevent noise and confusion, to save time and to secure any from being overlooked. The whole transaction seemed to be left to the disciples; they made the men sit down, and they distributed the bread. Green Grass. Here was a fulfilment of the 23d Psalm. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." He began to teach. This showed His compassion for them. Unless a teacher has sympathy for his scholars he will not exert himself much. Let Sundayschool teachers try to enter into the feelings of their pupils, and teach them earnestly the way of life. He had taken. First we must give of our means to Christ; then He blesses it; and lastly, we distribute it to the needy. The Jews, like Jesus, always blessed their bread before they ate it. There is no excuse for the neglect of table prayer. He broke the loaves. It was to teach us that in the distribution of our goods we should expect His blessing, not in their entireness and reservation. "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.' Vs. 35-36. His disciples came. Previously to this the Saviour had asked Philip The bread of life was also broken on the privately, in order to "draw him out," | cross. Did all eat. None neglected |