LESSON I. THIRD QUARTER. July-September. 4th Sunday after Trinity. A LESSON ON HOME. MARK 10: 1–16. OUTLINE: Commit to memory verses 13-14. 1. And ne arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judea, by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. 2. And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4. And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart, he wrote you this precept: 6. But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. 7. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8. And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9. What therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Ques. 27. What dost thou mean by the Providence of God? 10. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. Ans. The Almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth and all July 2, 1882. 12. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. 13. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 1. CHRIST'S LAW CONCERNING MARRIAGE. Vs. 1-12. Verse 1. What place did Jesus leave? Whither did He come? Who came to Him? What did He do? 2. What question did the Pharisees ask? Do men still ask it? 14. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. GOLDEN TEXT: “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart." PSALM 101: 2. INSTRUCTION. CATECHISM. 16. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Verse 2. Put away wife--as though his property. 3. Jesus refers them to their Law. (See Deuteronomy 24: 1). 4. A bill of divorcement—a writing that she was no longer a wife. 5. Hardness of heart-rebellion against God's ordinances. 6-9. The first law of marriage forbids divorce; marriage is indissoluble. 10-12. Divorce leads to the breaking of the 7th Commandment. Adultery alone justifies divorce. (See Matt. 5: 33.) Verse 13. Children-infants. (See Luke 18: 15). 14-16. Babes are accepted by Jesus into His Covenant. "Of such is the kingdom." QUESTIONS. creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty; yea all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand. 10-12. Is it lawful to have more than one wife or husband? What alone justifies a divorce? (See Matt. 5: 32). 3. To what Law did Jesus refer them? 4-5. Why did Moses tolerate divorce? Did he institute it? Or approve of it? 6-9. Who instituted marriage? Are husband and wife one? Is it right to put them asunder? Are human laws always just? HYMN FOR THE LESSON: “I think when I read that sweet story of old." 13-15. What did the parents wish Jesus' to do to their babes? Who opposed them? What did Jesus say? Who must become like babes? Are infants to be received into the Kingdom of God? 16. What did Jesus do? Are infants to be baptized? July 2, 1882. prove of the permission, but was forced to yield to the cruel practices of the people of a rude age. 6. Christ carries the question back to the origin of marriage, and the law of the Creator. This law is for all nations, in all times; and all deviations are owing to the hardness of men's hearts. Difficulty of obtaining divorce would make necessary greater care in the selec tion of a wife or husband. This union should not be entered into lightly, for it involves all the happiness of this life, and much of that which is to come." LESSON I. Fourth Sunday after Trinity. CHRIST'S LAW CONCERNING MARRIAGE. Vs. 1-12. The subject for to-day is Home. We are all interested in home-life. It may be good or bad; it may be made better or worse. A true family-life is one of the greatest of all blessings. As is the home, such are the parents, and such are the children. 7-9. God having instituted marriage, and given the law regulating it, no inferior power can modify it, or annul it. The decrees of the Supreme Court cannot be reversed by inferior courts. All who profess the religion of Christ are bound by His law concerning divorce, no matter what earthly laws may allow. That which is lawful, may not be right, just and ratified in heaven. True family-life depends on two things: 1st, the true union of one man with one woman-that is, the sanctity of marriage; 2d, the proper rearing of the children. The prevalence of divorce is an evil that ought to be checked; and the neglect of religious training of children by parents ought to be remedied. VERSE 1. He arose from thence-that is, from Galilee. Our Lord now took a final farewell of His own country. This was a solemn period in His ministry. Luke describes it in 9: 51: When the 10-12. To His disciples in private time was come that he should be received Jesus explained His teachings more fulup, He steadfastly set His face to go up ly on the subject. They felt the strict10 Jerusalem. He was going to offer ness of the law; and He insists upon Himself as a ransom for sinners. that very strictness. What Moses al2-4 On the way the people gather-lowed to the ancients, Jesus does not ed around Him, and He taught them. permit in the Christian dispensation. The Sower ever scattered the seed. But And without the letter of this law, His the enemy was there to pluck it up. The Spirit impels Christians to its observPharisees were on hand to try to ensnare ance. Love, purity, and union unto death Him. They were divided amongst -on these rest the stability and happithemselves on the subject of divorce. ness of family-life. (See Quarterly). They now refer the matter to Jesus, thinking He would join issue with one or the other party. Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? This is an ever-recurring question. It is well that it was asked of the Master, who has given us the true answer. In Deut. 24:1 Moses gives a man permission to dismiss his wife by giving her a bill of divorce. This was not the origin of divorce; it had long prevailed Nor was it the sanction, or approval, of it; but it was rather a regulation forbidding its abuse-a prohibition of arbitrarily dismissing a wife. So we regard the law of slavery, revenge, etc. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus forbade all divorce, except for the sin of adultery. (Matt. 5: 32). 5. For the hardness of your heart, etc.; this shows that Moses did not ap II. JESUS RECEIVES LITTLE Chil- 13. The mothers were encouraged to do so by the treatment which woman ever received at the hands of Jesus. He raised her to an equality with man-or rather restored her to that equality which she had originally enjoyed. His teachings concerning the wrongs of divorce were also an encouragement to the pa rents, and they brought their children. Luke says they were infants. This has been the practice of the Church. Christian parents have ever since followed the good example. Christ was pleased with the act of the mothers; but the disciples rebuked them. They may have thought it would be an interruption, or that it was unnecessary to pronounce a blessing upon those who were too young to exercise faith. So some people reason to-day against bringing children to Chri-t in Baptism. 14. How different was the conduct of Jesus from that of His disciples. Suffer the little children to come, etc. The very watchword of Christianity. Of such that is, of children, and of child-like souls. 15. The adult must exercise the trust, simplicity and docility of a child in order to enter Christ's Kingdom. This Kingdom is spiritual, and consists of all who have certain dispositions of spirit. 16. Jesus did more than touch them. Let us have a large measure of faith, when we bring children to Him. HANG ON LIKE A BEAVER. When our Tom was six years old, he went into the forest one afternoon to meet the hired man who was coming home with a load of wood. The man placed Master Tommy on the top of the load, and drove homeward. Just before reaching the farm the team went pretty briskly down a steep hill. When Tommy entered the house his mother said: "Tommy, my dear, were you not frightened when the horses went trotting so swiftly down Crow Hill?" "Yes, mother, a little," replied Tom, honestly; "I asked the Lord to help me, and hung on like a beaver." and Sensible Tom! Let his words teach the life-lesson in all troubles, pray hang on like a beaver; by which I mean that while you ask God to help you, you must help yourself with all your might.-S. S. World. LORD SHAFTESBURY is known wherever the English language is spoken, as the representative philanthropic nobleman of England. He is equally at home at an assemblage of a Washerwomen's Benevolent Association or at a meeting for the evangelization of the South African savages. His kindness of heart is often publicly recogniz d. "I am very glad indeed to meet you, my Lord," said Mr. Spurgeon to him at a large meeting the other night; "and I have one request to make of your Lordship. It is that your Lordship will be good enough to keep out of heaven as long as it may be personally convenient for you to do so.' "" No man can succeed in all his undertakings, and it would not be we 1 for him to do so. Things easily acquired go easily. It is by the struggle it costs to obtain that we learn to rightly estimate the value. ENTERTAINING COMPANY.-" I pray you, O excellent wife, not to cumber yourself and me to get a rich dinner for this man or this woman who has alighted at our gate, nor a bed-chamber made ready at too great a cost. These things, if they are curious in, they can get for a dollar at the village. But let this stranger see, if he will, in your looks, in your accent and your behaviour, your heart and earnestness, your thought and will, what he cannot buy at any price at any village or city, and which he may well travel fifty miles and dine sparingly and sleep bard in order to behold. Certainly let the board be spread and the bed be dressed for the traveler, but let not the emphasis of hospitality be in these things. Honor to the house where they are simple to the verge of hardship, so that the intellect is awake, and love, honor, and courtesy flow into all deeds. "-Emerson WHAT SMOKING DOES FOR BOYS. A certain doctor, struck with the large number of boys under fifteen years of age whom he observed smoking, was had upon the general health. He took led to inquire into the effect the habit for his purpose thirty-eight boys, aged from nine to fifteen, and carefully examined them. In twenty-seven of them he discovered injurious traces of the habit. In twenty-two, there were various disorders of the circulation and digestion, palpitation of the heart, and a more or less marked taste for strong drink; in twelve, there was frequent bleeding of the nose; ten had disturbed sleep; and twelve had slight ulceration of the mucous membrane of the mouth, which disappeared on ceasing the use of tobacco for some days. The doctor treated them all for weakness, with but little effect until the smoking was discontinued, when health and strength were restored. Now, this is no "old grandmother's story, as the-e facts are given under the authority of the British Medical Journal. 99 LESSON II. FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. THE RICH YOUNG MAN. MARK 10: 17-31. Commit to memory verse 21. 17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good, but one, that is God. 19. Thou knowest the commandments. Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. OUTLINE: { 21. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest : go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eve of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26. And they were astonished out of measure, say. ing among themselves, Who then can be saved? 1. CHRIST AND YOUNG MEN. 27. And Jesus looking upon them, saith. With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 28. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Vs. 17-25.' 2. THE GREAT QUESTION AND ITS ANSWER. Vs. 26-31. 29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30. But he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life. 31. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. GOLDEN TEXT.—“ One thing thou lackest," V. 21. Ques. 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things? July 9, 1882. INSTRUCTION. Ans. That we may be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity; and that in all things Verse 17. One, a young man, of great wealth, (see Matt, 19: 22), and a ruler, (Luke 18: 18). What shall I do? A great question. 19-20. The picture of a good young man. 21. Jesus loved him, and all who keep the commandments. One thing lacking: charitable help to God's poor. Sell-give-the greatest of all is charity. Follow Me, who became poor for others. 22. Grieved-the cross was rejected. 23. Hardly--difficult. 24. Trust in riches; having riches is a hindrance; but trusting in them is a greater. 25. Camel-eye of needle, a proverb. 26. Another great question is: who can be saved? All things possible with God, for He can change the heart. 28. Left all, &c. Entire consecration. 29-31. The reward of self-denial and following Christ. CATECHISM. which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move. QUESTIONS. Verse 17. What question did the young dom? Is there a danger in striving after man ask? Is it an important one? riches? Why? To what does the heart cling? 19. What answer did Jesus give? 20. What did the young man reply? 21. With what feeling did Jesus regard him? What new command did he give him? 22. What effect had these words? 23. Who find it hard to enter God's King 26. What question did the Apostles ask? Can God save the poor and the rich? (v. 27.) 28. What had the disciples left? For whose sake? 30. What shall be their reward? What question did the jailor ask? (Read Acts 19:30-34). LESSON HYMN: "Jesus, I my Cross have taken." LESSON II. I. CHRIST AND YOUNG MEN. Vs. 17 22. This young man illustrates the truth of Christ's words, that he who would be truly saved and raised to a higher life, must be ready to give up all. He was of irreproachable moral character, amid all the temptations of youth, and of wealth. Notwithstanding all that he possessed of morality and riches, however, he was restless; his heart craved eternal life. Unlike most of the "rulers," to which class he belonged, he had faith in Jesus to such an extent as to go to Him for instruction on the most vital subjects true manhood. Go and sell all and give to the poor. That will be an heroic act -a great work that can spring only from a heart worthy of eternal life. If thou hast love enough to make such a sacrifice, then is thy heart already in possession of life eternal. Now the giving up of his wealth would not have purchased eternal life; but if his heart were so full of love to God and man as to lead to such sacri fice, he would thereby prove himself a possessor of that life, whose very essence and work is love. Self would be overcome, and all would be consecrated to God-life, talents, influence, wealth. Follow me, as the Apostles have done, giving up their all, as I gave up all and became poor. But the man was sad at that saying and went away grieved. He, like almost all men, still clung chiefly He went His running indicates his earnestness, and his kneeling shows his reverence for Jesus. Good Master is the title which to the earthly possessions. he gave Him. What shall I do? What away; and what did he lose! His name great work of righteousness, in order is not even remembered. that I may attain such eminent virtue lowed Christ, he would, no as Thou possessest? He is in search of well-known disciple. eternal life, a true life hereafter. Had he foldoubt, be a This certainly includes the idea of immortality beyond the grave. Jesus at once turns the youth's attention from the life to the Giver of it. Who is good, but God only? Thou callest me good. Believest thou that I am God? Christ's words are not a denial of His Divinity, but a repudiation of the idea that He is only a "good rabbi" He strove to lead the man to acknowledge His Divine nature. 23. Riches, in themselves, are not an evil, perhaps; but they are likely to receive the possessor's love; and such love is a root of all kinds of evil. And we poor, who struggle to acquire riches, may set our love so upon wealth, as to make it our god, and in the end forfeit eternal life, and go away sad. "The curtain drops on him with his face turned toward the world, and his back to heaven." "4. The astonishment of the disciples 19. Thou knowest the commandments, is that which we all feel to-day, when says the Lord, and thereupon enumer- we meditate upon this saying of Christ. ates some of the leading ones. "Christ Who of us has not felt perplexed. Jesends the proud to the Law, and invites sus explains that trusting in riches is the humble to the Gospel." particularly dangerous; for it steals the 20. All these have I observed from my heart from better things. The proverb youth, but this does not satisfy my crav- in v. 25 illustrates the hindrances of ings. They are negative commands-wealth. forbiddings. What shall I do? I still II. THE GREAT QUESTION ANfeel a craving of something higher, full-SWERED. Who can be saved? It is an ever-recurring question. The answer is: er. 21. It is not strange that Jesus loved With men it is impossible. Only the him. He who leads an innocent life is example of Christ, His teachings, and dear to God. To mere innocence and His Spirit, can wean us from the love of freedom from overt sins there is, how-riches, and from trusting in them, so as ever, always one thing lacking. "All to permit us earnestly to seek eternal these things," which thou hast kept, are life from God. It is possible for God to good and right; but there is "one save rich and poor, by moving the heart thing" of greater value still; not only to seek spiritual treasures. to inherit eternal life, but to attain to a 28. Peter began to say, etc. The |