As manners can only be considered from a social point of view, conversation will necessarily occupy a prominent place; and to excel in this art it is essential to be a good listener. People are generally more anxious to speak than listen. They are frequently thinking of what they are going to say rather than of what is being said; and even those who are more polite very often fancy it is sufficient if they seem to be attentive; and yet at the same time their eyes betray an absent mind, and show an impatient desire to continue their own train of thought. When listening, the attention should never be engrossed by any ideas but those of the speaker. Another important element is the art of saying the right word in the right place, a difficulty which seems insuperable to many, and which really is greater than appears at first sight. When listening to the cares and troubles of others, it is scarcely gracious, and certainly not comforting, to give a long list of similar grievances. Nor is it polite, when a friend is shown a painting, sculpture, or other work of art, for him to describe a similar thing, only more valuable, that he has seen elsewhere, or possibly has in his own possession. Several instances might be given of saying the right word in the right place; but one is sufficient. For a host or hostess to introduce subjects with which they know their friends to be familiar is a delicate attention which may pass unnoticed at the time, but will have the good effect of making their guests feel at their ease, and leave a pleasant recollection, as every one likes to talk upon a subject upon which he can talk well. Good humor, or the habit of being easily pleased, is essential to politeness; but as there are often occasions when annoyances will arise, irritation may be concealed by a little attention to “art in manners,” and thus prevent the discomfort being felt by others. Cheerfulness, which is another requisite, enables its fortunate possessor to make the best of circumstances. A gloomy or melancholy individual never loses his self-consciousness.
Manners should be to a man what coloring is to a picture: nothing clashing or contrary to good taste, but all beautifully blended in one harmonious whole. Such a result cannot be obtained by mere outward polish. It lies deeper and springs from the soil of the heart. As our bearing toward others is softened and shaped by the feelings, the cultivation of charity greatly helps to tone down or modify any rough or uncouth manners. Politeness may be a social virtue, but can only be graceful and sincere when springing from refined mind. Kindness of heart will cause its influence to be felt in a gentle bearing towards all; and the secret of “art in manners” may be found by acting on the principle of making every one as happy as lies in our power. Chamber’s Journal.
A WAY TO GROW WISE.
After reading a book, or an article, or any other item of information from any reliable source, before turning your attention to other things, give two or three minutes’ quiet thought to the subject that has just been presented to your mind; see how much you can remember concerning it; and if there are any new instructive facts, or points of especial interest, that impressed you as you read, force yourself to recall them. It may be a little trouble at first until your mind gets under control and learns to obey your will; but the very effort to think it all out will engrave the facts upon the memory,—so deeply that they will not be effaced by the rushing in of a new and different set of ideas: whereas, if the matter is given no further consideration at all, the impressions you have received will fade away so entirely that within a few weeks you are totally unable to remember more than the outline of them.
Form the good habit, then, of always viewing what has just been read. It exercises and disciplines the mental faculties, strengthens the memory, and teaches concentration of thought.
You will soon learn, in this way, to think and reason intelligently, to separate and classify different kinds of information; to train the mind, instead of being a lumber room in which the various contents are thrown together in careless confusion and disorder, to become a storehouse where each special fact or item of knowledge, neatly labelled, has its own particular place, and is ready for use the instant there is need of it.—St. Nicholas
The Peace of God.
There is no escape from calamity, and death; they are part of the inevitable order of human life, and sooner or later on every head the tempest breaks. Thank God for peace above the floods, for the safety of the storms, for the silence beyond the roar of the winds, for the calm seas at the heart of the typhoon! No human hand can stay the march of the elements; but the stricken can lay hold upon the Arm that moves winds and clouds. No breakwater or building can keep back the rushing tide of sorrow; but the wrecked can look up into the face of One who walked upon the sea, and through clouds and darkness have vision of him who bore the sorrows of the world, and might make his children feel the infinite love behind the mystery of suffering. That mystery God cannot explain to us, because the mighty range of his purpose sweeps beyond the low horizons of our thought; but he has put himself under the hard condition of our life, he has touched our sick ones, he has wept over our griefs, he has called back our dead, that he might make us understand that our sorrows are his sorrows, and that in the darkness of affliction his love and power are preparing the dawn of an eternal joy.—Selected.
—Pray for patience. Every day will bring something that will call for its exercise. Jerome.
WILLING SERVICE.
By J. E. Merritt
I am so glad that God has given us such abundant evidence of his willingness to bless and prosper the cheerful laborer in his vineyard. I think the reason we so often see our efforts to do good prove fruitless, is because we bestow our means and service not willingly, but grudgingly. God loves the cheerful giver. The promise is to the willing and obedient.
We read that when Moses was about to build the tabernacle in the wilderness the people “came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle. . . . And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted,” with their jewels, precious stones, etc., and offered them unto the Lord for the building and fitting up of the tabernacle. All manner of gifts were brought in abundance, and more than were necessary, until Moses told them to cease their offerings, for there was sufficient. The tabernacle was completed; the Lord blessed it with his presence, and the people who had so willingly offered of their means and service were blessed.
When David was collecting the means and materials to build the house of the Lord, we read in 1 Chron. 29: “Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly. . . . And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord. . . . Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord. And David the king also rejoiced with great joy,” that he and his people had been able so to offer of their means to the Lord.
Solomon came to the throne. Willing hands and hearts carried the work forward to a grand completion. Without sound of hammer that notable temple was erected, the grandest and most beautiful structure their eyes had ever beheld. The Lord accepted the offering so willingly made to him, filled the house with his glory, blessed the people, and made them again to rejoice. Other cases might be mentioned showing God’s willingness to bless the giver and to accept the cheerful offering. The Bible contains many of them. We know that our Father in heaven stands with outstretched hands, lovingly, patiently waiting to bless those who willingly and cheerfully bring to him their gifts, be they never so small.
A greater work than the building of the tabernacle, a far greater work than the building of Solomon’s temple, is going on in the world to-day. Men, women, and means are wanted to push this work forward to a grand consummation. The last message of mercy is being given. Soon its sweet notes will cease. Only a little time remains in which to sow the precious seed. Even at the eleventh hour the Master is saying, “Go labor in my vineyard.” Just at the close of the day though it may be, yet if we hasten and work with willing hearts, we have his word that we shall not lose our reward. Thousands of souls are perishing who might be saved by a little kind attention. It is not some great work which we are unable to accomplish that the Master wants us to do; it is the little ministries of life that we are required to perform. Visiting the sick, relieving those in distress; offering an encouraging word to the desponding, a word of warning to the careless, a prayer for this one, a tract to that one, a Bible-reading in this family, a song or a prayer in that one; a straight-forward Christian life before all,—this is what the Master asks of us. My dear brethren, shall we let souls perish for want of these little acts of kindness, these little deeds of love? If we do, we shall surely be lost. Others will step in to do our work and take our crown.
How many are ready to say with willing heart and ready mind, “Here am I, Lord, send me, send me”? Oh that these were the words of all our hearts! But you may say, “Where shall I begin this work?” I know of no better field to commence in than right in our own family circle. Let us make our own homes as near like the better world as possible. Let us learn to govern our own tongues and rule well our own spirits, so that none but loving words will be heard from our lips. Let our lives be such that all who come under our influence will acknowledge that we have been with150Jesus. When we have accomplished this work for ourselves and in our own home circle, then there will be an abundance of work with good results elsewhere. Let none think that we have months and years to make preparation to work for the Master. Now is the accepted time, and we must not delay. If we feel weak, let us cry mightily to God for strength, for he never said, “Seek ye my face in vain.” Read the history of the Waldenses in “Great Controversy,” Vol. IV., and let the account stir your souls as it never has before. Oh that God would arouse us, and give us a little of the missionary spirit that dwelt in the hearts of those early Christians!
“Shall we stand idle, waiting for reapers more to come, while sheaves lie round ungathered, and waste upon the plain?” or shall we go forth like earnest Christian laborers to seek for the lost and rescue the perishing? In city and hamlet, in lonely dell, on far-off western plain, on the islands of the seas, in the houses of the rich and cots of the poor, are men and women waiting to be taught the truth and to be prepared for that glorious church which without spot or wrinkle must soon be ready for the coming of the Master. Are we ready to go to the work with willing hearts and ready hands, that we may have the rich reward of the willing and obedient? That God may help us to hasten, is my sincere prayer.
J. E. MERRITT.
WORK FOR THE MASTER.
By Mrs. P. Alderman
BY MRS. P. ALDERMAN.
No time have we for idle dreams,
This world with busy labor teems;
The Master's work so far behind—
The good from evil to unbind,
And let the oppressed go free.
Dear sister, brother, can we wait,
And share the slothful sinner's fate?
In stupor, like the Saviour found,—
Disciples sleeping on the ground,
In cold Gethsemane!
It should be joy to work for Him
Who saves us from the curse of sin,—
Now in the harvest time to stand
With willing heart and ready hand,
To do his blessed will.
Who would not bear some noble part,
And work with consecrated heart,
Bringing in the precious grain?
Though cares may wound us while we glean,
For courage let us pray.
The curse of sin is everywhere,
No spot on earth like Eden fair,—
The Eden of the olden time,
The earnest of that blissful clime
All glorious and rare.
TENNESSEE TRACT SOCIETY.
By J. H. Dortch
for Quarter Ending Dec. 31, 1884.
Members, 70
Reports returned, 29
Members added, 6
Missionary visits, 83
Letters written, 45
Tracts taken in clubs, 12
New subscriptions obtained, 39
Pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed, 8,256
Periodicals distributed, 459
Cash membership and donations, $1.00; on sales, periodicals, $19.12. Mt. Gilead and Ridge solicitors to report. J. H. DORTCH, Sec.
For donations, sales, etc., $71.88; on periodicals, for funds, $61. Nine church societies failed to
LIZZIE A. STONE, Sec.
MAINE TRACT SOCIETY.
By S. J. Hersum; J. Redmond
The general quarterly meeting of this Society was held with the church at Portland, Feb. 1, 10 A. M. Prayer was offered by Eld. Burroughs. The report of the last quarterly meeting was approved. The report of labor for the year ending Jan. 1, 1885, is as follows:—
Eld. Burrill made some very interesting remarks relative to the work in other parts of the field. He would be encouraged to lay hold of the work as the apostles labored, and place ourselves in a position where the Lord can work for us. Bro. Sumner stated that he believed the reading which has been sent out by missionary will bear much fruit. We see much to encourage us in this State, and if all are faithful we shall see a great amount of good accomplished. Adjourned to call of Chair.
S. J. HERSUM, Vice-Pres.
J. REDMOND, Sec.
may open bright as the morning, but it is dark as night.—Talmage.
BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN OHIO, HELP!
By Mrs. Ida Gates
Urgent appeals for help have come from the Soldiers’ Home in Dayton. Dying men are asking for the Signs and other reading matter. It is stated by a brother living there, who distributes reading matter among the soldiers, that the papers, pamphlets, and tracts have been used so much that they are almost worn out, and he pleads for more. Our inquiry is, Shall these calls be passed by unnoticed, or shall they be granted? I think all will say the latter.
I have a plan to suggest, which I trust will meet the minds of the friends. There are on hand Signs that are left each week from our club which comes from the Office. If our brethren and sisters will send in their mites, we may be able to furnish the Soldiers’ Home with plenty of reading matter, and also help the tract society pay for these Signs. Just as soon as this article is read, I hope that all, children included, will send to my address their offerings, so that this reading matter can be furnished to them next week. Any amount from 5 cents to $25 and upwards, will be thankfully received and applied according to request. Carefully consider this matter, and remember that you are doing it for the Lord, and that eternity alone will tell the good it will accomplish.
Clyde, O. Mrs. Ida Gates.
TO THE SISTERS IN MAINE.
By Eliza H. Morton
Dear Sisters: God by his Spirit is impressing his people to awake and to work as never before. The Portland mission recently established is having an influence all over the State, because God has been pleased to add his blessing and to gather in precious souls, showing his people that much may be accomplished even though the laborers are few. The sisters in Portland feel a burden for those who have not yet seen the light, and feeling thus, have concluded to organize a vigilant missionary society and to engage zealously, earnestly, and prayerfully, in devoted labors for others.
We believe that the sisters in other churches, not only in Maine, but all over the country, feel an interest in Portland; for God has shown his servant that a great work is yet to be done in this “city by the sea.” In this work the sisters can have a part, and we ask you to unite with us in our efforts. You can help in many ways. Write us a few words of cheer, and we will send you addresses of individuals to whom you can write and send reading matter. Donate something to our society to help pay its expenses; the smallest sum of money will be acceptable. We appeal to you in the name of the Master to “come over and help us.” Deny self of some pleasure and invest the money thus saved in the Bank of Heaven, and it will yield eternal interest. We ask you especially to remember the weekly meeting of our society held every Wednesday evening at 7 o’clock. Unite with us at that hour in prayer, and as you pray ask God to show you what you can do to assist in the work.
It will soon be too late to sound the solemn notes of warning to a perishing world. The great day of God draweth near. Who among us will perform noble deeds and perfect noble characters? Who will forget self and selfish interests, and throw their whole souls into the work? Who will rescue the perishing, and win stars in crowns of rejoicing? Dear sisters, think of these things now as you will think of them when earthly pleasures and treasures shall fade away. Let the recording angel this day write some self-sacrificing deed in the books above. Remember that lip-service alone will never open the pearly gates. Words will be lost and blotted from the book of remembrance unless the actions correspond. Let us be consistent, and work as well as pray; in doing this our hearts will grow tender, our sympathies will become awakened, and our lives will glow with sunshine and beauty.
The active, working Christian exerts a magnetic influence almost impelling in its power, and that gathering spirit may be ours if we earnestly seek it from Him who is the great source of holiness and love. May God send his messengers to you, dear sisters, and impress your minds with the thought of personal responsibility, and awaken a desire in your hearts to help forward the good work begun in the city of Portland.
ELIZA H. MORTON, Sec. Portland V. M. Society.
MARKED PASSAGES.
GOVERNMENT SUNDAY-KEEPING.
In the Christian Statesman of Feb. 19, 1885, we find the following:—
“THE GOVERNMENT OBSERVING THE SABBATH.—It is a fact for which the whole country ought to be profoundly grateful, that although the New Orleans Exposition is open on the Sabbath, the government exhibit is closed. This is due to the influence of Secretary Frelinghuysen, whose representations on the subject prevailed with President Arthur to secure this result. This illustrates the importance of having God-fearing men in such positions. The influence of Secretary Folger, in securing the postponement until Monday of the Presidential trip to Louisville over a year ago, when it had been arranged to start on the Sabbath, will also be remembered. If one sinner destroyeth much good, one good man in high station accomplisheth much good. At the same time, on such a vital question as the Sabbath, the nation ought not to leave the action of government to the discretion of officials. If the President and his Secretary had been of another mind, the government exhibit at New Orleans would have been open on the Sabbath. The attitude of the nation to the Day of Rest should be determined by law, by constitutional law, so that, even if the officials should be personally careless of its obligation, their public action would be governed by the expressed will of the nation.”
A NEW “PRESENT TRUTH.”
In the same paper, W. J. Coleman, one of the district secretaries of the National Reform Association says:—
“Each time I have the opportunity to speak on the authority of Christ as the Ruler of nations, and of his will as law for moral issues, it seems to me not only that these ideas are true, but that they are present truth. They are the preserving salt of all the political theories of our time.”
A SUGGESTION.
Speaking of the lectures of Mr. Coleman before the junior and senior classes of Muskingum College, H. Leiper, another secretary, says:—
“If I may be allowed to make a suggestion to the Executive Committee of the National Reform Association, it will be that Brother Coleman be assigned the duty of visiting the ‘Pierian Springs’ of this country and of impregnating them with the principles of true national life. There can be no more effectual nor speedier way of bringing to a successful issue the great cause for which we are laboring.”
The Old and New Covenants.
The Bible plainly brings to view two covenants and two dispensations. The Old Testament pertains chiefly to the old covenant and dispensation; the New Testament, to the new covenant and dispensation. The old covenant and dispensation passed away with Christ, and we are living under the new. So far all are agreed; but many draw unwarrantable conclusions from these premises, assuming that because the old covenant has passed away, therefore the Old Testament is no longer of value or force, and because the moral law, the ten commandments, are in the Old Testament, they are no longer binding. They thus make the New Testament to be contrary to the Old, and declare the work of Christ to be opposed to the law of God. In so doing, they forget that both the old and the new covenants were made with the same people, the house of Israel, and concerning the same law, the law under the new covenant occupying a more sacred position than under the old, being written upon the hearts of God’s people. See Jer. 31: 31–34. They also utterly misapprehend the relation existing between the law and the gospel, seeming to regard the law as an unfortunate, arbitrary, and withal very severe ordinance, which had been inflicted by Jehovah through mistake or malignity upon poor mortals, but which, repenting of his mistake in giving it, he now proposes to abolish so far as those repenting sinners are concerned who have fortunately secured his Son to plead their cause. In other words, they seem to regard the gospel as a scheme for getting rid of the law and their duty to obey it. What an insult to Jehovah! and what defiance to his authority and government!
On the other hand, how beautiful and harmonious are the teachings of Scripture upon this subject; namely, that the Old Testament is not contrary to the New, but through them both runs a golden thread of harmony; that the law and the gospel, so far from being opposed to each other, are “binary stars that commingle and combine their beams to dispel the darkness of the moral world;” that Christ came not to destroy the law, but to magnify and make it honorable,—not to relax the claims of the law, and allow men to break it with impunity, but to secure the forgiveness of God for their past transgressions of his holy law, and bring their lives into conformity with its precepts.
It will give the reader pleasure to read, in harmony with the foregoing thoughts, the following extract from an article in the Old Testament Student for February. The article was written by James Scott, D. D., LL. D., of Scotland, and is entitled, “The Correlation of the Old and New Covenants.” He affirms of the two Testaments that “they are not merely united mechanically, as two halves of one whole, but also organically, like the root, trunk, and branches of a tree, which is pervaded by a common system of tissues and fibers, sap-veins and circulating fluids,” and maintains his position by a series of propositions, the third, fourth, and fifth of which are given below:—
“They are identified morally and spiritually.
“The same moral principle of benevolence, truth, and justice prevails throughout the Scriptures. The moral code of both covenants is the same. The Decalogue is the moral law for all men and for all ages. It consists of two grand principles, supreme love to God and sincere love to man, on which hang not only the law and the prophets but also the apostles, like all the branches of a tree on the trunk. The ground of all obedience is the revealed character of God, and especially his love as the Lord our God and Redeemer; and the motive or mainspring in the human soul is felt love. The righteousness of this law the Son of God, as the Son of man, has not only fulfilled but magnified and made honorable. Consequently, obedience under the law is enjoined on the same grounds and from the same motives,—love to God for his revelation of himself in the person and work of Christ. The new commandment of the gospel is certainly not that we love God supremely or one another with fervent heart, but that we love each other as Christ hath loved us. It is a new yet an old commandment,—old as Adam in its principle, and as new in its formal basis, and new merely in its motive, the gracious work of Christ; which is a new thing in the earth, a new form of the love.”
“Besides, all the spiritual or gracious privileges required and exercised under the law and gospel are the same. The form of worship is different, but the spirit is the same. The former, accordingly, is changed, but the latter remains unchangeable. The same faith and the same hope and the same joy, the same love and the same holiness, run like a perennial stream throughout both economies. The principles of subjective religion are the same throughout. A complete moral and spiritual unity prevails.”
“They are doctrinally identified.
“Their doctrinal oneness is as conspicuous as the harmony of the solar system, as the earth itself, or the unbroken unity of heaven. Not only is the grand method of revelation doctrinally the same, there is also a clear and constant agreement in the minor details of the development of doctrine, expressed in different languages and in different forms of phraseology. The great Teacher and the authors of the New Testament constantly quote and expound the facts and words of the Old Testament, as teaching the law which they merely developed and declared, and indeed, their text-book and book of reference on occasions. They regard the doctrine of the two Testaments as the same as their own, both in its source and in its substance. A grand succession of writers of different ages and countries, some of whom, even ignorant of each other’s writings at the time they wrote themselves, have concurred in teaching the very same truths to us, on whom the ends of the age are come. The Scriptures, like a coat, are of many colors; and like Christ’s seamless coat, woven from the top throughout.”
“They are related exegetically.
“The two Testaments are mutually interdependent. The New Testament expounds the Old, and in turn illustrates the New. Both are to be exegeted on substantially the same principles. They are like a double lock with double keys, either of which opens both compartments. Mutually dependent and singly unintelligible, the one unlocks the other. We read the Old in the clearer light of the New, and the New in the light of the language and literature of the Old. The philological and religious uses of the Old Testament are invaluable. The human race was furnished by the sacrificial and sensible signs of the law with the high ideal of satisfaction, and salvation, realized in the new. We must now read the dispensations in the light of one another. The epistle to the Hebrews in particular is a key to the symbolism of the law. The rich life of Jesus Christ, the end of all, is the clear light in which we read those sacrifices which threw their shadows forward, now shed down their light upon the Cross. The law and the gospel are not merely the lesser and the greater lights that rule respectively the night and day, but binary stars that commingle and combine their beams to dispel the darkness of the world.”
Infidel Arguments.
By Spurgeon
There is never any necessity for Christian sisters to make a point of bringing forward arguments in order to answer them. It is the greatest folly in the world. Infidels, poor creatures, do not know their own arguments; tell them, and then they glean their blunts to shoot them at the shield of truth again. It is folly to bring forward these firebrands even if we are well prepared to quench them; men of the world learn error of themselves; let us not be propagators of their fallacies. True, there are some men who are short of arguments and want them to fill up; but God's own men do not need that; they are taught, and God supplies them with wealth, with language, with power.—Spurgeon.
Belgian Railway Ministry Secures Sunday Rest for Workers
—The Railway, Post, and Telegraph minister of Belgium, is using every effort to secure Sunday rest to as many of the employes as possible. 8,000 workmen there are now free from Sunday labor.
LESSON FOR THE THIRD SABBATH IN MARCH.
By C. C. L.
(See Instructor of March 11, 1885.)
ANALYSIS OF THE LESSON.
The Inheritance of the Saints.
Definitions of Terms.
MEEK: “Mild of temper; not easily provoked or irritated; given to forbearance under injuries; soft, gentle, yielding. Specifically, submissive to the divine will; patient and gentle from moral and religious motives.”
HEIR: “One who is entitled, either by birth, adoption, or special promise, to succeed to the possession of any property.”
INHERITANCE: “That which is or may be inherited; a permanent or valuable possession or blessing; a possession received by gift, or without purchase.”
SAINT: “A person sanctified; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue.”
DOMINION: “That which is governed; territory over which authority is exercised.”
WHEN: Relatively, after the wicked are destroyed. “Thou shalt diligently consider his place [that of the wicked], and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth.” Ps. 37:10, 11.
Man’s dominion extended over all the earth. “Let them have dominion . . . over all the earth.” Gen. 1:26. “Over every living thing.” Ver. 27. Over the works of God’s hands. Ps. 8:6.
When man received the dominion, he was upright (“God made man upright.” Eccl. 7:29); and the dominion was perfect. Everything he had made was very good. Gen. 1:31.
When man regains the dominion, he will serve and obey God (“All dominions shall serve and obey him.” Dan. 7:27); and his obedience will be perfect. “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10.
In order that the restored dominion may be free from sin, the wicked will be destroyed (Ps. 37:9, 10), the chaff will be burned. Matt. 13:40, 42.
The Dominion Lost through Sin.
Since the dominion with which God intrusted man must be free from sin (Dan. 7:27; Matt. 6:10), he could hope to retain it only so long as he refrained from sin.
Sin is disobedience to the commands of God. Man was tested upon the point of obedience. “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat.” Gen. 2:17.
3. Man disobeyed God (Gen. 3:6), thus forfeiting his right to the dominion, and was driven from the garden of Eden. Gen. 3:24.
4. It was that old serpent, the Devil (Rev. 20: 2), who deceived man, and caused his fall. Gen. 3:12, 13.
5. Man, being overcome by Satan, became the servant of Satan (2 Pet. 2:19) and of sin. Rom. 6:16.
6. Man forfeited his right to the dominion to Satan, his overcomer, who thus became the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:3, 4), the arch-deceiver of the race, the usurper of the dominion given to Adam.
7. Though usurper of the dominion, and god of this world, Satan’s power is not absolute, but only permitted for a time. Dan. 4:32; Jer. 27:4, 5.
The foregoing analysis of the three lessons under review may be helpful to some in aiding them to gain and hold the attention of their pupils, by placing the whole subject, so far as it has been discussed, before the mind in such a manner that the logical dependence of each important thought will be seen, and the appropriate niche into which each text fits will appear.
The review lesson ought to be the most interesting of the series; yet that in many cases it is not so, the indifferent air of the scholars and the discouraged look of the teacher do abundantly testify. The expression frequently heard, “It is only a review,” betrays the fact that the importance of the review is not fully understood by the speaker, and that he considers it a sort of necessary evil inflicted upon the Sabbath-schools by the lesson committee, which for good manners’ sake he will endure with the best grace he can command, and get through with as soon as possible. C. C. L.