p. 733 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 46. (9/24/1894)

Earlier text: WHEN GREAT SORROWS COME TO OUR HOMES

FIELD NOTES.

THE Swedish laborers in Des Moines, Iowa, report the addition of seven to their ranks.

A SERIES of tent meetings in the German language are in progress in Walla Walla, Wash.

ELDER H. A. ST. JOHN has returned to his headquarters in San Francisco, after a four weeks' tour of his Conference district.

THE meetings held at Medical Lake, Wash., by J. W. Bagby, have closed with the organization of a church of sixteen members.

A NOTE from Professor Howe, of Healdsburg College, reports sixty-five students residing within the Home, and more are to come.

AT the recent local camp meeting held at Concordia, Kansas, thirteen persons were baptized. A large outside attendance is reported.

THE office of the Virginia Tract Society has been changed to No. 501 North Twenty-fifth Street, Richmond, and C. D. Zirkle is the secretary.

THE address of Elder D. A. Robinson and the London mission workers has been changed to 184 Elthorne Road, Hornsey Rise, London N., England.

ELDER P. B. OSBORNE reports the addition of five believers at Willard, Maine. His meetings were closed on account of the camp meeting at Bath.

WHEN this paper reaches its readers, camp meetings will be in session at Lansing, Mich., at Warrensburg, Mo., at Nashville, Ark., and at Neillsville, Wis.

ELDER A. J. OSBORNE, who visited the Smith River church, in Del Norte County, Cal., after the local camp meeting at Eureka, reports the baptism of two persons.

OF the work in Wichita, Kansas, Elder C. A. Hall says that since last October there have been thirty-one accessions to the church, and twelve others are keeping the Sabbath of the Lord who have not yet united with the church.

THE brethren who have charge of the tent meetings in Linton, Ind., report a phenomenal attendance,—an average of 400,—and an unusual eagerness for reading matter. The meetings are conducted by Elder J. W. Covert and Brother M. M. Kenny.

AS a result of the tent meetings in Asheville, N. C., which closed August 27, some twenty were added to the company there, about doubling their number. Elders Butler and Brunson are now conducting a series of meetings in the mountain town of Waynesville, Haywood County.

A CHURCH of twenty-seven members has been organized at St. Joseph, Mo., where Elder C. Santee has been holding meetings. Others who expect to join will increase the number to thirty-five. At the same time the tract workers have developed a good interest in another part of the city.

ELDER R. S. DONNELL reports to the Reaper that there is a large attendance every night at the tent meetings being held at Spokane, Wash., and on Sunday nights the tent will not hold the crowd. "Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever!"

IN Elder Loughborough's report of the camp meeting at Newark, Ohio, we note the baptism of forty-four persons. Elder G. A. Irwin was reelected president of the Conference and tract society, and E. A. Merriam was reelected secretary of both organizations. A tent meeting follows the camp meeting in Newark.

AT the recent camp meeting held at Lincoln, Neb., ninety-five persons were baptized. Two brethren, W. A. Hennig and C. N. Hare, were ordained to the ministry. A Free Methodist minister who has been studying our doctrines for about two years, fully identified himself with us at this meeting, and was given license to preach.

A GAINESVILLE, Ga., paper states that several new indictments for "Sunday violation" will probably be made soon by the grand jury. Pushing the mark of Rome's authority to the front is in the air now, and those who live where the civil law is pledged to its support need not be surprised at hearing the "dragon's" voice at any time.

A GOOD report is given of the State camp meeting held at Fayette, Ark. Elders A. J. Breed and E. W. Farnsworth were present from abroad. About 300 people were encamped on the grounds, some of whom came 100 or 200 miles in wagons. Elder J. B. Beckner, formerly of Missouri, was elected president of the Conference.

FROM a report of Brother T. D. Wallar in the Missionary Echo, we learn that a Methodist minister in Boulder Creek, Cal., went into the house of some of his members and without leave took away tracts on important Bible subjects. That minister will make a good Roman Catholic some day, if his eyes are not opened to the logic of his course.

AT the town of Delmar Junction, Iowa, where there was an unfriendly feeling between the ministers, they became united in sentiment by the coming of a tent in their midst,—they united to oppose the truth. It was another case of Herod and Pilate becoming friends; but they declined the request of their people to preach upon the Sabbath question. The tent laborers, Brethren D. H. Tanner and L. F. Starr, report eleven converts.

ELDER GEO. B. STARR reports through the Bible Echo the opening of the first tent meetings in the province of Queensland, Australia, July 26. The tent was located at Rockhampton, and the first audience numbered over 200. Having announced a song service and Bible lesson for the next day (Sabbath), in the afternoon, the response was seventy-four children and eighteen adults. It was expected to hold some meetings in the German language.

THE Sydney, N. S. W., Telegraph of August 10 has this item: "The Seventh-day Adventists have purchased a large estate, consisting of 1,500 acres of land, at Morrisett, about thirty miles from Newcastle. Here they intend erecting a college to accommodate 200 students, and settling 100 families on the land. It will be conducted on the village settlement principle, and farming generally, fruit growing, canning, and drying will be carried on. Assistance will be given to young people to make a start, but only families with money to support the venture will be allowed to take up blocks."

BREAK YOUR FETTERS.

By Rosa A. Young

BY ROSA A. YOUNG.

SLAVES, whose service is so thankless, How can you remain In the bondage that enslaves you With an iron chain?

See ye not the bright star beaming, Herald of a glorious day, When the rescued slave recovers Freedom, hope, and liberty?

Death awaits you if you cling To the chains that bind you. When the Master comes, will he Still in bondage find you?

Can you lie still satisfied With sin's guilded pleasure, All its hollow, empty mirth Drink in fullest measure?

Rouse! let all the manhood in you Answer to the call; Strike for liberty and freedom; Let sin's shackles fall.

Forward, let your watchword be, Forward to the prize. March nor falter, ever on Till you gain the skies.

There a radiant crown awaits, And a glorious home, Them who, in the strength of Christ, All their sins o'ercome.

Pitcairn Island.

PERIODICALS WANTED.

By Editor

CLEAN copies of SIGNS, American Sentinel, Instructor, Our Little Friend of date not earlier than June, 1894, also Bible Students' Library numbers, sent postpaid to Jas. R. Smith, Seabeck, Kitsap County, Wash., will be used in missionary work.

LATE clean copies of Seventh-day Adventist periodicals are desired by the Pendleton missionary society for distribution. Please send postpaid to Elder G. W. Davis, Pendleton, Oregon.

International S. S. Lessons.

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8

LESSON I.—SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1894.

JESUS AT NAZARETH.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is specially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

Lesson Scripture, Luke 4: 16-30.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah, and he opened the book, and found the place where it was written.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; he hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country.
And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country.
But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;
And unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.
And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things;
And they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.
But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

Golden Text: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh." Heb. 12: 25.

It may be queried why so much of our Saviour's life was spent near the Sea of Galilee. But the surroundings of the Sea of Galilee represented at that time more of the real attractive life of Palestine than did Jerusalem, even. In fact, between the two sections of country, Jerusalem and the surroundings of the Sea of Galilee, gathered all the moulding influences of the nation, and here it was that our Saviour spent most of his time. The greater part of the year concerning which our lessons treat was spent near the Sea of Galilee.

After his journey through Galilee, where did our Saviour at last go? Verse 16, first clause.
What connection had he had with this place? —Id., second clause.
What did he do, according to his usual custom? Verse 16.
As he stood up to read, what was delivered to him? Verse 17.
Where did he open the book? See Isa. 61:1, 2.
What did he say was upon him? Verse 18.
For what had this Spirit fitted him?—Id. See also Acts 10: 38.
What had the Lord sent him to do? Verses 18, 19. See note 1.
After reading what he did from the book of Isaiah, what did he do? Verse 20, first part. See note 2.
How did the people regard him as he sat down? Verse 20, last part.
What did he begin to say? Verse 21.
As he began to speak, how did they regard his words? Verse 22.
But as he showed them that that prophecy was revealed in himself, one of their own number, how did they show their doubts? Verse 22, last part.
What did he say they would surely say to him? Verse 23.
What proverb did he say was applicable to the case? Verse 24.
What illustration did he give of a people rejecting their own prophet? Verses 25, 26.
What other illustration did he give in the case of Elisha? Note 3.
As Jesus showed the people how God's messengers had been rejected, how did it affect them? Verse 28.
What did they do? Verse 29.
How did he escape? Verse 30.

NOTES.

1. WE have in this expression of our Saviour, quoted from Isaiah 61, the fulfillment of a still earlier prophecy. He was the One whom God had promised to send in the very beginning. Moses understood this when the Lord told him to go down into Egypt and deliver his people. And Moses said unto the Lord, "Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send." Ex. 4 : 13. In this he no doubt had reference to the One whom God had promised to send in the deliverance of his people. Our Saviour had now come, and the prophecy was in part fulfilled. He preached the good tidings of eternal salvation to all who would believe on him. He released the captives from the bonds of sin which bound them; he renewed the sight of those who were spiritually blind, and to them who had been bruised and seemingly chained by sin he brought liberty.

2. "He closed the book."—Jesus did not quote the entire prophecy from Isaiah 61. In fact, he paused right in the middle of the sentence. It will be seen, by referring to Isa. 61:2, that he quoted simply the first clause of the verse, "to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord," but that was not all of Christ's mission. It was also his mission to proclaim the day of vengeance of our God; but that part of his mission was not due at the time he was here upon the earth. It was simply his mission then to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, that all men could come to him and be saved. That has been the mission of the gospel ever since; but just before Christ comes, it is the duty of the representatives of Christ to proclaim the day of vengeance of our God. That message is due now, not simply to preach the glad tidings, and full and free salvation from sin, but that just before us lies the great day of God's wrath. Our Saviour here rightly divided the word of truth.

3. THE course which was pursued by the people of Nazareth concerning Jesus is one which has been repeated in every land and country since that time. The jealousy and envy of the human heart cannot bear to receive instruction from those who have been brought up with them, and who have improved common privileges much better than they. Elijah was an Israelite, and God in mercy sent him to Israel with the message of mercy which they rejected, and so also they rejected Elisha, but in both cases the Lord sent his servants to those of a foreign nation who would gladly receive. It is thus that God's message comes to us in our days, but, instead of prizing the precious message as we ought, we lose sight of it by looking at the instrument or the one through which it comes, "and thus reject it." It was said of Jesus that "he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." And because of that he was despised and rejected of men. So it is with the messengers who represent Christ. They are oftentimes the poor and despised and the weak things of this world; and if we look upon them instead of listening to the gracious message which they bring, we will reject the message; but we must remember that God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the wise. The golden text should come with remarkable force to us in view of this lesson,—"See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh."

CAMP MEETINGS FOR 1894.

By General Conference Committee

Florida, Tampa...........................................Nov. 8-18

Michigan (State) Lansing......Sept. 19 to Oct. 1

Wisconsin, Viroqua...................................Oct. 2-8

Missouri, Warrensburg (Pertle Springs), ............Sept. 19 to Oct. 1

Colorado, Delta...........................................Oct. 3-8

Arkansas (Southern), Nashville........Oct. 19-29

Southern California, Los Angeles........Oct. 4-14

*Appointments marked by a star will be preceded by a workers' meeting.

GEN. CONF. COM.

LITERARY NOTICES.

By Editor

[The Signs of THE TIMES holds itself under no obligation to notice any publications sent it by publishers. Those considered worthy of notice, or which are deemed profitable to its subscribers, will receive such notice as time, space, and value will permit.]

"The Battle Creek Sanitarium Dress System." An illustrated catalogue. Issued by the Sanitary Supply Co., Battle Creek, Mich. This pamphlet is more than a catalogue; it contains instruction that wives and mothers and the women of our land ought to possess. It may be obtained from the above address, free, we presume, if stamp is inclosed.

"List of Sanitary and Invalids' Supplies" from the above company. This is also an illustrated catalogue presenting at a reasonable price many of the very things most needed in a sick room, and in every family, for all are subject to the maladies of life. Send stamp for same to Sanitary Supply Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

"Bible Readings on Health and Temperance Topics." By Elder W. H. Wakeham. Good Health Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich. This pamphlet contains 17 Bible Readings on Health Reform, Purity, Diet, Noted Vegetarians, Water vs. Alcohol, Disinfectants, etc.; 88 pages, 30 cents. We have noted this work before. It contains much helpful instruction by one who has given the subject much study.

CHURCH SERVICES.

By Editor

All of our churches, especially on this coast, who desire their regular weekly services announced in this column, may have it done by reporting through the proper officers.

Oakland.—Church at corner of Twelfth and Brush Streets. Regular preaching services or Bible study, Sunday at 7:30 P. M. and Sabbath at 11 A.M. Sabbath school at 9:30 A.M. Sabbath. Prayer and missionary meeting Wednesday at 7:30 P. M. All are cordially invited.

San Francisco.—Church at 914 Laguna Street. Regular preaching services at 7:30 P.M. Sunday and 11 A.M. Sabbath. Sabbath school at 9:45 A.M. Prayer meeting Wednesday 7:30 P.M. Missionary meeting Thursday 7:30 P.M. Seats free.

Chicago, Illinois.—Church on Forty-sixth Street, corner of Champlain Avenue. Regular preaching service at 11 A.M. Sabbath school at 9:30 A.M. every Sabbath. Prayer meeting, Monday evening at 7:30 P.M. The above services are held in the Forestville Congregationalist Church building until our own church will be completed, when proper notice will be given. All are cordially invited.

Los Angeles.—Church at 143 Carr Street. Preaching service Sunday evening 7:30. Missionary meeting Wednesday evening 7:30. Sabbath school on Sabbath at 9:45, and preaching service at 11 A.M. All are welcome.

East Portland, Oregon.—Church at corner of Eleventh and East Everett Streets. Services every Sabbath 11:30 A.M. Sabbath school 10 A.M. Missionary meeting evening after Sabbath 7 P.M. Prayer meeting every Wednesday evening 7 o'clock. All welcome. Seats free.

Washington, D. C.—Church on Eighth Street between F and G Streets, N. E. Regular preaching service at 11 A.M. Sabbaths. Sabbath school 9:45 A.M. Sunday, 7:30 P.M., Bible study. Prayer meeting Friday at 7:30 P.M. All are welcome. H. W. HERRELL, Clerk.

Sacramento.—Church on G Street between Eighteenth and Nineteenth Streets. Regular services: Sabbath school at 10 A.M. preaching service at 11 A.M., Sunday at 7:30 P.M. Prayer and missionary meeting Wednesday evening at 7:30. Seats free. All are cordially invited.

Pasadena.—Church at corner of Summit Ave. and Mountain Street. Sabbath services every Sabbath at 11:30 A.M. Sabbath school 10 A.M. Prayer meeting every Sunday evening 7:30. Missionary meeting Tuesday 7:30 P.M. All are cordially invited. Box 261. O. S. SMYTH, Clerk.

St. Paul, Minn.—Church on Greenbriar Avenue, between Jenks and Clawson Streets. Regular preaching services on Sabbath at 11 A.M. Sabbath school at 9:45 A.M. Prayer meeting Tuesday evening at 7:45. All are cordially invited. NETTIE MCSTAY, Clerk.

"This Rock, or the Foundation of the Church." (Spanish.) Showing that the Rock of Matt. 16: 18 is Christ, and not Peter; 4 pp.; 50 cents per 100. Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING Co., Oakland, Cal.

STEPS TO CHRIST. The Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal., have received an entirely new stock of the latest edition of that excellent book entitled "Steps to Christ," by Mrs. E. G. White. The price, postpaid, is only 75 cents. Address as above.

OUR GENERAL AGENTS.

Arkansas Tract Society—H. Clay Griffin, Van Buren, Ark. Atlantic Tract Society—T. A. Kilgore, Sec., 43 Bond St., N. Y. Australia—Echo Publishing House, North Fitzroy, Victoria, and A. Reekie, 2 Cook Street, Glebe Point, Sydney, N. S. W. California Tract Society—1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal. Canada—Mrs. A. E. Taylor, 97 Plymouth Grove, Montreal, Canada, and G. W. Morse, 10 Melbourne Ave., Toronto, Ontario. China and Japan—A. La Rue, International Tract Society, Queens Road 219, Hongkong, China. Colorado Tract Society—Mrs. Leah E. Altman, Sec., 1121 S. 11th St., Denver, Colo. England—International Tract Society, 59 Paternoster Row, and 451 Holloway Road, London. Florida Tract Society—Alex. Mitchell, Sec., Box 508, Orlando, Florida. Illinois Tract Society—125 W. Monroe St., Springfield, Ill. Indiana Tract Society—J. W. Moore, Sec., 175 Central Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Iowa Tract Society—Mrs. Jessie V. Ward, Sec., 603 East 12th St., Des Moines, Iowa. Kansas Tract Society—Lucy M. Olds, Sec., 821 West 5th St., Topeka, Kan. Maine Tract Society—Miss Eliza Morton, North Deering, Me. Maritime Provinces Tract Society—Mrs. I. H. Cowie, Sec., Box 85, Moncton, N. B. Michigan Tract Society—J. S. Hall, Sec., Review and Herald Office, Battle Creek, Mich. Minnesota Tract Society—L. B. Losey, Sec., 336 East Lake St., Minneapolis, Minn., P. O. Box 989. Missouri Tract Society—Vita Morrow, Sec., 2010 East 23d St., Kansas City, Mo. Montana—Mrs. W. J. Stone, Sec., 737 5th Ave., Helena, Mont. Nebraska Tract Society—Mary F. Beatty, Sec., 1505 E St., Lincoln, Neb. Nevada—Cal. Tract Society, 1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal. New England—N. E. Tract Society, Mrs. E. T. Palmer, Sec., South Lancaster, Mass. New Jersey, Del., Md., New York City, and Brooklyn, N. Y., and Dist. Col.—T. A. Kilgore, Sec., 43 Bond St., New York. New York State—W. A. Wilcox, Sec., N. Y. Tract Society, 317 West Bloomfield St., Rome, N. Y. New Zealand Tract Society, M. H. Tuxford, Agent, Banks' Terrace, Wellington, N. Z. North Pacific—Geo. E. Henton, Sec., 727 East Taylor St., East Portland, Oregon. Ohio Tract Society—E. A. Merriam, Sec., 249 Cedar Ave., Cleveland, O. Pennsylvania Tract Society—W. M. Lee, Sec., Box 644, Williamsport, Penn. Scandinavian Tract Society—Akersgaden 74, Christiania, Nor. South Africa—International Tract Society, Somerset House, Roeland St., Cape Town. Southern District Tract Society—L. Dyo Chambers, 23 Early St., Chattanooga, Tenn. South Dakota Tract Society—Mrs. A. H. Robinson, Vilas, S. Dak. Switzerland—Imprimerie Polyglotte, 48 Weiherweg, Basel. Tennessee—Miss M. G. Mason, Sec., 1009 Shelby Ave., Nashville, Tenn. Texas Tract Society—T. T. Stevenson, Sec., Keene, Johnson Co., Texas. Upper Columbia—Mrs. M. E. Ford, College Place, Wash. Utah—J. J. Ireland, 1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal. Vancouver Island—B. Robb, 231 Pandora St., Victoria, B. C. Vermont—Lizzie A. Stone, 190 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, Vt. Virginia—C. D. Zirkle, 501 N. 25th St., Richmond, Va. West Virginia—Mrs. E. J. Hutchinson, 952 Avery St., Parkersburg, W. Va. Wisconsin Tract Society—Geo. M. Brown, Sec., 865 Fifth St., Milwaukee, Wis.

"The Saints' Inheritance." (Spanish.) Contents: 1. The Inheritance of the Saints. 2. The Millennium, or the Reign of a Thousand Years. 3. The End of the Wicked. 4. Immortality through Christ. 5. The Importance of the Prophecies. 6. The Hope of the Christian. 7. The Judgment. Paper; price, 6 cents. Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING Co., Oakland, Cal.

BIBLE ELECTION. By M. C. Wilcox. A brief presentation of God's plan and purpose concerning man, showing that the doctrine of election, or predestination, according to the Bible, is full of comfort and instruction. It throws new light on old controversies. Bible Students' Library, No. 67; 24 pp.; price 3 cents. Address Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.

ANGELS; THEIR NATURE AND MINISTRY. Contains also some hints on the origin, history, and destiny of Satan as gleaned from the Scriptures. Bible Students' Library, No. 8; Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. 160 pp.; 20 cents.

Cleveland Bicycles,

STODDARD & LEE, 306 McAllister St., San Francisco, Cal.

LESSON I.—SABBATH, OCTOBER 6, 1894.

THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 20: 1-26. 1. AND it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders; 2. And they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? 3. And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me: 4. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? 5. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him? 6. But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us; for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. 7. And they answered, that they knew not whence it was. 8. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 9. And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time. 10. And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11. And he sent yet another servant; and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12. And he sent yet a third; and him also they wounded, and cast him forth. 13. And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. 14. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15. And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16. He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 17. But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner? 18. Everyone that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust. 19. And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people; for they perceived that he spake this parable against them. 20. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor. 21. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God; 22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? 23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Show me a penny. 24. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Cæsar's. 25. And he said unto them, Then render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's. 26. And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people; and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace. This lesson is naturally divided into three portions, namely: Christ's Answer to Those Who Demanded to Know by What Authority He Worked; The Parable of the Vineyard; and Paying Tribute to Cæsar.

Who came upon Jesus as he taught in the temple one day?
What did they say to him?
What did Jesus reply?
How did they reason among themselves over his question?
Why did they not dare say that John's baptism was from heaven?
Why did they not dare say it was from man?
What answer did they finally give?
Then what did Jesus say to their questions?
What did he then begin to speak to the people?
See how accurately you can relate the parable?
What did the husbandmen do to the servants whom the man sent?
Whom did the owner of the vineyard finally send?
In sending him, what did he say?
How was the son treated?
What was said that the lord of the vineyard should do to the husbandmen?
What exclamation did the priests and scribes make?
What did Jesus then say?
What did the priests and scribes then seek to do?
Why did they do this?
How did they proceed against him?
How did these spies seek to throw Jesus off his guard?
What question did they then ask?
Did they succeed in deceiving Jesus?
What did he tell them to do?
When they brought him the penny, what did he ask them?
What did they reply?
What did Jesus then say to them?
What was the result of this attempt to entrap him?

NOTES.

1. Jesus had not studied in the schools, and held no certificate of authority as a teacher. Therefore the priests and scribes determined to challenge his right to teach, hoping thereby to silence him. But Jesus did not lay himself open to any retort from them, and asked them another question, instead of replying. They were qualified teachers. They had their diplomas, and were duly authorized to teach the people; they were doctors of divinity. Therefore they ought to have been able to answer immediately so simple a matter, and one of so great importance to the people, as the origin of the teaching and baptism of John. They dared not bring a charge against John, because they were most anxious to stand well with the people, and they dared not confess the truth, lest they should convict themselves. So they said that they could not tell whence John's baptism was. But if they could not answer that question, they thereby showed that they themselves had no right to claim to be teachers. And if they were incompetent to teach the people, they were certainly incompetent to catechise Jesus. Thus were they silenced. The teachers whom Jesus sends will often find themselves questioned as closely as Jesus was; only the wisdom which he had will enable them to answer discreetly. He did not revile them, nor speak one disrespectful word, yet by a simple question he forced them to convict themselves of incompetency. 2. On the parable of the vineyard, see Ps. 80: 8-18; Isa. 5: 1-7. See 2 Chron. 36: 14-16 on the sending of the servants, and the way they were treated. The object in killing the son was to "seize on the inheritance." Satan had laid claim to the inheritance, namely, this earth. He sought to kill Jesus, so that he might have his inheritance. To possess the inheritance of Christ was the object of the ambition that caused Satan's fall from heaven. The spirit of Satan in the hearts of the wicked Jews led them to say, "If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." John 11: 48. They did not know that the only way for them to obtain the inheritance was in Christ. See Eph. 1: 11. 3. When the priests and scribes sought to catch Jesus with flattering words, they forgot that it was his Spirit that inspired these words, "A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet" (Prov. 29: 5); and also the words, "Meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips" (Prov. 20: 19). The first approach of flattery or fawning should put a man on his guard. 4. How easily Jesus answered their question, without laying himself open to the least criticism. "Whose image and superscription hath it?" They said it was Cæsar's. If it was Cæsar's, then it was obvious that it belonged to him. In saying that the money had Cæsar's superscription, they answered their own question. It is not necessary to do more than point out the fact that this makes a complete and everlasting distinction between the affairs of civil government and those of God. The things that have Cæsar's superscription are to be rendered to him, and those that have the stamp of God are to be rendered to him. That does not mean that if Cæsar,—the civil power,—has committed a forgery, and has put his superscription on that which belongs to God, we are therefore to render it to Cæsar. That would not be obeying the Lord. It would be rendering to Cæsar the things that belong to God. Religion is from God, and therefore in matters of religion no one is of right subject to the State. And no one can pay any attention to what the State may say in matters of religion, without robbing God of his due. Christians, being in this world, are to be subject to the authority of civil power. This does not say that they are to obey the laws of the land when they conflict with the laws of God, for, in that case, the civil power has no rightful authority. Christians are to pay tribute to the government, not because as Christians they seek the protection of the State, but because, as subjects of the Prince of Peace, they are to live peaceably with all men, as far as lies in them. He who breaks the peace is breaking the laws of the kingdom of heaven. But he who disregards a human law that conflicts with the law of God, is not thereby breaking the peace, because the keeping of the perfect law of God is the only thing in the world that brings perfect peace.

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