'generation" to which it was addressed, add a solemn emphasis to the words which the passage closes: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words not pass away," (v. 35.) Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 104.-Paraphrase lxii. 11-14. Subject to be Proved-Jesus shall come again. Text for Non-Reading Classes. Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great y."-Matthew xxiv. 30. LESSON LIII.-DECEMBER 31. THE DUTY OF WATCHFULNESS.-Matthew xxiv. 36-51. The importance of the events which have been under consideration in the ious portions of this chapter-viz., the second coming of Christ, and the end e world, naturally involves the duty of watchfulness. But an essential feature of these great events, and one which materially affects duty regarding them, is the uncertainty as to when they shall come to pass. ing is more certain than that they shall happen, "but of that day and hour, eth no man,” (v. 36.) Such knowledge would serve no useful purpose, and never gratifies mere idle curiosity. This uncertainty is sanctified to the ever, and makes him more watchful; but the unbeliever is thereby rendered e careless, (2 Peter iii. 3-7.) In the days of Noah (v. 37-39) men were-as men are now- over head and ears e world, and regardless of the Word of God. Notwithstanding the example the preaching of Noah, (Heb. xi. 7,) they "knew not"-i. e., they bed not "until the flood came, and took them all away." And precisely "so I also the coming of the Son of man be." Although, from the days of Enoch, ce has been given of a day of judgment, yet, when it does come, it will be pected-security and slumber will have overtaken most men. (Compare ch. 1-13.) In that day extraordinary scenes will occur, and painful separations place, among those who have been most closely united-of husband and wife, nt and child, neighbour and friend,-"the one shall be taken and the other ' (v. 40, 41.) "Watch therefore,” (v. 42,)—and why?-"for ye know not what hour your I doth come"-emphatically repeated in v. 44. Note the illustration in v. 43. watch, implies not only to believe that our Lord will come, but to desire that would come, and to be making ready for His coming, (Titus ii. 13,)—to let the ght of death and eternity enter into all our plans and calculations. Note also illustrative parable, (v. 45-51.) All are servants, stewards; all have certain nts and opportunities; each of us, young and old, rich and poor, has a houseIto minister to, some piece of work to do for Christ. But there is a difference ng the servants: the "faithful and wise servant," he who has faith in the d of God, believes that the Master will really come, and is preparing for His ing, is "blessed," and will be advanced to higher honour. On the contrary, at evil servant," who does not realize that his Master will come, or take any to prepare for it, shall be taken by surprise, and utterly cast out. Our Lord's ing shall be happy and comfortable to those who shall be found ready, but mal and dreadful to those who are not, (Rev. i. 7.) Death will come-sure we know not when. Watch and be ready. After h the judgment and eternity will come-heaven and blessedness will comeand gnashing of teeth will come. Blessed Jesus! how we ought to listen to voice, "What I say unto you, I say unto all, WATCH." 6. Another year has flown, and can it be said of any of us, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved?" Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 105.—Paraphrase lxvii. 1-4. Text for Non-Reading Classes. "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."-Matthew xxiv. 44. The Teacher's Quiver; OR, ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE LESSONS. LESSON L.-Points for illustration:-The conspiracy, a result of envy and unbelief (106)—they that are not separated from the wicked shall suffer with them-variety of sin, and variety of judgmentGod's judgments teach righteousness (107)—sin brings death, (Gen. ii. 17; Ezek. xviii. 4; Rom. v. 12.) 106. Envy destructive.-When a statue had been erected by his fellowcitizens of Thasos, to Theogenes, a celebrated victor in one of the public games of Greece, we are told that it excited so strongly the envious hatred of one of his rivals, that he went to it every night, and endeavoured to throw it down by repeated blows, till, at last, unfortunately successful, he was able to move it from its pedestal, and was crushed to death beneath it on its fall. This, if we consider the self-consuming misery of envy, is truly what happens to every envious man. He may, perhaps, throw down his rival's glory; but he is crushed in his whole soul beneath the glory which he overturns.-Dr. Brown. 107. Judgment teaching Righteousness.-In The Hand of God in History we read, that "the devastating wars of Napoleon I. produced a shock which taught all Europe that Jehovah is the God of nations." The Emperor Alexander of Russia, who from that time to his death is believed to have been an humble follower of Jesus, once observed that "The burning of Moscow lighted the flame of religion in my soul." Professor Tholuck says, that "when Germany was called to contend for freedom, this memorable event awakened religious desires in hearts that had remained strangers to every Christian sentiment. The inhabitants of Prussia felt that the moment was come for the display of the eternal justice which governs the world, and from that time the heart of the king was opened to the truths of Christianity." When cholera raged in Great Britain, thousands who never thought seriously before felt that it was high time to awake out of sleep, and turned unto the Lord.-W. I. F. LESSON LI.-Points for illustration:-Spiritual truths more important than material grandeur-prudence (verse 4)-endurance (verse 13, 108)—the world's hatred of believers (109)-sin cools love (110)— the Gospel a witness. 108. Endurance.—A mother, with her three children, was clinging to the wreck of the steamer "Bohemian," when the mother said she must let go, and be drowned. Her little girl said, "Hold on a little longer, mother! don't let go now: Jesus walked on the water and saved Peter, and perhaps He will save us." The little girl's words so strengthened her mother, that she held on a few moments more, when a boat was sent to them, which took them safely to shore. 109. Expect opposition.-At a certain council of war, it was remarked by a lord present, that the enemy had many pieces of ordnance planted in a certain place, where it would be very dangerous to fight. 'My lords," said the valiant commander, "if you fear the mouth of a cannon you must never come into the field." So the Christian must nerve himself for strong opposition from the great enemy, if he seeks to be useful to his Master. He cannot stand up manfully for Jesus without having many seeking to cast him down, and the worst foe of all will be found in his own bosom.-S. S. Teacher. 110. Love and hate.-Love and hate live and grow together in the heart. When they wax, they wax together; when they wane, they wane together. I mean real love of good and real hate of evil. If you increase in love of good, you will also, and by the same act, increase in the loathing of evil; if you have learnt to loathe sin more, you have also, at the same moment, learnt to rejoice more heartily in holiness.—Arnot. LESSON LII.-Points for illustration:-Tribulations (111, 112)—" for the elect's sake "-forewarned and forearmed-Jesus shall come again (Acts i. 11)—the gathering together. 111. Tribulations.—We never know how near we are to danger. We are like blind men wandering near the edge of a precipice, the mouth of a well, or the margin of a deep pit; and then God, by a severe wrench, it may be, and a violent jerk that puts us to some pain, and gives us a severe shock, plucks us from the ruin that we saw not. Oh what hairbreadth escapes from destruction, effected, perhaps, by some distressing visitation, shall we in eternity be made to understand that we experienced on earth! We now often stand amazed at some sore trial; we cannot conjecture why it was sent; we see no purpose it was to serve, no end it was to accomplish; but there was an Omniscient Eye that saw what we did not and could not see, and He sent forth this event to pluck our feet from the net which had been spread for them. How we shall adore God in heaven for these preventing mercies that came in the form of some dark and inexplicable event, but which filled us at the same time with lamentation and woe!-J. A. James. 112. Definition of Tribulation.—We all know, in a general way, that this word means affliction, sorrow, anguish; but it is worth our while to know how it means this. It is derived from the Latin tribulum, which was the threshing instrument or roller whereby the Roman husbandmeu separated the corn from the husks; and tribulatio, in its primary significance, was the act of this separation. But some Latin writer of the Christian Church appropriated the word and image for the setting forth of a higher truth; and sorrow, distress, and adversity being the appointed means for the separating, in men, of their chaff from their wheat-of whatever in them was light, and trivial, and poor, from the solid and the true-therefore he called their sorrows and their griefs tribulatio— threshings; that is, of the inner, spiritual man, without which there could be no fitting him for the heavenly garner.-Trench. LESSON LIII.-Points for illustration:-The unknown time (113)watch (114, 115)-be ye also ready (116)—the portion of the unprepared-the reward of the wise. 113. The hidden future.—God will not suffer man to have the knowledge of things to come: for if he had prescience of his prosperity, he would be careless, and understanding of his adversity, he would be senseless. Augustine. 114. Duty of watchfulness.—A believer's watchfulness is like that of a soldier. A sentinel posted on the walls, when he discerns a hostile party advancing, does not attempt to make head against them himself, but informs his commanding officer of the enemy's approach, and leaves him to take the proper measures against the foe. So the Christian does not attempt to fight temptation in his own strength: his watchfulness lies in observing its approach, and in telling God of it by prayer.-Mason. 115. Watchfulness.-When Pompeii was destroyed there were many buried in the ruins of it, who were afterwards found in different situations. There were some found in deep vaults, as if they had gone thither for security; others were found in the streets, as if they had been attempting to make their escape; there were some found in lofty chambers. But where did they find the Roman sentinel? They found him standing at the city gate, with his hand still grasping his war weapon, where he had been placed by his captain. And there, where the heavens threatened him there, where the earth shook beneath him-there, where the lava stream rolled, he stood at his post; and there, after a thousand years had passed away, he was found. So let Christians learn to stand to their duty, willing to stand at the post on which their Captain has placed them, and they will find that grace will support and sustain them. 116. Getting ready for heaven." Mamma,” said a child, "my Sunday school teacher tells me that this world is only a place in which God lets us live a little while that we may prepare for a better world; but, mother, I do not see anybody preparing. I see you preparing to go into the country, and aunt Eliza is preparing to come here; but I do not see anyone preparing to go to heaven. If everybody wants to go there, why don't they try to get ready?" END OF VOLUME XXIII. M'LAREN & ERSKINE, PRINTERS, GLASGOW. |