UPPER AND NETHER SPRINS5
Sunday Sermon By Rev. J. Wilbur Chap
man.
Aa OM Testament Story at a Parallel to Illus
trate Ibo Oreat Blenlofa Wo Receive
from Our Heavoaly Father.
Naw Yobk Citt. The following ocr
mon if one of a aerie prepared some time
ince by the Her. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman,
the distinguished evangelist. It ia entitled
"The Upper and the Nether Spring," and
was preached from the text "And he gave
her the upper apringa and the nether
springs." Joshua xv.: 10.
Halt way between Hebron and Beershe
ba there inc stood the ancient city ol
Pebir. ItYas the city of brnine and book
and the centre of intellectual culture of the
olden day. At the name point now may
be seen a. rude assemblage of atone hovela,
many of which are half standing, but the
othcra are entirely broken down.
One of the names given to thil city,
being translated, means the City of Brooks,
or of learning what Athena waa to Greece
the city of Debir waa to Southern Pales
tine. It waa supposed that all the reoords
of antiquity of the nation were atored
there. It waa, indeed, a famona place.
Caleb, the aon of Hczron, of the iribe of
Judah, waa very anxious to secure posses
sion of the city. It ia this -fact which gives
rise to the text. His name ia very familiar
to ua. He waa one of the twelve spies
sent by Moses over into Canaan, and he
nnd Joshua were the only two born in
Egypt who were giVeji the privilege of en
tering Canaan, with the possible exception
of the Levite, and that, not only because
they had brought a truthful report of the
land they had explored, but were also will
ing to take God at Ilia word, and put all
their trust in Him.
Forty-five years after, when the wander
ings were over, Caleb applied to Joshua
for the share of the land which had been
promised him, nnd among other portions
there was grunted to him Debir, the city of
learning. It waa still, however, the strong
hold of the giants of Canaan, and must be
captured to be possessed.
Caleb then made the proposition that he
would give his daughter Achsah in mar
riage to any one who was able to take the
city, and one Othniel, who had been much
of a warrior, for he had) delivered the chil
dren of Israel from the King of Mesopota
mia, marched against Debir. After a great
struggle the gates were broken down, the
giant were captured or driven away, and
the City of Books lay at the feet bf the
conqueror. When the victory wos won
Caleb waa as good as hia word, and hia
daughter was given in marriage to the sol
dier. With her he also gave as an inherit
ance, n peculiar piece of property, known
as "The South Land," valuable for some
reasons, but it was mountainous and sloped
southward toward the desert of Arabia,
the hot winds of which again and again
swept across it. Before Achsah left her
father's house ah besought him for hie
blessing. The po-.ith land waa not enough,
he would also ho' d springs of water, ana
Caleb responded at once, and gave her
more than she had asked, for we read in
the text: "He gave her the upper springs
and the nether springs." From an exceed
ingly fertile territory the land was chosen.
It contained no less than fourteen springs.
The valley waa beautiful, for look which
way you would you could see them gushing
forth. Their presence in the field meant
not only a blessing for the field in which
they were found, out for all the country
around them.
I find in this beautiful story a good illus
tration of all that we receive from our
Father.
All that has been bestowed upon us is as
sociated with victory, and that wos won by
Him whose name was called in the pro
phets the Conqueror. It was for Him a
tierce struggle, but He came off more than
conqueror. Then, after that, He was called
the bridegroom of the church, which is to
be His bride, and with Him we have re
ceived not only the gift of salvation, but in
Him we ore also blessed with all spiritual
blessings. Paul gives us this when he
writes to the Kphesians, "Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus."
I. God starts His children in this world
as Caleb started hia daughter, with an in
heritance. No one is ao poor but God has
given him something.
Some have taken the inheritance and
treated it as tho man with the five talents,
they have gainrd other five also; others
like the man with one talent, have wrapped
it in a napkin, and so they -leave the world
a poor as when they entered it. God has
been very good to us. He has given ua this
world with all its beauty, ita green pas
tures, its still waters, ita rivers and its seas,
ita starry canopv stretching out above.
The world is filled with forces of all kinds,
but man has seemed to gain control over
them, until to-day he stands himself like
a conquerer in the midst of them al).
But the inheritance is better than that.
He has given us all the faculties of mind
and all the powers of body. The mind, the
heart, the hands, the feet no one is sent
into the world a pauper. God has thus
placed a fortune in the grasp of every
child of His. It is such a great thing to
have a mind, for with it man is able to
search the deen things of God and really
take hold of the thought of the Eternal.
The science of geometry waa worked out
from a few simple principles by Euclid
and Archimedes, by pure reasoning out of
their minds, nnd 'on the sands of the floor
of . the room where they were studying
Archimedes traced the curves in which, ac
cording to science, the heavenly bodies
must move. And long after, when the tele
scope was invented, th Galileos and the
Jjewtone beheld with reverent wonder that
the heavenly bodies were sweeping along
in the same curves described so long ago by
the great Mathematician. It is, indeed, a
wonderful thing to have a mind.
But if these things which I have men
tioned aa our natural inheritance are all
what we Ttossess, then, with the success
that mav be gained by means of them we)
may still be of all men the most miserable.
For they are like the south land of Acb
aah, they stretch off toward the deserts of
sorrow and care and darkness, and the hot
winds of desnair come sweeping past ue
again and again. The most miserable peo
ple in the world, sooner or later, are those
who have just the world and nothing else.
Men are born unto trouble aa the anarks
fly unward, and this south land of the
world is a poor portion. It is beautiful; it
is. the handiwork of God. But we must
have more than that if the soul be satis
fied. "The stars are beautiful, hut they
pour no light -.into the midnight of a
troubled aoul. The flowers are sweet, hut
they riour no balm into the - wounded
heart. There ar times ben the hungry,
thirstv. fevered aoul must have what the
natural inheritance can not give, and God
b" made nrovisionYor that.
Man sighs with groanings which can not
be tittered 'or the infinite. If vou put a
seashell to your ear you will find in it
reminiscences of its original home, the roar
of the sa. the wail of the wind, the grow
of the dying wave, all discernible therein.
It has the witness in itself that it belongs
to the mighty dcp. And if you listen at
tentively to your own heart rou will find
constant proofs of its destined abode. Tho
sighs, the yearnings, the dreams, the tears,
the sadness, tho music, all testify that wo
are made for God, and that only God can
satisfy our wants. And God knew this,
u ? W(" saving " tn south land
He has also given us the springs of water
irom whrth we may drink and be satisfied,
ood pity the man who haa failed to accept
the proffered gift.
II. The springs of water wore given to
Achsah because of ber marriage with Oth
niel, and they are a perfect illustration of
that which come to as because of our
anion with tho Hon ol Ood. Tho apringa
were a free gift, and so is the nether sprmg
of the gospel, which has come to us. "Foi
pr grace are ya saved through faith, and
nnafjiok of yourselves: it ia the gift vl
'A ad never a spring bunting frosfe the
Olaih of tioror, or from the mountains ol
Ibnon, or from tho valley of Canaan,
perform suca a mission a th:i nethei
prinaoi tho gospel which ia th gift of
kW bar aeon tho fields in tho time oi
drought looking parched and apparent!;
dead and worth!, and then suddenly,
almost la the night., th meadow wor
icwtkod with green, and tho grain lifted
fp it kad dicing, all because tho rais
pad fa'a. 1 at to thi Bother spring oi
L-J u J Ux Ja a mar snaxvtLuii
rrower tnan mat no wno come to-anng
ot It water goes away witn new life, and
hi whole nature is changed. The an
cients believed in the existence of a sprint
in which, if a person bathed, he would
renew hi youth and live forever. We
have found that spring to-dnv in tho text,
for "The gift of Ood is eternal life." "Thi
Bible is all a-snarkle with wells and
springs, river and seas. They toss up tlieit
brightness from almost every chapter. And
water is many times the type or figure ol
that which enlivens, beautifies and givci
new life." "
Solomon, refreshed by the story of
heaven, exclaims, "As cold water to n
thirsty soul, so is good news from a fat
country." Isaiah, speaking of the blessed
ness of the children of God, writes, "They
ball epring as willow from the water
courses." The prophet, glowing wrth the
thought of the milleniiim, savs, "Streams
hall break forth from the desert,"
Tho mission of water in this world is to
bless and satisfy, refresh and help. "But
all 'the waters that ever leaped in the tor
rents, or foamed in the cascade, or fell in
tho summer shower, or hung in the morn
ing dew. have given no such comfort to the
troubled herrt, no such rest and refresh
ment to the ain-sick soul, aa that which
may b drawn by you and by me from the
nether spring of the gospel."
It is a good type of illustration of the
gospel because of it brightness. Yet here
it tails of giving us perfect description ot
idea, for where can you find such bright
ness as gleams in this nether spring?
"David, unable to ,put it into words,
plays it on hia harp. Christopher Wren,
unable to put it into language, springs it
in the arches of St. rani's. Uunyan, fail
ing to present it in ordinary story, put it
in the form of allegory, which lives on to
day with constantly increasing power.
Handel, with ordinary music unable to
reach the height and sound the depth of
the. theme, thrills us with his orntoro."
0, the gladness, tho brightness, the joy un
utterable in that lite which is hid with
Christ in God. And this I may drink in
as I come to the nether springs.
There is no life on earth so happv ns
the Christian's. Take the humblest child
of God you know, and whv shouldn't he
be happy! According to the Bible he is
all the time under the shadow of God's
ivings. If he walks the angels hear him up;
if he sleeps they let down ladders from the
skies, up and down which the angels go
to nnd fro, bringing down blessings of
God, and bearing nwav his heavv burdens.
Why, to get within the door of the king
dom, to have a place, not the nenrest, but
on the very outer circle, to bear the lowest
title of nil the redeemed, to he the weakest
child of nil the family of God, to be. the
dimmest jewel in His crown of rejoicing,
tn be the least, yea, less than least of all
the saints is a hone which sets the heart
a-singing. All this I find and, more, it
thousand times more, as I stoop and drink
at the nether springs. 1
Water is also like the gospel in its power
to refresh. I remember the River Jordan
the day when Naaman came to its banks
with his leprosy. I see him going down
into its waters, once, twice, three times,
and then on until lie had, according to the
instructions of the servant of God bathed
seven times, and then, marvelous change!
his flesh became as it were the flesh of a
little child.
But here is a greater change for the sin'
ful soul who will come to the nether
spring. Here came Newton, and left be
hind him hia sins which were as scarlet.
Here came Uunyan, cursing with every
step until lewd people rebuked him, and
he went away, so changed that he gave to
the world the book that stands in the esti
mation of some next to the Bible for sweet
ness and power. Here came Magdalen and.
the Philippian jailor, Zacchaeus, and the
poor trembling thief on the cross, and tbey
drank of the waters and stand to-day id
the company of the redeemed.
I stand by tho side of the waters to-day,
and with all the tenderness of a saved sin
ner, with all the assurance of a pardoned
child of God, with all the alarm of a friend
who see his friends and neighbora going
down to death, away from the living wat
ers, I bid you come, come, come; "Whoso
ever will, let him come."
It is a marvelous spring of which I speak.
I recall the fact that when the Master met
the man who was blind from his birth He
anointed his eyes with clay and spittle and
then told him ti go wash in the pool of
Siloam; and when he had washed he came
seeing. I imagine that first of all- he saw
the face of the Master Himself. This ii
the power of the nether spring of the gos.
pel. The touch of its water will cause the
scales to drop from our eyes, and we shall
bo able to ace the wondrous tinners written
in the book of God, and not only so, but
wo shall have given unto ua the vision ol
the face of the Master Himself. It is not
strange that we are unable, in our sinful
condition, to see things as they are in th
kingdom of God, for we are blind. But il
you will only come with your blindness to
the nether spring you shall go away re-
i'oicing. It is like the pool of Bethesda,
t has healing power, and we are not only
saved from the guilt of sin, but we may
likewise be saved from its power. The
only difference is that in the pool the sick
people must wait until the waters are
troubled befpre they may step in and be
healed, while in thi nether spring the wat
er are alway ready. Thi ia no new ides
so to" represent the gospel of Christ, for I
read in the gospel of John these words:
".But whosoverer shall drink of the water
that I shall give him shall never thirst.
But the water I shall five him shall be in
him a well of water, springing up into
everlasting life.' And in the Apocalypse
these word are found: "I am. the Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end. 1
will give unto him that is a thirst, of the
fountain of the water of life freely." U
thirsty soul, come and drink!
I know what springs of water have done
for the world. Found in Gerar by Isaac,
tbey make the field fruitful in abundance.
Bursting forth in Lebanon, tbey send theii
waters down the mountain side, and as
they go through the valley they make it
the very synonym of fruitfulness. Closely
ikin to that is what the nether spring of
the, gospel doe for u. No one knows the
fulness of his own being until he is filled
with the influence and power of the gospel.
You walk, in the month of January, ovei
the most fertile place in a field or through
th forest, and you will see the illustration
of what man is in hia natural state. The
earth is full of roots and the trees are ful!
of buds, all of which are closely bandaged
to hat they can not expand, but when the
ipung time comes tho root in the ear'b
commence to push forward and the budi
on the tree begin to unfold, and in a very
little time nil nature is rejoicing. What a
marvelous change, aimply because the root
have been warmed by the aun and kissed
by the light! and yet it is not worthy to
be compared with a change which might
be wrought in you, if you will but come to
the nether spring and drink of its lite-giving
waters, for there you will meet Him
who has said: "I em come that you might
have life, and that you luigbi have it more
abundantly." -
III. I wish I might be able to make
plain to you all that there ia so much
more to the Christian life than simply
being saved. That is only th beginning.
The whole experience stretches away from
that point, and get brighter and brighter
as the diytgfti by. With the hope that lie
might learn the lesson together to-day 1
have brought before you these two springs.
Whether the strict exegesia of the text will
allow the interpretation or not, I am very
sura that all will agree that it is a perfect
illustration. To drink at the nether
spring ia salvation, but to drink at the up
per spring i a high privilege that is of
fered to every child of God. I oouM bring
so many passages ot Scripture to you
which would serve aa an illustration of
what 1 saean. Take Kphesians i: I:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed u
with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus."
Or, Col. ii: 1!(: I'llurisd with Him in bap.
tism, wherein also ye aro risen with Him,
through tho faith of the operation of Ood,
Who hath raised Him from the dead."
. Or, Uks Col. iii: 1-3: "If ye then be rises
with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ aitteth on tho right
hand of God. Set your affection oa thing
abov, not on thing on the earth. For ye
aro dead, and your life is bid with Christ
in Ood." Or, lak Phil, iii: 20: "For our
conversation is ia heaven, from whence
also wo look tor tho Saviour, tho Lord
Jesus Christ."
I would that wo might all drink at the
Bpper spring. What peace would then till
our hearts! When w drink at the lower
spring w corns to bo at peace with God,
but whoa wo learn to drink also at tho
poor spring w have th peace ot God,
and then is a great difference between
the two. It ia something like the differ
one betwera microscope and a lelaejcosa,
Witn tn nrst we can see tnmg near, mt
2 a lsrger than a gram of sand 1
can find a thousand million animnlculee,
bat with the latter I can see things afar
off. I can actually study the Milkv Way,
which is removed from me thousands and
thousands of miles. At the nerher spring,
first of all, I see myself and all mv sinful
ness; then I see Christ in all His righteous
ness; then I hear Him mv that though
mv sins be like scarlet thev shall be as
white ns snow, nnd there at the nelher
pring I am made whole, but with the up
per spring H is different. Like tho tele
scope it is all about th things whioh are
above, nnd a I drink at its waters I Hid
myself being lifted above this world, nnd
my conversation, not onlv, but my vcrv
life, may be in the henvenlies.
And the way to this upper spring is
pointed out very plnirdy to ns. I remem
ber the dream of Jacob a he was going
from Beersheba to Haran. It was of the
ladder which wa set unon earth, the top
of which reached up tn heaven,
This ladder is set for ns. It reaches .to
the very brink of the upper spring. The
ladder is Christ; His feet rest unon the
earth. His brow is bound with the glorv
of heaven. The events of His enrthlv life
are tbe earthward end of the ladder; His
divinity, His finished Messiahship. His
pernetual priesthood the topmost end. In
distant city a fire was raging. It was
thought that all the inmates had been
saved, when to the horror oftthe bystand
ers two children were seen standing nt a
third-storv window. It was before the
day of the almost perfect appliances for
the saving of lives. Two ladders were
hurriedly spliced together and lifted to
the aide of the building. There was n
shout of terror when it wns found that
the ladder lacked six feet of reaching the
children. Tn a moment a brave fireman
was mounting the ladder; he reached the
topmost round, and then stood for a mo
ment balancing himself until ho had caught
the window sill with his hand, nnd then
over his body, which supplied the gnn be
tween the ladder and window the children
:ame slowly down until outsjrptohcd hands
reached them in safety. And this is what
the Lord Jesus Christ did for you nnd for
mo! There was no way for us back to
heaven. We were estranged from God.
And then He came in His incarnation, nnd
on the plntform erected bv the patriarchal,
legal and prophetic dispensation. He stood,
as it were, in His own hod v. reaching up
Hia hands, He took hold of God, nnd the
way was made complete. And so it has
tome to pass that not onlv in Chrst we nre
saved, but it is also true that we mount bv
Hint into' the very secret place of the Most
High. And thia is drinking at the upper
rpring.
Thus the secret of this great blessing is
to be found by abiding in Christ. Dr. Gor
don used to tell a little circumstance which
came beneath hia eye in New England,
which presents to us a figure of it nil.
Two little saplings grew side bv side.
Through the action of the wind thev
crossed each other. By and bv the bark
of each- became wounded and the sap be
gan to mingle, until in some atill Hav they
became united to each Other. This process-
went on more nnd more until they
were firmly compacted. Then the stronger
began to absorb the life from the weaker;
it grew stronger while the other grew
weaker nnd weaker, until finally it dropped
away and then disappeared. And now
there are two trunks at the bottom nnd
only one at the top. Death has taken
away the one, life has triumphed in the
other.
Masslllnn's Secret of Power.
It is said that after Massillon, the great
court preacher of France, had finished one
of his sermons, Louis XIV. summoned him
to his side and said, "Massillon, how is it
you impress me as you do? I have heard
many great orators preach. They nearly
always please me. But when you preach,
instead of being pleased with you, lam al
ways discontented with myself. I always
feel that I want to be a better man, as well
as a better king." "Well," answered the
gnat preacher, "the only way I can ac
count for it. Your Majesty, is because I
am always preaching against myself. When
I am about to make up a aermon I say to
myself, 'Massillon, what ia the sin which
you have hardest work to battle to-day?'
And when I preach against my iwn sins I
generally find that there are similar sin
in other heart which I am also preaching
against."
TO Ideal Homo.
If from being tossed about in the foge
and storm which surround and overtake
us we can come into the home as into a
beautiful land-locked harbor; if husbands
can come from their office and business
perplexities into a peaceful, sunny atmos
phere, bringing with them tbe spirit
which shall exercise care and make home a
refuge to them, and if wives and mothers
welcome them into such homes where the
very air as the doors are opened seems
fragrant with love and restful sympathy,
and pure and refreshing with cheerfulness,
such a home is ideal and a refuge for all its
inmates. It is such homes that keen the
church alive and develop the same old rev
erence and faith and hope and love which
have blessed the world ever since Abraham
built the first altar to Almighty God in
the long ago. Dr. Lyman Abbott.
, Creeds and Doctrine.
Creeds and doctrines are the attempts to
explain existing facts. Creeds do not pro
duce the life. The creeds and opinions
may change, but the realities remain and
are unchangeable. Tbey an tbe phenomena
to be explained. The creeds and doctrines
are the varying explanations. Tbe events
and active forces are the evidences of the
life force. It is an intelligent personal
agency. He lives. He is the life of His
cause. By Him any man may come into a
new life. Through Him millions have
brought their live "into tune with the uni
verse." If we are wise we shall pay more
regard to Him, to His teaching, to Hi
work and Hi personal fellowship. A.
Wheaton.
Luxury. . .
Wo do not need to go to ancient time
for examples of luxury. Luxuries are a
prominent part of American life to-day.
There are aome things that may be said
with certainty about it. First, it is the
pride of living and ostentation and exalt
inordinate self-satisfaction. Second, a life
of luxury contradicts Christ and Chris
tianity. The Kev. T. . Cramblett, Pitts
burg, Pa.
A City of Libraries.
Leeda, England, has been called tho
city of libraries, and it would appear,
from the tblrty-aecond annual report
Just Issued, that tt deserve the honor
able appellation. In addition to Ita
fine central libraries, with C5.317 vol
umes for reference and 43,130 In the
leading department, it haa nine day
branch libraries and thirteen even
ing branch libraries, beside numer
ous branches for Juvenile readera
Tbe total stock of books number
212,396, after tbo withdrawal during
the past four years of 32,000 worn out
or otherwise unserviceable volume
The total Issue for last year waa 888,
710 volumes, and tbe attendance In
the news rooms waa 1.6C2.000-
Ancient Speaking Trumpet
A curiosity of great antiquity la to
be aeen within St. Andrew'a churoh at
Wllloughton, near Galasboro, Eng. It
la a quaint speaking trumpet with aa
obscure early hlatory, dating back to
the times of the Knights Templar. In
shape it resemble a French horn, gad
la more than five feet long, having a
bell at the end of the graduated tube.
It wa formerly six feet In length, hut
Is now telescoped" at the Joint, whore
the metal haa aparently decayed. Tra
dition declarea It waa formerly sound
ed from the tower to summon aid la
case of BMd
Hoar, en Wrong tide.
Tbe physlciana of Fairmont, yr. Va,
are Interested fa tbe case of Frank
Wavear, aged fl. whose heart, tbey say,
ia oa tbe right aide of hia cheat The
boy la healthy aad robust, despite Ue
unusual poaltloa of Ue organ. , , i
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
January Id.
Subject: Paul at Thessaionlca satf Berea, Act
xvll., 1-12 Ooldea Text, Pit., 119, 105
Memory Verses, 2-4 Commentary
on th Day Lesion.
1. Preaching In Thessalonica (vs. 1-4).
1. "They." Luke changes from "w" to
"they" which shows that lie must have
been left behind. "A synagogue." The
Tews must have established themselves
in large numbers in this city; their syna
gogue appears to have been the only one
that existed in Northern Macedonia. No
synagogue had been built in 1'hilippi, Am
phipolis, or Apollnnia; tho Jews who
dwelt in those cities possessed only a
filnce of prayer (Acts 10: 13), and they
lelonged, as it were, to this synagogue in
Thessalonica.
2. "As his manner was." To nlway
begin with the Jews, and not to turn to
tho Gentiles until the Jews refused the
gospel, that their mouths might bestopped
ftvun clamoring against him because ho
preached to the Gentiles. "Three Sabbath
days." This does not imply that Paul
kept the Jewish Sabbath as a sacred
c'ay, but the Jews would assemble on that
day in greater number. This does not in
dicate the length of Paul's stay in the city.
"Reasoned." Hre we see his method of
work. In accordance with the Old Testa
ment .Scriptures Paul discussed with
them concerning the Messiah. First, that
according to the pronhecies it was neces
sary that the Messiah should suffer and
rise again; secondly, that this One, name
ly. Jesus, is the Anointed One.
3. "Opening and Alleging." Proving
by citations. His method seems to have
been this: 1. He collected the Scriptures
that spoke of the Mesiah. 2. He applied
theie to -Testis Christ, showing that in
Him all these Scripture! were fulfilled,
and that He was the Saviour of whom
they were in expectation.
4. "Some believed were persuaded."
Of Jews, a small minority; of the Gentiles
a multitude became Christians: so that
nt Thessalonica there was mainly a Gen
tile church. "Consorted." Cast in their
lot w;th. They clave to Taul nnd Silas,
and attended them wherever they went.
"Devout Greeks." That is. Gentiles who
were proselytes to the Jewish religion, so
far as to renounce idolatry and live a
moral life. "Chief women." "First in
rank and social position; also proselytes
to the Jewish religion."
II. Paul nnd Silas accused (vs. 5-9). S.
"Which believed not." These words arc
not in the Greek and should be omitted
here. "Envy." "Jeolousy," malice, ha
tred, spite at seeing persons of rank be
coming Christians, by which the Jewish
influence was weakened. "Lewd fellows."
Vagabonds who hung around the markets,
serving for Pay in mobs, as in the present
instaive. "Uproar." They began a riot
with tie mob they had gathered. Th
devil sti'l carries out his designs by set
ting souls as well as cities in an uproar.
"Jason." With whom Paul and Silas
lodged. He may have been one of Paul's
kinsmen (Rom. 16: 21), but of this we are
not certain. The mob intended to seize
Paul and Silas and bring them out, to
nbandon them to tho passions of the ex
sited people.
0. Drugged Jason." The .Tews were
bent on carrying their case, and not find
ing Paul and Silas, they seized their host,
with some other Christians, and dragged
them before the magistrates of the city.
"World upside down." After having
made the sedition and disturbance the
Jews charged it all on the peaceable and
innocent apostles. They would have it
thought that the preachers of the gospel
were mischief makers, that they sowed
discord, obstructed commerce and invert
ed all order and regularity,
7. "Hath received." The insinuation
4s that by harboring these seditious men
Jason has made himself a partaker in their
sedition. "Do contrary," etc. There was
B9 yet no law against Christianity, but the
accusation was meant to declare the Chris
tiana enemies to the established govern
ment, and opposed to Caesar's power, in
general, to make decrees. "There is an
other king." His followers aaid. indeed,
Jesus is a king, but not an earthly king,
not a rival ot Caesar; nor did His ordi
nances interfere with the decrees of
Caesar, fur He made it a law of His king
dof to "render unto Caesar the things that
are Caesar's."
8. "Troubled the people." They had
no ill opinion of the apostles or their doc
trine and could not see that there was any
danger to the state from them, and were,
therefore, willing to overlook them, but
when they were represented as enemies
of Caesar, the rulers were obliged to sun
prea them, lest they themselves should
be charged with treason.
9. "Security." Whether by depositing
a sum of money is not quite clear. What
they did was in accordance with the Ro
man usages, and gave sufficient security
for the good conduct of Paul and Silas.
They were doubtless required to pledge
themselves that they would not attempt
to carry out any plans of treason, and
that they could do, for the chargo was
false, and they were not inclined to make
id true.
III. Founding the church in Berea (vs.
10-12). 10. "Sent away." They did not
go as condemned disturbers, but because
it seemed clear that any further efforts
were Useless at that time. "Unto Berea."
Fifty or sixty miles southwest of Thessa
lonica, a town even still of considerable
population and importance.
11. "These were more noble." The
comparison is between the Jewa of the
two places, for the triumph of the gosnel
at Thessalonica waa mostly among the
Gentiles. They were not so bigoted and
prejudiced not so peevish and ill-natured.
They had a freer thought, lay more open
to conviction. "Searched the Scriptures
daily." Since Paul reasoned out of the
Scriptures, and referred to the Old Testa
ment, they had recourse to their Bibles,
turned to the places to which ha referred,
read the context, considered the scope ana
drift, compared other places, examined
whether Paul's explanations were genu
ine, and his argument forcible, and then
determined accordingly.
12. "Many of tbem believed." The nnt
urul result of honest study of the Scrip
tures. "Honorable women." The gospel
was proclaimed to alj, and each individ
ual wis left to decide for himself. These
Greeks were heathens, or proselytes to
the Jewish religion. The gosnel made no
distinction between nations, therefore, the
Christian church at Berea was made up
of Jews and Gentiles.
13-13. As soon as the Jews at Thessa
lonica learned that Paul was preaching
the gospel with some success at Bcrr-a,
"they came thither also, and stirred un the
people." The brethren then immediateN
sent Paul to Athens by boat, but Silas and
Timothy remained at Berea. As soon oa
Paul reached Athens he sent back word to
Silas' and Timothy "to coma to him with
all speed," hut Paul did not remain long at
Athens, and before they reached hint be
bad goa on to Corinth.
Image for the Blind.
One of tbe latest and most ingenious
Inventlona for the Instruction and do
light of the blind, ia moving picture
apparatua which baa Just been con
structed by a young French scientist
M. F, Dusaant In the machine Ue pic
tures are ahown by lmagea la relief,
and are apprehended, not by Ue eye,
but by the touch. Through this de
vice It haa been made possible to aire
to Ue blind an Idea of Ue motion and
displacement of objecta la which Ue
lmagea In relief uke the place of
photographs. Theae reliefs, passing
nore or lesa ewtftly under Uelr an
gers, enable Uem to follow wiU in
terest, and at Ue aame time with
profit for their intellectual develop,
meat the flight of a bird, Uo motiea
of Ue aura la Ue aky, the galloping
f a horse, a train of ears la motloo,
tc.
It Is probably because money U the
root of all evil Uat bold, had msa love
to watch It grow.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
Jsaoary la "Eodesvorers in Trslolng for
Church work." Acts II. 17, IS; Prov 11.
I S; Mark I. 16-20.
Scripture Verses-Eph. II. 19-22; 111.
14-21; Phil. i. 9-11; 111. 1214; Col. 1.
9-11; I These. Ill, 12, 13; 2 Thess. I.
3: Heb. vl. 1; xlil. 20, 21; 2 Peter
ill. 18.
Lesson Thoughts.
Athletes bo Into training, with res;,
ular exercise, under strict diet, that
they inny be victorious In the games.
Is not tbo Christian race worthy ot
si much self-denial and as earnest
training?
Good worlt Is not tlono by acci
dent. If a person has never prac
ticed on.n violin, thoro Is not much
question as to whether ho would
succeed In playing a difficult piece
at sight. No matter how great
one's zeal, it needs to be balanced
by romo knowledge.
Our greatest efforts, ungulded
and unblessed by tho Holy Spirit,
can accomplish nothing. In our
training for work, lot us not neglect
to pray for his Indwelling in our
hearts.
Salectlons.
I 'ht! more Heht to see
What Is the true and pe:v'c?t will of
God,
That we may help to do It; not as
tools.
That know not what thoy fashion,
but as bands,
Whose heart is In their work; and
whatsoe'r ,
It be, this, above all. moro faith to
cry
In tlnrknoas or In light, "Thy will be
done."
I remember m)-.- first copy-book
when I was a child. I got through
the first lino fairly, having tho mas
ter's copy well under my eye. The
neoond llnr-, however, was a copy
of my first, and the third a copy of
try second, and so on. When, there
fore, I got to the bottom of the page,
there was very Utile likeness between
my writing and that of tho accom
plished penman who wrote the lino
at the top of the page. Tho Chris
tian needs, therefore, to be constant
ly reminded that he must copy the
first line. He must not copy his
neighbor, nor his own earlier effort,
but look straight away to the great
Model.
Walt upon Ood for guidance, and
God will lead you up Into now power
for his service. Into new gladness
In his fellowship; he will lead you
up Into new thoughts about what his
church neods, and about what the per
lining world needs; he will lead you
out into a larger trust In him; he will
prepare you to expect now things
from him.
Suggested Hymns.
Piossed Savior, ever nearer.
Nearer, my God, to thee.
More love to thee, O Christ.
IToly Spirit, Teacher thou.
Take time to be holy.
Kncampod along the hills of UM.
LITTLE BROTHER WORKS HAVOC
Sister's Suitor Scared Off When Al
most Hooked.
Pewee Jackson was a quiet lad to
appearance, but the time he spent In
thought was not wasted. I don't
know as I ever heard a more pathetic
story than that told by his sister.
Amy, who bad been making conscien
tious efforts to land the new pastor,
who was young and unmarried. Amy
had entertained the gentleman for
several evenings and It was noticed
In the family that he always came
again. Amy seemed to love to listen
to his views on prohibition, of which
he was a sturdy advocate, and it
seemed to be no task for her to wal
lop the key board as they both tried
Ue songs for the coming services.
One sad night Amy tells the
story with tears In her voice they go
to the piano as usual and Amy striker
a note that Is decidedly to the bad.
With a surprised look she lifts the top
of the piano and the distressed pas
tor draws out half a chicken and three
empty beer bottles.
The pastor waa nice about it and
laughed gayly, but Amy did r.ot re
cover her strength that evening. All
her explanations about her playful lit
tle brother Beemed to fall flat on the
furniture.
Anyhow, It never came off, and
father trounced the Limb good and
sound lr the woodshed Uat night.
Minneapolis Journal.
The World's Smallest Postoffice.
The postoffice building at Virginia,
California, has tbe distinction of being
tbe smallest In the world. It is lo
cated on the atage road which runs
north from Ban Diego, and it is far
away from any other building or habi
tation. Upon tbe daya which bring
Ue stage past the tiny edifice tbe
postmaster cornea to the roadside office
and awalta tbe coming ot the atage
which brings the mall. When It ar
rives the mall, which haa been de-
General Postofflc, Virginia,
posited in the letter drop by the five
or six patrons of the office, la ex
changed fur that which the stage baa
brought for Ue Virginia office, and it
la distributed in Ue rude local boxes
the locks being padlocks which
have been attached to Ue office build
ing. These being accessible from Ue
ouUlde, the presence ot tbe postmas
ter at times other Uan the coming
of tbe aUge la not essential.
Bees fight Pitched Battle.
A torrino battle took place the
oUer day la a garder oa the outaklrtr
of Berlin between two great awarms
of beee belonging to a gentleman who
make a hobby of bee farming. A
atraaya queen bad been forced on on
of Ue hives. This led to fighting be
tweea two hlvea, which soon became
general, the various hive forming
Into two great divisions. For as
hoar a fierce atruggle took place, Ue
air being filled wlU Ue bussing ol
Ua engaged beee. When Ue fray war
over Uoiiaaada of dead and disabled
bona were found oa tho grass.
THE RELIGIOUS LIFE
HEADINC FOR THE QUIET HOU"
WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF.
Poemt Tlealnnlns; Again IT Are Toe
Prone to Attribute a Had Motive A
Kindly Jailatitent Is One or th Barest
Things on Karth.
When sometimes our feet grow weary,
On the rugged hills of life
The pnth strctchins; Innir and drenry
With trial nnd labor rife
We pause on the toilsome journey,
Glancing bnckwnrd in valley and glen,
And siah with infinite longing
To return nnd begin again.
For behind is the dew of the morning
In nil its fre.ihqess and light,
And before our doubts and shadows.
And the chill nnd gloom of the night.1
We remember the sunny plarcs
We passed so carelessly then.
And ask, with a passionate longing,
To return and begin again.
Ah. vain, indeed, !s the nking!
Life's duties press nil of us on,
And who dnre shrink from the labor,
Or sigh for the sunshine that's gone?
And it may not be fur on before us,
Wait fairer places thnn then
Life's paths may yet lead by still waters.
Though wo may not begin again.
For evermore upwnrd and onward,
lie our path on the hil's of life.
And soon will a radiant dawning 1
Trsnsfieure the toil and lie strife.
And our Father's linnd will lead us
Tenderlv unward then:
In the joy nnd peace of a fairer world
lie u let us begin again.
Lilian Whiting.
A Klmlly Judgment.
The habit of harsh judgment is ungra
cious, ungentle nnd unchristian, but nlto
gctlirr too common among us. We are
prone to nttnbutc a bad motive. It is
not too miti h to snv thnt we rather rolUh
a rumor which tells ngnin-it n neighbor,
nnd find n morbid comfort in the tlinturht
thnt people nre not so good ns they pretend
in e or seem 10 oe. it a man gives Inrgely
to a charity, our first impulse is to declnre
that there is a niimone in it wliieh ia no'
quite ns excellent as appearance would
indicate. If a woman commits an indis
cretion, cither willfully or through ignor
ance, we mnl;c it by our harsh criticism
just as hard for her to heal the wound as
ponsible. In a word, we are not helnful
to each other, nnd nre much more inclined
ro snove nn onenrter down lull than to pull
him up hill. We are more apt to look on
the darkest side of other people's lives and
to think the worst of them than to look
on the bright side nnd think the best ol
them. At the same time we would be glad
to have them look at us lenientlv nnd finrl
a good rntlier thnn a bad motive. Doing
linn, u'ners, nowever. as you wouia have
them do to you neither suits our conve
nience nor our appetite.
A pninter of ancient times was com
manded to make a portrait of his mon
arch. It so happened that His Maiestv
had a vry ugly scar on his face which
greatly disfigured him. The artist, with
kindly diplomacy, asked his sitter to lean
his head on his hand, savinir it wnnlrl nivm
a finer pose. He then deftly nrrnnged mat-
icrs in sucn a wav tnnt the lingers ot
the monarch entirely covored the scar, and
so the portrait was painted with no cai
visihle. If we were to follow the example
of the artist nnd charitably cover un the
scars on the lives of our friends, or if, con
scious that we need mercy ourselves, we
should exercise that virtue toward others,
or if. as commanded by Christ, we should
make not a weak, but m lovim indifmnnt
of acts which come within our notice, we
should soon hear the rustle of angel winds
in this hard world, and the sweet perfume
of the millennium would be wafted earth
ward. A kindly judgment is one of the
rarest things on earth, and it is also one
of the most excellent. O. W. Hcpworth.
Uvea Beautified.
It is not the great sorrow of life that
do tue roost h-irm. It is rather those little
pin-pricks that creep into our every-day
existence that cause the most disorder,
pain, worry and a whole list of unpleasant
traits. For all this there are but two rem
ediesgood sense and good nature both
having a wonderful power of changing
gloom into sunshine. Don't get into the
habit of having a poor opinion of peonle,
for assuredly thev will have it of you. Un
kindness breeds unkinduess, while a hnppr
consideration for other makes yourself
the sweeter and them the better. Some
people look at the snots on the sun, un
mindful of the glorious radiance behind
them. e all have our faults, but tho
only way to look at them is to look be
hind them into the bright skies of our bet
ter selves, which thev fleck. In order to
make our lives beautiful wc must show
gooji ,viH, kindness and courtesy to all
with whom we come in contact.
A llnrror or fleir-l)ecptlon.
John Fiske said that Mr. Huxlev had a
great horror of self-deception. Above all
"ugL- ,'je,ire'i t0 hc entirely candid
.mi iiiiii.iv ii. ii is a trait that everv one
of us should have. Hut the outcome of
honesty with one's self cannot be other
than a clear submidsion to the Ood of all,
who knows us better thnn wo do our
elves. The standing warning to every
man m the Scriptures is not to deceive
himself. It is certain that we cannot de
reive Cod; it is easy to deceive one's self.
W hen a man savs he has no sin he de
ceives himself. When he savs he has no
need of f.od or of Christ he deceives him
self, helf-honcsty demands n candle of
tronger power than the poor blind light
of perverted human nature. You ought
to have a horror of seif-deecption. That
man whose candid spirit leads him to turn
away from Christ is the most wretchedly
deceived man in the world. liaptiat L'uioa.
Thoughts.
Let the heart speak freely, but ice also
thnt it speaks prudently.
If we are like Christ, sorrow is on the
surface an unfathomed depth of joy.
they hear the song of the angels who
are waiting for the coining of the Saviour
This expresses the Christian's confi
dence: -If Uod be for us, who can be
against us?
That is the best gift of love which will
in some way be helpful to the person re
ceiving it. United l'resb) terian.
Building For Bueeess.
"Aren't you building a prettv large
church for so small a town?" a.ked the
city visitor. "We're building for a large
man, the old sea captain answered. "He
may not be very big when we get him
probably he II be ju.t out of the theologi
cat scliool but we're going to love him
and trust him ami back him up and help
him to crow." This is no new method of
man-building, yet no one need hesitate to
apply it through a fear that it has been
worn out.
Losing the World. """ ,
A man is not necessarily worldly be
cause he is successful in business, but, if
Ins gold is finding its way into his heart,
and if his getting )a fur the sake of posses
sing, and not tu order that he may use his
gains as a steward of God, then he is abus
ing the world, and when he ia thus loving
the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. Uev. Csmpbel! Morgan.
Necessity For Bn-orienlBg.
God grant that as our borison of duty
Is widened our minds may widen with it;
that aa our burden is increased our shoul
ders rosy bo sirengthtaed to bear it.
Dean btaulcy.
-
Olft for Chicago University.
A gift of a large collection of edition
de luxe volumes, mostly historical and
aclentlfic, la the partial reward re
ceived by Ue University of Chicago
for IU active participation in the
"Prance-American movement' to es
tablish cloaer educational relatione be
tween Franco and tbe United States.
Tbe French Minister ot Public In
struction baa presented to tbe univer
sity a collection of all tbe works so
far issued. Several thousand volumes
hav already beea shipped.
;
THE GREAT METRO YEK
rr
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Aa Article TVhleti Is Interesting Besmsw
f Its Practical I nggesllveaess la Ba
stard to Caring tVnrnen DrnfcoWl-
Intemperance Moral Wrong.
An address on intemperance In women,
recently delivered by Sir Thoma Harlow.
IJnrt., is interesting on account of its prac
tical suggestiveness. In dealing with i tho
original formation of this hnbit but little
importance is attached to the influence of
mere heredity, though it is not denied that
this factor does in some families appear tn
plav its part. The practice of drinking,
which culminates in drunkenness, is re
garded and treated from first to last as a
habit rather than as a disesse, and one
which hns been developed out of acts of
self-indulgence.
In the implied indictment of the individ
ual and of society, where custom and ex
ample have much to answer for. there i no
wnnt of sympathy. On the contrary, erery
allowance ia mnde for misunderstanding,
temptation nnd human frailty. At the
snme time, the element of moral responsi
bility is never lost sight of. It ia in the
recognition of this quality thnt we final
the clue to successful treatment. Sir
Thomas Barlow is no pessimist. He finn
lv believes in the possibility of reclama
tion, and he relics for the attainment of
this object largely upon an awakening of
the moral sense. , .
Intemperance is not a mere disease; it l
not even an unrontrollnble habit. It ia a
moral wrong to be admitted, repented of
and combated bv every available mean if
the poor victim is ever to obtain her eman
cipation. It is not to he expected that she.
can. at all events as a rule, be depended
unon to work out her own salvation on
these lines. She has. nevertheless, "to a
certain limited extent the power in her
own hands," nnd it is necessary to make
her see this. Moreover, the assistance of
friends, nnd especially nn example of ab
stinence on their part, can do very much
to help her.
There must be few ncrsons, and nrobably
no medical men, who do not in their
hearts admit the truth of these observa
tions. We believe that the alcoholic habit
is in jo sense different in character front
nnv otlicr form of use and wont, such a
is constantly seen to inflnencc the course
of hnmnn conduct. It is infinitely moro
injurious than the great majority of each,
personal customs. It is as curable as they
nre, nnd mainly by those moral, intellect
ual nnd social means which have been con
sidered above. London Lancet.
Conquered the Conqneror,
Alexander the Great conquered million
of men. He began in his youth by con
quering a rebellious horse, soon passed to
the conquest of armies, and he lived and
died a conqueror.
Obstacles only added to his reputation,
and his enemies before him were chaff aaul
dust.
Hut one thing conquered him drink.
It conquered so thoroughly that the great
est of Alexander's victories was as nothing
to the victory of alcohol over Alexander.
It made him jealous and mean, when he
was nnttirallv magnanimous; it mnde bin?
a false friend, it made him a murderer, il
made him an invalid, and it kHled him a
very complete act of victories, as you wO!
admit.
If among all r-f those who have lived i
earth we could select any man to talk
against excessive drinking we should select
Alexander the Great. And we should ask
him for his opinion of alcohol on the morn
ing following the banouet at which he
murdered his friend, the man who had
saved his life.
Alexander the Great was not a writer.
But he was a strong thinker nnd a power
ful manufacturer of short, strong phrases
as is shown in his letters to his teacher,
Aristotle, nnd to others.
When he awoke that morning and bi
confused thoughts shaped themselves to
tell him that, he had murdered the man be
liked hc.U in the world, he could have
written n temperance sermon more power
ful than will ever come from a temperance
man. New York American.
Putting the Dcrll In Charge.
Not even- man who gets drunk commit
murder. But every man who gets drunk
commits suicide to a degree. The drink
shortens his life nnd weakens his powers,
mental und physical.
And every man who gets drunk is apt tn
commit murder or anv other crime that
when sober seems to him heinous and im
possible. Any man who nuts his manhood aside
and puts the devil in charge of himself ia
taking miglitv big chances.
He is trilling with his own life and the
lives of others perhaps near and dear to
him.
A word misunderstood by the befuddled
brain, an insult or a grievance born in the
disordered passions or in the degrnded im
agination, a weapon at hand and the thin
is done.
It is not the mnn who does it; it is the
demon in the drink.
The man who delilieratelv puts that de
mon in control of himself never know
what it will do with him. Dcs Moineo
Daily News.
Tbe Demon In the Drink.
Ludwig Sedlayzk, who killed Mr. Chan.
HerTner and shot her husband perhaps fa
tally, in Cleveland, was drunk when he
did it. When sober he was a hard work
ing nian and peaceable citizen.
William Hooper Young, who ia charged1
with the murder and fiendish dismember
ment of Mrs. Pulitzer, one of the most hid
eous crimes in the police records of New
York, sai'd to the detectives who took hint
in custody that drink had got him into
the trouble. .Sober, he was a dutiful aon
and a useful member of society.
Michael Lcddy, the bloodthirsty fiend,
of Williamsburg. X. V., who, the other
day kicked out the one eye he had left bis
wife, was drink crazed when he did it,
and is said bv his children to have been a
"good father" and by his wife to have
been a "good husband ' when sober.
What Teetotallam Means.
Faying a visit of inspection one day to a
large Knglish school, an inspector found a
teacher exercising a class in the subject of
definitions. One interrogation put to
them seemed for a moment a rare puzzle.
The question was: "What is teetoulisra?"
At last one tiny girl, whose pinched fare
and shabby clothes bespoke hard time at
home, put up her hand and cried out: "I
know, teacher!"
Both teacher and visitor felt a lump rise
in their throats as the answer came, ia
.he thin, piping treble: "Teetotafisna
uenns bread and butter."
With tears welling in her eves the teach
?r said: "You must explain that."
And the small damsel promptly replied:
''Because when father's teetotal we get
bread and butter, and when he i not wo
lave to go without."
Tho Crasade Ib UrUr. ---
Alcohol is a narcotic irritant and haa ao
olace among foods. It ia properly included
imong poisons.
Horace Greeley said: "The citizen who
indorses the liquor traffic by bis vote ia
:he destroyer of his country.
It is claimed that in region where
nuch fruit is consumed there is much lesa
iesire than elsewhere for alcoholic atiasu
ant. Th increase during the last fifty year
n the output of the breweries is so mock
treater than that in the produce of the
listilleriee that beer is coming to bo re
tarded aa tho national beverage.
Mother, don't be afraid to let your little
xy take a long, serious look at the swafc
wor fellow who shall happen to fall frota.
iriuk in front of your window. It will bo
.he best temperance lecture ia the world
'or him.
Tbe drunken man baa taken that lata
lis mouth which ha atolea from kua sua
iraint, destroyed hi dignity aa a r
ional being, transformed lira into a (ill
ool, and there b is tbo laughing Block of
rod and men!
The tremendous influence for t tea Def
ines of our big railroaq oompanio ia ut
itanced by the decision oi to Lake Saw
iailroad to lay out gl.OUO.OOO in aewakopa
a Collins) ood. Bear Cleveland, O., as a
result and reward of the village "goiag aa