Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

Jan. 18,1893A FAMILY PAPEE.through the rent veil, that is his flesh. Andit was Jesus Christ who filledthis house withglory.ILI. The Passoter Observed, Tho dedicationwaa observed the month previous tothe passover. . It may be that the approach ofthe national festival haa hastened the completionof the buildiug. It is piobable that thisfeast was observed with a certain amount ofregularity before this, but the finishingof thehouse would have a good effect in the malter ofthe observance of the ordinauces. 1. Thispassover was observed at the appointed time.When God has made specific provisions iurespect to any of his ordina'ices, we have noright to set these aside. The day on whichthe passover was to be observed waa fixed,andhe that was not unclean by reason of a deadbody of a man, or who was not in a journey,and would omit to eat the passover, was to besuspended.VVe have a day, the firstday of the week onwhich to commemorate the resurrection of ourLord. Is it uot dangerous to neglect it? Wehave elemen s in which to celebrate the deathof Ohrist; these are bread, and the fruit ofthevine. For the latter no one has a right to substituteeither water, milk, or any of the nastycompounds sold for " pure wine," " best portwine," etc. We must remember that elementappointed by Jesus Ohrist is nowhere in Scripturecalled wine, but always referred to as"this cup," or " the cup," and our Lord describesit as " the fruit of the vine." It is agood thing for the church when she follows tothe very letter the oider laid down by Christ.2. It was observed in the propwr manner. Thepriests aud the Levites had purified themselves,and were prepared to kill the passover and observethe ordinance as God had appointed.And they were followed in this by the people.There was complete and entire seoaration fromailthe filthinessof the land. Ia doing this,the people reduced their numbers, but thev nodoubt increased their claim to purity. 3, Itwas observed with joy. " And they obsrvedthe feast of unleavened bread seven days witi;joy, for the L ird had made them joyful." Itwould be a double memorial to them in commemorationof their father's deliverance—itwas a confirmation of their own deliverancefrom the captivity. So let our sacraments havein them the double thought, delivered from thepower of the law, introduced into the societyof the children of God.Lessons in Brief1. God restrains designing men, and compelsthem to work for his cause.2, God gives his people joy in their work.3. Ohrist is the glory of the church today.THE PRIMARY LESSON.By Grace Hamilton George,In our lesson today we have the completionof a work that has been going on for twentyyears. It will be interesting to look at thework as a whole. We have :I. God's Plan. 1. That the Israelites returnto Jerusalem. 2- That a temple be built inJerusalem.II. Aids in the Execution of the Plan.1. His own followers—a, The Israelites, LessonsL, II; b. The Prophets, Lessons III, IV,V. 2 His enemies—a, Cyrus, Lesson I ; b.Surrounding Nations, Ezra, 4 : 5; c, Darius,Ezra 6 ; d, Artaxerxes, Ezra 7.Ill The Plan Completed. 1, Wo findthetemple fiaished.Lesson VI; a. It is a dwellingplace for God ; b. It is au assurance of God'sfavor to Israel; c, It brings glory to God ; d,It brings joy and gladness to the people.Our lesson proper is the dedication of thehouse of the Lord. They have gathered toconsecrate the result of iwenty years' service toGod. Compare the exercises on this occasionwith similar services when the firsttemple wascompleted. 2d Chron. 7ih chap.- 1 Kings Sihchap. Their firstaot was to offer sacrifices for PRAYERMEETING TOPIC.sin—for without forgiveness of sin there is noacceptance with God. The priests and iheLavites were giveu their parts in the templeservice as in the former temple. The passoverfeast was observed soon after "with jay," sucha season of joy as follows a period of affl'Clion," It is remarkable how much is said of joy inthe divine service, in these books of Ezra andNehemiah. Perhaps we are neyer fully consciousof joy until we Jiave been sobere