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THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S
to murder and adul-
“For ye have not received the spirit of bond age again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may he also glorified together/’ We have been lifted by grace from the pit to the palace, but still lame on both feet. We have the evidence of our sin ful nature, but our feet are under the table. Our sins are under His blood. God has graciously put them out of His sight. We have conscious fellowship with Him at the table, when we feast on the good things prepared for us and our feet are out of sight. Our infirmi ties are known too well to the world, but God sees us as sons,— sons of God and joint heirs with His Son, Jesus Christ. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The plan for the salvation of the outcast sinner originated with God, not with man. (2) God covenanted with Satan to save sinners through His Son, (Gen. 3:15). (3) God’s purpose in grace is made manifest in His kindness toward us (Eph. 2 :7). (4) God lifts us from our low estate to heaven’s heights. (5) Although by nature we are dead dogs, by grace we are daily at the King’s table. (6) When we feast with Him, our feet are not seen. (7) Our Lord has a kingly heart, and a loving-kindness unspeakable. (8) “ His loving-kindness, O how great” is the song we sing of our Lord and King. Subject Illustration. “ The grace which made ‘a Prince with God’ out of wily Jacob, that made a fear less apostle of Christ out of the fickle Simon Barjona, and a man after God’s own heart out of the King who stooped
LESSON tery, that grace is ILLUSTRATIONS free to all. Christ W. H. Pike not only redeems, but he transforms men. His power to transform did not end with apostolic days, but still runs unchecked and unabated.”— C. B. K. Kindness Begets Kindness. The kindness David showed came back to him in after years. An Indian father said to his son, “ Run upstairs and bring down a new mat.” “ What for?” in quired the son. “We are going to put your grandfather, who is old, blind, and useless, by the Ganges and leave him there till he dies,” answered the unfeel ing father. “ But wouldn’t you have the mat,” answered the boy, “ for you will be old and feeble and I’ll need a bit to put you oh.” This view of the action changed his father’s mind in the matter. Kindness Buies Men and Not Force. Frederick S. ArnoL the African ex plorer and pioneer of the missionary cause was one day passing with his black “ lads” through a clump of reedy grass. A great lion sprang at the hinder- most lad who was carrying the mat and blanket. With lightening quickness Arnot threw himself so as to cover the boy’s body, and the brute, confused, sprang several feet short of his victim, but too close to Arnot for him to use his gun. The natives fled like deer, and the traveler’s fate seemed sealed. But the lion became “ rattled,” and made off. “ I'd go anywhere with a white man who throws his own body between a lion and a black lad of no account,” said the tribe’s chief. David’s Kindness Overlooked Affliction. “Hast thou observed, Doris, that thy future husband has lame feet?” “ Yes, papa,” said she, “ I have seen it; but then he speaks to me so kindly and piously that I seldom pay attention to his feet.” “Well, Doris, but young women general ly look at a man’s figure,” “ I, too, papa,” was her reply; but William pleases me
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