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LESSON 9. February 28th, 1882.

TOPIC: Growth of the Saviour's Work.

I. THE LIGHT SHINING AND INCREASING.-Va. 21-25. Having explained to His disciples the parable of the sower, our Lord declared the end for which He confided to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. V. 21. They were not to keep it concealed, but in due time to spread it abroad. All that is hidden must be made manifestmust be proclaimed on the housetops. V. 22. The truth is for the whole world -for the world is lost in the darkess of sin.

The kingdom of God is one of light, that is, of truth, as opposed to error; and of knowledge, as opposed to ignorance and superstition. Jesus, its King, is the light of the world.

When a light is kindled its rays shine all abroad. V. 21. You must not hide your light. It is unloving and sinful to withhold truth from our fellow-men.

Jesus teaches His disciples, in verse 24, that in proportion to their teaching the truth to others, He will increase their own knowledge; but if they withhold the light, they shall at last be left in darkness themselves. V. 25.

This is illustrated in the life of every true preacher and Sunday-school teacher. They strive to impart the truth to their hearers, and by so doing they are continually studying the Word, and learning more and more each year.

In our day increased attention is being given to the study of the Bible. Committees and individuals are studying, writing and proclaiming the Word. Sermons, lesson leaves, and helps of every kind are being flung broadcast over the world. The Scriptures are translated into more than 225 languages; and these leaves from the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations. Surely the world cannot complain that Christians are hiding God's light of truth now. Only let us remember that unbelievers look more to our lives, than to what we teach; and scholars study their teachers, more than their lesson.

II. THE SEED GROWING AND RIPENING-VS. 26-34. Another parable, a continuation of the former one:

1. The seed grows silently, without observation.

The

The same is true of the Church as a whole, and of the members of it. same principle rules in both. The word of life, if it be but sown, will grow and ripen. You can sow the seed, but you cannot make it grow. "God giveth the increase." The earth bringeth forth fruit of herself. That is when God gives it light, warmth and moisture.

(2.) The seed also grows gradually. First, the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn. Three stages are mentioned. The sprouting is like the beginnings of faith, penitence and prayer. THE EAR shows that it is beginning to form, by the appearance of tassels or blossoms; and this corresponds to the flowering of the new life, in a public profession and confession of faith and discipleship, as in confirmation and the approach to the Lord's Table.

The full corn in the ear is the fruit of the Christian life-the good words and deeds that adorn his profession. The three stages are faith, hope and love.

"FAITH is our fixed, unswerving root,
HOPE our unfading flower;
Fair deeds of CHARITY the fruit,
The glory of our bower."-KEBLE.

Putting in the sickle is the harvestingathering. Death is a reaper, but it never injures the ripe SEED; it only cuts off the stalk. The wheat is gathered into the garner-into heaven, at last, the Christian will enter.

(3.) The seed grows greatly. Vs. 3032. The parable of the mustard seed declares the growth of the Church. "As small as a grain of mustard seed," was a proverb. So insignificant did Christianity at first appear. It was small in its beginnings; but it has been marvellous in its growth. From a handful of disciples it has grown into the controlling power amongst civilized nations, numbering its members by its hundreds of millions.

The parable also illustrates the individual Christian life. At first you are only "a babe in Christ;" so tender and so weak that you need constant watching, lest you fall into temptations. At length you grow into a strong disciple, giving protection and shelter to others. From a pupil you become a teacherperhaps a minister of the Word.

Teacher, for your encouragement, no

tice what Jesus says in both of these parables about human instrumentality. "As if a man should cast seed into the ground." V. 26. Again, He says the same of a mustard seed, as being sown by a man. Matt. 13: 31. The Church has spread and grown, because men and women have put forth consecrated human efforts. The Almighty blesses your work.

RISE OF GREAT MEN.

INFLUENCE OF ACCIDENT ON GREAT MEN. It is a curious coincidence that the two greatest Chancery lawyers of their day should both have been forced into the profession by incidental circumstances. Romilly says that what principally influenced his decision was the being thus enabled to leave his small fortune in his father's hands, instead of buying a sworn clerk's seat with it. At a later period of my life, after a success at the bar which my wildest and most sanguine dreams had never painted to me-when I was gaining an income of £8,000 or £9,000 a year, I have often reflected how all that prosperity had arisen out of the pecuniary difficulties of my father.

Wedderburn, Lord Loughborough, began as an advocate of the Scotch bar. In the course of an altercation with the lord president, he was provoked to tell his lordship that he had said as a judge, what he could not prove as a gentleman. Being ordered to make an apology, he refused, and left the Scotch for the English bar. What every one thought would be his ruin, turned out the best thing that could happen to him.

"There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough hew them how we may."

Lord Tenterden's early destination was changed by a disappointment. When he and Mr. Justice Richards were going the Home Circuit, they visited the Cathedral at Canterbury together. Richards commended the voice of a singing man in the choir. "Ah," said Lord Tenterden, "that is the only man I ever envied. When at school in this town we were candidates for a chorister's place, and he obtained it."

It is now well known that the Duke of Wellington, when a subaltern, was

anxious to retire from the army, and actually applied to Lord Camden, the lord lieutenant of Ireland, for a commissionership of customs. It is not always true, then, that men destined to play conspicuous parts in the world have a consciousness of their coming greatness, or patience, to bide their time. Their hopes grow as their capacity expands with circumstances; honors on honors arise, like Alps on Alps; in ascending one they catch a glimpse of another, till the last and highest, which was vailed in mist when they started, stands out in bold relief against the sky. Edinburgh Review.

YOUNG MEN AND THE CHURCH.

Among the many questions which may rise concerning the spread of Christ's kingdom in the world and the influence of His church upon the hearts and lives of men, there is this: What are young men doing in the Church? And more especially would we make this inquiry as to young men brought up in Christian families, regular in attendance at Divine service, and yet seemingly indifferent as to the experience of a deep and powerful religious feeling, both in their own hearts and in the hearts of others. St. John says: "I write unto you, young men, because you are strong:" and what the Church of Christ needs to-day is more of this manly, youthful vigor exerted in its behalf. It needs the labor of young men. It needs their example, more powerful perhaps than that of any other class.

Did you ever realize, young man, the influence of your example? Did it ever occur to you that you may be standing in the way of others? Did you never think that a true, active Christian life led by you might put to shame many an older man as it recalled the wasted years of his own life-that the little boy who longs to be a man and do as young men do, would look up to you and choose the path that you have chosen for his own walk through life?

On, let it be your resolve henceforth that nothing which by God's grace you can do shall be left undone to make the Church with which you are united, a pillar of His holy truth.-The Record.

VOL. XXXIII.

MARCH, 1882.

NO. 3.

GEORGE STEPHENSON'S TRIALS AND was recently still standing. It was a n

TRIUMPHS.

BY THE EDITOR.

ordinary laborer's dwelling; its walls unplastered, its floor of clay, and the bare rafters exposed overhead. The furniture was of the rudest description. Less than a year ago, England cele- When the family was most prosperous, brated the centennial anniversary of the their dwelling had but a single room, birth of George Stephenson, the founder which served as kitchen, parlor, and of her railroad system. It was a bril- sleeping-room for father, mother, and liant occasion, and the English people six children. Their only treasure was were proud to do honor to the memory the Bible. In this humble home George of one of their greatest inventors and

noblest men.

Stephenson spent his earliest years, leading the ordinary life of working people's children. He played, went bird-nesting, and ran errands. None of the laborers' children went to school; the parents were too poor for that. The older children had to watch the younger, to keep them from being run over by the charcoal wagons, which were drawn by horses over a wooden tramroad, just in front of the houses.

It was recently suggested by an eminent business man, that the life of George Stephenson would furnish materials for a far better Sunday-school book than the light literature which generally fills our libraries. Such a book would have the great merit of containing truth which is stranger than fiction. It would show the young how faith and perseverance may overcome the greatest diffi- Though George was not sent to school, culties. It would incite them to make his father's influence was in some rethe most of the talents which God has spects educational. "Old Bob" had given them, in the assurance that such the gift of telling stories for the enterefforts, when undertaken in His name, tainment of children; and in the evenare sure to receive an abundant blessing, while he was tending his engine, ing.

George Stephenson was born, on the 9th of June, 1781, at Wylam, a little village eight miles from New Castle, on Tyne, where there was a colliery and a furnace. His father, Robert Stephenson, or "Old Bob," as he was familiarly called, was foreman of an old pumping engine at the colliery, whose wages when in full work never amounted to more than twelve shillings a week. His wife Mabel, was the daughter of Robert Carr, a dyer of Ovingham. She was rather delicate and nervous, but was an excellent Christian woman. An aged neighbor said, many years afterwards, "They were honest folk, but sore holden down in the world."

George was the second of a family of six. The house in which he was born

the young folks gathered around him, to hear his marvellous tales about Sinbad the Sailor, and Robinson Crusoe. He was also a great lover of nature. In winter he had a flock of robins hopping around him for the crumbs saved from his scanty dinner. George, in his old age, used to tell of the delight which he felt when his father first showed him a robin's nest. He too loved birds and animals. In his boyhood he had a tame black-bird, which at night slept on his head-board. He also had fine rabbits, and earned many a sixpence by selling the fattest of them.

At eight years of age George was put to work. A widow wanted a boy to herd her cows. George applied for the place, and to his great joy was appointed at two pence a day. While watching

tice what Jesus says in both of these parables about human instrumentality. 66 As if a man should cast seed into the ground." V. 26. Again, He says the same of a mustard seed, as being sown by a man. Matt. 13: 31. The Church has spread and grown, because men and women have put forth consecrated human efforts. The Almighty blesses your work.

RISE OF GREAT MEN.

INFLUENCE OF ACCIDENT ON GREAT MEN. It is a curious coincidence that the two greatest Chancery lawyers of their day should both have been forced into the profession by incidental circumstances. Romilly says that what principally influenced his decision was the being thus enabled to leave his small fortune in his father's hands, instead of buying a sworn clerk's seat with it. At a later period of my life, after a success at the bar which my wildest and most sanguine dreams had never painted to me-when I was gaining an income of £8,000 or £9,000 a year, I have often reflected how all that prosperity had arisen out of the pecuniary difficulties of my father.

Wedderburn, Lord Loughborough, began as an advocate of the Scotch bar. In the course of an altercation with the lord president, he was provoked to tell his lordship that he had said as a judge, what he could not prove as a gentleman. Being ordered to make an apology, he refused, and left the Scotch for the English bar. What every one thought would be his ruin, turned out the best thing that could happen to him.

"There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough hew them how we may."

Lord Tenterden's early destination was changed by a disappointment. When he and Mr. Justice Richards were going the Home Circuit, they visited the Cathedral at Canterbury together. Richards commended the voice of a singing man in the choir. "Ah," said Lord Tenterden, "that is the only man I ever envied. When at school in this town we were candidates for a chorister's place, and he obtained it."

It is now well known that the Duke of Wellington, when a subaltern, was

anxious to retire from the army, and actually applied to Lord Camden, the lord lieutenant of Ireland, for a commissionership of customs. It is not always true, then, that men destined to play conspicuous parts in the world have a consciousness of their coming greatness, or patience, to bide their time. Their hopes grow as their capacity expands with circumstances; honors on honors arise, like Alps on Alps; in ascending one they catch a glimpse of another, till the last and highest, which was vailed in mist when they started, stands out in bold relief against the sky. Edinburgh Review.

YOUNG MEN AND THE CHURCH.

Among the many questions which may rise concerning the spread of Christ's kingdom in the world and the influence of His church upon the hearts and lives of men, there is this: What are young men doing in the Church? And more especially would we make this inquiry as to young men brought up in Christian families, regular in attendance at Divine service, and yet seemingly indifferent as to the experience of a deep and powerful religious feeling, both in their own hearts and in the hearts of others. St. John says: "I write unto you, young men, because you are strong" and what the Church of Christ needs to-day is more of this manly, youthful vigor exerted in its behalf. It needs the labor of young men. It needs their example, more powerful perhaps than that of any other class.

Did you ever realize, young man, the influence of your example? Did it ever occur to you that you may be standing in the way of others? Did you never think that a true, active Christian life led by you might put to shame many an older man as it recalled the wasted years of his own life-that the little boy who longs to be a man and do as young men do, wonld look up to you and choose the path that you have chosen for his own walk through life?

On, let it be your resolve henceforth that nothing which by God's grace you can do shall be left undone to make the Church with which you are united, a pillar of His holy truth.-The Record.

VOL. XXXIII.

MARCH, 1882.

NO. 3.

GEORGE STEPHENSON'S TRIALS AND was recently still standing. It was an

TRIUMPHS.

BY THE EDITOR.

ordinary laborer's dwelling; its walls unplastered, its floor of clay, and the bare rafters exposed overhead. The furniture was of the rudest description. Less than a year ago, England cele- When the family was most prosperous, brated the centennial anniversary of the their dwelling had but a single room, birth of George Stephenson, the founder which served as kitchen, parlor, and of her railroad system. It was a bril- sleeping-room for father, mother, and liant occasion, and the English people six children. Their only treasure was were proud to do honor to the memory of one of their greatest inventors and noblest men.

It was recently suggested by an eminent business man, that the life of George Stephenson would furnish materials for a far better Sunday-school book than the light literature which generally fills our libraries. Such a book would have the great merit of containing truth which is stranger than fiction. It would show the young how faith and perseverance may overcome the greatest difficulties. It would incite them to make the most of the talents which God has given them, in the assurance that such efforts, when undertaken in His name, are sure to receive an abundant blessing.

George Stephenson was born, on the 9th of June, 1781, at Wylam, a little village eight miles from New Castle, on Tyne, where there was a colliery and a furnace. His father, Robert Stephenson, or "Old Bob," as he was familiarly called, was foreman of an old pumping engine at the colliery, whose wages when in full work never amounted to more than twelve shillings a week. His wife Mabel, was the daughter of Robert Carr, a dyer of Ovingham. She was rather delicate and nervous, but was an excellent Christian woman. An aged neighbor said, many years afterwards, "They were honest folk, but sore holden down in the world."

George was the second of a family of six. The house in which he was born

the Bible. In this humble home George Stephenson spent his earliest years, leading the ordinary life of working people's children. He played, went bird-nesting, and ran errands. None of the laborers' children went to school; the parents were too poor for that. The older children had to watch the younger, to keep them from being run over by the charcoal wagons, which were drawn by horses over a wooden tram road, just in front of the houses.

Though George was not sent to school, his father's influence was in some respects educational. "Old Bob" had the gift of telling stories for the entertainment of children; and in the evening, while he was tending his engine, the young folks gathered around him, to hear his marvellous tales about Sinbad the Sailor, and Robinson Crusoe. He was also a great lover of nature. In winter he had a flock of robins hopping around him for the crumbs saved from his scanty dinner. George, in his old age, used to tell of the delight which he felt when his father first showed him a robin's nest. He too loved birds and animals. In his boyhood he had a tame black-bird, which at night slept on his head-board. He also had fine rabbits, and earned many a sixpence by selling the fattest of them.

At eight years of age George was put to work. A widow wanted a boy to herd her cows. George applied for the place, and to his great joy was appointed at two pence a day. While watching

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