Our Sunday-School Papers. THE Sunday-School Advocate and the SundaySchool Classmate have long been among the lowestpriced papers of their kind published. The quality of the paper used, and the beauty of the engravings employed, together with the care bestowed in printing and the pains taken to secure able and original writers have given both these periodicals a wide reputation among Sunday-schools. The publishers on the first of July reduced the price of each of these papers from twenty-five cents a year to sixteen cents, when sent in packages of six or more to one address. This ought to bring these beautiful papers within easy reach of all our schools. Specimen copies will be sent on application to Phillips & Hunt, 805 Broadway, New York, or Cranston & Stowe, 190 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. A Plea for Patience. DR. ARNOLD, who was once the head master of the famous Rugby school in England, was a great and good teacher. Unlike the rest of us who are teachers he was not quite perfect, and on one occasion, marvelous to tell, he lost his patience. The timid boy who stood in his awful presence was blundering in his recitation, and the doctor began to scold. Then the boy looked up and taught him a lesson that he never forget to his dying day. "Why do you scold me, sir?" he exclaimed in gentle tones. "Indeed I am doing the best I can." To the honor of Arnold be it said he did not flog the boy for that rebuke, but thanked him. He tried to teach that boy a lesson in Latin, but he was taught himself a lesson in patience, and in our journey through life we need patience even more than Latin. Patience is a virtue, and has a stunted, sickly growth unless placed under careful cultivation. The teacher needs it in the Sunday-school, for one scholar is listless and the other is bent on mischief, and so on through the class. But how grand a thing it is to have a stupid pupil! You rouse yourself in order to rouse him, and you tell what you know in clearest words, and then you practice on him the art of questioning until you become a master of that happy art. If you triumph and wake up that dull intellect, your triumph is complete; but if you fail, even then you have not failed to improve yourself as a teacher. Even the dunces have their part to act in improving us, and so let us not grow angry while we try to reduce their number. Patience-patience! : THE APOSTLES' CREED. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucifiled, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. *Special Lessons in the Church Catechism may here be introduced. INTERNATIONAL BIBLE LESSONS. THIRD QUARTER: THREE MONTHS' STUDIES IN THE WRITINGS OF JOHN. A. D. 30.1 LESSON V. JESUS HONORED. John 12. 1-16. [Commit to memory verses 12-16.] HOSANNA! passover came to Beth'a-ny, where Laz'a-rus was which had been dead, 2 There they made him a supper: 3 Then took Ma'ry a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Je'sus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Ju'das Is-car'i-ot, Si'mon's son, which should betray him. 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Je'sus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. General The resurrection of Lazarus, which ought to have convinced the most skeptical among the Jews, only excited a more bitter hate on the part of Jesus's enemies. They feared, or pretended to fear, that the miracle would greatly increase the number of those who believed in Jesus, and might result in a rebellion against Rome, and the ruin of the Jewish state. Their resolution was speedily taken, to put Jesus to death, as a disturber of the nation's peace. He who could read the hearts of men knew all their plots, and as his time had not yet come, he kept himself from their hands. He avoided the city, and went into retirement at the little village of Ephraim, or Ephron, among the mountains near Beth-el. After staying there for a few weeks he descended with his disciples to the valley of the Jordan, crossed the river, and began an active ministry in the province of Perea. Here the popularity of earlier days was renewed, and great multitudes assembled to listen to his teachings. Few miracles were wrought, Sychar Ephraim Bethabara Jericho Bethany [Aug. 1. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there and they came not for Je'sus' sake only, but that they might see Laz'a-rus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Laz'a-rus also to death; 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Je'sus. 12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Je-ru'sa-lem, 13 Took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Je'sus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Je'sus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. Statement. as they were not necessary to awaken the attention of the people; but some of the most precious of the Saviour's parables belong to this period of his ministry, as those of "The Lost Sheep," "The Great Supper, and that pearl of parables, the Prodigal Son. Here, too, the Saviour laid his hands of blessing upon the little children, and pointed out to the rich young ruler the way of self-denial. After journeying throughout the province, the Saviour re-crossed the Jordan, and at Jericho healed blind Bartimeus and was entertained by the publican Zaccheus. From Jericho he climbed the mountains once more to Bethany, followed by the disciples, though with fear, for they knew the dangers awaiting him at the capital. Once more under the friendly roof at Bethany he rests from his journey and receives the loving tribute of Mary, the sister of Laza rus, and on Palm Sunday enters the city of Jerusalem in triumph. (1) Notice the atmosphere of sociality and good cheer which surrounded our Saviour. Explanatory and Practical Notes. 3. Then took Mary. This Mary of Bethany must be carefully distinguished from Mary of Magdala (Mary Magdalene), out of whom Jesus had cast several demons; and also from the unnamed "woman that was a sinner," who had anointed Jesus earlier in his ministry. A pound. The Greek litra, weighing twelve ounces. Ointment of spikenard. It was rather a liquid perfume than an ointment, and was imported from the far East in alabaster flasks, with long necks, which were broken when opened. Very costly. If Judas gave its correct value, it was worth nearly fifty dollars, which then possessed the purchasing power of five hundred now. This and other indications show that the family of the Bethany sisters was rich and of high social position. Anointed the feet of Jesus. Lazarus is named Jericho. Where Lazarus was. According to Mark (14. 3) she broke the flask because it was on his account that the supper was above his head, and then poured a part also upon his feet. Wiped his feet with her hair. It was the exgiven, and the anointing was performed out of grati tude for his restoration to life. pression of her love and gratitude, showing that she would consecrate her best and choicest to his service. The house was filled. John was present, and sixty years afterward writes the details which impressed themselves on his memory. (2) So every act of selfsacrifice for Jesus sends abroad its fragrance. (3) The best we have is none too good to bestow upon our Lord. O JERUSALEM Dead 2. There they made him a supper. This was probably at the close of the Sabbath, after sunset on Saturday evening. Elsewhere we learn that it was at "the house of Simon the leper," who may have been healed by Jesus. Martha served. True to her character of practical helpfulness and activity. Lazarus was one. The feast was in his honor as well as to Jesus. Sat at the table. Literally, "reclined;" as the guests lay on couches, with their heads toward the tables, and their feet toward the wall. The couches and tables occupied three sides of a square, the fourth side being left open for the entrance of the servants. 4. Then saith one of his disciples. The other gospels simply mention the remark as made by the disciples in general; John remembers that it was made by Judas, and that it was characteristic of the man. Judas Iscariot. Perhaps he had not yet gone so far as to be already a traitor; but the purpose was doubt ess taking shape in his mind. Originally, he was as good as most of his fellow-disciples, but by degrees greed and selfishness grew to mastery within him and nade him a fit subject of temptation. Simon's son. This Simon is entirely unknown. Ten or eleven different persons of this name are mentioned in the New Tes cament. (4) We need not be surprised at finding unrorthy members in our churches, since there was a Judas among the twelve apostles. 5. Why was not this ointment sold? He looked at Mary's offering with the calm judgment of a business man, not with the favor of a loyal disciple. For three hundred pence. Rather, "for three hundred shillings," the Roman denarii, each worth fifteen or sixteen cents. Given to the poor. So to-day, there are those who criticise the offerings of God's people and say, "It costs a thousand dollars to get one heathen converted; better give the money to the poor at home." 6. Not that he cared for the poor. The true friends of the poor are those who show the spirit, not of Judas, but of Mary. He was a thief. The money would not have gone to the poor if it had reached the hands of Judas, but would have been added to his private hoard. And had the bag, and bare. Rev. Ver., "and having the bag, took away what was put therein. He was the treasurer of the sacred company, which had one common purse. Doubtless he had been chosen to this important office on account of his financial abilities, but had yielded by degrees to temptation, despite the warnings of the Saviour. Quesnel says, "Jesus suffers his money to be stolen from him, but never his sheep." 7. Then said Jesus. The old version makes the answer of Jesus to mean, "This anointing is a preparation for my burial." But the Rev. Ver., following another text, reads, "Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burial," as if only a part of the ointment had been used, and the rest were to be reserved for the burial. Whatever the precise language, the aim of Christ was to show that her service had a deeper meaning than others knew. It may be, as Bushnell suggests, that Mary with the insight of faith perceived what others did not believe, that Jesus was soon to die, and gave her offering for his burial; or that the Saviour, having his atoning death always in view, supplied a purpose to her act of which she, even, was ignorant. 8. The poor always ye have with you. There will always be opportunities in abundance to do good to the poor; and those who do the most for Christ will be the most liberal in giving alms. But me ye have not always. Thus was Jesus ever trying to reveal to his disciples, what they were so slow to believe, that he was soon to leave them. (5) Our opportunities for Christ will soon pass away, and we must use them while we can. bitterly opposed to Jesus as the rulers, though greatly influenced by them. They came. To Bethany, where he was staying, to see both Jesus and Lazarus, concerning whom there would naturally be much inquiry. (6) Curiosity leads many to inquire about the Gospel, and some out of the many to become Christians. 10, 11. The chief priests consulted. They were growing more and more desperate, as they saw the number of Christ's followers increasing. They resolved to crush the entire sect by slaying both Jesus its leader, and Lazarus, who, through the miracle wrought upon him, was one of its strongest upholders. (7) Every man who has passed from death into life is an evidence for Christ which the world cannot answer. (8) It is the argument of persecution to disprove the Gospel by the sword. 12. On the next day. The Sunday before the passover; still celebrated in some sections of the Church as Palm Sunday. Much people that were come to the feast. These people who came out to honor Jesus were not dwellers in Jerusalem, for these were always opposed to Jesus, but were mainly pilgrims from Galilee and Perea, who were favorable to him. Heard that Jesus was coming. It was not a pre-arranged reception, but a popular enthusiasm which seized the crowd on the approach of Jesus. 13. Branches of palm-trees. Which were then abundant along the road between Bethany and Jerusalem. The palm was the emblem of triumph. Hosanna, A Hebrew word meaning" Save now, we beseech thee." Blessed is the King. Very many of the crowd really believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel, and that he was now about to take possession of his throne. When they were disappointed in their expectation, and found him unwilling to lead in a revolt from Rome, they were ready to turn against him and cry "Crucify him!" (9) of how small account is the popular favor! 14, 15. Found a young ass. The circumstances of the finding are narrated in Mark 11. 1-6. The ass was anciently held in high honor, nobles and kings riding on it. Probably the owner of this ass was a friend of Jesus. As it is written. In Zech. 9. 9. It is quoted not precisely, but according to the usage of New Testament writers, varying the language-which was familiar to all Jews-in order to make the thought more em phatic. 16. These things. The events here narrated. Understood not his disciples. Before the crucifixion, they saw not how all these acts were fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies. When Jesus was glorified. By his death, resurrection, and ascension. Then remembered they. Their minds were enlightened by the Spirit, and they saw both new meanings in the Scriptures, and their fulfillment in the life of Christ. 234 SUNDAY-SCHOOL JOURNAL. Practical Teachings. 1. Love counts no gift too precious for an earthly friend. Why should it deny any thing-time, talents, means, or life-to such a friend as Jesus? 2. He was a guest in Bethany with a few friends. He has promised to be my guest forever if I will. Rev. 3. 20. 3. Jesus disappointed their sinful earthly expectation. But he never disappoints the poor sinner who turns to him in penitence. QUESTIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE SCHOLARS. When did Jesus come again to Bethany? At whose house was he a guest? Who sat at table with Jesus? What place did Martha take? How did Mary honor the guest ? Who found fault with her? What objection did he urge? What was the rebuke of Jesus? Why was her service approved? What brought many guests to the feast! 2. The King, v. 10-16. Who plotted for the death of Lazarus ? Who had heard of the coming of Jesus? What preparations had they made to honor him? On what did Jesus ride? Who had foretold this? Zech. 9. 9. Who were puzzled by these events? Teachings of the Lesson. Where, in this lesson, are we taught 1. That love finds no service costly? 2. That loving service is pleasing to Jesus? 3. That an evil heart always finds an evil motive in others? QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SCHOLARS. Who made a feast for Jesus in Bethany? His friends. Who served at the feast? Martha. Lazarus. Who sat at the table and ate with Jesus? What was spikenard? A sweet and costly perfume. What will we do if we love Jesus? Give him the best that we have. Who found fault with Mary? Judas, who afterward betrayed Jesus. What did he say she ought to have done? Sold the perfume, and given the money to the poor. What did Jesus say? Do not find fault with her, she has anointed me for my burial. Why did he speak of his burial? He knew that in a week he would be lying in his grave. Where did Christ go the next day? To Jerusalem. What did they strew in his way? Branches of palm-trees. What did they shout? (Repeat the Golden Text.) When did the disciples understand all these things? When the Holy Spirit came and opened their eyes and hearts to the truth. Words with Little People. Can you not sing a happy song and praise Jesus, too? The birds are singing; the woods, the fields of waving grain, the lakes, the mountains, and the sea to "his throne their tribute bring." over. Hark! I can almost hear you singing, THE LESSON CATECHISM. 1. Where did Jesus go soon after the raising of Laz- علم TEXTS AT CHURCH. Morning Text.... Evening Text.. I. OUR INVITATION. There they made him a supper. v. 2. "Came down, and received him joyfully." Luke 19.6. "Will sup with him, and he with me." Rev. 3. 20. II. OUR SERVICE. And Martha served. v. 2. "Your work and labor of love." Heb. 6. 10. III. OUR SELF-SACRIFICE. A pound of ointment....very costly. v. 3. She hath done what she could." Mark 14. 8. "Be told for a memorial." Matt. 26. 13. IV. OUR FIDELITY. He was a thief, and had the bag. v. 6. "Who then is a faithful....servant?" Matt. 24. 45. Required in stewards....found faithful." 1 Cor. 4. 2. V. OUR INFLUENCE. By reason of him many....believed. v. 11. 'Beholding the man...could say nothing." Acts 4. 14. "Took knowledge....been with Jesus." Acts 4.13. VI. OUR PRAISES. Blessed is the king of Israel. v. 13. "Blessing.... unto the Lamb." Rev. 5. 13. THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 1. Let us remember that we have a Saviour who could enter into the innocent pleasures of life, and sit down with his friends at a supper. Religion was never intended to rob life of its joys. v. 1, 2. 2. Let us not count the cost of our gifts to Jesus. The motive is what Christ honors in our offering, whether it be large or small. v. 3-5. 3. Each one may honor Jesus in his own way; Martha by her service, Mary by her present. But Christ sees the heart of each follower. v. 5-7. 4. Our offerings to Jesus may have a deeper meaning and a greater result than we ourselves know. A dying little girl gave her little "bank," with less than ten dol"to build a church for poor people." Her act lars in it, inspired others, and the church was built. v.7. 5. Let us remember that we have always the poor with us; the honest, needy ones, upon whom we can bestow our gifts. "Remember the poor" has ever been one of the mottoes of the Church. v. 8. 6. Sometimes curiosity draws men to faith. Many a careless hearer, who has come to Church out of curi osity, has been awakened and become a believer. v. 9-11. 7. We should never be ashamed to confess Christ as our King, and ourselves as his followers. Before all the world let us own him. v. 12, 13. 8. We shall see, as we study the Scriptures, how Christ fulfills the word! Then let us seek for Christ in the Old Testament, which is "the earlier Gospel." v. 14-16. An English Teacher's Notes on the Lessons. BY SARAH GERALDINA STOCK. THERE are two points to be borne in mind in considering this subject. First, that a man is best honored when his mind, his aims, and his objects are rightly understood. There is wide difference between the ways men take to do honor to their fellows. In the case of one to whom all England desired to raise a national memorial, that of the heroic Gordon, it was rightly felt that any thing involving pomp or show would be out of place, and that something must be chosen which accorded with the purposes of his life. At the burial of an African princess an immense quantity of valuable cloth was interred with the body, and the obsequies of chiefs and kings have often been celebrated by the sacrifice of human life. I think it was an African potentate who proposed to shoot a slave in honor of an English traveler who was visiting him, so little did he understand what would please the visitor. brave soldier esteems nothing such an honor as to have a post of danger assigned to him. A Second, that we often find some objecting to the honor shown to others. The Athenian who voted for the banishment of Aristides because he was tired of hearing him called " the Just" has many followers. But what was the real reason of his dislike? It must have been that he felt the honor paid to Aristides detracted something from himself. The reason of Ahithophel's vexation, when the counsel of Hushai was followed (2 Sam. 17. 23), was because it meant the neglect of his own advice. And when Haman by command of King Ahasuerus had to show honor to Mordecai (Esth. 6. 10-12) that which made the matter especially bitter to him was that he had expected these very honors himself. Oursubject to-day is "Jesus Honored." It seems almost strange, after seeing him contradicted, rejected, persecuted, to come to this, while yet reading of his earthly life. And John has (unlike Matthew and Mark) put these two occasions on which he was honored together (as they actually do come, in point of time), as if to give us opportunity to observe the contrast between them. The first occasion was at Bethany. The feast of the passover was approaching, and our Lord had come to Bethany to lodge there, at least for a few nights, while he went in and out of Jerusalem. "There they made him a supper"-a very ordinary way of showing honor to a guest. The supper, however, appears to be mentioned for the sake of an incident which marked it. The customary ceremony (Luke 7. 44-46) had doubtless been observed with more than usual care, yet one of the party proceeded to anoint our Lord afresh. The fragrance that filled the place soon proclaimed what Mary had done, and how costly was the perfume she had appropriated to this use. Thus Jesus was honored before all. The second occasion was at Jerusalem. Our Lord had usually entered the city quietly, without attracting special notice, and but a few months before, at the feast of tabernacles, he had come "in secret." But this time he came with a large company. Numbers had accompanied him from Jericho (Matt. 20. 29; Mark 10. 46), and others who had heard of the raising of Lazarus went out of the city to meet him. He came "n eek, and sitting upon an ass" (Matt. 20. 5), without pomp or show, yet the scene must have been an imposing one. The multitude with their waving palms, symbolical of gladness and peace, and their cries of "Hosanna to the Son of David" was such as to create a profound sensation, so that we are told by Matthew, "All the city was moved, saying, Who is this?" No such homage had been paid to our Lord in Jerusalem before. But how did our Lord receive the homage of the multitude? We are not told that he was pleased or that he commended them. He justified his disciples when the Pharisee demanded that their shouts on the way should be silenced (Luke 19. 40). On the following day he expressly accepted the praises sung by the children in the temple. Matt. 21. 16. But the only expressions we have of his feelings on this day are the tears shed, and the words of sorrow spoken: "When he was come near, and beheld the city." Luke 19. 41, etc. On the former occasion it was very different. He recognized the significance of Mary's act: Against the day of my burying hath she kept this;" "In that she poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial." Matt. 26. 12. And we are told by Matthew and Mark that he commended it; "She hath wrought a good work on me," and he immortalized it: "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a testimonial of her." Why this contrast? The homage of the multitude was a mere passing tribute, given in utter ignorance of what Jesus had come to do. They had imagined his kingdom to be "of this world," and received him accordingly. Mary, on the contrary, recognized his mission. She saw that before him lay the cross and the grave. She, alone of all that were with him, in some measure understood and entered into that which was coming, and anointed him beforehand, for death and burial. A young lady once told me she thought we ought to give the very best we had to the Lord. But, alas all she had in her mind was outward show, grand churches, elaborate services, splendid music, etc. Another lady (Miss F. R. Havergal) prayed him to take her whole life, moments and days, voice, lips, feet, silver and gold, intellect, will, love, heart, and make them his own. Which was the better gift? Why were two so different? The first thought of Christ merely as demanding outward homage. The other remembered that he died, and that by his death she was redeemed, body and soul, 'bought with a price" that she might glorify him. I have hardly space left to speak of the objections raised by some who saw Jesus honored. But ob 66 |