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Flesherton Advance, 28 Apr 1937, p. 7

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NOTICE Due to tks fact that this whole page, next week, will be devoted entirely to the Coronation, we are including next wesk's Sunday School Lessan in thi< issue. CUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON LESSON v.â€" May 2 ABKAHAM A MAN OF FAITH (Genesis 11: 27â€"20, 18.) Printed Textâ€" Genesis 12: 1â€"9; 13: 14â€"18. GOLDKN TEXTâ€" By faith Abraham, whon he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He- brews 11: 8. I'he Lesson In Its Setting Time â€" Abraham was born B.C. 2003 and reached Canaan about B.C. 1928. He separated from Lot four years later and rescued Lot B.C. 1921. Sodom was destroyed B.C. 1904. Placeâ€" Tht City of Ur was in southern Chaldea. Haran was in Mesopotamia; Shechem in central Palestine; Sodom at the northern end of the; Dead Sea; the plain of Mamre, which i.s Hebron, i.<i located twenty miles south of Jerusalem. Gerar was nine miles .southwest of Gaza. "Now Jehovah said unto Abram'' â€" The name ".\bram" means "high father.' Later in the narrative we shall tinil the name changed to Abra- ham (17: 4, 5). "Get thoe out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee." This is undoubtedly the second call in Abram's life. The first one he had only partially obeyed (.A.cts 7: 2 â€" 4). God knew that Abram had come to an hour when he was ready to more fully obey God's commands. God never tells us to give up anything that i.s dear to us unless, at the same time, he gives u.s a promise of some- thins oven more precious that he will bestow upon us. (See Phi'. 3: 4 â€" 14). ".And I will make of thoe a great nation 'â€"The Jews have been a great nation numerically, and are greater today than probably ever before. They have been great in commercial life; they have been greater in arts and sciences, but they have been su- premely great in their spiritual in- fluence, in giving us the Holy Scrip- tures, and the Son of God. "And I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing." Abra- har.! was bles.sed in being the father ef th-j Hebrew people, in the privilege of walking with God, in receiving mighty promises from God, in being the father of the faithful; through- out all the ages he has been honored by Jew and Gentile, by Christians and .Mohammedans. His place in Christian truth may be judged by the fact that he is mentioned more than seventy times in the New Testa- ment. ".\nd 1 will ble.is them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth bo blessed." â€" (See Zeeh. 14: IGâ€" 19):â€" Abraham bestowed a blessing upon the world in being the tirst great character of the true God. Through him came that whole race of people who have so mightily blessed humanity by their Scriptures; through him came the Lord Je.sus Christ. "So .\braham went, as Jehovah had spoken unto, him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five yea.s i;ld when he departed out of Haia:}. And .\brani took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their sub.stance that they had gathered and the souls that they had gott.n in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and inta the land of Canaan they came." Canaan is supposed to mean "mer- cha.t.' See. o.j:.. Isa. 23: 11, the marg n. "And Abram passed through the Ian<l unto the place of Shechem." â€" This is the place where Abram first ercitod an altar. Shechem lay in the pass which cuts through mounts Epiiiaini, Ebal, and Gcrizim, about twenty-five miles directly north of Jerusalem, in a valley which A. P. Stan'ey has called "the most beauti- ful, !;erhaps it might be »aid, the only very beautiful spot, in central Pales- tine." "lliitu the oak of Moreh. Moreh refeis to the owner of the oak grove, ".^n.l the {^anaanite was then in the land. This simply implies that the lanil was not Dpen for Abram to en- ter upon immediate possession of it without challenge. It also intimates or admits of the suppositioi that there ha. I been previous inhabitants who may have been subjugated by the in- vading Canaanites. ".And Jehovah appeared unto Ab- ram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appear- ed unto him." â€" Here, for the first time, occurs a phrase that is to have such great significance throughout the Old and New Testaments, 'the Lord appeared.' How he actually ap- peared to Abram we are not told, and it is vain for us to speculate. We can be confident that God appeared in such a way that Abram knew that it was God who was speaking with him. Though the promise of the land was given to Abrara, he himself never possessed Canaan: this was left for his seed, to follow some hundreds of years later (see Acts 7: 5). "And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east; and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah. And Abram jour- neyed, going on still toward the South." â€"Bethel means 'the house of God," and is to be identified with the modem town Beitin. It played a most important part in the life of Abram's grandson, Jacob (Gen. 28: 11). Why Abram continuei' to move southward we are not told: probably God would have him traverse the en- tire land which he had promised as a possession for his descendants. "And Jehovah said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, north- ward and southward and eastward and westward. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever." â€" This is the second promise Abraham has been given regarding the ultimate posses- sion of Canaan, only this time the promise has a greater sweep, and its eternal aspect here first appears. God does not tease us by giving ou:. souls visions of ultimate accomplishments, desires for service, but he leads us, and schools us, and equips us for the attainment of that which he has un- unveiled to our souls; one vision to one and another to anothiT. "And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be number- ed"â€" For a fulfillment of this prom- ise see Num. 23: 10; Duet. 1; 10; 10: 22; 28: 62. In Gen. 15: 5, Abra- ham is promised a seed as numerous as the stars of the heaven, and it has been suggested that the promise that his seed should be as the dust of the earth refers to his posterity accord- ing to the flesh, and the promise that his seed should be as numerous as the stars of the heaven, refers to his seed according to the Spirit, Gal. 3: 29; Heb. 2; 16). "Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it. And Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built there an al- tar unto Jehovah." â€" .\cting: immedi- ately, as the heavenly voice directed, Abram moved his tents to the plain of Mamre, who later became his friend and ally (14; 13, 24), near He- bron, twenty-two miles south of Jer- usalem, on the way to Beersheba, a town of great antiquity. Here he 'ouilt an altar to God. It is not said anywhere that Lot ever built an altar to God. Erecting an altar for the worship of Jehovah in every place where Abram journeyed may be com- pared to Christian people immediate- ly seeking a church home when they move to a new city; or a travelling man attending divine service every Lord's Day no matter how far from home he might be; or Christian people not allowing themselves, in strange cities, and when living in hotels, to fall asleep at night without hearing the voice of God from the pages of Holy Scripture. LESSON VI.â€" May 9. ABRAHAM A MAN OF PRAYEK (Chapter 18.) Printed Text Genesis 18: 17â€"32. GOLDEN TE.XT- The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. James 5: 16. The Lesson In Its Setting Time^â€" Abraham's intercession for Sodom occurred B.C. 1904. Place â€" Hebron, about twenty miles south of Jerusalem. "And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; See- ing that Abraham shall surely be- come a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" â€" God always knows what he is going to do in every cir- cumstance concerning every individu- al and every nation. Some of these purposes he has revealed to us in his Holy Word, indeed thousands of them. Often by prayer ai.d abiding in the will of God we come to know God's specific purposes for ua at specific times, as we face certain cir- cumstances. Our knowledge of what God will do strengthens us, encour- ages us to greater fervency in Chris- 0â€"4 tian work, delivers us from fear, and creates in us a hope that nothing can ever take away. "For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children aP'' *'is household after nim, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righveousncss and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." â€" As it was only by obedi- ence and righteousness that Abraham and his seed were to continue in God's favor, it was fair that they should be encouraged to do so by seeing the fruits of unrighteousness. So that as the Dead Sea lay throughout their whole history on their borders, re- minding them of the wages of sin, they might never fail rightly to in- terpret its meaning and in every great catastrophe read the lesson, 'E.xcept ye repent, ye shall all like- wise perish.' The^ could never at- tribute to chance this predicted judg- ment. "And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have don" alto- gether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know." â€" There, far down the valley, lay the guilty cities, still and peaceful. No sound travelled to the patriarch's ears. Quiet though Sodom seemed in the far distance, and in the hush of the closing day; yet to God there was a cry, the cry of the maiden, the wife, and the child. These were the cries which had entered into the ears of the Lord God. Each sin has a cry. 'The voice of thy broth- er's blood crieth unto me.' We must not conclude from the phraseology of these two verses that Gog did not know the actual condition in Sodom prevailing at this time: su h expres- sions as we have here are used to indicate God's absolute justice in all his decisions, and to inform us that God never punishes any being or any community in wrath, but thai he is fully justified in so doing. Gen. 18: 22â€"23. "And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet be- fore Jehovah. And Abraham drew near, and said. Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked? Per- adventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this man- ner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee; shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" â€" This prayer of Abraham's arose from Abraham's knowledge of Gods purposes towards Sodom, and from Abraham's own love for Lot, and his feeling of deep responsibility for the son of his do- ceased brother, with whom for so many years he had lived and labored. Furthermore, Abraham knew God. He had absolute confidence in God as one who heard prayer, who always acted reasonably and justly, and to whom he could fervently pour out his heart's desires. "And Jehovah said. If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place f jr their sake." â€" God acc^ted the test proposed by Abraham, though not necessarily thereby acquiescing in the absolute soundness of his logic; God said he would spare Sodom if fifty righteous could be found, not as an act of judgment, but as an ex- ercise of mercy, because of the claims upon his mercy which grace admits the righteous to prefer. "And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five. And he said, I will not des- troy it, if I find there forty and five.'' â€" Abraham must have known the city of Sodom intimately, and he probably was convinced in his own heart that fifty righteous could not be found within the circumference of that city. He himself certainly never heard of fifty righteous men being there. Yet his heart is moved with pity for his own flesh and blood, who certainly would be destroyed in such a judgment as is about to descend upon this city. Accordingly, he asks God if he would not spare the city if only forty-five righteous could be found, and God answered his second petition as he had answered the first. It should be noticed that, in this sec- ond petition, Abraham appears even in deeper humility Ih.in in the first peition, as though he had no right to ask God anything, being but dust and ashes himself â€" he 's dust at first and ashes at last. ".Vnd he spake utito him r.gain. and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there."â€" Twice again, continu- ally reducing the number of those who, if found, would lead God to spare the city, does Abraham ap- proach God on behalf of a doomed community. Hers is true peraiatence in prayer, not letting go of God until >-••••»â-  I FARM NOTES CoiKhicted by PlUJhl:SS(JK IIHNKV (;. BLl.L With the Co-Operalion of th« Various Departments of the Ontario Aaricultural College. I >>••»» I QUESTION: ''Ret;ardnig fertlli/.cis. what conditions call lor a 20'n phos- phate? 1 H'as wondering: if It was t!ie price that vas in its favor. We would like to sow grain again on land which had sraln last year. Last year's dry spell has thrown our rotation out of order. Our land is sandy and travel loam. Would you recommend sowing 20% phosphate alone? How would it he in conjunction with a light co.j' of manure, or would you recommend one of the regular fertilizers?'' â€" J. R., Wentworth County. ANSWER; You say that you would like to sow grain again on land which had grain last year. You also say that the land is sandy and gravelly loam. ChancLS are the level of available Nitrogen, Phosphoric Acid and Pot- Chief of Staff Commissioner John McMillan, chief of the Salvation Army in Canada, has been appointed chief of staff of the organisation, sec- ond only to General Evangeline Booth. Set To Fight at Drop Woe betide the intrepid rain- drop that should venture beneath the umbrella sheltermg this Eng- lish bulldog, truculent entry in Melbourne show. our whole heart has been poured out before him, pleading with his as a man would plead with a friend. How wonderful for a mere creature to be on such terms with God as Abraham is here revealed to have been, and yet every Christian believer in Jesus Christ has an even greater right to exercise in entering 'into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us.' (Heb, 10; 19. 20). "And he said. Behold now, I have taken" upon mo to speak unto the Lord; peradventure there shall be twenty found there. .\nd he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and 1 will speak yet but this once; peradventure ton shall be found. .\nd ho said, ' will not destroy it for the ten's sake.'' â€" Twice again, still clinging to God for Sodom, does .-Vbraham plead that God might not destroy this wicked city, once asking that it might be preserved if only twenty righteous should be found, and, finally asking if God would preserve it if only ten righteous should be found. And both times Goil answered Abrjtiaiu in the att'irmative. We arc not told that God demanded that Abraham tease his intercession for Sodom: we may assume that Abraham simply thought he dared not ask God for more than he had already requested, and that to do .so would be to presume upon the mercy of Jehovah. Abraham "felt that he had reached the limit of that liberty which God accords the believing suppliants at his throne." ash will be fairly low in this soil (or this year's crop. If you can spare it, a light coislins of manure, I believe it would be good. In addition, I would rocomnieu'l that yo i apply 250 lbs. par acre of 2-12-ii or 2-12-10 fertilizer. I would prefer the latter although It would cost a little more 212-10 has given excellent results in our demoustratiou tests over the province, givini, iucrjases of 10 to 15 bushels per acre over unfertilized. 2-12-10 fer'ilizer at the rate 1 men- tioned wil; cost you approximately $3.30 and 2-12-6 will cost $3.00 per a e. 20% Superphosphate would cost you $2.50 per acre, but it will not add anything but Phosphoric .\eid. This is the kind of plantfood which hastens ripening. 2-12-6 will add Nitrogen which gives straw growth and Potash which promotes the filling and health- iness of th« crop. In our demonstra- tion tests, we have found that both Nitrogen and Potash pay well under conditions which you mention, especi- ally if you are seeding down with alf- alfa or grass mixture. Best applica- tion of this fertilizer of course, is through the fertilizer section of the combined fertilizer and grain drill. The analysis of the soil would of course help us in reaching definite knowledge of the fertility levels of your soil, but since you say it was in grain last year, and since it is sandy a- gravelly loam soil, I believe you would be safe in following the sug- gestion that r have iiiven. Britain Seeks Better Sirens Tests Being Made â€" Organize Against Raids by Hostile Planes LONDOX. ENG., â€" In the govern- ment's search for an effective air-raid warning device, the Willesden-district of London has resounded in the din of blaring hooters, shrieking sirens and exploding maroons. Sixty bservers ot the metropolitan police were posted in the open, in the shops, houses, and offices to listen to the chorus of noises. Some were four miles from the centre of the opera- tions. Further trials may be necessary be- fore final selections are made. Mean- while the government-subsidized fac- tory at Blackburn is turning out 500.- 000 gasmasks a week and special ser- vices organized by t!ie air .-aid pro- caution department of the Homo Of- fice are being whipped into shape. Wing Commander E. J. Hodsoll, in charge of the air raid precautions de- partment, said the country would "soon be organized and ready to meet any emergency that might arise." Ijjovie-radio [gossip B7 DOROTHY .^m) As a fitting salute to Sprini;, War- ner Brothers have released "The King and the Chorus Girl," and United Ar- tists have put out "History Is Made at Night." They are both giddy and romantic and have set everyone to arguing over who is the greater mat- inee idol, Fernaiid Gravet or Charles Boyer. They are both grand romantic heroes. "The King and the Chorus Girl," is something of a nine day won- der because it is a Warner Brothers musical without a big production num- ber to interrupt the gaiety. And ''His- tory Is Made .it Night." is completely baffling because it mixes spectacular scenes and grim tragedy with farcl- cial situations. Takuit scouts from the motion-pic- ture studios are suspected of doing their huiitim; nowa- days in nurseries, lor suddenly all of Hollywood is in a dither over the child prodigies. If you did hear Betty Jaynes, the fifteen-year-old opera star on Bing Crosby's program a few weeks ago. just before she started work for Metro- Gold wyn-Mayer, yoa may have marveled She is practically mid- dle aged, compared to their new- est discovery, for tlie new contract player is Suzanne Larson, aged ten, who will be loalurod in a musical "B Above High C." which gives you an idea of her voice range. Bing Crosby at her talent. ODDS AND ENDS â€" Freddie Bar- tholomew stayed up past his bedtime to see the iruview of '•Captain Cour- ageous." the screen version ot Kip- ling's immortal novel and the lad's greatest picture since coming to Hol- lywood. â€" Kranchot Tone recently ce- lebrated his birthday with a party at a popular Hollywood night club. â€" In her current picture, "When Love Is Young," Virgina Bruce wears a dress that required UIO yard.s of material â€" "Anthony Adverse' got a cool recep- tion when it was given its premiere in Paris recently. The Parisians were not at all pleased with the way Nap- oleon was presented in the picture. â€" While Gloria Swanson's return to the films has hit a temporary snag, those in the know say all the present diffi- culties will soon be ironed out â€" De- auna Durbin is about the busiest young lady in Hollywood. Just as soon as she completes "One Hundred Men and a Girl." she will go into produc- tion ou anil her pielur'j. See President on New Coal and Labor Laws John L. Lewis (left) and Senator Joseph F. Guffey leaving White House after discussing Gulfey Coal Bill and labor legislation with President Roosevelt. Boxer from "Down Under" Eyes Top Places Preparing: to make his debut in the .\mcrican ring, Maurice Strick- land, heavyweight from New Zealand, work.i out on the heavy bag in New York gymnasium. He will meet Nathan Mann at the Hippo- drome in New York.

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