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11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void: but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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1 Isa. 54:9.

is of great use in various ways for promoting the fruitfulness of the earth. It is a great blessing when it falls on the almost treeless mountains, and then does not return again, but is distributed in the life-giving streams during the whole season. Were it not for the height of Hermon and Lebanon, so great as to preserve snow all the year round, many a stream would come as a devastating flood for a few hours or days, and then leave a dry and barren bed for the rest of the year. Prof. I. H. Hall. Then in our more northern climates the snow is one of the most wonderful compensations in all the works of God. The cold that would destroy the roots in the ground during our long winters forms out of the air a covering of snow to protect them from its own ravages, and the colder the climate the thicker this blanket of snow. Then the snow brightens and cheers the long winter by covering up the brown earth with a bright reflector. And the snow is the treasure-house of spring. Rain would run off from the frozen ground, and when spring came, and the ground needed an unusual amount of water, it would be dry, or else there must be continual rain, while in the spring there is also especial need of sunshine. But the snow treasures the winter's supply of water, and keeps it till needed for the fresh life of spring. — P. And returneth not thither. This has no bearing on the ultimate re-ascent of the rain in the form of vapor (it will not return void, empty, ver. 11), but means "will not be turned back, defeated." It remains here working out God's beneficent purposes. Cook. Maketh it bring forth and bud. It does the work God intended it to do. It does not fail of accomplishing God's purpose of blessing to man.

II. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. The word is not merely prophecy or promise, but everything that God utters either in the way of prediction or command. Alexander. Here God's word, compared to the descending, fertilizing rain, admits of two possible applications: either (1) to his Gospel promises with reference to their sure fulfilment, or (2) to his Gospel truth in general, with reference to its moral power in renewing human hearts and regenerating the moral face of the world. Both are blended and involved in these verses. God's word of promise is to be fulfilled; his word of truth shall go forth and fall upon the face of the earth as the rain falls from heaven, and like it shall be gloriously fertilizing and renovating, till it has richly furnished seed for the sower and bread for the eater, and made the sin-cursed earth a second Eden. Cowles. It shall not return unto me void. Empty of results, a failure. But it shall accomplish that which I please. The purposes for which God sent it forth. Whatever apparent failures there may be, however long the good seed lies dormant, it is sure to be successful in the end.-P. God's purposes accomplished in nature, the stability of the seasons, of seed-time and harvest, the perfect reliability of every law and force of nature, are the assurance and proof that God's spiritual word will be successful in its work and purposes. The kingdom of nature is the proof forever before our eyes of the success of the kingdom of heaven.

Here we can apply the words of ver. 10, "seed for the sower and bread for the eater." God's word does two things: (1) it satisfies the hungry soul; it is indeed bread from heaven, giving strength and growth, and satisfying every desire of the soul. But (2) it farnishes the means by which the worker in God's vineyard can feed other souls. Here we get the seed we are to sow in the fields of the world; here only can we find the best seed, free from tares, and full of vitality. — P.

I. Vers. I, 2.

THE GOSPEL INVITATIONS.

"Whoever has any sense of need, or any longing of soul, has a special invitation from God to come and be supplied."

2. The invitation is absolutely free to all.

3. Therefore we should extend this invitation to all, of every grade and every degree. 4. The best things of God cannot be bought. They can be received, but not pur

chased. Here the poor are as well off as the rich.

5. He who offers them has no need of us, nor of any returns we can make him. He makes us these proposals, not because he has occasion to sell, but because he has a disposition to give.-M. Henry.

6. The invitation is to the best things of God, and the things most needed by man, for his life, his comfort, and his salvation.

7. The soul of man is full of longings and desires, aspirations and needs.

8. The things of this world can never satisfy the hunger of the soul. They are like the salt waters of the sea, which increase instead of quenching the thirst.

9. Jesus Christ satisfies every hunger and thirst of the soul.

IO.

Vers. 4, 5. In particular he satisfies the longing for certainty in reference to the other world. He is God's witness, testifying to us the things he knows and has seen beyond the veil of death.

11. He also satisfies the need of a personal leader, —one to look up to, one who knows how to guide aright, one who is able to lead to victory, one whom we can love and trust. 12. There are times when God is specially near us, and when it is easier than at other times to become his disciples.

13. Vers. 6, 7. If any person would come to the Lord, he must give up his old course and his old thoughts, and come into God's way of looking at life and duty.-S. S. Times.

14. Vers. 8-11. Nature is full of types and symbols of spiritual things, and is often the key by which we unlock the mysteries of the spiritual life, and see clearly the divinest truths. 15. The regular and unfailing operations of God in nature are the proof to us that God's word will be as certain as his works, and never fail of being accomplished.

16. God's word is like snow and rain. It is commanded to obey the sweet and pleasant law of the productive forces, and to do its work in a way extremely gradual, but also extremely cherishing and quickening. The mountain torrent, like the thunderbolt, is wild, furious, defiant, and powerful in voice; and yet reflection shows that the quieter forces of nature, with time for their ally, are far more thoroughly pervaded and more abundantly provided with power. One crash will send a railway train to destruction; but how many times the fearful power thus expended is consumed in propelling that same train a few hundreds of miles. So the rain, the snow, and the word are greatest in their quiet, gradual, productive effect; no destructive exhibition that would return void to its Author would, to a reflecting human view, be as great as that wonderful and wide-spread exercise of power which accomplisheth that which he pleaseth, and prospereth in the thing whereto he sent it. — S. S. Times.

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.

The three chapters of Isaiah, the 53d (our last lesson), the 54th, and the 55th (to-day's lesson), are all closely connected. It is well briefly to note this connection as a method of introducing the gracious invitation we study to-day.

SUBJECT, GOD'S INVITATION TO MAN. I. WHO ARE INVITED (vers. 1, 2). Dwell on the freeness and largeness of this invitation. Our weakness, poverty, needs, are not reasons why we should stay away, but why we should come to God. God loves to give. He gives as largely as men will take. Hence the only limitation is to those who hunger and thirst. Food is no attraction unless we are hungry. II. TO WHAT THEY ARE INVITED (vers. 1-3). The living waters, the best and choicest of food. Life is not only sustained, but made delightful. Set forth the attractiveness of religion.

Illustration from Scripture. The Gospel feast, as a wedding festival, the most delightful and attractive of feasts (Matt. 22: 1-10).

Illustration. The House Beautiful in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, a most attractive and perfect description of the Christian church.

Illustration. One of Trench's poems, "The monk and the bird," is the story of a monk who feared lest he should in heaven grow weary of the monotony of goodness and worship. One day, wandering in the woods, he heard a bird singing very charmingly, and stopped to listen, as he thought, for a short hour. But on returning to the convent he found that he had listened for two whole generations, and all the monks were now perfect strangers to him. So great are the delights of heaven, and of religion, which is a foretaste of heaven. III. BY WHOM INVITED (vers. 4, 5). By Jesus, the witness and leader from heaven. IV. WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THE INVITATION (vers. 6, 7). Accept, seek after God, forsake our selfish and evil ways. Note that there are times when it is more easy than at others to go to Christ,-in youth, under religious impressions, under special influences of the Holy Spirit, led by special providence. The best time is always NOW.

Illustrations. (1) There are best times to plant, to transplant, to sow seeds, etc. (2) The poem beginning,

"There is a time, we know not when,

A point, we know not where,
Which marks the destiny of men

To glory or despair."

(3) Shakespeare's famous words, "There is a tide in the affairs of men," etc.

V. SOME REASONS WHY WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE INVITATION (vers. 7-11). (1) God's readiness to forgive. (2) His greater wisdom. (3) The certainty that he will keep his word.

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REVIEW.

The review plan is closely adapted from the one used by Rev. A. F. Schauffler in the Olivet Sunday school, New York City, and given in the Sunday School Times for Sept. 13, 1884. Quarterly review may be conducted either in the classes singly, or by the superintendent from the platform. In most cases the latter is the better way. To be successful, the leader must have a very clear idea of what he wants to do, and must do it rapidly, and with as much enthusiasm as possible. It must be interspersed with lively singing of well-known hymns, and must absolutely proceed on the basis of question and answer. The following hints are given to assist superintendents in this work:

"Have on the board, at the opening of the school, the Titles and Golden Texts as follows. (If you have no board in your school, repent at once of your negligence, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance' by buying a board at once. Get a good board, five feet by three feet, and you will never regret it.)

KEFT

GOLDEN TEXT.

Fear not
The things
Blessed

I was glad
He, being
Arise, go
The men

He did

The Lord

Cease

TITLE.

I.

E. AT D.

F. IN S.
J'S F. Z.

IV.

T. R..

V.

D. OF E.

VI.

S. OF J.

VII.

E. OF J. P.

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The Lord

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Call for titles as you indicate the lessons with the pointer. In this, as in all questioning, do not be satisfied with partial answers, but work good-naturedly until the whole school answers well. Then give the title yourself, and ask the school to give the corresponding text. Do this in regular order, and then skip from place to place. Now wipe out the golden-text words, and, giving the title, or pointing to it, call for the text. Now go still farther, and wipe out title letters, leaving only the left-hand numerals on the board. Then, in calling your numbers, ask for title or text as you please. In schools accustomed to answer questions put from the platform, this should occupy not more than ten to fifteen minutes. In schools unaccustomed to this method it will take longer. Now have the school rise and sing some wide-awake hymn in a spirited way, wasting no time in playing the tune over, but giving simply the chord on the piano or organ, and starting right in.

On the other side of the board have prepared the following:

Names.-E., J., J. J., H., J., I.

Places.-D., S., J., J., N.

Nations.-K. of I., K. of J., S., A.

Events.-A. C., F. S., I and F. P. D.,

T. R., D. of E., J. R. G.,

J. P. N., G. R., H. R. S.

THE NAMES are Elisha, Jehoram, Jehu, Joash, Hezekiah, Jonah, Isaiah.
THE PLACES are Dothan, Samaria, Jerusalem, Joppa, Nineveh.

THE NATIONS are Kingdom of Judah, Kingdom of Israel, Syria, Assyria.
THE EVENTS.- Army Captured; Famine in Samaria; Idols and False Prophets
Destroyed; Temple Repaired; Death of Elisha; Jonah Running away from God; Jonah
Preaching at Nineveh; Great Revival; Hezekiah's Recovery from Sickness.

Call these names, places, and events out by varied questions. Avoid monotony in the form of the questions. For example: "Give the name of the two most prominent men in these lessons." (Elisha and Isaiah.) "I want the name of a world-renowned city." (Jerusalem.) Give the name of a man who showed false zeal. (Jehu.) Give the names of two men who are examples of true zeal. (Joash, Hezekiah.) I see two men lying on

beds of sickness, - -one died, the other recovered; who are they? (Elisha, Hezekiah.) What man tried to run away from God? (Jonah.)

Under places and events proceed in the same general way, only by what may be the pictorial method, as follows: I see an army groping in blindness, and led by a single man into the very capital of the nation they were fighting. Who was the man, and of what nation was the army? (The Syrians and Elisha.) There is a terrible famine in a city surrounded by an immense army. Suddenly the army flee away in the greatest haste, and there is plenty in the city. (Samaria and the Assyrians). A beautiful building. In front of it a great contribution box. People flocking from all parts to put in money. Many workmen busy repairing the building. What and where was it? (Joash repairing the temple.) I see a ship at sea in a great storm. The waves wash over it. Some of the sailors are throwing the cargo over, others are waking up a man asleep in the storm. At length they throw the man himself overboard. (Jonah.) A whole nation is aroused. A great meeting is held for two weeks. I see the men starting out in little parties all over the country, destroying every idol and every place of idol worship. Where and when was the great revival? (The great revival under Hezekiah.) I see another city besieged by a great army. The city is . destroyed, the people are being carried away captive. They never return. The kingdom is no more. (The captivity of Israel and end of the kingdom, B.C. 721.)

These word-pictures can be elaborated and others drawn. "Let no leader be disappointed if this method does not work perfectly at first. Only practice makes perfect. But when the leader attains facility and picturesqueness in questioning, the school is always hearty and interested in its responses. Now sing again as before, this time not standing. (For the next exercise, preparation must be made beforehand, and those who are called out must be ready to give in a clear, audible tone their answers. These should be brief, and should be as practical as possible, adapting themselves to the peculiar needs of the school.)" Ask teacher, 1, What evidence does Lesson II. afford that God fulfils his promises? Teacher, 2, What additional evidence do you find in Lesson XII.? Teacher, 3, Name the practical lessons for us in the two great religious revivals described in Lessons IV. and VIII. Teacher, 4, What important warnings to us in Lessons III., VI., and VII.? Teacher, 5, What is the greatest event foretold in these lessons? Teacher, 6, What is the dearest thought to you in Lesson XII.? Then taking one verse, such as Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price,' ""ask two or three persons what they consider the most emphatic words, and why. The answers (prepared beforehand by each person without consultation with the others) will always differ, and bring out many sweet lessons. In the ways above alluded to, spend as much time as appropriate, closing with one grand lesson to be drawn from all twelve lessons, and given by your best man. Then close with singing and prayer."

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