Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-08-25
sUNDAY-sCHooL LESSON
sunday. August 81. Col. 8: 1925.

Iout "Hteu cnucU duVub year uelorc.
He wrote this letter in the spring of A.
d. 81, or two years prior to the date
given in the margin of our Bibles. 1t
was written at or about the same time
with the epistle to the Ephesians. while
Paul was dwelling in his own hired
house in Rome under the charge of
soldier CATS %: l6).
1t is probable that the church at Co.
losse was founded by Epaphras, who was
present with Paul in Rome when the
epistle was prepared, and who in some
sense shared the bondage of Paul. Phil
emon was resident of Colosse, and his
returning servant. Onesimus, and Tychi-
Gus bore the letter of Paul, as also that
to the Ephesians and that to Philemon.
The epistle to Colosse was to be read in
The lesson to-day relates to the recip-
rocal duties existing between husbands
and wives, children and parents, mas
tiers and servants, and Paul exhibits the
same wisdom in these matters that he
shows in others. He first admonishes
the christians to whom he addresses his
epistle to 'Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom This shows
that the church had received instruction,
and had knowledge of the words of
the words of Christ, and that they un-
derstood his teachings and his require
ments. Paul supplements this knowl-
edge by giving them more explicit in
structions as to special matters. They
are to do all things in the name of the
Lord Jesus. How amiable and blessed
would our lives be, if we did everything
IN the name of the Lord Jesus The
spirit of thankfulness was recommended,
and the Father from whom all blessings
descend was to be thanked for his be-
nefcence.
In the relation of husband and wife,
the apostle enioins obedience on the
part of the wife. At that time the
world was ruled more by might than
right, and the wife stood on lower
plan than the husband; her rights and
privileges were not what they are at
this age. Paul on the other hand, tells
husbands to 'love" their wives. Nothing
that the husband can bestow on the
wife, no privilege he can accord to her,
no station he can give, is worth, in her
esteem, as much as the love of her hus.
band; and pure. strong affection, such
as the true husband can bestow will
make women happy.
Children are commanded to obey theil
parents. This command had been giver
by the claw Giver" centuries before
but it comes anew from the wise Apos
tie. Obedience is great virtue il
youth as we'll as great blessing. TIL,
misfortunes that befall young men anc
women, in great many instances, re
suit from disobeying the commands o
parents. Obedlent children general,
. make honest men and women and usefu
members of society. The injunction t
g fathers, not to provoke their children t
anger, lest they be discouraged. show
much wisdom and knowledge of human
nature The rule of the parent may b
!, arbitrary and severe, and it may ''prC
voke'' the children to anger. causin
discouragement. The parent shout
!, govern the child in loue, and then th
/, result will be obedience and love, in n
turn.
The admonition to servants was {
more Importance in early times than
is now. 1t may be applicable to th
laborer who should work for the int
- ests of his employer, honestly, diligentl.
10 faithfully. The servant, the lahore
- or whoever it may be that is doing Sc
. vice should do it as though it is Chri
10 tian service. 1t should be dol
:. heartily, ''as to the Lord, and not un
~ men,"
- That is most encouraging though
~ which is embodied in the 23d and "a
~ verses. "of the Lord ye shall receive Il
te reward of the inheritance for 20 ser
ar the Lord Christ. Knowing that of ii
K. Lord ye shall receive the reward of Il
q. inheritance"
The last verse of the lesson says, "B
+ he that doeth wrong shall receive
70 the wrong which he hath done; al
h, there is no respect of persons" This
70 only another of the many places in &
bible where the truth is reiterated, tn
:" sin shall be punished.