The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-05-14
The Sunday Schools.
LESSON FOR NEXT SUNDAY.
Lesson VII. ... Christian Contentment.
Phil. 4. Ala,

Commit to memory verses At
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again say, Re-
joice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men, The
Lord is at hand
| Be careful for nothing; but in everything by
prayer and supplicaton with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God which passeth all UNDER
standing. shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
Finally. brethren. whatsoever things honest.
whatsoever things ure just. whatsoever things are
| pure, whatsoever things lovely, whatsoever
things of good reports If there be any virtue and
If there be any praise. think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and
received and heard, and in me- do; and the Goo
of peace shall be with you.
10 But rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at
the last of me hath hourished again where
in also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
IL Not that speak in respect of want; for have
learned, in whatsoever state am, Herewith to be
content.
IL know both how to be abased and know how tn
abound: everywhere and mall things am instructed
both be full and to be hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need.
ID can do all things through Christ which streng-
theneth me.
GOLDEN TExT.-"The God OF peace shall be
with you.''-Phil. 40.
Time.-A. D. 6s, near the close of Paul's imprson-
ment
Places.-Rome and Philippi, in Macedonia.
The Injunction rather, exhortation to re-
joice in the Lord, is full of the breahIngs of the
spirit as spoken by Paul from his prison at
Rome to the Church at Phillippi. The brethren
are urged to let their contentment and modera-
ton be known of all men, that the beauty of
the Christian character, through the constant
presence of the Lord, might be manifest. We
should be careful in nothing, regards our
relation with God, but should pour forth the
heart in fullest confidence in him. There
should be no doubling, no hesitation, to put our
whole trust in Him who made provision for
the salvation of our souls through Christ Jesus.
The soul which lives in strict accordance with
the iLjunctions contained in the 8th passage,
has attained that high estate Of perfection
which renders it absolutely free from any taint
of sin, and but little exposed to the temptations
of the world. But, to attain such a state of per-
fection requires constant and unwearying ef-
fort and watchfulness.
The Apostle was an honest preacher, in that
he did not urge his brethren to do anything
which he was not willing to do, CO pable of
doing, in his own life. "Those things which ye
have seen in me, do" And truly, If we live
such life as Paul lived after his CONVERSION,
the God of Peace shall be with us. In the 10th
and 18th passages, the great selfsacrifcing spir-
it of the Apostle, that peace which the fullest
trust in the Divine Master brings, stands forth
prominently.
The language of the 18th and 18th passages,
though seemingly inconsistent, at a superficial
glance, but describe the great character of the
Apostle He could be needy, yet full-the phys
ical man might be needy yet the spiritual man
be greatly exalted In the full knowledge of the
peace and contentment of God. We are taught,
in this lesson, the true elements of Christian
character. Adopting them as part OF our mode
of living, our lives may be lifted up to that
state of Christian contentment and purity
which is the design of the Great Father.