The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-06-20
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL
Notes on the Lesson for June "a
THE Christian Reason for
Total Abstinence"
[From the chIcago standard.l


ter Of First Corinthians.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
As touching things offered unto idols.
Hold. Paul. that Is social question. Better
let il alone. Why multiply legislation: why
make gratuitous commitments2 Doubtless
discretion is needful and silence Is often
golden. But there come issues OF righteous
ness upon which silence would be treason.
Paul was no man 70 compromise or truckle.
He stood for "a new kingdom OF righteous
ness. and he made the bearings Of the new
principle 20 come 10 light i'm all relations OF
life. Silent? Non-committalf BY no meansl
Do we not read the successive vices OF the
centuries i'm the counter Legislation OF the
church? Our means of knowing the evil
tendencies OF the apostolic period Is IN the
prohibitive declarations of the epistles.
What is Christianity in its earthward side
but plain and pointed protest against the
sin which. in each age. doth so easily besetp
All. yes the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ
touches on many things pertaining TO the
world. II Christ had let the world alone. or
the Jewish establishment. would they ever
have crucihed him?
KNOWLEDGE pufeth up. but charity edifeth.
There is n difference between knowing and
loving. knowledge has reference 20 per-
sonal discernment-the power 10 diScrim-
mate betwixt things inherently right and
wrong. Love looks beyond the discrimina-
ton, which may be purely selfish. 20 the
neighbor. and applies itself 10 seeking his
good. The Christian who can play game
of cards without conjunction. who can en-
gage in the dance with impunty. or can
presumably sip the wine. unframed, has
knowledge, perhaps. Certainly such have
not love. For. as sure as there is "a sun in
the heavens. there are others. who cannot
thus indulge and escape unscathed. and love
yields to such. Look out where you 60.
papa" cried the little one climbing the hill
behind its father. I'm coming after. The
parent walked more cautiously after that.
III we cared for the weaker children OF God
as we should. would there be so much OF
adroit balancing upon the perilous edge OF
fashion and worldliness? Christianity Is
something else than a tght-rOpe walk. 1t
is n lighted pathway OF holiness and helpful
ness.
But II any man lore God the same is knOlcn
OF ham. II is equivalent 10 saying that love
covers all things. BE sure you love God.
He will attend to the knowing and the jUdg-
ing. Let man fulfill that great command.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart. aud with all thy soul. and with all
thy mind. and with all thy strength" his
life adjusting itself TO SO great a principle,
will be right in the eyes OF God and man.
Such a man will need few restrictions as to
evil indulgence. The lamp of love in his
heart will be 10 him perfect light Such a
man will require few eXhortationS TO kindly
doing. The fire burning in his heart will send
him forth on errands of mercy I'VE want"
said the Chinese convert, we want men with
lot hearts TO tell Us OF the love Of Jesus" IL
only the heart of the church be right with
God, no fear of Satan's menace. no check TO
Christ's compassion.
We knOlo that an idol is nothing. Hold.
again. Paul You are in danger Of dabbling
in politics. That idol question is mooted
one. No controversial subjects allowed
here. Why not drop the negative assertion
and be satisfied with the positive affirmation
that there is none other God but One?"
Undoubtedly we should have much easier
time with the world If we would only omit
these side references TO popular vanities and
fOibles But If we preach "A Pauline gospel
the world shall hear from us: and IL we live
a Pauline life. il shall be left in no doubt as
10 our attitude regarding the vicious ten
denotes Of the day. whether social or civil.
DO you suppose" cried some one the other
! day, arguing for sort Of tdtssez fare in
Christian citizenship. that Paul would go
20 the ballot box2" Good friend. that is not
the question. Do you suppose that had the
apostle 20 the Gentiles been given an op-
pOrtunity TO vote on vital issues, he would
have east a folded ballot or shrewdly declined
20 go upon record? Let US have care lest
the Pauline example we seek TO command be
taken from that old, so TO speak. pre- natal
incident where a certain Saul of Tarsus was
consenting unto the death Of a truth loving
soul, the garments of whose murderers were
laid at his feet.
Their conscience being freak is defled. A
quick conscience is the hope of church and
/ nation. A conscience defiled blunted.
weakened. means the decay and dissolution
of all things good. Conscience the purest
and best is delicate and sensitive thing.
As has recently been remarked, il consists
of three parts: Q) moral instinct. (2) moral
judgment. (3 moral sensibility. The two
latter are capable of education and can
either be developed or destroyed. Two OBJ
legations are therefore laid upon the Chris
tian, both with reference TO himself and TO
his neighbour that he endeavor 70 keep the
moral judgment of right and wrong sound.
and the moral sensibility for the right and
against the wrong strong and healthy.
Hence the necessity OF worship. As Bishop
Ryle has observed, at midday in the whirl OF
business the great clock of st. Pauls in Lon
don Is scarcely noticed. but in the thought
full quiet of the even its notes catch the ear
of millions for miles around. Hence the
necessity. too, for watchfulness against the
very contact with evil. DIR. Dunning in one
of his Sunday school addresses alludes to
certain ship passenger who on deck. in the
cabin, everywhere and all the time kept his
hands scrupulously gloved. When asked re-
garding it he said. Il am n straightforward
performer. and L must keep my fingers sup
pie and my hands tender and sensitive" 1t
was because of the business he was in. Con-
sidcring the vocation Of the Christian. dare
he trihe with his conscience should he even
touch the unclean thing?
Shall the freak brother perish? Remem-
Der the weak brother in the case. Such a
reflection must needs exercise a constant re-
stralnt upon Individual caprice, frequent
modification of personal judgment for con-
science sake; our brothers, If not our own
Take such question Us that Of high license.
Without doubt there is some alienation in
the remedy proposed. But how far does it
reach? IL may aid in the country places,
but what OF the towns. the weak spots in this
instance2 As some one has said of local op-
ton. it possibly saves the village. but sends
the city yet faster perdition- ward. hun
dred less saloons in place OF one hundred
and fifty may be a help TO the strong and the
well-favored. but it is Just as much as ever
death TO the weaker brother. Oh. there are
multitude of very pertinent applications
OF this principle in everyday life
Unledt make my brother 10 offend That
settles ii. My brothers interests of more
consequence to me than meat or drink
oul-saving put before palate tickling. 1t is
not the stringcncy of law. il is simply the
searching of love. What is the theater. the
dance. the card-tablc. the glass of wine or
cider-yes. we have found il expedient to
add the latter 10 the expurgated lst-com-
pared with an immortal soul These are only
while the world lasts" but my brother and
|, we are TO live forever. God keep us i'm
the love OF souls rather than in the love OF
so
Next Lesson. Gods Covenant with Isra-
ell. Exodus "a: 1-12.
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