The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-04-03
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FoH
arl,IL q.
Lesson Tcxw "ChrisCs Law or Love-"
Luke vi. 2T-3S--Goidcn Text:
Luke vi, 3t-CommentRry.

%. The command "Love your enemies"
strikes the average citizen OF the world as
strangely as 1t must have appeared to the
Galilman jew. IL seems to him unnatural.
IL is not according TO human nature, but to
the divine. The verb ito love- has a. least
three different meanings. Ol 70 be pleased
or delighted witG, 80 Dc fond OF or to regard
with affection because OF qualities which cN-
cite pleasing sensations or desires. Va this
sense we ought 10 love God nul all good pc'-
sons. CA TO have benovoence toward on TO
have moral regard for. In this sense we
ought to love enemies. lb Love is used in a
bad sense of lust.
II is tho love which has benovolcnce toward
others aud regard for their moral we'll
being which we ought to exercises toward
enemies. We may hate the sin, hut love tho
soul OF the sinner. This will prompt us to do
good to those whose characters We cannot
spproye.
wickedncss and perfect Righteousness: (ll Man
may hate those who love him. This allies
him TO devils. Bad men hato God who loves
them; God 50 loved the world etc tJohn
Ill, To-. cN Man may hate whoever hates
hin. This is human nature. IL
is natural 10 give blow for blow,
hard words for hard words, hate for hnts.
t3l Man may love those who love him. This
too is human. Men generally are up to that
standard; even SINNERS also love those that
love thcm.' ~ Man may love those that
hate him. This is the divine rule. II is not
uncommon TO net out s.mHn nature IL
takes grace and Christ-liko nature. re-
newed human heart, tO bless them that
curse you,' and Co pray for them that de-
spitetuly use YOU Christ on the cross
prayed for His enemies, aud stephen also did
likewise while they were stOning him TO
death.
29. The blood fcuds prevailing in the East
needed sharp rcbukc The custom was.
blow for blow, blood for blood, and tho spirit
OF retaliation ran through whole fnmiic. and
, generations. The principle here taught il
| that followers OF Christ are to submit to and
/ suiicr wrong rather than to take the law into
| their own hands or return violence for yio-
lence. ~ surely does not require ~ to place
! ourselves mt the mercy OF a drunken man or
allow crazy person 10 beat ont our brains.
| Mlth no effort To- save our lives. The rule
| has obvious qualifications; but the spirit Of
! thc principle belongs to the foundation of
! all true Christian life.
! ~. Again ii is not indiscriminntc giving
that Is commended, but the spirit of true.
wise and considernte charity. We might give
OF some things and In such manner ms to
| rum the soul OF the receiver To Justify such
acts from this command is scomplctcly to per.
vert ITS purpose andmcanins. Itis the habit
| OF generous, uuscilsh and loving h,upyo.
! lenco that Jesus would have His dis
clplcs form. 1--WE are not To turn tho
world into great poorhousc,' nor to
The spirit that would lead jew b. feed a
jew only, hut kick out n Gentle Ia stnrve. is
| the spirit the Lord rChukrs 'GiN, tn tho~a
OF our church, but leave others tn shift for
thcmselNe-, Is "A similar spirit rcappcaring in
modern times. The spiritual needy may
sometimes lie far beyond "uur church " and
yet bc 'hed by some volunteer Christian
agency. Tho command applies there we
are 10 give l, such rs God i',ay give us
ability.
~. This is known us the Snyiout's Golden
Rule. This law had been originally written
III the hearts Of men, hut was lost i'm tho rall
A fcw great minds had gropCl after some
thing like u, but fouud II only Ia n negative
form at the best. ConfuciU, about 500 B.
C., states II in this way, What / do not
wish men 10 do 10 me. | also wish not 80 du
10 men, Jcsu, put this truth In positive
form, nnd not merely required ana U',tauuiug
lrom ovi' 10 our nrighhprf hut ouiuu'i u-
10 do the same good to ihrm which W, would
have others do To us; a wild. dilr-..uce bee,
tween these two priucip'c-.
| y" Man may return: ~ Good for good.
evil for rvil this il human: even sinner. ,lu
that C!l Evil Tor good, thi, j, dryul,l, lut
some bad men do that AMI s' b"cpwr hh,
demons. tN Cool for oyil this &. i,iuc
No thanks are to br given lur luym- iuu.u
that love rs, or for doing gool t. th.-. whu
ito good TO ~; sinner, dp thai: disciple.
would not On that level rise above common
sinners.
-. So too If you lcul 20 thu,, That yau cv.
pect t"iu repay you, that b. .,Ill on tho lower
level oi common snlul mon There T. ro
proof Of ChriSt-!ii.n",s m SUCH u.f. Tn.
ulsrlpl" Is 10 rise e. a higher piuur Of con.
uGci, one more nearly al ind 50 tho spirit Ut
that Father who 50 loved tho world u It's sin
mat u" gnv" His only hrgotOru Son. tut
whoS'eNcr hciieyoth IN Hun mishtuut perish,
nut have everlasting hfn. NuIr NJ, yor.
enemies Christ died furus. This d, tu. ,pirit
which Christians should cNet.'-, toward tho
worldly, the encml", Of Chr,. AMI oi the
| Christ-hke
%. Are Christians 20 oftcr tn,m,.,,.. A
sN'I'HS % We c"u'i g'tot tn, WorI tp %,
| persccul II, Uu0-t'l ma la wr.l. .,l,l ur,l Z,
De hacked IN piece, by the sword, raA,. a by
IlIe or torn limb from limb hy tho rae. ug lhs
"ild beasts Hnd hay mo comp.u.a,ipu o., r,.
"ardf Nay, the reward /, IEru. Nv
erciSIng TINS love ot brur.ui.una j.srri
snel.ies oSaItS 10 spush'p &, thn
Most High. As hN /, kind tuwarl tI, u,.
thankful AMI the evil Ch.ists disciul--. ip .
LOWING TINS example, may become hrir- %.
"ou AM -oihI hcIra with Christ. MERCY b.,
one OF the attributes Of God Himself; were 10
not 30, all men must have miserably per-
| shed forever. Disciples are To initiate the
| Father in this blessed grace
Harsh, censorious Judging of others is u
| common fault of worldly men in all ages.
| IN" llOllNeS Ol olueIS are 'tllhult' hllN olA'ii
uncharitably judged and spirit of fault
| finding works much harm To religious life
aud growth. We are not eEhorted To ro-
gard all men alike, irrespective of their
character. A man is not 10 be "goodish
weakling," thinking or speaking OF
wicked men in tho same terms that he
would OF the godly. While avoiding a
consorious, severe, harsh spirit Of condemna-
tion, he is not 10 fly to the opposite extreme
of counting all men alike good, and 60 50 far
as even TO excuse the devil for his most tlend-
| ish acts The disciple is to have the loving,
forgiving spirit of the Father, even in deal
ing with the sinner, while he must condemn
| his sin.
3s. In Christian conduct there is to he n
generosity born of the renewed nature, like
the divine. Not judging, but giving, must
| be the characteristic Of Christ's disciples
This boundless generosity is to 90 out
| toward saint and sinner. IL you would
have generous measure, give il; thus again
the Golden Rule rs y positive principle
is enforced. The gift will DE in your BOSOM
an Eastern figure. For in the dress then
worn there was large bag shaped fold above
the girdle, which was used instead of apocket
to carry ordinary articles that might be
| needed Gifts of precious stones, rings or
| kaans akaS MIGHT aasily Ina carried i'm this