Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-09-13
IL suMpAY scnooL.
International Lesson for September 1
lSoa-Pcrsonal Responsibility omai



Especially Arranged from Pcloubets Notes1
TEMPERANCE LESSON
GOLDEN TENT.-It l. good neither 10 eat flesh.
nor 10 drink wine, nor anything whereby thy
brother siuTobleth-Rom 1891
AUruoIt ST Paul
DATE-lhe spring OF A ID. So toward the
sicac OF pacrs third great missionary Journey
Pi.NC--W written NJ Corinth, toward the
close 81 Pcul's three months residence there
PLACE ~ DIBIE HIsroRY.-Pnul was Just
about 10 leave Corinth for Jerusalem bringing
with him the contributions OF the Gentle
churches for the poor saints In Jerusalem (Acis
s0;2, 3: Cor. 1850.
LESSON NOTES.
General Statement of the Problem.
First There are certain acts which
are universally conceded to be right.
and rs coming within the Christian law
of liberty. About these. people of fair
common sense and religious intelli-
gence have no question, and do them
freely. Second. There arc other acts
which arc as plainly prohibited. To
do them is wrong and always wrong.
Third. There are very large num-
Der OF acts which lie in the twilight re-
gion, between the day OF certain right
and the night OF acknowledged wrong.
They are not wrong In themselves, but
according 10 the circumstances and
motives OF their doing
Fourth. The method of settlement
is that employed all through the Bible,
OF laying down general principles. and
not definite rules and commands For
the principles abide eternally, but the
application of them varies continually.
We have no trouble whatever about
some of the questions which almost
rent the ancient church asunder, such
rs keeping the fcasts, eating GER
tain foods. or meat offered to
idols, or conforming TO Jewish rites and
ceremonies. But there are many other
questions in our day which are very
difficult 10 decide, and which can be
decided only on general principles.
The same general principles must be
applied in our imitation of the example
of ancient saints and even of Jesus
Himself. To do the same thing they
did, but under different circumstances.
may be "A violation of the very princi-
pies on which they acted. For us 10 at
tempt 10 walk on the sen because
Jesus did. or To pray all night on
mountain in n winter storm. because
Jesus did SO in summer night, or to
wear the very same fashion of clothes
that He wore, might easily be the very
opposite of following His example.
The application of great divine prin-
ciples 10 our daily lives in varying cir
cumstances, is large part of the dis
cipline by which we grow in grace and
develop strong and holy character.
Early Christian Problems First.
The duties Of the Jewish TO the Gentle
disciples. The Jewish disciples wanted
the Gentle 70 be saved, but felt that
IT was necessary that in doing so they
should adopt the Jewish ritual They
knew that their religion was divine.
For fifteen hundred years they had
been the chosen people of God. The
very God and Father OF the Lord Jesus
had instituted their religion. And
now. TO ignore this, TO receive men in
to the kingdom in another wav than
commanded TO proselytes by God him
self, and practised for ages, was not
this an insult to God. TO religion. to
the Bible, 60 all their past history?
Was not Moses inspired? Was the
sacred Pentateuch to be reduced to
dead letter? We're all the curses of
Ebal TO be braved? Again. there was n
great social and religious barrier be
tween Jews and Geutiles, which made
10 exceedingly difficult for them 10 live
and work together as brethren in the
! same churches.
Second. The duties of Gentle dis.
ciples TO the Jewish. Why should
not the Gcutilcs become Jews? And
yet TO do so laid heavy, unnecessary
burden On the Gentiles. n yoke which
neither the Jews nor their fathers
n1.Ia - l. 4 ~
glorious liberty of the sons OF God
which allowed the Gospel spirit to
work out into forms and methods nat
ural 20 the person who was filed with
that spirit. The ceremonial law was
burdcnsome on account of the multi
| picity and minutcness OF its iniunc-
tions- necessary as they were in the
| divine training OF the Jewish nation
The traditions of the elders were still
more SO. Again, it placed an unneces-
sary hiudrance in the way Of the con
version Of the Gcntiles. Then. should
they keep both the Jewish sabbath
and the Lords day, or which should
| they choose? Should they eatall kinds
| of meat. or only that permitted TO the
I jews And lastly, It seemed 20 sub
| vert the very truths of the Gospel for
| the salvation Of men. IL led men to
rely on forms and ceremonies instead
of ON Christ alone and the change OF
/ heart which he required.
Third. The relation Of Christians
/ 20 the heathcn world The Christians
living among the heather were few
[ and poor, and IL was very difficult To
I keep themselves pure from idolatrv.
| \ large portion of the meat offered for
I sale in the markets had been offered in
some heather temple as q sacrifice Co
I idols. should they cat of such meat?
We're they in so doing partakers in idol
Worship? Should they 60 20 any
"eathcn feasts with their friends. or
should they abstain altogether?
God IS the great writer Of his.orv
I Tie writes across the ages by the foot
tread OF loyal. Christian man lie who
realizes this fact, going about doing
J good. walking in thc f9otprir OF Che
Master. r.l leave ON earth The fm.
I press of % Errn. and carve 20 glorious
rccas. .r r-ify. interior
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FOREIGN PiCKiNGs.