The Progress., 1893-11-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII.-NOV. l2.-THE
GRACE OF LIBERALITY.
Golden Text: He Became Poor. That Ye
Through His Poverty Might BE 1ich-
2 Cor. VII: lie.


Gentiles were welcomed with the
Jews into the Christian church, Paul
promised to take up a collection
among the Gentle churches for the
poor saints at Jerusalem. Paul had
been making this collection in
Macedonia, in Greece, and in Asa
Minor The need of this collection
arose from the great numbers of
strangers at Jerusalem from all parts
of the world, from the poverty
of most of the converts, and from the
turbulent and unsettled state of the
people. The letter was written only
twelve years before the destruction of
Jerusalem. Agrippa II. was compelled
to resort to ar tificial means, such as
paving the streets of Jerusalem with
white marble, to provide work and
wages to the thousand OF idle labor
ers. Christians, being regarded as
renegades from the national faith
may have found it particularly difficult
to earn their liv ing. g.-Peloubet
l. Liberal Giving From Narrow
Means-vers. ~ |. I'VE do. make.
''you to wit" 30 know. Old English
for 'cause you to know OF the
grace of God" in making so liberal,
so generous "the churches of Mace
donia. The country north of Greece,
20 which belonged ThcsSalonica and
Phillip, where probabl Paul was
writing.
,. In a great trial of affiiction."
The severity of which may be gathered
from the storm o: opposition in which
they rose into existence. .-Schaff.
The abundance of their JOY and their
deep poverty" In spite of their
troubles they displayed great JOY,
and in spite of their poverty
they displayed great liberaiity.
The abundance of their JOY
abounded unto the riches of their lib
erality." The JOY of a new found sal
vation not only overpowered all seEse
of their deep poverty, but caused them
to give literally. "Liberality." The
Greek word means ''singlcness of
heart" and app lied to giving, indi-
Gates the free giving that comes from
such a heart
3. For to their power. they
were willing of themselves" Volun-
tarily. They had not 70 be urged,
nor waited to be asked.
4. Praying u.s." Rev. Yer. "Be-
seeching u.s." They begged as favor
20 be allowed to join the other
churches in helping the brethren in
Judea. There are none too poor to
give something.
III. The Foundation of Liberality-
verse :. And this not as we
hoped" Far beyond anything they
had dared hope for. but first"
Above all Gave their own selves to
the Lord Themselves and'all they
possessed was placed at the disposal
of Christ. And unto US" AS those
who represented the cause of the
needy, and by whom their gifts, ''by
the will of God" who had made them
the instruments, could reach those
they wished to aid.
III. The Culture of 1fberality-
vers. 6, 2. 6. 'Insomuch that we de-
sired Titus" Who had once before
been sent by Paul to Corinth. Would
also finish in you" Titus was sent
back to Corinth with the letter. The
same grace also" OF liberality
:. Therefore as ye abound in every
thing" Paul loved to commend the
disciples and say all the good he could
of them. Abound in this grace also"
There is always great danger that
some virtues will be neglected.
Nv. The Test of Love-verse 8. az
speak not by commandment. / exert
no authority as to what you should
do. But by occasion of the forward
ness of others" Rev. Ver better In
stead of command he used the ex-
ample of others ''To prove the sim
certify" The genuineness, the true
nature. ''Of your love" To God, to
Christ, and to the principles of his
kingdom.
V. The Example of Christ-vers.
9-l2. 9. Forge know the grace. The
free undeserved favor. Though he
was rich, yet for your sake he became
poor" He not only became man, but
poor man. THAT ye through his
poverty" Only thus could he reach all
men. Might be rich" If he did so
much for us at so great cost, how can
we refrain from helping others.
10. 'And herein do | give my ad-
vice" Not command. For this is
expedient." Rather, ''profita BILE"
"Who have begun before" The
other churches "A year ago" Under
Titus. See. yer. q, and Q: ,. "But
also to be forward" To be willing.
Ready and wishing to give.
IL. Now therefore perform" COM
plete, perfect ''the doing" on the
ground that the principle on which
they had acted was just as true now
as it had been the year before.
70. IF there be first a willing
mind" A disposition TO give 1T is
accepted" Rev. Ver., "accepta ble."
According to that a man hath" etc.
~ 0f a11