The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-09-17
The SABBATH-SGHOOl LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOB
SEPTEMBER 20.
Lesson Text, I" Destructive Vices"
Prov. XVII. 22-33--t;olden
Text; Psalm XVII, 20
Commentary.

we read that wisdom ia better than gold and
understanding than silver; aud again in
chapter iv.. 4, "wisdom is the principal
hing; therefore get wisdom, and with all
thy getting get understanding. In 1 Cor.
l.. "a, we read, "Christ the power OF God
and the wisdom Of God" We conclude
therefore. that the wellspring OF life IL none
other than the living water. which is tho
sift OF God and which becomes in us a we'll
of water springing up into everlasting life
John iv., 14) God Himself IL the fountain,
and when we receive Christ we have God ia
US der. H., i3; John xiv, 23).
%. "The heart OF the wise tencheth his
mouth and addcth learning to its lips" II
Is from the heart that oil proceeds An evil
heart gives forth all manner OF evil (Nn,b
xv., IL, lO, and good heart gives forth
that which is helpful, for out OF the nbund-
ance OF the heart the mouth spcaketh (Math.
Kill, 3i. The natural heart or carnal mind
Is ennity against God and never can be made
subject to Him (ROm. Will, y, but God Of
ters to give a new heart and new spirit
(Ezek. xxxvi., 26), or, in other words a'new
| birth or new creation John it,. 8. 16; III
Cor. ", 1O, and this will send forth good
words from the lips.
"a. pheasant words arc as au honev-
,omb. sweet TO the soul and health to tho
bones" II we keep the words Of God In us,
they will by the Spirit be fitted in our llps "a
the Spirit may desire 20 use them prov
xii, is). The people wondered Mt tho
gracious words which proceeded out OF the
mouth OF our Lord duke w.. 22). but they
were the words OF God who spoke through
Him (John Kill. 49).
%. There is way that seemeth right un-
10 the man, but the end thereof Is tho way
u death" There is bur one right way. and
that IL He who said, III am the way" Il il
Gods way OF reaching us and ou- only way
of reaching God. There IL ono other name
given under heaven by which we can b9
saved (John xiv, d; Acts iv.. l2) Whatever
may seem right to us. IL the Lord Jesus ~
not the conter Of IT and the author OF IL, II ~
! DOT OF God and therefore must DO the wny
u death and not Of life (G John IT,, ij.l7; ",
t2l.
%. "Hs that laboteth laborcth for him
self, for his mouth cruycth IL Of him." What
multitudcs spend all their strength in GET
ling something for themselves. something to
Eat or drink or wear or enioyl All this "a
! folly. And one who could do IL as psrhups
no other mere man that ever livsd tried II 10
The utmost and his testimony IL on record
IN these words. "BehOld. all was vanity and
vexation of spirit. and there was no pront
under the sun" Gee. ii. ., ID.
81. "An ungodly man disgeth up evil, and
IN his lips there Is "a u burning fire." Tho
mHygin says "a man OF Belial," and the L..
V. says "a worthless man" All such are
servants OF him who began the work Of evil
on the earth In the garden in Eden and
and burnings. Happy are thcy who escapn
the everlasting burning whore ho Is doomed
10 dwell (lsa. Nxxiii., II; Rev. Xxx, 10; xxi,
3.
2s. "a forward man soweth strife, and n
whisperer separateth chief friends" IL
seems to ms more aud moro that II we wcrg
only familiar with the Bible the Spirit would
bring to mind rs we read what He has else
where said upon this or that topic, and thus
we would have the best OF commentaries,
even tho Spirits own explanation OF His
own words. He now brings 10 mind Jas.
ILL.,, ii-i6, "If ye have bitter cnvyinS and
strife in your hearts. glory not and lie not
against the truth. This wisdom descende,h
not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devlllsh."
29. "a violent man entlceih his neiehbor
and leadeth him into tho way that Is not
good" Tho devil and his followers are ne
this business unccasingly day and night
Sunday and weekday. Deceit and destruc-
tion are his work, and thcro Is nothing good
In him. God Is good and giyeth Himself 10
each one who receives Jesus Christ His Son
with the assurance that goodness and mercy
| shall follow us. and We shall lind all HIS
ways pleasantness and peace. II Is, how
ever. a narrow way, and will not admit tho
world tho flesh or the devil.
so. "He shutteth his eyes 10 devise for
ward things. Moving his lips, ho bringeth
evil to pass" He closes his ewes against the
light and will not SEQ the goodness Of God.
He loves darkness rather than light, because
his deeds are evil and his heart and tongue
and lips are tue property OF his master for
evil purposes. His mouth pours out evil
things, and his thoughts are an abOminatiOn
TO the Lord (chapter XIV, 90, 2S). God per-
mits him TO bring his evil thoughts 20 pass,
but tney Will prove his own destruction.
81. THE hoary head Is a crown Of glory
II 1t be found in the way Of righteousness. ."
Tho sinner may prosper and live "A long life
on the earth, but there Is nothing glorious
about his life, for 1t Is only ripening for
eternal torment. On tho other hand. the
white hairs Of the righteous man are crown
OF glory. for they point forward 10 an etern-
ity of bliss and purity with Him whom John
saw on PatmOs having His head and His
hairs white like wool, rs white "a snow (Rev.
l.. iG. There f. a SO the beautiful promise
for such u one, Even 10 your old age | am
He.and even % hDary hairs will carry YOU
Elsa. XVII, A..
32. "He that Is slow TO anger is better than
the mighty. and he that ruleth his spirit than
he that taketh city," He that IL slow 10
anger appease,h strife and Is Of great under.
standing Chapters Nv., 49, xiv, 29) Anger
wrath and malice are OF the flesh and OF the
devil, but by the grace Of God, having re-.
reived Jesus Christ, and being thus born Of
God, We may have victory over the beset.
ting sins OF our old nature. He saves u
.rom the wrath TO come. but Hu Is also able
TO save US from ourselves (Iath. L., 2l, AMI
from our sins. Il Is for Us 20 yield 10 Him
aud cry, "Thino is tho power" Q Chrou.
xxx, ~.
80. The lot Is cast into tho lap, but the
whole disposng thereof Is OF tho Lord.
However things may seem to go At present,
the final disposition OF everything is OF the
Lord. He permits the wicked to choose
their own evil ways and continue Ia them
and for time TO prosper. He also permits
thA riyhteOus 10 be afflicted and suffer but
the end will declare His justice. II becomes
us continually TO say, ''Just ana true are
Tbv word" "Show me Thy ways, o Lord"
(I.ev. Sv., 3; ps. XIV, i).-Lesson Helper.