The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-08-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XII, THIRD QUARTER. INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. 20.
Text OF the Lesson. Prov. xvi. 22-33-Mem-
Org Verses. 25-s7-Goiden Text. Prov.
wi, aS-CommentAry by tho Rev. ID. M.
Stearns.


~ Understanding Is a wellspring OF
life unto him that hath It. but the instruc-
ton of fools Is folly" In verse 10 of this
chapter we read that wisdom Is better
than gold and understanding than silver;
and again In chapter Nv, z, Wisdom Is the
principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and
with all thy getting get understanding.
In Cor. |, -, we read. Christ the pow
or of God and the wisdom of God" We
conclude, therefore, that the wellspring Of
life Is none other than the living water,
which Is the gift of God and which be-
comes in us we'll of water springing up
into everlasting life John iv, l4). God
Himself Is the fountain, and when we re-
oeive Christ we have God in US Ger. ii,
IL; John xiv, 23).
23. 1.-THE heart of the wise teacheth his
mouth and addeth learning to his lips" 1t
Is from the heart that all proceeds. An
evil heart gives forth all manner of evil
(Math. XIV, Is, 19), and a good heart gives
forth that which Is helpful, for out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speak
eth (Math. xii, 34). The natural heart or
oarnal mind Is enmity against God and
never can be made subject to Him (Rom.
viii, y, but God offers TO give a new heart
and a new spirit (EZek. xxxvi, 26), or, in
other words new birth or a new crea-
ton John iii, 8, IS; III Cor. v, ~, and
this will send forth good words from the
lips.
"a. Pleasant words are as an honey
comb, sweet 10 the soul and health to the
bones. II we keep tho words of God In
us, they will by the Spirit be fitted In our
Aps as the Spirit may desire to uso them
prov. xii, 49, The people wondered at
the gracious words which proceeded out Of
the mouth of our Lord duke iv. 22), but
they were the words of God who spoke
through Him John xii, 49).
IS. There is a way that seemeth right
unto the man, but the eL thereof is the
way of death" There Is but one right
way, and that is lie who said, II am the
way" 1t is Gods way of reaching us
and our only way Of reaching God. There
is one other narle given under heaven by
which we can be saved John xiv, d; Acts
w. 12). Whatever may seem right to us, If
the Lord Jesus is not the center of IL and
the author of 1t, it Is not of God, and there
fore must be the way of death and not Of
life q John ii, 15-17; V, -.
20. "He that laboreth l..5oreth for him
self, for his mouth craveth il of him."
What multitudes spend all their strength
in getting something for themselves, some-
thing to eat or drink or wear or enjoy
All this is folly. And one who could 10 1t
as perhaps no other mere man that ever
lived tried 1t to the utmost, and his testi
mony Is on record in these words, BE
hold, all was vanity and vexation of spir-
it, and there was no profit under the san"
Geo. ii, III.
III
and in his lips there Is as a burning fire. +"
The margin says IA man of Beiial, and
the r. " says "a worthless man."
All such are servants of him who began
the work of evil on the earth in the gar
den In Eden and whose constant business
is to stir up strife and burnings. Happy
are they who escape the everlasting burn
ing where lac Is doomed to dwell lisa. xxxiii,
IA; Rev. Xxx, 10; xxi, s.
20. "A froward man soweth strife, and
a whisperer separateth chief friends" 1t
seems to me more and more that if we
were only familiar with the Bible the Spir-
it would bring TO mind as we read what
He has elsewhere said upon this or that
topic, and thus we would have the best OF
commentaries, even the Spirits own ex-
PLANTATION of His own words He now
brings to mind Jas. Iii, 14-16, IF we
have bitter envying and strife in your
hearts, glory not and lie not against the
truth. This wisdom descendeth not from
above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish."
20. "A violent man enticeth his neigh
Dor and leadeth him into the way that is
not good. The devil and his followers are
at this business increasingly day and
night Sunday and weekday. Deceit and
destruction are his work. and there is moth
ing good In him. God is good and giveth
Himself to each one who receives Jesus
Christ His Son with the assurance that
goodness and mercy shall follow us, and
we shall find all His ways pleasaptness
and peace. 1t is, however, a narrow way,
and will not admit the world, the flesh or
the devil.
so. He shutteth his eyes to devise fro
ward things. Moving his lips, he bringeth
evil To pass. He closes his eyes against
the light and will not sec the goodness of
God He loves darkness rather than light,
because his deeds are evil and his heart
and tongue and lips are the property of
his master for evil purposes. His mouth
pours out evil things, and his thoughts are
an abomination to the Lord ichapter Nv,
go, 2S). God permits him to bring his evil
thoughts To pass, but they will prove his
own obstruction.
81. 1.-The hoary head is crown Of glory
IL it be found in the way of righteousness.
The sinner may prosper and live long
life on the earth, but there is nothing
glorious about his life, for 1t Is only n
ripening for eternal torment. On the 9th
er hand, the white hairs of the righteous
man are crown OF glory, for they point
forward to an eternity of bliss and purity
with Him whom John saw on Patmos
having His head and His hairs white like
wool, as white as snow (HDr. 1, la. There
Is also the beautiful PROMISE for such
one, Even to your old age am He, and
even to hoar hairs will 1 carry you" Elsa.
XVI, ~.
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
is slow to anger appeaseth strife and is of
great understanding (chapters Nv, Is; xiv,
800. Anger, wrath and malice are of the
flesh and of the devil, but by the grace of
God, having received Jesus Christ, and
being thus born of God, we may have vic
tory over the besetting sins of our old ma
ture. He saves us from the wrath to come,
but He Is also able To save ne from, oiir