Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-12-08

with intense interest-angels in heaven,
ana friends In heaven and on earth, par"
ents. brothers and sisters, and teachers
and, most of all. his heavenly Father.
since many of the dangers of life have
been referred to in previous lessons, It Is
wei to use this lesson specially in inn
pressing the need and the duty of tenn
pefance as one application Of the Ercas
principles laid down.
The othec references in Proverbs 20 ~
,empera1ce can be focused upon this
lesson.
To-day's lesson, Prov. %: 1926. with ex-
planatory notes. follows:
To- My son, II thine heart be wfse."
better, becometh wise. my heart shall
rejoice Not only the heart of the son,
put my heart-his teacher. his parent,
even mine" What an argument this il
LOT cnlldren to be virtuous and temperate
ior the sake Of their parents and their
home.
l6. My reins Qkidneys) shall rejoice"
here and elsewhere, the "reins," as boz
ing among the most inward of the Elm
Wara parts" of the body, are looked on
emotlons.-E. Fl. Plumptre. when thy
lips speak right things AS the fruit
OF right heart and wise mind. Words
are the easiest outlet for the inner life
ana, when rightly judged, declare what
the soul is. Every noble attraction
ScHleT III the nome ana IN THO
school. They should be more sunny, moro
cheerful. more attractive to the higher
nature than any haunt of evil
H. Let not thine heart envy sinners"
even though for a time some OF them
may seem to gain more of the wealth and
pleasures of this life by their sin. But
De thou in the fear of the Lord" Profess
sor Miller translates this verse: LET not
thine heart be aglow full of emotion.
passlon) in sins; but in the fear of the
Lord all the day"
IT, For surely there is an end, r. w..
a reward. which comes at the end. There
is an end to the seeming prosperity of the
wicked; there is day of reckoning at
the close of every life; there is a harvest
at the end of every spring time sowing.
And thine expectation shall not be cut
ON There is harvest of good as well
as OF bad. and its hundredfold rewards
will not disappoint those who trust In
the Lord and do the right"
49, Hear thou, my son, and be WISE"
Listen to advice. Look at the results OF
the two courses before you. Only thus
can you be wise. Guide thine heart
in the way" of life. of Righteousness and
God.
20. BE not among wine bibbers." Who
are wasting their bodies and souls for the
sake of temporary pleasures. which have
death at the bottom of the cup. Among
riotous eaters of flesh. Gluttons at
feasts. eating merely for pleasure. and
who, by bad company and gluttonous
eating, are selling their birthright OF
health. of character and Immortality for
mess of pottage.
q. For" Avoid such company, be-
cause the results OF their conduct are
plain. He that goes into bad company
has already more than half fallen. The
drunkard and the glutton shall come to
poverty" Drinking is the natural OPP
posite of hard and honest work. When
the love of 1t takes possession Of a man
he is sure to become useless and un-
productive member Of society. And
drowsiness' THE lethargy, long sleep
riot and revery." THE disinclination
and unfitness for work resulting from
night evelry."-Delitzsch. Shall clothe
a man with rags" Its whole tendency
Is toward poverty. and this warning Is
intended as a stimulus to industry and
virtue.
%. "Hearken unto thy father
thy mother" For they have seen more
of life than you. and are most anxious
for your good.
%. Buy the truth" The truth means
the exact facts, the real state of things
seen Just as they are. and especially In
reference to moral and spiritual things.
1t includes wisdom" that sees the es-
sence of things and their true relations:
INSTRUCTION.. moral culture anu dlScl-
pine; understanding, the faculty of
discerning, proving, distinguishing. Jesus
Christ himself is the truth, the sum Of all
truth. These should be sought as the
pearl Of great price. and as the hid treas
ure. The truth must be bought. While it
is perfectly free, yet 1t costs much to at
tain 1t.
The Pledge. The pledge Is one of the
most effective ways of promoting tenn
perance. We need a piedge-signing re-
vival.