The true northerner., 1897-08-04
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for August g.,
1S07-WOrking and Waiting for
Christ-I ThessaIOnians 4iO-5i2.

lArranged from Peloubet's Notes.1
GOLDEN TEXT.-If 1 go and prepare
a place for you, Will come again, and re-
ceive you unto Myself; that where / am.
there ye may be also.-John 143.
THE SECTION.-Read the whole OF the
two Epistles to the Thessalonians, and the
story OF the founding OF their church In
Acts 17:1-9.
TIME.-Thls Epistle was written in A. d.
80. not long after Paul's arrival at Corinth,
and soon after Silas and Timothy had
Joined Paul there. bringing news from
Thessalonica.
PLACE.-The Epistle was written at
Corinth, to the church at Thessalonica, In
Macedonia.
LESSON NOTES.
l. The Heavenly Life on Earth.-Es.
9-12. Note 1. How much in this epistle
Paul praises this church. They were
far from perfect; they did not come up
TO his ideal; he has to warn, and ex-
hort, and entreat them. But he first
praises. He finds in them all the good
there is, marks it, commends it, en-
courages IL.
First Virtue-Purity.-Vs is. "God
hath not called us to uncleanness, but TO
holiness" For our bodies were made to
be temples of the Holy Ghost" THE
unchaste act or thought is an affront to
the Holy Ghost."-Findlay.
Second Virtue-Brotherly Love.-V.
9. "As touching brotherly love:" In
nll it's manifestations, of help to the
poor, sympathy with the afflicted, kind
ly feeling toward those who differ in
opinion, unity of feeling and work. 'Ye
need not that / should write unto you,"
because your conduct shows that ''ye
yourselves are taught of God to love
one another" The new heart He has
given, the teaching and guidance of the
Holy Spirit, fills your souls with a ma
ture inclined to love.
10. "And We do IL -" not ONLY
toward your own familiar church, but
toward all the brethren which are in
Macedonia" They had the broad spirit
of love which inspires home missions,
which aids feebler churches and reaches
out to all classes and races
Third Virtue-Growth in Grace.-V.
10. "We beseech you that we
increase (abound) more and more:" It
is in the very nature of a living virtue to
grow larger, stronger, more fruitful.
That which does not grow is dead.
Fourth Virtue-A Restful, Tranquil
Spirit.-V. II. THAT We study TO be
quiet" Literally, THAT you be am
bilious to be quiet" that you have not
bustling ambition, restless desire for
great things, for notoriety. The vir-
tues grow best in a faith that brings
restful spirit.
Fifth Virtue-Honest Daily Labor.
l.
bnsybody, but see to it that your own
daily tasks are well done.
Sixth Virtue-An Honorable Daily
Life.-V. 12. "That We may walk honest
ly:" Rather, "honorably," in such
manner as TO 'adorn the doctrine of
God, our Saviour"
Seventh Virtue-A Spirit of Inde-
pendence. ''That ye may have lack of
nothing" or "of no one" The suffi-
cheney which comes from diligence in
business and faithfulness in daily work
is great power.
II. The Coming Again of Our Lord
VS.. 1918; 5:1,2. 13. But Or. v, WEI
would not have you to be ignorant"
The life beyond is very close to the life
here, and made all the nearer by the
fact that many we love have gone to
that better land.
Concerning them which are asleep"
The Christian word for the death of
the Christian. THAT we sorrow not"
They were to maintain an attitude of
cheerfulness, vigilance and hope. \
IA. "For if we believe" as we as
suredly do, that Jesus died." just as
really as we must die, land rose
AGAIN." proving that death did not end
all, that the soul does not die with the
body, and that He was the promised
Messiah, the Son of God. Them also
which sleep in Jesus:" Belong to Him,
and have received His promise of eter-
nal life. "Will God bring with HIM"
From the grave to His home on high.
Is. "We say unto you by the word Of
the Lord" BY a direct communication
| from Jesus. I'VE which are alive"
This does not necessarily imply that he
expected to be alive when Christ came.
There would be two classes of Chris
tians at the coming of the Lord: one,
Of those living at the time; the other,
of those who had died previously. I'm
to the coming of the Lord" Greek,
the parousia-the presence, the becom-
ing present, a coming and remaining
present. "Shall not prevent" Old
English for precede, come in advance
of. "Them which are asleep" Those
who have previously died in Christ.
1S. Wherefore comfort one an
other:" The comfort is (1) in the GER
tainty of the coming Of the Lord and
the triumph of His religion. (2) In the
certainty of a Heavenly home with
Christ, a life of joy after death. CD
In the certainty of meeting again those
who have gone before. (D In the as
surance that we lose no advantage by
remaining here in tolls and labors for
Christ.
2. THE day of the Lord" i. e., the
day of the Lords coming. This in
cludes not only His coming at the end
of the world to judge the world, but all
the special manifestations of that COM
ing, as at the day of death and the de-
struction of Jerusalem (see Matt. 24).
"Cometh as n thief in the night" At
unexpected times, unseen and uIr-