Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-11-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON KNOW. 2S- !. PETER
I:l-S.
Golden Text: "Ec Ye Therefore safer,
and Watch Unto Prayer"-I Peter
5-Saiutary Warnings Epistlc
of st. Peter.

The First Epistle CT Peter appears TO
have been writer. from Babylon q Peter
8. 13), and it is most natural TO understand
by this the well-known city of that name.
At the date of Col A. 10 Mark was in
Rome, but about 10 visit Asia Minor; at
that of Tim. 4. Ii ne was In Asia Minor.
and TO be brought by Timothy TO Rome
TO rejoin Paul. RE may have spent the
interval with Peter in Babylon. or may
have gone thither after the death of Paul
On one superstition the epstle was writ
ten between 63-67 A. D.; on the other, al
ter 81 n. ID. We DO not know whether or
not the ST yanus OF l Peter 5. u was iden
iical with tho Silas of Acts Is. 10, 49, 10; IL.
70, -; II. 4, 10. IA; 1S. s. ahd the Silvanus
Of Thess. l. 1: Thess. l. !; . Cor. 1. 10.
This epistie appears 10 be addressed q
Peter LID TO the very districts in which
Paul had Iabored. an6 this suggests that
II may have been written during his im-
prisonnent or some temporary withdraw
al from work. Compare Gal. 2. .. 1t was
addressed especially To persons under
trial Il Peter !. T. q 2D. evidently con-
verted Gentiles, and contains elevated
Christian doctrine mixed with practica.
cXhortarion.
Lesson Hymn
Thou Judge of Quick and dead. Before
whose bar severe.
With holy JOY Or guilty dread, We all
shall soon appear;
our cautioned souls prepare For that re-
mcndous day.
And NJ US now with watChful care, And
str US up 10 pray.
. may We all be found Obcdient 10 thy
word.
Attentive to the trumpets sound And
locking for cur Lord.
O may we thus insure A lot among the
best:
And watch a moment to secure an ever
lasting rest. Charles Wesley.
The verses for to-day's lesson follow:
!. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suf-
fered for us in the flesh. arm yourself
likewise with the same mind: for he tina,
hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased
from sin;
2. That lie no longer should live the rest
of his tiiae in the flesh to the lusts OF
men. but to the win of God.
3. For the time past of our life may suf-
flee us TO have wrought the will OF the
Gentiles, when we walked in lascivious-
ness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, ban
quetings and ahominable idolatries:
L. Wherein they think ii strange that we
run not with them TO the same excess of
riot, speaking evil of you;
5. Who shall give account to him that is
ready to Judge the quick and the dead.
c. For, Cor this cause was the gospel
preached also TO them that are dead, that
they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, but live according 10 God in
tho spirit.
I. But the end of all things is at hand;
be We therefore sober. and watch unto
prayer.
s, And above all things have fervent
charity among yourselves; for charity
shall cover the multitude of sins.
Hints to Teacher.
1t is suggested by the Lesson Commit
tee that with this lesson the truths OF
temperance he emphasized, especially as
II falls upon a day set apart in England
and TO some extent in America as Tenn
perance Sunday. Every principle laid
down in these verses may be directly ap-
piled TO the temperance reform.
/. The principle of self-denial Verse /.
Christ pleased not his own flesh, but suf-
fered for us even so should we deny our
selves for the sake of others. Suppos-
ing though it is a dangerous supposition
that the moderate use Of liquor will do US
no harm would not Christ's example bid
us to abstain in order that we may help
others?
III. The principle of loyalty to God.
Verse =. The disciple is not his own mas
ter. lie wears yoke. though it is easy,
because lined with love. He has submit
ted his own will to the will of God. Be-
fore he can take a glass of wine he must
ask. What is my Fathers win? Would
God approve my doing this?' Who can
tOuDt WIldt iIlc answer W tlllS inquiry
would be.
III. The principle of the new creation.
Verses 3, T. The apostle is writing TO peo-
pie many of whom had lived in pleasure
and open sin. He names the dark cata-
logue OF their vices. But he tells them
that all these things were ended when
they became followers CT Christ. The time
past suflices for these things; now we are
new creatures. and must lead new lives.
These are the badges of the world; we put
them off forever when we cease to live
for the world, and begin living for God.
". The principle OF accountability.
Verses 5. 6. Each man stands alone be-
fore God and must render an n count for
his life in the day of Judgment. We shall
meet there the reckoning for every deed
of shame, for every secret sin, for every
sensual pleasure. Let us be ready for
that trial.
V. The principle of charity. Verses I.
s. AS disciples of Christ we should be ruled
by love to one another Would he that
loves his brother man show him an exam
ole that would corrupt his character?