The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-22
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER rs.

Review OF the Twelve Lessons Of the
Third Quarter-Go1den Text: Matthew
v" 16-Comnentary on the Quarters
Lessons by the Rev. d. NJ. Stearns.
LESSON First Converts in Europe
(Acts xvi, 6-15). Golden Text-Ps. cxix.,
100, "The entrance Of Thy words giveth
'Let your light 80 shine," etc. (Math ",
16), suggests that Christ, who Is the light,
is to be allowed so to work in US that God
may be glorified in US (Gal. l.. 2D. Paul
testifes that 1t pleased God to reveal Christ
in him (Gal. l., 16), and as the Lord Jesus
Christ never sought His own will or pleas
ure (John W., 38; Rom. xv., 81, 80 Paul,
when hindered from going into Asia or
Bithynia, was satisfied to cross over to
Macedonia at the call Of His Lord and pa
tiently wait for the opportunity and cheer
speaking to few women by the riverside.
LESSON I.-Paul and the Philippian
Jailer (Acts xvi, 22-S4). Golden Text
Acts xvi, 81, "Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy
house." To be arrested, beaten and i'm
prsoned did not look much like success in
their work; neither did 1t look like success
when our blessed Lord was arrested, buf-
feted, scourged, crucifled as malefactor.
LESSON III.-Paul at Thessalonica and
Berea (Acts xviii, 1-12). Golden Text.
with all the readiness of mind and searched
the Scriptures daily" Some were added
unto the Lord at Philippi, and Paul passed
on to other cities, for he believed that 1t
was His calling to cause all whom he could
reach to see and hear the Gospel. It Is to
be seen In our lives and heard from our
lips, and whether we are free or bound,
resting In one place, or prosecuted from
place to place, It is that under all circum-
stances people may see and hear Of Jesus
Christ. Not all will receive him, but some
will, and some, like the Bereans, will earn
estly search the Scriptures.
tActs xviii, 22-34). Golden Text-John
w., "a, "God Is Spirit, and they that wor-
ship Him must worship Him in spirit and
in truth" He found the people Of Athens
worshiping all manner Of gods, but ignor-
ant of the only living and true God, and
giving their time chiefly to hearing and
telling the news regardless of anything be-
yond the present life.
LESSON V.-Paul's Ministry In Corinth
ACTS xviii., 1-11). Golden Text Cor.
ill.,, II, "Other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ"
Here He works at His trade as tentmaker
and on the Sabbath days breaches Christ In
the synagogue as long as the people will
listen to Him, and when they will hear Him
no more He preachesin house right beside
the synagogue. Many are saved, including
the chief ruler Of the synagogue and all His
house. The Lord Himself visits and en-
,oursges Paul, and He continues eighteen
months at Corinth.
LESSON vI:-Wosking and Waiting For
Christ q Thess. iv., 9, tow, p. Golden
Text-John xiv, 8, "1f go and prepare a.
place for you, will come again and receive
you unto Myself, ,ithat where I am there ye
may be ALSO" Turning to God from idols
Is the first step, the coming OF His Son from
heaven is the consummation, and all be-
tween is included in serving the living and
true God q Thess. l., 9, 10Y. We need to be
assured of our salvation or there can be no
peace OF mind.
LESSON YII.-Abstaining For the Sake Of
Others q Cor. viii, 1-13). Golden Text
Rom. xiv, 7, "For none Of Us iveth unto
himself" The love that buildeth up the
body Of Christ is better than the knowledge
that puffeth up oneself. To pity self, or
please self, or live In any way unto our
selves (Math. xvi, %, margin; Rom. xv., 8,
II Cor. ", 15), Is directly opposed to the
spirit OF Christ, and, therefore, cannot be
pleasing to Him; but to deny self and daily
to die unto self that Christ may be seen In
Us (Math. xvi, "a, rs; II Cor. w., III this IS
Christlike and glorifying to God, and thus
souls will be won to Christ.
LESSON vIII.-The Excellence Of Chris
sian Love G Cor. Kill, 1-13). Golden Text
Il Cor. kill, IS, "And now abideth faith,
hope, love, these three, but the greatest OF
these Is love-" God is love, and Christ was
God manifest in the flesh, and this chapter
Is photograph OF Christ, 80 that, although
His name Is not In 1t, we cannot mis-
take the picture any more than we would
that Of an intimate friend.
LESSON IX.-Paul Opposed at Ephesus
(Acts XIX, 21-94. Gold Text-"Take heed
and beware Of covetousness." The trouble
ut Ephesus arose from those who eaid, "Our
craft, by which we have our wealth, Is IN
danger" This Is not to be wondered at
when 1t comes from those who have in this
world all they ever will have, but when 1t Is
seen in those who bear the name Of Christ
In connection with our church, or our board,
or our society, or our denomination, Is pitt
able indeed, and must be grievous to God,
who, by Hfs Spirit, is seeking to gather
from all nations body OF people irrespec:
tive Of oil names but that Of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
LESSON X.-Gentlles Giving For jewish
Christians GI Cor. tx, 1-1D. Golden Text
III Cor. viii, 8, "Yo know the grace OF
our LOCu oceuS SulAoe, thos3 NeSA A~
was rich, yet for your sakes He became
Door, that ye through His poverty might
be rich" God so loved that He gave His
only begotten Son; the Son Of God loved
me and gavo Himsolf for me. If we see
others need that which We have and we
give not to them, how can the love OF God
be dwelling In us? (John ILL.,, 16; Gal. H.,
20; John ILL.,, IS, ~
LESSON XI.-Christian Living (Rom. XII.
9-21). Golden Text-Rom. xiii, 21, "Be
not overcome OF evil, but overcome evil
with good" This Is again on tho same
line Of thought as some previous lessons,
and begins with, s'Let love be without dis
stimulation" and it both begins and ends
with hating evil upd loving good. "There
is none good ss7o one, that Is God"
LESSON XII. Paul's Address to the
Ephesian Elders (Acts Xxx, 22-S5). Golden
Text-Acts xx., 35, Remember the words
Of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It Is more
blessed to give than to receive" He Is
able by the grace OF God to testify that
the exceeding abundant grace Of God to
him q Tim. l., 14) enabled him for three
years to give himself so fully to them that
with all humility Of mind and temptations
and tears he had testified the gospel OF the
grace Of God, preached the kingdom OF
God and declared the whole counsel OF
God, and now he cared not what awaited
him il only he could still glorify God, &c
fully was he given up to Him who ap'
reared to him on the way to Damascus
The same Lord Jesus will do the same in
and through us II We are only Wiulng.-