The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-11
Sunday School Lesson for September H.
CHRISTIAN LIVING
Rom. XII, 9-21.
BY j. e. GILBERT, D. D., IL. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education.

INTERCoURSE.-Sti further to regu-
late the conduct of the Christian in his
Intercourse with men. the apostle pre-
sents three precepts oversees II and 19
which are more closely connected that
they at first appear. First, IL injured, one
must not return the injury, a wise coun-
sci viewed from any standpoint Il Thess.
V, 15), en1oined by Jesus Matthew ", 500
and by Moses Leviticus, xix, 1S; second,
in arranging secular matters and espe-
cially acquiring property, let all things
appear strictly honest I'll Corinthians,
viii, 2D third, cultivate peace, by remov-
ing from ones conduct and spirit all that
would cause strife with any one tIte-
brews, xii, 1D, so that IL dlscord come 1t
shall be the fault of others. Harmless
ness, honesty, peaceablencss-these three
qualities that cannot well be separated,
are Immensely important, absolutely es-
sential to the spiritual welfare of the be-
lever and to his influence in the world.
Without these many are in perpetual
anxiety and discomfort, unable to gain or
hold place in the esteem of those about
them, and hence unable to accomplish
much for the carse of God or man.
VICTORY.-Our lesson closes with d.
rections for mastering enemies, high
art which all must desire to learn. He
who can transform foe into friend is a
city. The directions oversees 10 to 2lD de-
scribe the process. The injured party
must not avenge himself. but must leave
the offender with God. There is an inti-
nation that the Lord will repay-He will
conduct the case If men allow Him, give
Him room or oportunity. IL this first
rule Is disregarded there is no hope of re-
dress. He who punishes for injury re-
ceived is further removed than before.
(Matthew, xxvi 52) But, secondly, do
good to the enemy-feed him and give him
drink If he has need, the very advice
Jesus gave (Matthew, V, 4D which no
man can follow unless the heart has been
renewed by grace. But where is the man
who can resist such treatment, who will
not repent of his wrong doing and seek
restoration to the favor of one ill-treated?
Such a course therefore enables one by
goodness to triumph over evil.
SUlMMARY-The precepts OF this les
son are all Christian, not because they
are in harmony with the teaching of
Christ, nor yet because they tend to make
Christ-like character (both which, how
ever, are true), but because they accord
with Christ's theory of true living. He
never intended TO regulate mems conduct
by rule-that would have been Judaistic
and Pharisaic. But He sought to fill the
heart with love and to make that the reg
ulative force. Precepts are valuable under
the Christian system only as they reveal
what the heart will prompt, when love
dominates 1t. So our lesson covers
church relations, business enga gements,
several personal virtues, the treatment Of
enemies, the attitude toward men in diff
ferent stations, the behavior proper at
different times, the way to disarm foes
and all of this is but a commentary on
the fruitagc of a regenerate and loving
nature. Uuke, vi. 45) Let the heart of
man be right, and all his doing shall be
right. And yet, TO know whether the
| heart is right we must know what tie
conduct ought to be. (Matthew, vii, l6.)
Here are the inspired standards of ac-
| tion to measure the hearts condition.