The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT II.
Text OF the Lesson, Rom. xiii, 8-2I-Mem-
DRY Verses. IG-1S-GoIden Text, Rom.
Kill, 2t-Commentary by the Rev. ID. M.
Stearns.

~ tht new ~. Ms
stearns.
g. Let love be without DISSEMINATION.
Abhor that which is evil. Cleave to
that which Is good" The r. V. saws.
Let love be without hypocrisy {" The
Holy Spirit through John says, "I.et us
not love in word, neither in tongue, but
In deed and in truth" U John iii, 1S).
Inc tltie OF our lesson is christian Liv-
lng which Is elsewhere defined as "the
life OF Jesus made manifest in our mortal
ilesh. The thirteenth chapter of l Corin-
thlaDs describes the love that was mani
lest In Christ as never in any other and
lie VIII manifest that love and that life
in us In proportion ms we present to Him
our bodies living sacrifice Verse d.
10. BE kindly affectioned one to an
other with brotherly love, in honor pre-
ierring one another" This is the love
that seeketh not her own; not our own
pront, but the profit of many, that they
may be saved U Cor X, 33; xiii, 81. The
therefore" of verse l of our lesson chap
tHr takes us back to the Justified freely, :"
justified by faith, " "no condemnation, :"
freely with Him all things" ETC., of
Rom. iii, "a; V, /; viii, /, 30, and because
OF all this it Is surely reasonable thing
that we should let Him have our whole
being, that He may 10y renewing our minds
transform us into His own image (Rom.
viii, 29).
IL. Not slothful in business, feryent
in spirit, serving the Lord" The II. V.
says, In diligence, not slothful, F" and in
the margin says that some manuscripts
give, serving the opportunity. The
latter would suggest the simplicity Of
sam. X, z, do as occasion serve thee for
God is with thee" and the former would
be in the line of Col. iii, 90, Whatsoever
ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and
not unto men,"
IL. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribu-
lation, continuing instant in prayer"
think we are safe in saying that the hope
in the New Testament generally, if not
always, refers to the second coming of
Christ and the events Herewith associated.
See Rom. V, ?; viii, "a, 20; Titus ii, 10;
l John iii, 3. The tribulation that work
eth patience is our privilege all along the
journey (Rom. V, 3; John xvi, 80; Rev.
i, 8, heb X, 36, 37), and tho attitude Of
increasing prayer is our great privilege as
well as necessity IL Thess. V, IL; Heb iy,
l6).
ID. Distributing to the necessity of
saints, given to hospitality" If one
should be asked why he worked so hard
early and late at his daily toll, and should
reply, THAT l may have to give to him
that needeth," he might seem to be lit
tie unbalanced in his mind, but he would
be talking, as well as living, according to
the Scriptures (Eph. w. 2S).
IA. BLESS them which prosecute you;
bless and curse not" Now this is easy
talking, but the practice of it is not SO
popular as to have us yet become the fash
ion. 1t is, however, the plain teaching of
our Lord (Math. V, Az, and He always
practiced what He preached. If His life
is to be made manifest in us, this phase
of it is surely included. 1t was beautifully
manifest in Stephen when he in the midst
of their persecution looked like an angel
end acted like the Lord Himself (Acts vi,
10; vii, CO.,
10. "Reioioe with them that DO rejoice,
and weep with them that weep" The
unity of the body of Christ is such that
when the members are abiding in Him If
one member suffers all suffer with that
one, and if one member be honored all
the members rejoice with it Il Cor. xii,
26). This is as it should be, but where is
IL seenf What, then, ails the bodyY Is il
as in Phil. Ii, ~ "All seek their own, not
the things which are Jesus Christ's?'' If
So how can the body expect the blessing
of the Headp Let each ask himself, Am
i healthy member of His body or q grief
to Him?
Is. "Be of the same mind one toward
another. Mind not high things, but con-
descend to men of low estate. BE not wise
in your own conceits." On the second
clause the margin says, "Be contented
with mean things" The margin of the
r. V. says, "Be carried away with them
that are lowly." If we will allow our
selves to be carried away with Him who
is meek and lowly, who made Himself of
no reputation and humbled Himself unto
death for us, He will surely take possession
of us and manifest His life in us.
II. "Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide things honest in the sight of
all men," Not rendering evil for evil but,
contrariwise, blessing, knowing that We
are thereunto called that We should inherit
a blessing q Pet. iii, 81. Providing for
honest things, not only IN the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of men II Cor.
viii, 2l). Whatsoever things are true,
honest, just, lovely, We are to think on
these things phil. Nv, 81.
IL. IF IL be possible, as much as lieth In
you, live peaceably with all men," This
seems very carefully worded. There are
those who know nothing Of peace they
seem born for war, and yet somehow they
get united to or mixed up with those who
arc for peace, and tho peaceful party seems
to be in good school for the cultivation
of patience. Well, we must "let the peace
of God rule in our hearts" and be thankful
that He is able to subdue, for He Is the
Prince of Peace (Col. iii, 10; Phil iii, 21).
10. dearly beloved, avenqe not your
selves, but rather give place unto wrath,
for 1t is written, Vengeance is mine; |
will repay, saith the Lord" This certainly
mean that we are to be satisfied
with getting angry, but without taking
Rather, as in the Il. V. mar
gin, give place to the wrath of God. Let
Him take charge of all the wrath and
vengeance business
20. Therefore, If thine enemy hunger,
feed him; If he thirst, give him drink, for
In so doing thou shalt heap Goals of fire or
his head 7" This is quotation from Prov,
XIV, 81, 22, but the last clause of that
passage is omitted, 1.-THE Lord shall reward
thpo