The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-08
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER IL.


come of Evil, But Overcome Evil With
Good" Romans xiii, 21-Commentary.
9. "Let love be without dissimulation
Abhor that which is evil. Cleave to that
which Is good" The R: V. says, "Let love
through John says, "Let us not love in
word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in
truth" Q John ill.,, 1s). The title of our
lesson is Christian Living" which is else
where defined as "the life of Jesus made
manifest In our mortal flesh" The thir-
teenth chapter of Corinthians decribes
the love that was manifest In Christ as
never in any other, and He will manifest
that love and that life in US in proportion
as we present to Him our bodies living
sacrifice (verse y.
10. "Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love, in honor preferring
one another" This is the love that seeketh
not her own; not our own profit, but the
profit OF many, that they may be saved q
Cor. K, So; kill, 81. The therefore Of
verse tof our lesson chapter takes US back
to the Justified freely" Justified by
faith" "no condemnation" "freely with
Him all things" ETC., of Rom. ILL.,, 24;v., 1;
viii, l, 80, and because Of all this it Is
surely reasonable thing that we should
let Him have our whole being, that He may
by renewing our minds transform US into
His own image (Rom. viii, 29).
II. "Not slothful In business, fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord" The R. V. says.
"In diligence, not slothful," and In the
margin says that some manuscripts give,
Serving the opportunity" The latter
would suggest the simplicity Of I Sam. <,
7, "Do as occasion serve thee, for God is
with thee" and the former would be in
the line Of Col. ILL.,, %, whatsoever ye do,
do 1t heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto
men,"
-. "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, II not al
ways, refers to the second coming Of Christ
and the events Herewith associated. See
Rom. ", 2; viii, "a, rs; Titus H., 19; John
tience Is our privilege all along the journey
(Rom. v, 8; John xvi, SO; Rev. L., 9; Heb.
K, So, 37), and the attitude Of increasing
prayer is our great privilege as we'll as
necessity q Thess. ", II; Heb. iv:, 16).
13. distributing to the necessity of
saints, given to hospitality" II one should
be asked why he worked so hard early and
late at his daily toll, and should reply,
THAT I may have to give to him that
needeth," he might seem to be little un-
balanced in his mind, but he would be talk
lures Eph. iv., 2S).
IA. "Bless them which persecute you;
bless and curse not" Now this Is easy
talking, but the practice Of it Is not 80 popu-
lar as to have as yet become the fashion. It
Is, however, the plain teaching Of our Lord
(Math. ", AZ, and He always practiced
what He preached. IfHis life Is to be made
manifest In US, this phase Of 1t Is surely in
cluded. 1t was beautifully manifest in
Stephen when he in the midst Of their per-
secution looked like an angel and acted
IL. "Rejoice 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 II one member
suffers all suffer with that one, and II one
member be honored all the members rejoice
with it q Cor. xii, 26). This Is as it should
be, but where Is it seen? What, then, ails
the body2 Is it as in Phil. H., 81, GAIL seek
their own, not the things which are Jesus
Christs" II so, how can the body expect
the blessing Of the Head1 Let each ask
himself, AM I healthy member OF His
body or q griefto Him? '."~
16. "Re Of the same mind one toward an
other. Mind not high things, but conde-
scend 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." II
we will allow ourselves to be carried away
with Him who is meek and lowly, who made
Himself of no reputation and humbled Him
self unto death for US. He will surely take
possession Of US and manifest His life in US.
u. "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 ye are
thereunto called that ye should inherit
blessing q Pet. ill.,, 81. Providing for
honest things, not only in the sight OF the
Lord, but also in the sight Of men QI Cor.
viii, 21) Whatsoever things are true, hon
est, just, lovely, we are to think on these
things phil. w., 81.
18. eff 1t 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
are for peace, and the 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 thank
full that He is able to subdue, for he Is the
Prince Of Peace (Col. ill.,, Is; Phil. ill.,, 2D.
10. "Dearly beloved, avenge not your
selves, but rather give place unto wrath.
for it is written, Vengeance Is mine; will
repay, saith the Lord" This certainly can
not mean that we are to be satisfied with
getting angry, but without taking venge-
ance. Rather, as In the R. Y. margin, 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
80 doing thou shalt heap Goals Of fire on
his head" This Is quotation from Prov.
XIV, 81, %, but the last clause OF that pas
sage is omitted, "The Lord shall reward
thee"
81. "Be not overcome Of evil, but over
come evil with good" The ornament Of q
meek and quiet spirit is in the sight Of God
OF great price q Pet. ill.,, ~, and the meek
and lowly one who when He was reyiled,
reviled not again; when He suffered, He
threatened not, will work in US this spirit
and live in US this life whenever we are
willing that He should. The word "trans-
formed" in verse OF this chapter is the
same word that is translated "transhg.
ured" in Math. xviii, 2; Mark tx, 2, and
"are changed" in II Cor. ill.,, 18, and used
only In these four places. The last passage
seems to me to show the only way to be
thus transfgured; therefore let US go on
''beholding Him" until we see Him face to
face, and then we shall be like Him q
Jotil ill.,, 2).-Lesson Helper.