The Progress., 1898-01-29
EPWORTh LEAGUE.
Lesson For the Week Beginning Jan. %
Comment by Rev. w. j. Yates. A. N.
Topic, A Wise Law.

SCRIPTURE READIEG.-Job xvii. 90.
Hypocrisy was not the failing of Job
He was genuine in his piety. His serv-
ice Of God was no spurious worship.
where lips aay one thing and the soul
another. His friends believed that God
Furnishes and rewards all men according
to their deserving in this present life.
They could only explain Jobs unparal-
leled calamities on the ground Of his ex-
treme wickedness. His high professions
Of integrity must be hypocritical and
his entire life tissue Of falsity which
God had torn il pieces They were con-
firmed in this opinion when Job loses
patience and curses the day of his birth.
Greatly afflicted by pain Of body, per-
plexity Of mind and anguish OF soul,
Job vows that his lips shall not speak
wiokedly In spite of the desertion OF
friends he will not utter deceit He has
been upright. He will not be moved
| from his integrity. He will still cling |
| to and maintain his Righteousness he
has honestly served God and will not
| confess to wrongs aud sins he has never
| committed.
| This is an eminently wise vow. Es-
pecially is it safe in the face OF distrust-
ing friends and distressing trials. Firm
belief and principles Of action are essen
tial if one would guide his actions right
". but it is unwise and unsafe to at
tempt REIMBURSEMENT of these whenever
hardships and difficulties arise or friends
suggest doubts and mistakes. There are
; times in every sailors life when WINDS
and currents, In spite OF his best sea-
, manship, set him dangerously near the
lee shore. He has done his best. It Will
; not mend matters to accuse himself OF
l having intended to wreck the vessel.
| Others will say that. Ignorant OF the
5 coast he may have been. perhaps mas
miscalculated distances and 1ofce OF
. tides. Intentionally wrong he is certain
/ he. has not been. The best thing 20 90
= then is to put out two anchors ana Wall
s for daylight.
70 reason the more he gets bewildered.
k In trouble 1t is wise to cling tenacious,
II " to the truths which have been wei!
- .,,ronoht ont in hours of quietness anc
Il clearness of thought. Speak the truth
~ do the right whatever the consequences
70 When complications arise, do not seer
to escape from the troubles by repudia
. tion Of the past as false. No poss1oi
course Of life will always be smootl
and clear of troubles and sunef!ne
a Jobs friends held false view OF Ike
~ and he would have been foolish AN
~ wicked to have yielded to their ciamo'
lv Be genuine in goodness and take ~ ~
-. 81 consequences. Hold fast your 1neeeIl'
es and Righteousness and let no man
philosophy or sneers, no suspioions
eu rersecutions, drive you from this sui
Ill anchorage.
W When the storm Is past. you can CO
~ a rect your chart and show your 1r'en'
~. their folly.
cal This word as applied to the soul n
ed 1870 70 mean something far dihere!
e. from what it did in ages past. When T.,
.e- -, If Christ's atonement was we've
a as m'' chiefly sharp bargain with ,a sat,
GU by which the souls of men Were , oot tS
by at the price of the death OF Jesus, . .h
d. salvation meant escaping 'n1 I,:.,.
.rt | ~ Dally. with