The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-04-26
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 80.
Lesson Text: ''The Comforter Promised"
John XIV, 15-27-Golden Text: John
XIV, 18-Co,nment Verses 25. 20-Com-
,nentary on tho Days Lesson.

In this lesson we have the only one se-
iected from John that reveals to us the
HOLY Spirit as the source OF power, OF holl-
hess. OF life, OF success in the church all
through the ages. Therefore we should
gather around 1t all that Jesus told His dis
ciples, on this memorable occasion, about
this great gift which He promised to give
to His disciples after His death, and all
other references, go far as we can, to. the
work OF the Holy Spirit. We should keep
before our minds the fulfllment OF this
promise AZ recorded In the Acts, and watch
his actunl workings In the birth and de-
yslopment OF the church. We should. most
OF all. study how we may receive this great
blessing In our own hearts and lives, and In
the churches to which we belong.
We can understand this lesson better. and
the great truth here revealed, II We vlvidly
realize the circumstances. Jesus had an
nounced that He was going away, to leave
them In this world. He had promised
to His disciples that they should do even
greater works than He, the Master, had
done, and that BE would give them what
ever they asked In His name, for his work
and kingdom. But they did not even know
what 10 ask for. They were In world OF
trouble and danger and opposition, like
lambs surrounded by wolves. They had
mighty kingdom to found, but were ignor-
m. rs to it's nature and OF the way to found
1t, and were without material, without
power. without means, and without
leader. They could as easily remove
mountains or dethrone the Caesars.
Christ now comes to them with all they
need. He Himself will still be their leader.
The Holy Spirit will come and bring them
aIl they need-power over men, truth. guild
ance, strength, inspiration, courage, and
the peace OF victory.
The work of the Spirit Is the final and
great subject Of this last discourse. for 1t
stands connected with the completion OF
Christ's mission, without which his work
must be failure. "This is the very citadel
OF the religion Of Christ"
'Ii ye love Me keep Ny commandments"
The revised version says, II ye love Me
eve will keep My commandments This
little verse is one that processing Christians
should always have before them. and Its
truth should be rooted deep in their hearts.
It is a test OF discipleship that many shrink
from having applied to their lives, but
there Is no uncertainty about its meaning.
1t has we'll been said that no kind OF de-
gree OF emotion can be substitute for
obedience.
"And will pray the Father and he shall
give you another Comforter, that He may
abide with you forever"
Here we see plainly taught that the Com
forter Is to come to those who keep the
commandments.
Gwen the Spirit OF truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because 1t seeth Him
not, neither knoweth Him, but ye know
Him, for, He dwelleth with you, and sail
be In you"
He not only will be our Comforter, Ad-
yocate or Helper, but He will be to US the
Spirit Of truth, guiding and directing US
Instead OF "dwelleth in you" the revised
version says "He abideth In you"
'"And will not leave you comfortless; l
will come to you"
According to the revised version, Jesus
desolate, like orphans.
"Yet little while and the world seeth
Me no more; but We see Me, because live.
ye shall live also."
They not only saw Him. as the Son OF God
then, but also afterwards saw Him after
His resurrection. and after His ascension
saw Him with their spiritual eyes.
"At that day ye shall know that am in
My Father, and ye In Me and I In you"
They knew in sense then, but on the
cay Of Pentecost, when they were filled
with Holy Spirit. they would understand
rs they never had before.
"He that hath My commandments, and
keepeth them, he 1t Is that lovetb Me, and
lie that loveth Ne shall be loved by Ny
father, and will love him and will mani.
fest Myself to him."
This reiteratfon of the fact that to love
Jesus means to keep His commandments,
and II we do so God will love US and Jesus
manifest Himself to US. Remember that
faith and works 20 together, and while we
cannot be saved by good works, II we love
God we must show our faith by our works.
Judas said unto Him, not Iscariot,
Lord, how Is 1t that Thou wilt manifest
thyself unto US, and not unto the world?"
Judas was Jude, the writer ofthe epistle;
it Is said that he was the same as Lebbeus
Of Matt. K; 8. "How Is 1t" IN tie revised
has come to pass that" De. Hovey says.
"He is trying to bring his Lords language
into harmony with his own Jewish Idea OF
tho Messiah's reign According to this
theory, oil mankind would see Hin as
temporal ruler.
"Jesus answered and aid unto him, II
man love Me he will keep My words; and
NV father will love him and we will come
unto him and make our abode With him.
"He that loyeth Me not keeps:h not Ny
sayings and the word which ye hear is
not mine, but the Fathers which sent me.
"These things which have sooksn lEto
you, being vet present with you.
peace, 1 leave with you, My peace I
give unto you, not ns the world etveth,
give unto you. Let not your heart BIZ
troubled, neither let 1t BIZ afraid"
This peace has we'll been called "tLe gil!
OF Gods love-" After conversion we have
peace with God, but when we receive the
Holy Spirit we have the love OF God con-
stantly abiding with US, and influencing
our lives. We are not troubled, neither
are we afraid. He keeps US In perfec.
peace, because our minds arG6taid on Him.
/. It was peace with God, elns forgiven,
hearts OF love, working with God In sym
pathy with God, submission to God. 2. It
was the peace OF righteousness, peace with
the law OF God. This peace was given only
to those who loved and obeyed Cvs. II, 81,
23). 1t is only when righteousness Is 'as
tho waves OF the sen" that peace can flow
like n river" 8. Peace with Providence,
carrying out the divine plan, and trustingto
do our part although we cannot see howit
harmonizes with other parts. "Not as the
world giveth." Neither in kind, nor degree.
nor method. (l) Not in promise merely,
but in reality. (2) Not external In out
ward comfort and ease and plenty, but IN
ward. (3) Not depending on clrcum-
stances, but enduring under I'LL circum-
stances. (4) Not for brief time, but for
ever. 60 Not the best at first, but grow
ing better (6) Not In meagre measures,
but In overflowing abundance. CD Not by
yielding to sin, but by victory over 1t.
LET not your heart be troubled" Com
pare the fulflllment OF this promise in the
Acts, Peter rejoicing In prison; Paul and
Sias singing praise In the jail at Philippi;
Paul's good cheer on tho wrecked ship,
rejoicing evermore."