The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-14
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE i8. -.-

1s
typifled by baptism c. 12). BY believing
In Christ one partakesiof His new lifs he
has been born again from above. Christ's
resurrection Is the power and the type OF
the new life. The believer has had i'm
planted in him the life Of heaven, the life
of God. "Seek those things which are
above" And lest any one should imagine
he adds, "Where Christ sitteth on the right
hand Of God" Notionly above the old life,
as would be art and science, but as tar
above as heaven is, the perfect lie, the
ideal life which Christ Is living In heaven.
This characteristic Is dwelt upon with
great fulness and beauty In Phil. 8: 12-16.
2. "set your Affection" R. ", set your
mind, expressing the inward impulse, as
"seek." expresses the practical striving.
"More properly, catching the spirit Of the
things above, being heavenly minded al
ready-anticipating heaven, not only IN
hope, but iu tone and temper, seeing things
as God sees them, and seeing all in relation
20 Him."
g. "Your life is hid with Christ" The
spiritual life Is hidden, not exposed to the
outward eye, but is in tthe soul its motives
and affections; 1t Is sustained by constant
communion with, God, like the water Of
eternal life spring ging up in the soul. It's
impulses, its joys, its peace, Its sources are
hidden, but are real, for they are with
Christ" the same as the life Of Christ, who
is unseen In heaven.
1. when Christ shall appear" R. v, shall
be manifested, IN this world by the coming
OF His kingdom. by the fruits OF bis life,
and at last by His glorious coming In the
clouds OF glory. "shall ye also appear
with Him in glory" both In this present
time, in the fruits which grow from the
inner life, as the clusters cover the vine
and show what 1t Is and manifest the glory
OF its life, and also In His final coming In
glory.
S. "Mortiiy," Gr., put to death. t'your
members" Perhaps suggested BY our
Lords command to "cut of the right
hand" and "pluck out the right eye" II
they cause us to offend (Matt. S: 49,. 9O).
The word members" Is typical, and ex'
presses the parts belonging to "the old
man.. the old nature, and is not to be
taken physically. Our physical members
are to be made instruments OF righteous
ness for Gods service. which are upon
the EARTH. Rooted in the earthly pas
sions. "Fornication, uncleanness," etc.
The strongest earthly passions and appe.
tites under various names. "1nordinate,
ungovernable, unrestrained "ahection,"
passions, "concupiscence," desires. nll evil
lougings.. Paul wishes US to kill the
various sins which once used our bodily
powers as instruments Of evil. "Covetous-
ness, which Is idolatry," for 1t Is the prac.
tical worship OF wealth and material good,
all the higher qualities OF our nature being
sacrificed and subordinated to them.
6. "For which things sake the wrath OF
God" His intense hatred OF these vile
things, 80 repugnant to His holy nature,
cometh In the form Of punishment.
Z. "Walked. lived" These two ex-
pressions involve two distinct ideas, de.
noting the character OF their actions, and
the condition OF their life.
s, "Anger. malice" Now follows
list Of other sins which belong to the old
nature, and which whoever is risen with
Christ must put away. "Blasphemy."
Evil speaking, slander. Filthy COM
munication." The word means "althy
talking and foul abuse" one Of the mean.
est, commonest and most degrading OF
| sins.
9. ellie not" Another very common
sin. "Put OF the old man." the former
nature, with his deeds, the natural express
sion OF that nature. Put them on as one
puts of his garments. Intemperance Is
one Of the worst and mcst typical manifes-
tations OF the old and worldly nature. 1t
fosters all the evils spoken OF above, as
dampness and darkness foster crawling In
sects and vermIn. 1t Is the hot house OF
! crime.
10. "And have put on the new man."
The new nature, the new lie, which makes
such change in ones character, motives,
! feelings and conduct that he becomes q
new creature. (which Is renewed" Is
being renewed; 90 gradual renovation day
by day Of the new character which has
once for all been put on."-Beet. after
the image OF Him that created him." Who
made him into the new man. he Is becom-
Ing like Christ and like God. I'm inoWi-
| n. bo annnfaTnQFt tl6
Creators infinite knowledge.
II. "Where." In this regenerate life.
"There Is neither Greek nor jew" etc.
These mundane distinctions disappear.
Whatever the nationality, or race, or cul-
ture, or outward circumstances, the new
life is the same In all, conformity to the
image Of Christ, growthiin his. virtues.
12 "Put on therefore" As the necessary
result Of the new life. DR.. Maclaren speaks
garments OF the renewed SOUL" and "the
wardrobe OF the consecrated soul" For
these virtues are represented here as put
on, not having existed before, and as en-
folding the whole life like a garment
which covers, adorns and protects the
whole body. Gas the elect" The chosen
ones OF God, In whom BE delights, for they
are holy. consecrated In heart and lie,
thus belonging to God, and beloved OF Him
as children are beloved of their parents.
These two words describe the proof that
one Is chosen, and the love that accom-.
panies the choice.
IS "Forbearing one another" This Is
! "meekness and long suffering In exercise. 4"
Two words Of household peace are the two
"bears''-"bear" and "forbear." To for.
bear Is "to restrain and control ones sell
when provoked" "And forglving one
another, II any man have quarrel (H.
"; complaint, IL cause OF quarreD against
any" Such occasions are sure 70 rise,
and there Is only one way OF treating them
in the spirit OF forgiveness.
H. "Aud above all these things" Or over
all as bond or girdle; or as the outer gar
,nent which holds the others in their places,
the power which uaites together all tue
cruces which make up perfection. put
on charity" Love. (which Is the bond
Of perfectIess." Love Is the genera;
principle, harmonizing all the special
! gracas named above.
15 "rhe peace OF God" +. v, with the
Oldest MSS, reads Christ. It is the peace
which He gives (John a. 27); peace Ike
His, peace with God, peace With mer,
peace OF conscience, peace OF forgiven sln'
peace from rest in Gods love and care
| This Is the condition Of soul in which the
graces can best flourish. "Rule In youi
! hearts" Act US umpire; 4 1gure borrower
| from the Grecian game-restrain passion,
calm all internal conflict, govern and con-
| troll all exercises OF the soul. Peace IS the
| Queen OF the Tournamen ent." ITO the Whicn
! (peace) also ye are called in one pouy.
The united church: the body OF Clrist.