The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-17
Sunday School Lesson for June is.
The New Life i'm Christ.
COL. iii, Ills.
BY j. E. GILBERT, D. D., IL D.,
Secretary OF American Society of Religious Education
COL. iii, lis.

MOTIFICATION.-What is thus pre-
scented as an appropriate and essential
state of the heart, is not easily attained.
II is exceedingly difficult to prefer the
distant to the near, the future to the
present, the immatcrial to the material.
Man has bodily nature by which he is
related to this world. and its various
powers Clamor for qualification. Noble
and worthy as are the thoughts and feel
ingS with reference To spiritual things
they are constantly met by appctitcS and
tendencies, producing "A conflict in which
the better element in mans nature L.
overcome Qfom. vii: lN-lO. PAU dc
scribCs his own experiences i'm this re-
spect and gives the resolve which Cna-
hled him to get the victory q cor tx: 2O
So here he offers advice to the ColOssians
and to all others to whom his letter might
come oversees ana -. Men must NOR
tfy their urnal naturcs-subduc and
rule them SO that they shall not lead
one into the VICES which are enumerated
vices that provoked the dispedsurr Of
God praCtCCd throughout the hoathCn
world (Rom. /: 2G-27J, INDUCED formerly
by the very persons to whom he was
writing. The bare recital Of these prac-
tices is enough to turn one away from
them with spirit OF loathing,
DEPRAVITN.-But in struggling after
the state commended by the apostle there
ar" more serious difficulties than those
which arise through the demands of the
fleshy nature. The heart of man is des-
pcrately wicked der xvii: %, anu its nat
ural dispositions are directly opposed to
the better dispositions of the new life
Paul gives here a long and black list
anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, nlthi-
ness, falsohood tVerses and %. The
first, second and third are improper feel
hngs toward men; the fourth pcrvertt
attitude toward God; the fifth a dcnlc-
mcnt through lust; the last a disregard
for truth. All are symptoms Of deprlv-
ity. As the weeds spring up and choke
the grain Matt. xiii: y, 80 these vile df-
fcctions prevent the growth Of that
which is good. They belong to "the old
man." the sinful life which has been re
nounced, and they must be put off. one
must set his will against them ana seek
To master them, impelled thereto by his
desire TO attain TO spiritua. state in
which heavenly things are esteemed as
most praiseworthy IEph, iv: 22J,
RENEWAL.--Thc celebrated Dr. Cham
ming once delivered sermon on the
"ENpulsive Power of a New Affection, A"
in which he showed that one may most
easily find delivcranc6 from unholy dis
positions by eultivating their oppOsitcS
Paul recommends this method ana urges
mercy, kindess, humblencss, meeknesg,
suffering as against the dcpravod
states of the heart Ncrse i2I. lie be
believed that anger, wrath, malice. etc,
would disappear as these were rncouI-
aged. But he does not leave mon i'm the
false opinion thai such high Virtues muy
be reached by their own unaiGrd efforts.
They must indeed seek them uud strive
after them, but they must rum,mbrr
that a renewal ~ their minds is ncrrs-
saTy Versc lM. ~ iunE as the d,prdvi.
ty Of the heart continued ijs mhuly
states would rcmdp \ chmg" Of heart
is therefore essential Matt. Xii: 3} Fer
tunately, this renewal effected by the
truth through the agency uf tho HoN
Spirit Gohn ~; 81. introduces men into
a new fraternity where the causes of bad