The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER %.

~: !oI Jour iolnS DE 8lrQeQ about.
This is an allusion to the long robes Of
the East, Hbich those Who wear must bind
up before they engage in any active em.
ployment." D." Jesus had just admonished
them against. undue anxiety about temper.
al affairs Tvs. 2,32), and now He gives an
admonition to watchfulness "And your
light burning" The master was likely to
return attany hour of the night. and in or
der to be ready to receive him their lights
must be burning.
SO. when he will return from the we'd
ding. The Jewish weddings were con-
Quoted with great pomp. The ceremony
was usually performed in the night. The
THAT when he cometh." As these serv-
ants waited, with girded loins and burning
lights, ,,all ready to meet their master and
run at his bidding as soon as he ap-
preached; so we are to wait for the COM
I ing of our Master. Wait Q) with eager
longing and (2) with Joyous expectation.
MAY open-immediately Few will thus
"open Immediately" They will have some.
thing to do fTst-will have, to get ready.
blessed and arc highly honored by their
master when He cometh." Christ re-
the end of the world, when He has taken
to Himself His bride the church; to each
individual He comes when He stands sud-
Z denly before a man. at the hour of death.
"Shall find watching" We are to watch
against temptations from within and with
OUT against pervading iniquities which fill
! the air with moral malaria, and even chill
the piety of the church; against failure in
duty; against the loss # the warmth of
love-; against the dav of death and of
Judgment, 80 as to be prepared for them
sNyh hoy Va oil fn fnh for
I the coming of the Lord; watch for it with
hope and Joy; watch for the signs Of His
special presence and power; watch for
openings to serve Him by helping His poor
children; watch for opportunities of COM
forting the sad, upholding the weak, re-
claiming the erring, teaching the ignorant,
leading men to Jesus, aiding His cause.
."Gird himself -serye them" Whatever
we do for God BE will do in return for
their servants, but Jeh Christ was among
His discipies,a ,as one that served. See John
l3: 4, This also signifies the Joy with
which they shall be received into the other
world bythe Lord Jesus, who has gone be-
fore to prepare for them. sand has told
them that His Father win honor them.
'csn 81. II aTbsssscoIi "a d ma watch The
Jews had adopted the Roman custom of
dividing the night into four watches. The
first watch was from. six t0z< zine, the Sec
ond from nine to twelye, tte third from
twelve to three, the fourth from three to
six. " 'F+E =, p;
80. "Had known what hour" The house
holders ignorance of the time when the
thief would come is the reason why he
does not watch. He cannot always keep
awake. 80 he hasl to CO. to- sleep and is
robbed. But our ignorance Is the reason
for wakefulness, because we can keep splr-
itually awake all through life. The house
holder watches to prevent, but we to
share in that for which the watch Is kept.
But with all the obscurity thus intention
ally thrown around the day and the hour
of Christ's coming, let US not forget that
no obscurity, no uncertainty hangs around
the great event itself. In the East the
State Furnishes, but leaves the prevention
and detection of theft and robbery to the
individual interested. Hence the wa5ch-
man is necessary and important every
where.
40. i"Be ye therefore ready" Always
ready so we will never be taken unawares.
Watchfulness insures readiness; readiness
insures safety. Indifference marks the
way to sin and despair. A scripturai
preparation includes repentance and con,
version. "Cometh-when we think not,
See Thess. 5: 2; Pet. 8: 10: We should
resist the temptation to spiritual drows,-
ness. Nothing is much worse than sleepy
religion. Rev. s. l6. . -
4i. "Peter said unto him." This apos-
tie was the one who afterward most need
ed the admonition Matt. %: ~, and in
so sad manner forgot it. Those who
stand in most danger are often slowest TO
profit BY words of warning. unto us, or
even to ALL" Is it meant for us as Thine
apostles, or for all men? Our Lord IN His
answer in speaking of steward, mt
mates that the parable has its hisnesss IT, H.
erence to the ministers ana rulers St IIt IL
church; but shows at the close ", 44J ~ the the
roeaspre of his knowledge and of the du-
ties laid upon him. - m,
w % "Faithful and wise steward" The
steward was middle person between the
master and slave, and had, the care OF tae
whole household. It was a post OF conn
dence in which faithfulness was required.
As the steward to the rest OF the serv-
ants. so should the apostles stand with ref-
erence to other believers: shall MAKE
ruler" That one would be mace ruier
who had previously proven hlmselt t!a, 1aiin,
full and wise, who attended to ms dutles
during his masters Absence wltn tne SANE
fidelity that he did when he was present.
ITO Give-meat." As Gods stewards we
should be ready to give out to others Wna1
He places at our disposal.
IA blessed" He is blessed in his deed;
he rejoices because he is found in the falth,
fnl performance of his duties by his Lord
and he is blessed with high promotion
.Shall find so doing" We see here. what
christ means by watching: mot gazing up
into the heavens for signs, but the taitn-
mi performance of duty"
a. "He will set him over all that ne
hath" (R. W So each saint owns an q, OK
Gods possessions, even now. Cor. .: ~
% The reward is both outward ana IN
ward: more glories and blessings ana JOYS,
and larger capacities for usefulness ana en-
ioyment. To him that hath shall be gwen
Is. "Say in his heart" II, lnsteao n,an ~,
,r;ckedness and to actually enter into SIN;
a different "portion" will be appointed
him unon his Lords return. "Delayeth ms
coming" The fact that Christs coming
Is DELAYED causes the love of many TO wax
cold, 3 Pet. 8: 3, 4. ITO eat and drink; aG
Self.indulgence is very common SIN. IL
he drunken" This was not only COM
mon and terribly destructive SIN IN GnrlsT mr.
time, but it is the same to-day. Inc IL
oansed saloon ia the direct road to degra-
dation. vice, the gambling hell, the broth
ei noyerty. wretchedness, want, ROBBERY,
prison, the. gallows, the drunkaroS grave
nets "a aWhen he looketh not" The Lord
wih come suddenly, and call every one %
an account. will cut him IN sunder.
This was most terrible method OF exc
cutting crimi9sls, a9sientsyy; WIN 'ne 'h'