The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
es.on in the International Series FOL
september 23, 1OOO-The Duty
Of Watchfulnsss.
Prepared by H. c. Lsnington.l
THE LESSON TENT.

Let your loins be girdod about, and
cr lights burning:
"A And ye yourselves like unto men that
~ for their Lord when He Will return
on the wedding; that when He cometh
ed knocketh. they may open unto Him i'm
sdately.
n Blessed are these servants, whom the
nd when He cometh shall frsi watch.
bs: verify I say unto you. that He shall
rd Himself. and make them to sit down
meat. and will come forth and serve
ben.
q And II He shall come In the second
stch or come In the third watch, and find
bsn SO. blessed are those servants.
o And this know. that II the goodman Of
he house had known what hour tho thief
cud come, he would have watched, and
IA have suffered his house to DO broken
trough.
H. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son
man cometh at an hour when ye think
Il. Then Peter said unto Him, Lord,
peakest thou this parable unto US, or even
all?
4 And the Lord said, Who then is that
hL,hful and wise steward. whom his lord
hal make ruler over his household, to give
hem their portion Of meat in due season?
q Blessed Is that servant. whom his lord
men he cometh shall find so doing
" OF truth say unto you. that he Will
ksle him ruler over all that he hath
& Eut and II that servant say in his
cart. My lord delayeth his coming; and
hal begin to beat the menservants and
haidens. and to eat and drink, and to be
rnken
The lord of that servant will come In
day when he looketh not for him, and at
hour when he Is not aware, and will cut
Jim In sunder. and will appoint him his
prtiOn with the unbelievers
GOLDEN TEXT.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not
INTO temptatiOn.-Matt. 2Gi41.
NOTES AND COMMENTS
The Scripture section to be studied
bciudes only the lesson text, 1t fol.
ows the teaching of last Sunday in a
ery natural way. That teaching was
% beware OF covetousness, or watch
ulness against one particular foe. To-
Joy We study the general subject OF
Fatchfulness. Another distinction may
e made-that Is that this Is more par
.cularly lesson for disciples In the
ast lesson Jesus was speaking to a
hixed crowd; apparently in the lesson
le is speaking to His disciples only
see verse Az. Then Jesus urged His
carers TO change the course of their
YES; He now urges them to persistence
that course, and to be on guard, not
gainst any one particular foe, but
gainst any and every danger that
hight assail. Taking then the text, we
fay sum up the teachings as follows:
eeadness for Service. ce................vs. I-3S
Eatchfuness Against Attack. VS.. 80. 10
low 10 Watch.. .......................vs 4l-i6
Readiness for Service.-We learned in
hSt lesson that the root Of the evil
gainst which Jesus preached was a
alse view of life, and that tho cure lay
gazing the right view of life. But
is something more than seeing
1uty; we must do. Jesus in His va
bds teachings tells us some Of the
hngs that will help keep us right.
ne He emphasizes in the present les
bn-watchfulness and the lesson
pens with these words: Let your
bins be girded about, and your lights
urning." These were two oriental ex-
resSions for readiness. The first calls
picture of the man about to 90 on
Journey, perhaps an errand for his
aSter. The second calls up picture
the wise virgins who had brought oil
Rough and had their lamps trimmed
Pnt burning for the coming Of the
lrtegroom. We are TO be on constant
Fatch for our duty and opportunity.
Watchfulness Against Attack.-We
ave had the lesson of watchfulness en-
Orced by the parable of the coming Of
be bridegroom. Now we have the par
Die of the coming of the thief. Not
MY are we to watch for opportunity
service, but we are to be watching
gainst attack. Sin is a treless foe, and
such time as we think not assails
ae supports of our lives. There may
ONE time when we cannot resist it il
Go not guard against its first insid-
Fus approaches.
How to Watch.-At this point Peter
Sked if this parable applied to all, or
!iiy to the apostles, the leaders of
|erlSt's flock. In answer Jesus shows
mat lie means by watching. 1t is not
waiting with folded hands for the
'nlng of the kingdom. But some
ryant will think his master will put
his coming for yet q long time. and
begins to DO those things of which
master does not approve and to
pow careless. The lord Of that serv-
ftwill come in day when he looketh
'Ot for him, and at an hour when he
not aware. and will cut him in sun
ia and will appoint him his portion
'h the unbelievers. or, according to
revised version, with the unfaith-
temperance Lesson.-This lesson
@ been appointed by the lnterna-
"hal committee to be taught as u tenn
France lesson. In strong drink is the
rmon that many men find 1t hardest
oattle with, and which all Lovers of
Ateousness and good order should
p TO fight. Intoxicating liquor is
Hson to the body. weakens the mind
destroys the soul. With it are as
cated all the vices known among
a and none of the virtues. Itshould
stunned and the appetite for it sup
sSed by every means which God has