The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-04-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 8.



mentnry on the Days Lesson,
I. Judge not" Rash, harsh, unchart-
table Judgments; the thinking evil, where
no evil seems, aud speaking 1t accordingly.
Unalnd, condemnatory, uncnIled-for judg-
ments. which are neither dictated by duty
nor prompted by love. "Thut We be not
Judged" 1t is the prerogativo OF God to
judge men. III we judge Others we must
expect to be judged by others and our acts
will also bo judged by God. "No mercy
shall be shown to tho reputation OF those
VINO show no mercy to the reputation OF
Others"
2. "1t shall be measured to you again"
In the moral order OF things an unjust
blow will recoil on him who hns dealt 1t.
with your measure shall 1t be measured to
you. Our Judgment OF Others frequently
condemns ourselves. Rom. 2:1-3. What
would become OF us IL God should be as
severe in Judging US IA we are In Judging
others? When we endeavor to raise our.
selves above others by severely Judging
them, we only lower ourselves I'm tue esti-
nation OF God and nll good people.
3. "The mote, ETC." The Splinter" as
opposed to the "boam." On one side self.
love blinds us to ourselves; and on the
other, envy and malice give us piercing
Dyes In respect to others. When we shall
have us much zeal to correct ourselves, as
we have inclination to reprove nud correct
others, we shall know our own defects
better than now We know those of our
neighbor.
4. "Iu thine own eye" Tint man is
wholly unfit to point others to the way OF
life who is himself walking In the way that
leads to death. Those who blame Others
ought TO be blamoless and harmless them.
selves.
b. "rhou hypocrite." Our Lord tears of
tho mask and gives people their right
name. hypocrlto is one who processes to
be what he Il not; who cl2ims TO be de.
voted Chrlstiau. while his heart is vile.
But in this cnso II person Is called Il hypo-
crlte because he docs not apply to himself
the measure by which he Judges hls
brother. He appeared to have care for
others, but his zoal was only II pretence
mere show for thepurpose OF exalting him.
self. First cast OUT We should attend
to the interests of our own souls first. Let
us seek to know ourselves, and get our.
selves right, and then 1t will be our duty to
look after the souls of others.
&. "That which Is holy unto the dogs
Do not give the sacriticial meat that has
been consocrated to God to the dogs. Give
not the holy ordinances, which have beer
instituted for tho true followers of Christ
to nnholy and sinful mon who try to de.
stroy the characters OF others by evil.
speaking, backbitlng and slanderng
Dogs alludes to that which is low, uncleau
and ill-natured; swine to stubborn resist.
ance, sensual qualifications and impurl.
ties. "Your people," Precious things
"Trample them" They will reject and dc.
spise them, aud turn them to nn unholy
account.
Z. "Ask-seelS- KNOCK" This verse con.
tains very important directions. In every
thing, by prayer and suppllcation, we are
to make our requests known unto God
and ther we are to "seek"-continue &c
nsk and knock at tho door OF His mercy,
Our approaches to God should be In earn.
estness and sincerity. These three words
include the ideas of wants and loss. w,
arc destitute of all spiritual good, and
have lost God, and are In danger of losing
eternal life; be In earnest; be importunate;
ask with confidence and humility; seek
with caro- and applications knock loudly
and long.
8. Every ono that asketh receiveth
etc" Christ binds Himself to hear and an.
swer. No soul can pray in vain that pray.
as God has directed. II we bring Chrlst's
words and Chrlsts sacrifice with us, moi
one of heavens blessings can be denied us.
But our asking must be In harmony witt
the will OF God, and In faith. James Az, 8
9. "What man is there OF you" No one
Is so wicked as to give his child n stone |.
lie should ask bread. The child is here
represented as asking what Is necessary
and wholesome. The Lord does not an,
swer our requests unless they will be for
our good.
IL. "It ye then, being evil" Sinful
people are ready and anxious to give good
gifts to their children. From natural affec.
tion they arc ready to provide everything
necessary to their support and comfort
How much more" How much more will
One whose nature Is love and who Is infin.
itely holy and good give good things tc
them that ask Him. The world often gives
stones for bread and serpents for fish, but
God never does. Good things" The
things" Christ, gives the Holy Spirit
(Luke 1l:l3); His words OF admonition and
command; His peace and joy (John 1427,
15:1l); His love Rom. 5:5); In word, He
gives Himself. Cor. 1880; Col. 911.
IL. "rhat men should do to you, etc.
This ls the Golden Rule. The principle
here suited Is the second great command.
ment. "Thou shalt love thy nelgbor as thy.
self" Place thysef In tho condition OF thy
neighbor and act accordingly |. 1t ie
fundamental, and underlles government,
society and religion. .. 1t Ia reasonable
.. 1t Is universal. 4. 1t Is equitable. 8. II
Is portable; we can carry 1t with us. 6. II
is evangelical. In order to carry It out
fully, we need the grace OF God in large
degree. "The law and the prophets" This
Is tho sum OF all that Is contained In the
Old Testament, pertaining to mems con
duct toward each other. 1t is brief, yet
comprehensive, and cannot be improved
upon.
IL. ENTER yein ut tho strait gate. Or
by this strait gate, referring to the precept
just laid down. But, In general. this is tho
narrow gate OF humility, repentance and
true conversion. 1t Is tue entire absence OF
sin that makes this gate narrow. And we
are told to center in" Luke says, "Strive
Cor agoniae) to enter in." The entrance IL
difficult. /. because 1t Is narrow. 2. The
gate must he diligently sought. 3, The
devil, the allureMonts of the world, the In.
spiration OF the crowd and tho desires OF
our own wicked heart will all tend to draw
US away from the narrow gate and these
must all be resisted and overcome before
we can enter In. "Wide Is the gate" The
gate of unbelief, of carmel affections, OF
foshly lusts has many allurements, and is
open to all. "To destruction" The end is
eternal death. HE that purseth evil pur.
sueth It to his own destruction." Prov.
1l:l0. The way OF ain leads to ruin. "Many
:. go in thereat." The way is easy OF ac.
cess. 1t is broad, and popular, and re.
quires no effort. The train will run down
an incllne without steam.
H. "Leadeth unto life." Spiritual life
consists III bsing united to Christ. without
Christ the soul Ia dead. Eph. 49, @. The
sin OF which we are guilty (John 5:40) IL
rejecting Christ, ourlife. Few there be-"
Few care to renounce their sinful pleas.
ures. "Thnt find It," Although the narrow
wny must be sought, yet 1t is possible &c
Nl..l III. a 4.