The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-03-20
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH %.
Subject: Temperance, Eph. W, 11-@1-
Golden Text: Eph. W, 1S-Memory
Verses, 1913 - Commentary the
Days Lesson.

Days Lesson.
IL. "Have no fellowship" Have no
connection with or sympathy for anything
done in the dark-under cover. We may
not actually commit certain sins, but IL we
tolerate or encourage them, we are par
takers with the transgressors. We should
never be accessory to the sins of others,
either by commentator, counsel, consent
or concealmenU. See Cor. 6: l4-lS. The
gospel standard demands a complete
separation from this present evil world,
both in spirit and practice. | John .; 10,
Is; Rom II: l, 2. "Unfrutful works"
Sins are called works. not fruits lGal.
5: 1929; their only fruit is death (Rom.
6: 81; Gal. 6: 81, which is not fruit IN
true sense. Darkness" Sin is dark
ness and its parent is the prince OF
darkness Plants cannot bear fruit in the
absence of light. The graces of the Spirit
flourish in the light. Sinful works come
from the darkness of ignorance, seek the
darkness of concealment and lead to the
darkness of hell "Reprove them" Speak
against them. Take firm definite stand
against every form of sin, as did John
the Baptist, Jesus and Paul. The parent
of crime and pauperism in our country to-
day is the liquor traffic. 1t thrlyes IN
darkness, behind screens, 1t could not Tor
a moment endure the gaze of an enlight'
ened people. And yet this iniquitous
traffic is entrenched behind the law of
the land and public opinion. The super
oppose and denounce this vile, soul-destroy-
ing business, by voice. by pen, by vote.
u 1T is a shame" etc. They are too
vile to be mentioned or even thought OF
with but adherence. The only sign of
their shame was that they sought the
cover of secrecy. How low they must
have sunk when it was a shame for the
10 II-ha thew
did" But there are some subjects about
which it is our duty to remain silent. 1t
is shame and disgrace for the public
prints to be filed with the low and nau-
seating details OF crime. In secret" Oh
the denominations that are carried on IN
secret No Christian should join himself IN
any way to those whose actions must be
kept covered. Jesus said, In secret have
| said nothing" The apostle seems to
speak here of the Gentle idolaters, and of
their horrd mysteries which none were
permitted to divulge Oh pain Of death.
10. THAT are reproyed.' When they
are reproved R. Y. BY the light" 1t
is the light which discovers what was
concealed before in darkness, therefore
we ought to be shining lights IN the
world, and by "a holy example and
cody life make light! Let us know the
truth about the devastations of the liquor
curse Let it be known that 1t makes
ninety per cent. OF all our paupers and
criminals and that it costs us more than
one hundred million dollars each year
Draw back the curtain and let US Tor one
moment see the heartache and sorrow ana
disease and death that it brings to us;
blighting, running. cursing wherever 1T
touches; and then with an enlightened and
awakened public conscience we VIII rise up
and drive out lhis monster
a. Awake thou that sieepest,, etc.
Sleep is an emblem OF death, and both
sleep and death are used to represent the
soul in sinful state. Sleep is state OF
a Inconsistencies, W seeming security,
i3l darkness. "a inactivity, (5) unconcern;
while death Includes the idea of corrup-
ton. From this state. through the power
of the Holy Ghost, we are to awake ana
arise God uses means to awaken men,
and by His power we are to come torth
from the death OF sin to new life IN
Jesus Christ. Chap. .: 46. Shall SHINE
upon thee" (R. W Shedding forth His
love, ioy and peace into our hearts, and
thus bringing us into state OF rest, COM
fort and holiness.
full and cautious in order to avoid danger.
The Christian needs to be prudent.
49, Reckoning. the time To redeem
time is to regain what is lost and to save
what is left. "Buying mp the opportunity"
II
ments, by diligence, by continued appilea,,,
ton this can be done. "Days are evil.
The present times are dangerous, and are
full of troubles and temptations, and only
the watchful and diligent have any reason
to expect to keep their garments clean.
II. BE We not foolish" (R. W Here
is a most evident allusion to the orgies OF
Bacchus, in which his votaries acted like
madmen, running about, tossing their
heads from shoulder to shoulder. appearing
to be in every sense completely frantic.
IS. "Be not drunk" Do not become
drunken with wine and act like tools OF
madmen. There were doubtless converted
drunkards among the Christians to whom
Paul wrote, and wine was their especlal
danger. Intemperance IS folly, waste,
a degradation, a sin. 1t ~ divests men
below the brutes; (3) in lures body ana
mind; "a wastes their substance; (5) de-
stroys the sacredness of the home; l6)
is the parent of other vices; (7) is prohio-
tied by the Scriptures; (S) must be re-
nounced or the end will be destruction;
wherein Is excess. w hereln IS rloV'
r. V. The word here translated excess
means profgacy and debauchery Of every
kind, such as are generally connected with
drunkenness. and especially among the
worshipers of Bacchus. Paups prohibition
is positive and absolute Wine that causes
rioting is forbidden. Filled with T the
Spirit" Here Paul shows the difference
between the worship of the true God
and of the heather deities After. offer
ing sacrifices to Bacchus., the god, of wine,
st was the custom of the people to get
drunk in his honor. The Joy that IL
kindled by wine is degrading. that which
is Elndled by the Holy spirit is edify ing
and soul-inspiring. To he filled with the
Spirit is to be in possession of the. graces
Of the Spirit: it implies divine guidance;
it is to he filed with God and to accept
Him as the only portion of the soul; e.,
10 Speaking" etc. Men filed with
wine sing vile songs, but Gods people
sing the songs of Zion. Christianity is a re-
ligion of song; infdelity does not sing;
"With your heart"( r. w.. The Lord
is not satisfied until He gets the heart
Christianity is a heart religion
20. Always" In times of adversely and
trial as well as in times of blessing For
all things" Rom. s: 2S I Thess. D; 10.
"Unto Cod" James l: II.
81 Submitting etc. There is mu-
tual submission that Christians owe one to