Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-22
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
March q.
Sabieci: Temperance. Ens. y. li.zl-Gc,drn
Text. Eph ", IS-Menery Verses,
lS.lS-Cemmensary on the
Days Lesson.

H. Have no fellowship" Have no
connection with or sympathy for anything
done in the dark-under cover. We may
not actually commit certain sins. bnt 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 concealment. See . Cor. 6: li-lS. The
gospel standard demands a complete
separation from this prcser: evil world,
both in spirit and practice. ] John =: Is.
Is; Rom. -: !. g 'Unfruitful works
Sins are called works. not fruits lGal.
5: 1922: their only fruit is death from.
o: 81; Gal. G: 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 III the
absence OF light. The graces OF the Spirit
flourish in the light. Sinful works come
frcm the darkness OF ignorance, seek the
darkness of hell. "Reprovc them" Speak
against them. Take a firm definite stand
against every form of sin, did John
the Baptist. Jesus and Paul. The parent
| of crime and paupcrlsm in our country to-
day is the liquor traffic. 1t thrives in
| 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
lative duty of the Christian citizen is TO
oppose and denounce this vile, soul-destroy-
ing business. by voice. by pen. by vote.
IL. 1T is a shame" etc. They are too
vile to he 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 shame Tor the
| apostle to even speak" about what they
did" But there are some subjects about
4 l. - =. .l..s,. b.
/ 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 ido,aters. and of
| their horrid mysteries which none were
permitted to divuige on pain OF death.
l3. "Tnat are reproved.' when they
are reproved."-R V. BY the light 1t
is the light which discovers what was
concealed before in darkness. therefore
world. and by holy example and
| godly life make light. Let US know the
| truth about the devasta.ions OF the liquor
| curse. Let ii be known that II 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
i moment sec the heartache and sorrow and
disease and death that it brings TO u:
blghtinc, running. cursing wherever 1t
touches: and then with an enlightened and
| awakened public conscience we Will rise up
! and drive out this monster.
| H. Awake thou that sleepest. etc.
| Sleep is an emblem of death. and both
sleep and death are used to represent the
! soul in 4 sinful state. Sleep is state of
| N Inconsistencies, 81 seeming security,
| (3) darkness, az inactivity, 90 unconcern;
while death includes the idea OF corrnp-
ton. From this state, through the power
J of the Holy Ghost, we are to awake and
arise. God uses means to awaken men,
and BY His power we are to come forth
| from the death OF sin TO n new life IN
/ Jesus Christ Chap. .: 4-6. shall shine
upon thee" tR. w. Shedding forth His
love, JOY and peace into our hearts, and
| thus bringing us INFO state OF rest, COM
Is ''Circumspcctly. See +. v. Watch
full and cautious in order to avoid danger.
! The Christian needs to be prudent.
lG "Redecming the time To redeem
time is to regain what is lost and to save
| what is left. Buying up the opportunity"
1 r. V margin. By eagerly scizing the mo-
ments. by diligence. by continued appiica.
tioa this can oe done. Days are evil.
! The present times are dangerous, and are
T, full OF troubles and temptations, and only
the watchful ana diligent have any reason
to expect TO keep their garments clean.
H. BE We not foolish" tR. W Here
IS most evident allusion to the orgies OF
Bacchus. in which his votaries acted like
madmen. running about. tossing thci-
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 fools or
| madmen. There were doubtless converted
drunkards among the Christians TO whom
Paul wrote. and wine was their especial
danger. lntcmperance IS folly. waste,
! degradation. a sin. It ~ divests men
of their native dignity; t2l sinks then,
below the brutes; 81 INJURIES body and
mind: az wastes their substance; ~ de-
stroys the sacredness OF the home; lo)
is the parent of other vices: (i) Is prohlb-
| tied by the Scriptures; tS) must be re-
nounced or the end will be destruction:
"Wherein is excess Wherein is riot"
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. Paul's prohibition
is positive and absolute. Wine that causes
rioting is forbidden. "Filled with the
Spirit" Here Paul shows the difference
between the worship of the true God
and of the heather deities. After offer
| ing sacrifices to Bacehus. the god OF VINE.
It was the custom of the people to get
drunk in his honor. The joy that is
kindled by wine is degrading. that which
is kindled by the Holy Spirit is edifying
and soul-inspiring. To be filed with the
Spirit is to be in possession of the sraces
OF the Spirit: it implies divine guidance:
it is TO be flied with God aud to accept
Him as the only portion of the soul;
10. Speaking etc. Men filed with
sing the songs OF Zion. Christianity is re-
ligion of song; infielity does not sing.
with Your heart"t r. W. The Lord
is not satisfied until He gets the heart.
Christianity is heart religion.
90: Always In times OF adversely and
trial as well as in times OF blessing. For
all things" Rom. 8: IS: L Thess. ): Is.
Unto Cod James l: II.
81. Submitting" etc. There is Il NH
tual submission that Christians owe one to
another condescending to bear one an
others burdens. not advancing themselves
above others, but in love serving one an
other.