The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH %.

Golden Text: Eph. W. fS-Memory
Verses, 1918 - Commentary on the
Days Lesson.
ii. Have no fellowship" Have nc
connection with or sympathy for anything
done in the dark-under cover. We may
not actually commit certain sins, but II 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 2 Cor. 6: li-ls. The
gospel standard demands a complete
separation from this present evil world,
lG; Rom. u: !, 2. "Unfruitful works. I"
5: 1922; their only fruit is death (Rom.
true e. sense : "DarIness s aI SIN '' il dark. an
ness and its parent is the prince o.!
darkness. Plants cannot bear fruit in the
absence OF light. The graces OF the Spirit
flourish in the light. Sinful works como
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. It thrives in
darkness, behind screens, It could not .or
a moment endure the gaze of an en!ight.
ened people. And yet this iniquitous
traffic is entrcnched behind the law OF
the land and public opinion. The super.
oppose and denouncc this vile, soul-destroy.
i2. TT 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 4 shame for the
apostle to even speak" about what they
did" But there are some subjects about
which it is our duty to remain silent. II
is a shame and disgrace for the public
prints to be filled with the low and nau.
seating details of crime. I'm 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
I said nothing" The apostle seems to
speak here OF the Gentle idolaters, and of
their horrid mysteries which none were
permitted to divulge on pain Of death.
l3. That are reproved." when they
are reproved."-R. v. by the light" II
is the light which discovers what was
concealed before in darkness, therefore
we ought to be shining lights in the
world, and by holy example and a
godly life make light! Let US know the
truth about the devastations of the liquor
curse. Let it be known that it 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 for one
moment see the heartache and sorrow and
disease and death that it brings to Us;
blighting, running, cursing wherever 1t
touches; and then with an enlightened and
awakened public conscience We will rise up
and drive out this monster.
IA. Awake thou that sleepest, etc.
Sleep is ar emblem of death, and both
sleep and death are used to represent the
soul in \ sinful state. Sleep is state OF
(l) Inconsistencies, (2) seeming security,
i3j darkness, ~ inactivity, ~ uneoncern;
while death includes the idea OF corrup'
ton. From this state, through the power,
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 a new life in
Jesus Christ. Chap. 2: 48. Shall shine
upon thee" (R. W. Shedding forth His
love. ioy and peace into our hearts, and
thus bringing US into a state of rest, COM
fort and holiness.
Is. "Circumspectly." See r. v. Watch
full and cautious in order to avoid danger.
The Christian needs to be prudent.
10. "Redeeming the time" To redeem
time is to regain what is lost and to save
wnat is left. Buying up the opportunity"
r. V. margin. BY eagerly seizing the mo-
ments. by diligence, BY continued applica.
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
il a most evident allusion to the orgies OF
Bacchus, in which his votaries acted like
mndmen, running about, tossing their
heads from shoulder to shoulder, appearing
to be in every sense completely frant'c.
IS. BE not drunk" Do not become
drunken with wine and act like fools or
madmen. There were doubtless converted
drurkards among the Christians to whom
Paul wrote, and wine was their especiai
danger. Intemperance is Jolly, waste
a degradation, a .in. 1t N divssts men men
below The brutes; (3) Injuries body and
mind: (4) wastes their substance; ~ de-
stroys the sacredness Of the home; ~
is tho parent of other vices: Cd Is prohio'
i:,d BY the Scriptures; (S) must be re-
nounccd or the end will be destruction!
"Whe-cin is excess" "Wherein is riot"
n. v. The word here translated excess
means proAgacy and debauchcry OF every
kind. such as are generally connected with
drunkenness. and especially among the
worshipcrs OF Bacchus. Paurs prohibition
ia positiyc and absolute Wine that causes
riotin. il forbidden. "Filled with the
Shirt" Here Paul shows the difference
between the worship OF the true God
and of the heather deities. After otfer'
ing sacrifices to Bacehus. the god OF WINE:
It was the custom OF the people TO get
drun; in his honor. The JOY that =
kindled by wine is degrading. that which
is kind!cd by the Holy Spirit Is edity,ns
and soll.inspring. To filled with the
Spirit il to bc in possession OF the graces
ri The Shirt: it implies divine guidance
il is 10 he filed with God and to accept
Him as the only portion OF the soul
10. Speaking" etc. Men filed with
wine c;ag vile songs, but Gods people
sinc the sonzs OF Zion. Christianity is re-
liaiop of song: infide,ity docs not sing:
with your heart"t r. W. The Lord
is not satisfied until He gets the heart.
Christianity ia 4 heart religion.
90 Always" In times OF adversely and
trial "a we'll as in times OF blessing. For
all things" Rom. 3: %: Thess. s: IL.
Unto Gcd." James /: H..
81. Submitting" etc. There is a mu.
tual submission that Christians owe one to
another. condescending to bear one an.
other'c burdens. not advancing themselves
above others, but in love serving one AZ
other.
Larrsm Gun IN tho World.
The greatest piece OF ordnance eve:
tlo IT,,tol hlS