The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-03-20
International Sunday-2chool Lesson,
FIRST QUARTER. LESSON XII MARCH 2:
1902 EPHESIANS V, 11-2I
SELF-CONTROL.

Copyright, Davis W. Clark.
Quo Vadls gives us faithful picture
Of the state of Roman society at the
dawn OF Christianity. It is vivid,
Photographic. And the conditions
maintaining in the metropolis were 1e-
produced in the provinces. Greek and
Roman morals were aiike-both at the
lowest possible ebh. The Orphean:
EluslnIan, and Bacchanalian mysteries
were lnconceivably impure. In the
temple OF Diana at Ephesus there were
thousand priestesses whose ritual was
prostitution. The classic writer's OF
the period, without intending it, con-
vict their age of incredible abomina-
tions.
On this rotting dunghill OF current
civilization Christianity bloomed like
white and fragrant lily. It held q
standard not dreamed of before, which
taught that one must not merely not
do evil, but must not even appear to
be or think evh. It raised a clear,
incorporating protest against sin
It walked in light, and kept itself un-
spotted. In the midst o! a crooked
and perverse generation it shone as a
light, and held forth the Word of Life
Paul, himself the Roman citizen.
tho wide aud observant traveller, was
the mcss fearless and force!ul among
the Christian critics cfheathen immor-
allty. He threw the gauntlet of his
inyincibie logic down before the famed
and priced mysteries-the holy O!
holies of classic heathenism. He de-
ciared the things done In these mystic
rites under cover of night to be so vile
that it would be an offense against
modestly to mention them; that the
heather justified their crimes by ex-
amples Of the crimes OF their gods, to
celebrate aud portray which the mys-
teries were Instituted.
In general way the epistle is, in 8
large measure, a contrast between
Christian and heathen principles and
practice. The character and charac-
ter;stics of the disciple of the Nazarene
are opposed to those of the vo:aries OF
Bacchus and the rest OF the divinities.
The contrast is that Of darkness and
light, "works' and "fruit,' Bacchana-
| flian songs and psalms Of praise, fullness
of wine aud fnilness OF the Spiris.
This paragraph In particular might
lie explained and paraphased about as
follows: Haye 40 fellowship: This
is the very word the Greeks used to
signify participation in the mysteries
Tie apostle does not enjoin the ex-
trenle of refusing to speak or have bus
mess Or social dealings with, but to alb.
stain from, a defling intercourse, es.
peclally sharing in the mysteries
But rather reprove: Not The mere neg
ative, not participating, but aggressive
expose their foulness show them up
i. e., confute, convict, conylnce
Christians, by their superior knowledge
are to show the absurdiuy of the mys
! teries. 'Do not connive at nor pass
this over unnoticed, but take aggres
slve measures against this, and try ano
raise the Gentiles to your own Christ
Ian standard" A shame to speak
The initiated engaged not to diyulge
the mysteries. This was to be com
mended for their very mention was 6
shame. zone could not mention then
without taking all their dirt into hi
mouth" The Bacchanaiian mysteries
we're so foul that the Roman Senate
finally banished them from Rome
Things reproved made manifest Thes'
blaneworthy deeds are shown to be 81
bv the gospel and as that whicl
shows the true nature OF certain action
ls Ii hit, therefore the gospel is light
Awake Arise f! Wake up! Rouse ye
No sign that the apostle meant this +
A., ~ n W,,0Doucnn nj kilh0urn