Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-19
The SABBATH SCHOOL
Lesson Comments for
July 20.
Subject: The Ten Commandments, Duties to
Men. Ex. XXX. l2.l7-Goideu Text. Matt
xix. l9-Memory Verses. Pill
Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

maniment is a connecting link between
the first and second tables OF the law, and
properly belongs to both.
IL Honor" This means more than to
obey 1t Is to treat with reverence and al
lection. Thy father and thy mother"
There is degree of affectionate respect
which Is owing to parents that 10 person
else can properly claim For a considerable
time parents stand As it were in tho place
OF God 20 their children. and therefore re-
bel!ion against their lawful commands has
been considered as rebellion against God
This precept therefore prohibits. not only
all injurious acts, and irreverent and un-
KIND speeches 10 parents. but enl0lns all
necessary acts OF kindness. iiiiai respect
and obedience. We can scarcely suppose
that man honors his parents who. when
they fail weak, blind or sick does not eX-
ert himself TO the utmost in their support.
In such cases God as truly requires the
children to provide for their parents. as
lie required the parents 10 support and IN.
struct the children when they were help
less and dependent. Most % those who
come to an untmely end are obliged to
confess that breaking this commandment
and the fourth wIs the first cause OF their
rain. pom the land" etc. l. The M.
ton shall be permanent in the promised
land. ;. The individual lite shah be long
implying happiness. peace and prosperity
W hlie III ITS primary meaning this Is To he
understood referring to the promised
land. the land OF Canaan. yet in the wider
scope which this commandment has, rs
being grounded in the nature OF the family.
and so alike binding upon all men. it is to
be understood OF the land or country OF
any and every individual
The Sixth Commandment.-l3. Thou
shalt not kill" Thou shalt do no MUIR
der. The murderer Is regarded rs one
vino wickcdly destroys Gods image in man.
and so most haseely assaults God Himself.
Suicide is accordingly prohibited by this
commandment. Our Lord took up this law
for special treatment, and taught that ne
who cherished anger against his neighbor
was guilty before God OF the spirit of muir.
der. Matt. 5: 2l-2i. Our own life should
he held sacred and we are 10 DO nothing
that will shorten or destroy it, as by it we
are enabled to serve God and bless our fell
low men, The person who takes his own
HE performs coward.y and wicked act.
Dissipation, drunkenness and sins against
the body that unfit it for usefulness and
shorten life, are violations OF this com
mandment. 1t is generally supposed that
there are cases where the killing of an
other might be lustifabie as, J. In the
execution OF Justice. ,. In self-defense
But even in this there is difference OF
opinion among good men.
The Seventh Commandmcnt-l4 Thou
shalt not commit adultery" The violation
OF this commandment means the destruc-
ton OF the home and family. an institution
ordained OF Tod and necessary to the build
ing up OF His kingdom in the earth.
This commandment farbds all acts of
uncieauness. with all those tieshlv lusts
which produce those acts and war against
the soul. and all those thoughts or prac.
tices which cherish and excite those feshly
lusts, as looking in order to lust. which
Christ has expressly forbidden Matt. !:
Is" 1t also forbids all those unholy
amuscments which lead souls into sin,
such as theatre going and dancing. and also
looking at obscene pictures. reading i'm.
pure literature and telling lewd stories.
These things are debasing. degrading and
soul-destroying. This sin. l. Is the most
tingulshes the light of mans natural reason
and understanding. 5. Is the most infa.
nous and scandalous among men: sin
that brands them with the greatest shame
and reproach. n reproach that can never
be wiped away. 4. Is threatened with
most dreadful punishments from God" \
body filled with loathsome diseases: a
person reduced to extreme beggary PROV.
8; 26); a life completely wrecked morally.
physically, intellectually; being burning
with lust. about to suffer eternally in THE
lake that burneth with fire and birthstone"
these are some of the terrible punish
ments visited upon those who are guilty
OF this most henous sin.
The Eighth Commandlnent-l5 "Thou
shalt not steal" The rights of property
are of divine appointment, and we are to
refrain from claiming as orr own that
which now belongs to another The rights
OF property may he violated. |. BY taking
property without the knowledge of the
owneI: or theft = Bv taking the prop
erty OF another by consent. when violently
obtained. s. By consent fraudu,ently OBJ
tanned. or cheating: either by taking ad-
vantage or another's ignorance. or hy mis-
representation. !. By withholding. wha.
belongs 10 another: whether it he taxes
ar duties. or giving short weights and
mea SurcS. or withholding what is borrowed
o. found ;. By paving too small wages.
or by not earning the wages we receive.
6. BIZ beating down those who sell. so a
net to pay n far profit. or by charging ex-
orbtant prices. !. Bv inOnopolies and
trusts which conflict with the rights OF in
dividuals and Cypress the poor s. BY
socialism and anarchy which tend directly
or indirectly IN misaDpropriate what right
fully belongs to another. Q. BY gambling.
rafting. taking shares in lotteries. or enter
ing into any of the modern eXpcdiencies
whereby something is expected for moth
ing. 10. By any business which Injuries
the life. liberty or property of others. such
as selling LIQUORS. obscene pictures vile
books. etc. IL. BY INDUCING in any habit
cations. or support those who may be de-
pendent upon US. This sin will be severely
punished.
The Ninth Commandment.-l6 False
witness" This is the worst form of living
and includes all other forms Truthful
ness is the only condition on which hui
man intercourse Is possible. and it lies at
the foundation of all personal character"
Lying is one of the worst sins. because it
leads to the commission Of other sins. and
seeks to cover wrong doing. This COM
mandment forbids perjury false oathS.
tale-bearing. SANDER. backbitng and evil
speaking. or anything that would in any
way iniure another in his goods. person
or character.
The Tenth Commandment-l7. "Thou
shalt not covet" This is the only one of
the commandments which treats solely OF
sins of the mind and heart. and in So doing
it strikes at the very root of all sin for
every sin is born of desire Mark I: 81. 81;
Jas. l. II. lj). and there would be no sin
committed il this commandment were per-
fcctly kept. Rom. Z: 7. The word covet
occurs some twenty times in the Hebrew
Scriptures, and is commonly translated de-
sire.