The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-10-18
The Lesson Text.
] Cor. ix:z5; Gal. v:16-z6.

NNE- II 10 anu every ELGu tlat
strsveth in the games exerciseth self
control in all things Now they do it
70 receive corruptibIe crown; but
we an incoTTuptible-
Gal v.16. But I say. Walk by the
Spirit, and We shall not fulfil the Ius,
OF the flesh Il. For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit. and the Spirit against
the flesh; for these are contrary the one
10 the other; that ye may not do the
things that ye would IS But If yc
are led by the Spirit. We are not under
the law - Now the works of the
flesh are manifest which are these
foTnication, uncleanness, IasciviOusness.
% idolatry, sOrcery. enmities. strife,
jealousies. wratbs, factions, divisions.
parties. q envyings. drunkenness re
vellings. and such ike. of which fore
warn you, even as I did forewarn you,
that they who practice such things shall
not inherit the kingdom Of God. p, But
the fruit Of the Spirit is love, joy. peace.
Iongsufering, kindness. goodness, faith
fitness. q meekness, seIf-control;
against such there IS no law p. And
they that are Of Christ Jesus have cruel
fed the flesh with the passions and the
Iusts thereof .. If We live by the
Spirit. by the Spirit let US also walk
26. Let US not become vainglorious. pro
vokfng one another, envying enc another.
Thoughts on the Topic,
There are three lines Of thought upon
the great subject Of SeIf-mastery''
Of
ture:
/ The end should determine the means
and the acknowledgements for col
Iege athletics seems very remarkable to
the uninitiated. carefully prescribed
diet of the most nutritious food, vigor-
Gus exercise, regular hours, no tobacco
or alcohol, and even coffee largely, II
not entirely, tabooed- All these re-
strictions and prohibitions are rigidly
enforced.
They do it to receive a corruptible
crown
The victors in any intercollegiate ath-
Ietic event are crowned with glory and
honor by their friends and coIIegemates,
not only for their abstinence and self
mastery. for these are but means 10 an
end But they are praised especially be-
cause they could most largely command
and compel their muscles and bodies TO
do the biddin0 of -heir inclination and
will They were able to do this better
than their competitors, and hence they
carried of the palm Of victory. The
means was the discipline, coupled with
strenuous effort. weIl-nigh perfect self
mastery. and both the end in WOW and
the result achieved were victory
The largest, most satisfying and most
enduring success in life comes Just in
this way. We must first determine what
is most wc-,hy Of our effort-to the &C
QUESTION OF what should We bend all
OF our energies Unless the end in view
and the object sought are eminently
worthy Of pursuit. by an immortal soul,
even though we obtain them, We fail OF
being crowned for what We have gained
-'perishes with the using"
The noblest end, ChTistlikeness.
coupled with the best means, complete !
self-mastery and the most persistent
effort-these and these only are worthy
OF one made in Gods image and after
His likeness.
2. There Is a penalty attached for
choosing the lower Of two posi- bilities,
There is punishment for sowing 10 the
flesh rather than TO the Spirit The
whole Pandora's boxful OF evils breaks
forth when one makes qualification Of
the Iusts Of the flesh the end Of his effort !
and pursuit The words Of inspiration /
are needed 10 tell US this is true, for
mere worldly knowledge and expedi- +
ence teach that an ignobIe, feshly 4
ideal results just as the Apostle says
1t does.
If there is one form OF seIf-induIgencs /
that leads TO the commission of more Of (.
and results IN more sorrow and awful .
ness, it is indulgence in strong drink.
self-submission TO the blighting and
damning sway OF Ki-g Alcohol Passing
strange Il is. that any people who claim .
10 be reasonable should condone, paIH- /
ate, and excuse the reign OF this dread
king
The philanthropist. and patriot. and
Christian alike have reason TO protect
and battle against the ravages Of this
fell monster, and OF every other demon
from the bottomless pit who comes 20
seduce and destroy the UnWary, body and
soul
The end sought " the flesh is con
demned IN a tWOfold way-ft has 10 10
solely with time. the neVer-dying soul
being lost sight Of; and, secondly. such =
qualification Is evil in Itself. good 4.
thing is prostituted to an eyil use II IS
not strange the Apostle says: They
who practice such things shall not in l.
hsTiJ the Kingdom Of God" Heaven
the fullness and completion OF the King I,
dom Of God, is eternal, and It Is both
place and e state-a place prepared FOR
those spirits that have purged them i
selves OF the flthiness and sins OF tho
hesh-a place OF sinlessness and bless
edness harmonizing with such condition
in those who go there. Naturally those
who Inherit Gods Kingdom must have
4 character harnonizing with the envkr-
onmenJ Of the Kingdom
g. What is the antidote 10 leshIy Iiv-
ing Walk by the Spirit and ye shall !
not fulfill the lust Of the flesh"
Years ago Dr. Chalmers, Of Scotland.
preached q sermon that afterward be-
came celebrated upon the theme, The
EIpulsive Power OF a Good Affection" !
II the strong man, the base appetites
and passions OF the flesh, is IN posses
sion, let stronger than he" the al {
mighty spirit OF God, enter and repeI the
evil and destructive possessor. In order :
10 secure q lasting victory and peace
something more is needed besides curb
ing ana checking the desire. II is need
ful 10 get other desires and appetItes /