Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-06-21
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lessen Comments For
June D.
Subject: An Exhortation 10 Temperate Life
Rom. Wilt, ST.: Golden Text ROM xiii.
l,--Memory Verses. l2.i4-Commen.
tary on the Days Lesson.

g. Owe no man" 1t cannot be sup
nosed that the apostle meant TO prohlbit
the contracting OF debts on any account
Christians are indeed under the highest OBJ
legations to pay all legal demands without
reluctance or needless delay and with great
punctuaity and hey should avoid all su,
perfuous expense. and carefully guard
against contracting any debts which they
have not reasonable prospect OF dis.
charging. They ought also 20 stard aloof
from all adventurous specu!atIons or rash
engagements, beyond their circumstances
and whatever may expose them to the
danger and discredit OF not rendering TO
all their dues. Love one another. In
the preceding verses the apostle has been
showing the duty, reverence, and obedi-
ence which all Christians, from the high
est to the lowest. owe to the civil magls-
trate, whether he be emperor, king. or
proconsul. or other state officer; here he
shows them their duty to one another. but
this is widely differrt from that which
they owe To the civil government; TO the
first they owe subsection, reverence, obeii-
ence and tribute; to the latter they owe
nothing but mutual love, and those Offices
which necessarily spring from it.
9. shalt not commit adultery, etc
In this verse the apostle quotes from the
law as though he would say that the per-
feet love which he declares they owe to
one another will enable them to fulfil al
the obligations of this law And what
ever he has omitted. which the law con-
tains, Is al covered in keeping the law Of
love. Thy neighbor IS myself When
this is done in reality there Is complete
ness and we keep the whole law. He that
loves another will not deprive him OF his
wife, OF his life, of his property, or his
coed name; and viii rot even permit
desire TO enter into his heart. which
would lead him TO wish to possess any
thing that Is the property OF another
The law OF love forhids the use OF in
toxicatlng liquor, foroids its sale TO others
and will not permit us to assist those per-
sons who sell liquor 70 others, either by
lending them money, by renting our build
lngs TO them, or IN any way giving them
our 1o support and showing ", them favor
forbids the doing of anything that woui.
inJure myself or others. Where love
relgns the golden rule is practiced and he
who loves, acts toward his neighbor a.
he would that his neighbor should act
toward him, therefore TINS law OF lo;-c can
never worl; i'll toward another, and thus
the law is fulfilled by love. lntemper
ance Is the exact opposite OF this. Il
causes men to break every commandment.
II. Knowing the time The nature
and character of the period in which VIC
live. High time" That is. the hour has
arrived. To awafe" Eow many so
called Christians are fast asleep, The
accarsed liqnor traffic is becoming power
tul. bold. defiant; is destroying cur best
brains and blood; is running our morals:
Is undermining the Christian Sabbath, one
81 tie pillars on which cur nation rests;
is II ling the land with paupers. disease
and crime. and vet we sleep peacefully
as though we had no responsibility in this
matter. Salvation nearer. etc" The
period of completed and ultimate saliva.
ton is nearer than when we first believed
We have only little ti1e remaining in
which 20 work, therefore awake from th.-
slumberings.
u. The night" OF heather darkness.
ignorance, immortality and wretchednesS
rapidly coming to an end. The full mani
testatlon or the sun or rigl eeousness IN
thc illumination OF the whole Gentle
world. approaches rapidly. The day"
Of the deliverance from evil. of true
Christian knowledge, of, purity. happi-
at hand. Let US cast off, The works
OF DARKNESS described in the ne=t verse.
The Christian is obliged TO reacuncc al!
cast off" many things. lie is required!
to be separate from the world Il John
2; 10. i6), and to touch not the urc.ean
There are some things for the Christian
to receive and accept The power OF
living Christ living in the soul will be an
"armor of light. In Ephesians 8: lily
we are exhortcd to put on the armor
which God has provided for t." Chris.
tian. Protection is provided for every
part but the back. which shows that the
an enemy. OF light" Light itself =
an armor. That person whose action,
are open to view. who does nothing in the
dark and under cover, is in a safe posi-
ton. He can prove his whereabouts.
The armor of light" is lis protectio:..
DERBY and sincere in all department. n
example for all eyes to look upon. Me-
choose night for their revels of sin anL
ss2perstitious doings. but children al
ilsh. Eph. 6: ll.lSj must behave ba2oYl.
ingiy, and 1--we above such censure. AS
every one may see and know. No; in
riotlng and drunkenness They are not
to indulge IN revels where intemperance
IN eating and drinking is common and
where conversation is corrupt Th:; was
what the heather did whom they 80 cor
d, lmed. This was not the thing 70.
Christians 10 do. certainly. But thev are
to be so fully engaged in pare lie and
Its duties. that the temptation vii not
overtake them and they lie led assrav.
Ire eNhortatlon Is strong for them 30 be
the examples to win those who Indulge
such practices. to a life or temperance
and honesty. Strife ard enyying.'' The
very opposite of love. but the resu.. OF
s.ich practices as were mentioned above
This exhortation made plain the standard
OF Christianity. holding it in contrast .Yith
the heathea practices And if this epistle
should fall into the hands OF the Roman
magistrates or others. they woud see the
purity of the doctrine of the Christians.
The apostle wisely puts everything to
prove the value OF virtue and the dark,
ness OF sin
Il. Put we on Christ With.
ont further comment on heather prac.
'ices. the apostle plainly explains wha.
TIC arrlcr. oil light might mean. It was
pial1 to DC seen what they must mi
aside end this exhortation would apply to
who might hear il. Jesus Christ sig.
r!ies receiving and believing the gospsl
The flesh. BY flesh here we are 20
r1Cerstand the carnal nature. the arati6
cation d which led to the abomirati1ra
st mentioned. Direct none OF y3;.,
@ttention to the cravings of corruns
n cure. IN planning to provide Tor its
gr .iiication. Intcrperance puts OF
Christ and provides for the lustj Of the
fcsl. Christ is able TO > CON 1lnte,y
cleanse the heart from ein and iii il With
leve. that 10 principle OF sin or desire
la SIN viii remain.