The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-09-18

Lesson n the lntersataeaeSs ossee -
ssptenbss 10, observation-disclosures
from Evil.
THE LESSON TEXT.
- ~. I.fr~

Tor US In the flesh. am yourselves like"ss
with the same nina: for he that hath SUI
tered in the flesh hath ceased from s.n:
That he no longer should 1--we the ress
Of his tine In the flesh to the lusis OF men
put to the Will OF God.
. For the time past OF our life may sumcs
W 10 have wrought the will ofthe 6entises
when We walked In lasciviousness. lusts.
excess Of wine. reveliings, banquetinss' anu
abomlnap.e idoatries.
Wherein they think II strange that ~
run not With them to the same excess "
riot. speaking evil OF you:
8 Who shall give account OF MN tne'
Is ready TO judge the quick and the dead,
For. for this cause Was the gospe.
preached also TO them that are dead. that
they might be judged according TO men IN
the flesh. but live according 10 God IN the
spirit
I But the end Of ali things Is at hand: be
ye therefore sober. and watch unto prayer.
And above AL things have fervsnt
cbaSity among yourselves: Tor charuy
shall cover the multitude Of sins.
Use hospitality one 10 another without
srudging
~ As every man hath received the gift
even so minister the same one TO another.
| as good stewards OF the manifold grace oil
God.
II II any man speak let him speak -
the oracles OF God: II any man minister. let
him do II as of the ability which God givetn:
that God in all things may be giorlneo
through Jesus Christ to whom be praise
and dominion for ever and ever. Amen
GOLDEN TExT.-Be not drunk with
wine, wherein IL excess.-Eph. sis.
| OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Having christ's mind............i Pet. 4:lN
Being fervent In love. Pet. S:5-s
Acting as good stewards. .......l Pet 4:l0. II
| TIME-Supposed to be ~. A. d.
PLACE-Rome.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
This important part OF the New Testa-
ment was probably written by Simon
Peter. near the close Of his eventful life.
II Is a hopeful letter Of Christian COM
fort, written to both Jewish and Gentle
believers. In the provinces Of Asia Minor.
who apparently were suffering persecu-
ton for their faith. 1t was probably
written at Rome (Hastings' Bible die
tionary), the name Babylon, in 6:l3.
probably referring TO that city. 1t 10
very likely that Peter had come to Rome
to visit Paul in his imprisonment. and.
as Silvanus (Silas) was going to Asia
Minor as Paul's delegate. the other
apostle took advantage Of the oppor-
tunity to send his greetings and encour-
aging exhortations to the Christians
there who were in trouble. The letter
does not discuss doctrines. but 10 full
Of practical advice for everyday life.
The theme of the letter Is the true
Christian in suffering"
Arm We yourselves also with the
same mind" The best protection In
the world against sin and temptation
suffering and despair. Is mind like
Christ's-serene. patient and unselfish
He that hath suffered" Suffering often
acts like purifying fire. consuming the
dross OF selfishness and sin in human
life. "Reyelings:" The Greek word
refers especially to village merrymak-
ings. with which we're associated the
; unrestrained immoralities Of heather
, festivals. THE same excess Of riot: "
The difficulty of living a pure Christian
life in the midst of such vile surround
ngs must have been much greater than
to-day. Yet in many quarters wine-bib-
bings. reveling and carousings are still
popular, and we need TO be reminded
that such customs are utterly out of har-
mony with 1.-The mnd of Christ" and can
not be INDUCED in without serious con-
sequences We notice that indulgence
in strong drink leads to the whole list
Of vices mentioned here. II is the moth
or of crimes and the breeder OF vices
George Dana Boardman pointedly says:
AS Bunyan's Pilgrim is represented In
the earlier portion of his journey as al
ways carrying upon his back a huge
bundle Of sins. so each traveller in the
drunkards broad road TO death is bear
Ing a great bundle Of woes. Among
them are losses OF time. OF talent of pur-
lty, OF a clean conscience. OF self-respect.
Of honor, OF religion. Of the soul. The
saloon darkens the family, obstructs
business, arrests industry. impedes
progress. deranges plans. estranges
partners. undermines houses. lowers
personal standing. debauches politics
1t is the nurse Of political dictators and
lobbyists"
The true substitute for the evil allure
ments Of the saloon IL cordial good
fellowship among Christian people
"being fervent in your love among your.
selves, and using hospitality" Wher
good people earnestly compete with thu
saloon In Offering hospitality on broad
democratic basis. then the evil institu
ton will be doomed. II thrives to-day
less on the base appetftes Of men thar
. on the human craving Tor comradeship
good-fellowship.
Meanwhile let NJ b. thankful tha1
more and more the drinking man Il
getting to be the man for whom th'
world has no ROOM" that men VIII
! drink are being forced out Of employ
ment, because all railroads and grea
: corporations. and many private employ
ers who hire men for positions Of 70
d onslbility and trust. will not risl
their money. their property. and humaI
: lives AZ well. with men whose nerves IN
unsteadied. whose eyes are bleared an,
: brains befogged by alcoholic drink. Tn
most effective Of Ill temperance legisla
ton Is this rigid prohibition which
J rapidly becoming the law Of our strenu
Gus, modern business life.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.