Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-09-18
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments Tor
September 20.
Subject: Abstinence From Evil, Peter w., l.
ll-Golden Text, Eph. ". lS-Memory
Verses, l.2-Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

much" Compare 3:lS. The apostle points
us to Christ's sufferings as an example
"Arm yourselves" With resolution
, such as animated him to suffer all the evils
to which you may be exposed IN tne D9uy
and particularly to suffer deatn,. IL ca11eu
| by God to do SO for your rengioh;; aor
! this will be armor-proof against al your
enemies. There is still fighting, Tor SIN
will be moesting you; though wounded
to death, yet will it struggle for for, lie ana
seek to wound its enemy; It VIII assault
the graces that are in you. You may take
| the Lords promise for victory; that shall
not fail; but do not promise yourself ease
in the way, for that will not hold. he
that hath suffered" etc. 1t Is only by a
severe conflict in which you must be armed
with a readiness to suffer with Christ, that
| the mower of sin over you can be made to
| cease.
2. 'No longer should live" Referring
to the preceding clause, Arm yourselves
with the same mind that was IN Christ,
in order to live no longer IN the hesh to
| the lusts of men, but to the will OF God.
/ We cannot deliver ourselves from the filth
| of sin; but when we are renewed, taking
on a likeness of Christ, then we are armed
against the lusts and deilements of the
world. "To the will of Cod" This will
be new life. The only true way to live
What He wills is best and to the Christian
is good and acceptable" rom. 1879.
II The old life Tvs. 9, A.: g. MAY
suffice" A gentle way of saying we have
spent too long a time in our sins. "Ot
| the Gentiles." The term Genties here
means evil ones; incorporate, wicked and
wanton; INDUCING in every sin forbidden
by God and man. Excess of wine," etc.
Intemperance was curse in the apostles
day, as we'll as in our own. He utters
against it condemnation of no uncertain
man of God should be outspoken against
intemperance "Abominable idolatres."
In an age when sensuality was wrought
into all forms of literature and art, was
blazoned shamelessly in the decorations of
private houses and enshrined in the tenn
Piles of the gods, the contrast of chaste
and Cody conversation in the Christian
community witnessed for the saving and
cleansing power of the Gospel. The ex.
hortations of the apostles at once testify
of this contrast, and urge that it be made
emphatic.
4. think it strange" 1t is strange to
the carna man to see the child of God
disdain the pleasures of sin; he knows not
the higher and purer pleasures that the
Christian is called to. Excess of riot
Rather, Same slough Of debauchery."
'"Speaking evil of you" The wicked and
dissolute always have a sneer for those
who refuse to share in their evil doings.
The wicked do not hesitate to speak falsely
when they meet Christian.
III. An account to be rendered to God
Tvs. 5, g.. 5. "Shall give account" He
hath the day set; and it shall surely come,
though they think it far off. Though the
wicked themselves forget their SCOTS
ooo;,,t Io coJl,, md thOuob hn Cbri -tiop
sights them and lets them pass. they
pass not so; they are all registered; and
the great courtday shall call them to ac-
count for all these riots and excuses, and
withal for all their reproaches of the cody
ways. Ready to Judge" See chap. I:6.
As the salvation of the cody is fully ar
ranged so is the judgment Of their calum-
niators, whether living or dead.
6. ''The Gospel preached also" They
that formerly received the Gospel received
it upon these terms. And they are now
dead; all the pain of dying is over for
them. II they had not died to their sins
by the Gospel, they had died in them, and
60 died eternally. 1t is therefore a wise
prevention to have sin judged and put to
death in us before we die. If we will not
part with sin, if we die in it and with it,
we shall perish forever; but if it die first,
before us, then we live forever Live q. .
to Cod" A bitter fountain sends forth
bitter waters; a sweet fountain, waters
that are sweet. A soul living in God will
show that life by action. If the heart be
right in the sight of Jehovah, the outward
man will reflect His image.
~. Various exhortations Tvs. I'D. 7.
END e. at hand" This might have
been said at any point of the worlds
duration. To the eternal Lord that made
it and appointed its period. a thousand
years are as one day. We think thou
sand years a great matter in respect of
our short life. But what is the utmost
length Of time, were it millions Of years,
to thought of eternity? To reach man
the end OF all things Is. even after our
measure, at hand; for when he dies the
world ends for him. 'Be sober, and watch
unto prayer" Sobriety is the friend of
watchfulness, and prayer of both. When
the affections are kept quietly under con.
troll, and care is taken that even in lawful
things they follow the world but lightly;
when the necessary duties of this life are
done faithfully, yet with mind free and
disengaged, then the soul can more easily
turn to spiritual things. and be ready con.
tinually for divine meditation and prayer.
s. "Above all things" Paul puts love
at the head % .he Christian graces, in his
matchless chapter on charity Il Cor. l3).
Peter likewise does the same. Paul goes
so far as to say, "Love is the fulfilling of
the law" Charity must be as the crown,
or the outer garment. 1t must be used by
the Christian as the most important and
most distinguished Christian virtue. Love
is the essence of religion. 1t must be at
work in the heart ard shown in the life,
or all other things will amount to nothing.
Tt is above all in value, because it comes
from God, and is the one thing that VIC
may keep through life and carry to heaven
with us. Cover E. sins" 1t delights
not in undue disclosing OF brethren's fail.
ings. and doth not expose them willingly
to the eyes of others.
Gil. Hospitality" As would often be
necessary toward the suffering. without
grudging." Not murmuring at the cost OIL
trouble. "The gift" Endowment of any
kind but especially that conferred by the
Holy Spirit-money, ability, influence or
whatever God has given. Good stew
ards" Whatever we have is to be min
istered" to others as God may direct. We
are His stewards. What we call our own
came from God and belongs to God. and wo
should, as good stewards" use it to HD
glory If we have an opportunity to vote
against the saloon and fail to do so, in.
stead of ministering good to others we will
be putting curse upon them. AS the
oracles" Those who sneak for God must
speak His words, what He reveals to them;
they must speak the truth as revealed IN
the holy Scriptures. Minister" This
may refer to service in general. Our ability
is the limit OF our obngatlon.