Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-04-02
The SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lecs0n Comments For
April 5.
Subject: Paui's Farewell to Ephesus, Acts W'
2S.3S-Golden Text, Acts xx., %
Memory verses, 3l.A-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

memory VcTSeS, OiCf-SViuuS"oJ
on the Days Lesson.
I. The character of Paul's ministry at
Ephcsus Tvs. 1921. 1t was, ]. A ministry
of unweared, diiigent service. (U He
served the Lord. co He served the people.
He was devoted and faithful preaching
| publicly and privately and labcrins with
hearted conservation 8. A humble min.
istry. Paul had humble opinion OF him
self. He ascrbed to God all the glory. 4.
A ministry of fervent sympathy. 5. A
ministry of thoroughness and consequent
II. Paul's faithfuIncss Tvs. 22,2O. in
the midst Of bonds and Affections while
facing death. he did not falter, but
preached the gospel, declaring the who's
pure from the blood of all men" This
form of expression is very striking. it is
borrowed from the crime of murder and
the method by which guilt is ordinarily
brought home to the criminal. In many
cases conviction depends on blood being
found ON the clothes of the murderer, This
ig the conception that leaps into the apos'
ties mind" He is conscious of his per-
formance Of duty, and il any are lost who
ntu HSIlN lut SbSpCi iloil IitS iIliH' thNit
blood will not be required at his hands.
III, The elders admonished Tvs. 2S3n.
eS Take heed" "How unspcaknb.c the
loss of a soul He shudders at the thought,
and in order to quicken their diligence
when they should return to their labor he
endeavors to impair. some of his own anX.
/ iety to the elders. He, in effect, invites
them to look to their hands and garments.
to make sure there is no blood on them"
-. A. Il. ~ ,,,o,1y c iho1n livnn.
~ called bishops. or elders, is to shepherd
the church of God: to nourish it with
truth; to lead it to the way of Christ; to
watch over and guard against the entrance
OF evil. and to administer such rule and
discipline as is divinely delegated. The
term flock is Christ's favorite figure.
The supreme motive is fidelity, Over.
seers.' I'm the sending forth of Saul and
Barnabas we learn the truth which Paul
pointmcnt of bishops or elders it is the
HOY Ghost who selects, calls and appoints
tc the office and the work. No valid min
istry is exclusively man-made." His own
! blood" The death of Christ was an atom
| ing sacrifice: II" offered Himself TO pnr.
chase a people to His owa service. The
church is, therefore. of peculiar va,ue-a a
value to be esteemed by the price ra'd For
it. This is here called the b,ool OF God az
! belnC the Dinoi ol tidt liah WIN vas '"N'
manifest in the nesh.
%. II know" From observation, from
by the Holy Spirit "Wo,ves." The enc.
mics Of Christ and His church. Those who
| taught false doctrines. evil princip'eS and
| had morals and who BROUGHT worldIincss
and st'ife into the church. Such were Ike
| " to come in sheop's clothing ,(Matt;
7: ~, under the guise of friends and
80 -,l-t |,.,,,,
own selfish interests regardless os the
souls they might destroy.
80 "Of yomr own selves" The enemies
are described on the one hand. as raven.
! ing wolves that il, men who arc scdu'cTi
and muracrsrs of souls, and, on the other,
| ga false brethren who arise in the church
/ itself, and ,iho, with s9ecjoIs words teach
false and dangerous doctrines. The former
may be easily rccoRnized; the latter are
more insidions and dangerous. "PeryGrge
| things" "Truths distorted from thcir
true meaning. The most DANGEROUS errors
are truths thus perverted, Thcrc Is truth
enough to make some believe them and cr-
| ror enough to injurc or ruin those who do
hsheyc."
81. "Waich." As man On guard
"Remcmher." Ny counsel and admoni'
tions. Three wears" The history ac'
counts for two years and three months
! (chap 10: S.l0l, and to this may be added
the time which probably preceded HE
! teaching in the synagogue. "Ihc two
statements need not he conflicting In the
Jewish mode Of speech three years need
on,v consist OF ore whoc year and parts OF
that which preceded and followed" "Wlt'l
tears" These show the love. earneStness
humility and tenderness with which Paul
! preached even the stornrst truths.
" The elders eyhorted to nnse'hshrosa
! rl,Nt
! support to those who trust Him. Word
Of His grace" ''The truths of the gospel
| The gospel originates in grace; reVea
grace; produces gra"e." Build YOU M,
"The foundation OF faith had been laid,
and the structure of q complete Chr lstlan
character was to be reared THROUGH the IN
strumen. l'itv of the goSpc,.' An mher.
itance" Eternal life. The, final g.ory, arc.
b'esscdness Of the redeemed; ',,Sanc:l1cd
Those who have been made holy: 1t ls
g,oriousv possible to he sanctificd-made
holv-in ta;s life. When the converted
person discovers that sin still exists IN the
soul he should Immediately come to Christ
bv faith for a complete cleansing. Please
examine the following Scriptures. !. Pro-
visions are rade in the atonement for the
complete removal of all sin Czech ID: l.:
Eph. s: 25-27; Titus .: IL; Heb. l.: Il; l
John 3: 81. ., 1t is propised- Il Jhess. D:
| "a; John J. ", .. Nshipauaeu u
|: l6). 4. Prayed for (Psa, 81; 10; John
II. II: Thess, 5: @3). 5. 1t Is the once
work OF the Hoy Ghost to sanctlIy,, as well
as to rcgenerate from. Is: l6; 2 Thesss, ;;
l3; Pet. |: y. 6. 1t Is received by 1alth
| (Acts Is: 81. :.
$685.. Coveted" have not made il
an object of my living among you to obtain
yoar property. Pail had power to demand
support in the ministry as the reward oi
his labors, but he did rot choose to cXer,
else it, lest it should bring the charge, OF
avarce against the ministry. Yet, in ga
G: and / Cor. 0: IA. he distinctly
teaches that "they which preach the gospel
should live of the gospel "Ihese hands
Paul showed, both by example, and pre-
cept. that labor is honorable; "Ihc
words" etc. The words recorded here are
not in the gospels. but they are in perfect
accord With the teachings of Jesus. john
saws that great many of Chrlsts sayings
are not recorded. More blessed when
the Lord intimated that the b.eSsedncSs OF
/ giving is the greater He did not intimate
that the Joy of receiving was small. H9
! proclams in one sentence the tWoiold
truth, that the JOY of His people i'll obtain
ing is great, and His own i'll 5estoWlnS Il
is greater T., oo,o, 90 %
"Kncclcd." THE usual attitude of prayer
and the proper position of a suppliant, 1t
indicates reverence and humility ''Wept
sor," Wept much. "Kissed.' This was
the common token of affection. Sorrow
inr -" This was most tender and attcc-
tionatc parting scene. MAY God grant to
every minister the spirit which Paul
svuced at this time.