The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-09-16
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
September 20.
Subject Abstinence From Evil, I Peter w., L.
ll-Goldeu Text. Eph. ", IS-Memory
Verses, l.2-Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

the Days Lesson.
l.. The true life tvs /, p. l. "Foras.
much" Compare 3:ls. The apostle points
Arm yourselves" With resolution
such as animated him to suffer all the evis
to which you may be exposed in the body,
and particularly to suffer death, ii called
by God to do so for your religion. For
this will be armor-proof against all your
enemies. There is still fighting, for sin
will be. molesting YOU; though wounded
to death, yet will it struggle for life and
seek to wound it' enemy; it will 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
that hath suffered etc. 1t is only by
severe conflict in which you must be armed
with a readiness to suffer with Christ. that
the power OF sin over You can be made to
cease.
.. "No longer should live" Referring
to the preceding clause, Arm yourselves
with the sane mind that was in Christ,
in order to live no longer in the flesh 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 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
Is. 20 live in harmony with the will OF God,
What He wills is best and to the Christian
is good and accepJable" rom. 1920.
II. The, Old life Tvs. 3, A.: 3. May
suffice" a gentle way of saying we have
spent too long time in our sins. 'Ot
the Genti,es." The term Gentiles here
means evil ones; intemperate, wicked and
wanton; lndulging in every sin forbidden
by God and man. Excess of wine" etc.
Intemperance was curse in the apostles
day, as well as in our own. He u.tcrs
against i condemnation OF no uncertain
sound. Every person and especially every
man OF God should be outspokcn against
intemperance. "Abominabe idoiatries"
In an age when sensullity was wrought
into all forms OF literature and art, was
biazoned shame.essly in the decorations OF
private houses. and enshrined in the TEN.
pies OF the gods, the contrast Of a cha.te
and Cody conversation in the Chr, stiln
community, witnessed for the saving and
cleansing power of the Gospel. The ex.
hortations OF the anost.es Mt once testify
OF this contrast, and urge that it be made
emphatic.
4. "Think it strange" It is strange to
the carnal man to see the child of God
disdain the pleasures OF sin; he knows not
the higher and purer PEE surcs that the
Christian is called to. Excess of riot"
Rather. same slough OF debauchery."
Speaking evil OF you" The wicked and
uI'Spiutf always ildNt IL SllctI 10Y InDSe
who refuse to share in their evil doings.
The wicked do not hesitate to speak falsely
when they meet Christian.
III. An account to he rendered to God
Tvs; D., 81, .. 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
against the godly. and though the Christian
sights them and lets them pass. they
pass not so; they are all registered; and
the great court.day shall call them to ac.
count for all these riots and excesses, and
withal Tor all their reproachess of the godly
that would not run with them in these
ways. "Readv to judge See chap. l:6.
AS the salvation Of the godiy is fully ar.
ranged, so is the judgment of their calum.
nistors; 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 diving is over for
them. II they had not died to their sins
by the Gospel, they had died in them, and
so died eternally. 1t is therefore 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 ii,
we shall perish foreye~: bat if it die first,
before US, then we live forever. Live O.. .
to God" A bitter fountain sends forth
bitter waters; sweet fountain. wa-ers
that are sweet. A soul living in God will
show that life by action. II the heart be
right in the sight Of Jehovah, the outward
man will reflect His image.
"; Various, exhcrtations Tvs. 7-lD. I.
END :. at hand This. might have
been said nt any point OF the worlds
duration. To the eternal Lord that made
y and appointed its period, a thousand
years are as one day. We think thou.
our short life. But what is the utmost
length of time, were il millions of years,
to thought OF eternity: To reach man
the end of all things is, even after our
measure, at hand; fo- when he dies the
world ends for him. BE sober, and watch
watchfulness, ard PRAYER OF both. When
the affections are kept quietly under con.
tro, and care il taken that e"en in lawful
things they follow the world but lightly;
when tfr necessary duties OF this life are
done faithfully. yet with a mind free and
discngaged, then the soul cal more easily
turn to spiritual things. and be ready con-
tinuallv for divine meditation and PRAYER
8. "Abovc all things" Paul puts love
at the head OF the Christian graces, in his
matchless chapter on charity Il Cor. l3l.
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 rs the ro.t important and
most distinguished Christian virtue. Love
Is the essence OF religion. 1t must be at
work in the heart and shown in the life.
or all other things will amount to nothing.
it is above all in value, because it comes
frog God, and ia the one thing that we
may keep through life ard carry to heaven
with us. Cover :. sius." 1t delights
not in undue disclosing Of b-ethren's fail
ings, and doth not expose them Willingly
to the ewes OF others.
Oil. Hospitality" A would often he
necessary toward the suffering. Without
r-udcing" Not murmuring at the cost o.
trouble. "The gift" Endowment Of any
Ind. bTt Especially that conferred by the
Hoy Spirit-noney, ability, influence or
whatever God has given. Good stew.
ards Whatever we have is to be min.
iste-cd" to others as God may direct. We
nre His stewards. What we call oar own
'ews fro'a Col and bc'oN7' 20 God. and we
should az good stewards use it to His
glor". If we have an opportunity to vote
against n" 81 loon and fail to do so, in.
stead of minstering good to others we will
be putting a curse upon them. "As the
orac'es." Those who sneak for God must
sneak His words. what He reveals to them;
they INST speak the truth as revealed in
the holy Scriptures Minister" This
y,av refer to service in general. Our ability
. the ,imit of our obligation.
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Few Hopundriirs