The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-01-23
COPYRIGHT, DAVIS W. CLARK.
PLEASANT FIELDS OF HOLY WRIT
Save for my daily range
Among the pleasant fields of Holy Writ
| might despair. -Tennyson
Inc International sunday schoo!
Lesson.

me INTERNATIONAL sunday school
Lesson.
First Quarter. Lesson iv. January
IS, 1903. | Thess.v l4-28
PAUI's COUNSEL 70 THE THEssALo-
NIAN5
The first Epistle to the Thessalo-
mans has the distinction of being
the initial contribution to an entire
ly unique form of literature-the
Epistles of the New Testament. In
these apostolic letters Christian dc c.
trine finds it's ultimate definition, de-
fenset and enforcement; they are
fundamental to theology; they ar,
also vitality related to ecclesiastical
organization and discipline; they are
storehouse as well for the nutri-
ton of the individual religious life,
containing, as they do, the precepts
and principles for the Christian dis
ciple, the promises and injunctions
to inspire and guide him in his way.
The unfortunate misrepresentation
fand misinterpretation of the Epi
ties, the 'overworking' of them; Ii S
given rise to warning schools of TIL
ology and the division of the Church
into numerous and, antagonistic.
sects. This disastrous INCIDENT is
due to human infirmIty, not to The
| Epistles themselves, which, in spite
of their misuse, have been of incal
culable value to the Church and to
the world.
A single phrase in the present
paragraph indicates the unusual
character and use of the Epistles in
. e ieral. Paul says: II adj ure you
by the Lord that this Epistle be reao
| to all the BRETHREN" Such languag,
takes the writing Immediately ana
forever out of the category Of ordi.
nary and familiar letters. 1t is as i.
Paul said, Il put you on your oati
before the Lord to do this" In thit
solemn order originated the readinA
of the Epistle in the congregation,
! usage which has maintained fol
| twenty centuries.
First Thessalonians is interesting
however, not only because it is tit
inauguration of a new type of litera-
ture and a custom distinctive of the
Christian congregation. The Epis.
tie is of absorbing interest on its
own account. 1t was written by
Paul to his converts at Thessalonica,
from whom he had been abruptly
separated by a storm of persecution.
He could not return to them in per-
son, but as soon as possible (within
four months) sent them this letter,
written at Corinth, A. D. 81. 1t adj
mits of question whether a personal
visit of the apostle to Thessalonica
could have been more valuable to
the Church in that city than was
this admirable letter. There is no
lquestion but that the Church at large
is the gamer by reason of the fact
that in this instance Paul wrote a
letter, instead of going in person.
This "encyclical," freighted with
doctrine, precept, and promise, has
been ION it's rounds ever since
among the Churches.
The function of the Epistle is not.
however, limited to ecclesiastical
life. 1t has been absorbed in hours
of devotion by millions of believer
to the sustenance of their souls. l.
has been the source of renovation OF
life, the infusion of new ethical ideas
and ideals. 1t has impressed anew
upon every reader the dignity and
seriousness of life, it's hopes, promi-
SEES, and responsibilities. 1t asserts
he paradox of "joy in much affiic-
-ion;" "that in sorrow endured f,l
Christ's sake III ere is hidden Il new
spring of JOY" While the Epistl.
has characteristics peculiar to itself
it is yet, cast in the mold of all the
Pauline letters. 1t has it's |. greet
ing, 2. thanksgiving, 3, doctrinal Sec
tioE, 4. practical section, 8. personal
messages, 6. final salutation.
The paragraph especially suggest
ed for study is the very heart of the
Epistle. The selection could not
have been more happy in this re-
spect. These pithy phrases stick in
memory like arrows in target.
The paragraph Immediately pre-.
ceding may be advantageously used
by way of introduction. 1t is one OF
the military SMILES which st. Pau
uses with such cOnsummate skill
In the camp there are always two
sorts of soldiers. There are those
who flatter themselves with securi-
ty. They throw their armor aside
and give themselves to drunkenness
and RIGHTEOUSNESS, saying, "Peac,
and safety" Then there is the bet
ter class, the soldiers of the day, the
"children of light who do not
Sleep" but are alert and vigilant
who are sober and panoplied will
breastplate and helmet. To such
come the military commands which
follow like orders from headquar-
tiers.
The TEACHERS LANTERN
We exhort you! No Christian man
c n draw a circle of snort diameter
a 'Ound himself. None can say, "Me
and mine and no more" No man
liveth to himself. He has duties to
others. He stands or falls according
to his fidelity.
Warn them that are unruly. A
degree of disorder was incident to
the newneSs of creed and organiza-
ton. "Peace" could only be secured
by a faithful dealing with all classes,
unruly, feeble-minded, and weak.
The injunction is, of course, pri-
marily to the clergy; but the laitY is
evidently to share in these whole
some offices of correction. Each
and all are to admonish (warn) the
unruly, the disorderly Christian sol
der who falls out of his rank.
Comfort the feeble-minded: better,
as in the Revised Version, ''Encour-
age the faint-hearted; :" literally,
''those of little soul" A larger class,
no doubt, than the 'disorderly."
Comfort" literally, strengthen to-
gether."
Support the weak: Literally, clay
fast hold upon" so as to hold up, or
10 "hold ones self against" to stand
di ectly opposite one, so as to sustain
him.
Patient toward all, and not render
in evil for evil. 1t should be re-
m smbered that this injunction was
gi zen on eve of general and unpar-