Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29

ScI udbONdl CSLIlIuillSc gave Tic litiS " Jul
lesson which appears above. The intention
evidently was to promote the great cause
Of temperance. which is worthy of the sup
ravages of the drink habit in all ages and
lands awaken the most profound feelings
Of pity and concern. But this passage Of
Scripture must not be distorted to set forth
the ordinary views on the subject of tenn
perance; 1t does not distinctly teach alb
stinence from intoxicating beverages. It
lifts us rather into a more elevated field OF
thought, where such indulgences appear to
be unwise and injurious. We have here
series Of contrasts in which truth appears
to be more beautiful and forceful because
1t is opposed to error. This is favorite
method with the apostle. The limitations
Of human thought prevent us from abso-
Lutte views Of things as they are and COM
pei US to estimate everything by its rela-
ton to something else.
DANGER AND DEFENSE Oversees
Is and 16.)-Man in the social relation is in
constant peril arising from disordered
mental and physical states. AS result
domestic and political strife. civil and for
eign war sweep over the earth. The his
tory Of these connections forms the black
est page in the life of man and or nations.
The earth has been filled with violence
through all the centuries Gen., vii:2). The
natural outcome of all this is destruction.
If We bite and devour. we may destroy one
another. Here is the warning Peace so
cieties have been proposed and formed for
protection. and statesmen have urged
stronger ornaments and regulat1ve laws.
Christianity offers a better defense than
armies and navies; They DO not go to the
tiers worse Matt, xxvi:52). The real de-
tense, that which is always applicable. Is
spiritual. When the higher nature of man
is dominant and the lower nature finds ITS
rightful place and service Il Cor. ix:2D
strife ceases and brotherly concord most
beautiful ensues. psalm cxxxiii:1)
FLESH AND SPIRIT Verse 10-The
had announced. The reason for the strife
was in the constitution Of man. He Is dual
in his nature, having body and spirit.
These are dissimilar, related to two sep
allied to the world Of sense and of matter
in common with the beasts; and his powers
impel him to seek those things as the chief
good CMatt., vi:25. The spirit is allied to
xii:22-23), and it has faculties, longings and
purposes that are wholly removed from the
Things that concern the body. AS result
there may be a conflict between the body
and the spirit, as has been recognized by
all teachers CRom.. viii5), and that may
project itself into the social relations as
above described. However. that conflict is
not due to anything essentially evil in mat
to a disturbance in mans nature by which
the spirit Is enfeebled and the body made
clamorous (Rom., vii:20.
SPIRIT AND LAW Verse 10.-This
disordered condition of mans nature, re-
sulting in the controversy between body
and spirit just described, was the real rea
son for giving the moral law. Restraints
were placed upon man by that law, de-
signed to bring the carnal part into sub
lection Rom., xii:D, and requirements were
made to bring out and enthrone the spirit
ual Rom., viii:13). BY this double process
of subduing the animal and strengthening
somewhat of his normal condition-in fact,
become true man, with the image Of God
restored Gen, i:2O. This change is not eff
fected by the man. but by the Spirit of God
working in the man through the ministry
of the law Rom., vii:1D. When that end is
reached the man is led by the Spirit of God
he yields glad obedience to the Divine
power working in him and is no longer
slavishly subject to law.
FLESH AND WORKS Oversees 49, 20,
2D.-A further look is now given to the
abnormal, disordered, carnal man. What Is
the outcome Of such life? The apostle
mentions seventeen items, and confesses
the list is not omplete-adultery, fornica-
ton, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emuiations,
wrath, strife, seditions heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, reveilings. These
might be rearranged under five heads-four
sins against the sexual nature, two sins
against God, seven sins against our fell
low-men, two sins against constituted au-
thority and two sins against the self, in
which passion runs into mad riot The first
and last of these are closely related Ephe-
slams, v:3). After the recital Paul declares,
what he previously said Il Corinthians,
vi:9, that all who practice such things are
shut out from the kingdom of heaven. They
are excluded, not arbitrarily, but by force
of the law of fitness. They are carnal, and
therefore they cannot enter the kingdom
Of heaven, which Is spiritual.
SPIRIT AND FRUITS Oversees %
and 23).-Over against this dark picture of
carnally, with all its consequences of vice
and sin, the apostle sets the spiritual and
the beautiful things that result-love. joy,
peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance Here are nine
. excellent qualities; called not works, in
the former case, but fruits. The Greek
words were rendered works, and express
widely different things; the first, which
comes of effort and struggle; the other,
that which springs out gently and blessed