Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-06-28

Sunday School.
LESSON FOR JUNE 80.


Temperance Lesson Cor. 10 1888,
Golden Text.-It is good neither to eat
flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything
whereby thy brother stumbleth.-Rom.
IA 81.
Temperance is self-restraint. 1t is this
restraining of ourselves for our own good,
that the desires of the flesh, and of the
min also, may not hinder or mar our
moral and spiritual growth.
1t is wise to be temperate in all things
even if one had no higher aim than to
get as much pleasure as possible out of
life for intemperance in anything brings
safety, or brings trouble or loss of some
sort. That result is inevitable, though it
may not be experienced for some time.
But there are nobler reasons for tenn
perance than mere self-seeking. The first
aim of every human being should be to
please and honor the God who made him,
and made him capable OF doing so much
and enjoying so much. And every human
being should also take thought for his
fellows and try to be of service to them.
We can neither honor God nor bless those
about us by intemperance of any kind.
We must be temperate for others as well
as for ourselves. We must not do the
things that for them would be evil, if by
OuA a Ilt we NUbiu tIlIouldSe I
do these things.
Lawful but not Expedient.-Acts may
be harmless in themselves, but unadvis-
able because of the way they will appear
to others. 1t may seem that we are act
ing as though we had no love for Christ
or for our fellows. Such seeming we
must avoid because it does not help us to
win others to Christ.
YAH Things Edify Not."-Here again
we must take the positive view with Paul.
Though an act may seem to be harmless
we must not judge of it in that way. The
real question is, Does it contribute to the
edifying, the building up, of our own
bodies or our minds or our characters,
and of Christ's church? Does it positive
ly make us stronger? Is 1t positively q
good example for those about us?
The Unselfish Niew.-If we have re-
gard to what will be a help to others,
then we shall not go far wrong, 1t is
the seeking our own wealth" or good"
(see r. V. verse 24) that leads us astray.
Asking no Questions."-We are not,
however, to give way to a morbid con-
science and see evil in everything. That
would not be good for ourselves or help
full to others. 1t would make us very un-
comfortable persons, and a great trial to
our friends. If there is no reason before
us to make US think that such and such
an act may influence others to let down
bars of restraint necessary to them, Or
cause them TO do what they deem wrong,
then we may do it, asking no questions
for conscience sake. But at once when
we have reason to believe that Others are
likely to make an excuse of our example
to do what seems to them wrong. or what
seems to us wrong that they should do,
then we must change our course for their
sake.
Verse 26.-God has given US all things
richly to enjoy" We are to enjoy our
selves in all that is harmless unless our
enjoyment should become a means of mis-
leading ourselves or others. The religion
of Christ is not ~ascetic. 1t is intended to
be full of joy and to give great freedom
in all innocent pleasures. His religion
is to attract men by it's call to arms, by
its call to suffering for a great cause, by
its call to loyalty to and love, of a great
leader. But it is also, in a minor degree
to be sure, to attract men by the freedom
1t grants to pure, healthful, enjoyments.
1.-THE earth is the Lords, and the fullness
thereof"
Verses 27-29.-Here we have Pauls
solution of a practical problem that exer-
cised the minds of the Christians of his
time. 1t is the practical application OF
the general principles he has been laying
down. The problem of what a Christian
should do in-regard to eating meat in the
homes of heather %neighbors was a prac-
teal temperance question. And it shows
the earnestness Of the Christians whom
Paul addressed that they should be SO
concerned about such a matter, as his an
swer implies.
Verse 30.-If one can give thanks to
God for some pleasure or privilege what
right has anyone to criticize him for en-.
joying it? That is another side to the
matter. There is altogether too much
adverse criticism of those who are trying
to lead Christian lives by those who are
not. The latter are often quite anxious
to find some flaw in the Christians they
meet. But such meanness on their part
must not be permitted to altogether crdmp
the Christian in his ways of life. If there
were no naturalness in the Christians
way of living he still would not escape
censure from the worldly. And his life
would not be so f~orceful in attracting 9TH
ers to Christ. Therefore, in general, We
may d. all things in the enjoyment Of
which we can give thanks to God.
That They May Be Saved.-Paul re-
turns to the one supreme test of what Is
good and what is not. Our supreme de-
sire should be to bring others to Christ.
If that is so we shall govern our actions
accordingly, and we shall act rightly.