Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-26
Sunday School Lesson for September u Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education
TEMPERANCE LESSON. Isaiah v:llo2


come as divine retrihution upon a per-
verse people lisa. XXviii:1-0. who. giving
themselves over to their appetites. have
forgotten God.
SCOFFERS-There are those who
ooupt the execution OF Divine judgment.
encouraged to continue in their sins be-
cause punishment is delayed (Eccl
Viii:lD. they establish themselves I'm evil
practices rs one who spins cords to-
gether to form a cable each new deed
drawing out their iniquity until the habit
becomes strong as A cart rope (yerse
Isl They defy the predicted vengeance
of God or think he has overlooked their
oHenses psalm KID The prophets
threatening is received with scorn and he
is met with ridicule. tJer v:l2-I3 So
IL he In the latter times as the final
Judgment approaches. - Peter ii:3-D
lhey say contemptuously, Let God
make speed and hasten His work"
Verse I'D. and we will believe II when
we see it, The alluson here is to that
class of persons who have advanced from
the counsel of the ungodly. and the way
or sinners to the seat, the permanent
resting place of the scoffers psalm
I'D Woe unto these persons" cries the
prophet They will ultimately meet
what now they challenge and be filled
with CONSERVATION. prov i:25-26)
PERNERSlTY-The course of sin Is
ever downward When one takes his
place with scoffers he iniicts damage
upon all his powers, intellectual as we'll
as moral. A persistent opposition to the
risht impalrs the judgment and dethrones
the reason. tMatt vi:"3) He is soon I'M
able 20 discriminate between right and
wrong. The very things which ought to
be loa'hed and Stunned. being long de-
Tended are at last esteemed to be good,
and those things which are praiseworthy
ana or good report which ought to he
eagerly sought. are pronounced evil
He learns to contradict the common tes-
tlmonE of mankind. gained by centuries
OF experience. and even bushes the voice
OF conscience to reverse the very order
and beauty of the moral world (Mal
n:ED The light and the sweetness that
have gladdened many hearts in all ages
are held up to be but darkness and bit
terneSS, and all those horrid things that
have caused pain and unrest dreaded bv
every well-balanced soul are now put
forth as the bright objects of worthy pur-
suit tMal. iii:1J Woe unto such men,
CONCEIT-Such perversity cultf-
Yates conceit. The man who transposes
good and evil has about him those of con-
trary opinion. who approve what he con-
aemhS and condemn what he approves.
VINO labor for measures to which he ia
opposed. A long and bitter conflict is
inevitable. extending into all the rela-
tons of life. These antagonisms dimin-
ism the respect for the views and wishes
OF others. and increase the estimate OF
ones own opinions Dob xi:12l. I-ltf-
mately. the man will become wise in his
own eyes prov. iii:O. deeming himself
prudent, and those who differ from him
foolish. Woe unto him" saws Isaiah
In his self-conceit he becomes isolated
and loses that stimulus to larger re-
search and better living which comes
through contact of mind with mind and
heart with heart. Rom i:22) Turned in
upon himself. deeming others inferior to
himself. measuring all things by his own
distorted standards, not even admitting
the wisdom that comes from God, he
shrivels and withers. and sinks and dies.
| John ix:4D
BRIBERY-Now put such a man into
some place of duty. make a public officer
of him. and see what he will do. His
value to the world NAV be determined
In that way. for the ability to serve is
the measure of every man Matt. XIV 49,
What may be expected from a scoffer
at God, one who is perverse concerning
right and wrong. and one who is conceit-
ed? He will justify the wicked. excuse
them and let them go unpublished. He
will rob the righteous of their due. and
condemn them prov. xvii:15). Thus he
viii turn the course of justice wrong
side out and upside down, plunging So
ciety into confusion and bewilderment.
And this infamous conduct will be for
his own sake being moved thereto by
brides Micah HID. selling out the in
nocent and their cause for money to en-
rich himself Deut. xvi:1aD. Behold the
human sharks. roaming the broad sea OF
| political and business life, seizing their
prey and satisfying their greed on the
property. happiness and lives Of men.
women and children. Such is the sinner
in his lowest state. the faithful servant
of the king of darkness. q Peter VS..
CONCLUSION.-Our lesson began
with the drunkard's habit and sim show
ing the injury wrought in him and by
him. 1t then conducted us into the
larger realm of the Divine Judgment and
of human depravity. The progress Of the
LOFT &c
from state to state the descent is made
until the soul. defying God. perverted
in its moral sense. full of conceit. be-
comes an agent of evil. blightng and
destroying all that 1t touches. Isaiah's
portrayal Is true to life. 1t fits our times
as well as his. Over and over again We
have all seen reproduced among us that
which he holds up to our view. Down
through the centuries comes the warning
voice. repeating in ever-increasing en-
phasis the mseries that shall befall the
sinner and through him come upon HUI
manity.