Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-27
CZADY'N&
SSMaD;2

Intoxicating beverages a religious *
ercise. They supposed that the eXhilara-
tion produced was due TO the influence -
the gods who prepared the alcoholic drink
for that purpose. The feasting and not
ing found encouragement for this reason
IL was in peculiar degree a physical on
joyment The apostle discouraSes all this
as unOecoming a Christian and advises as
II substitute a spiritual condition. BE
filled with the spirit. AS result of
this. instead of the indecent behavior al
drunken festivals, the people would on
gage i'll the more becoming and profitable
exercises OF religious conversation, spir-
itual songs and making merry To the
Lord. Here is magnificent pleading for
temperance. The Christian religion. by
elevating mans higher nature. prevents
sensual and degrading indulgences. Il
Cor. iX:21).
THANKFUL. Verse aW.-Havins
thus introduced his readers TO the more
spiritual aspects of life. the apostle en-
joins two virtues. In themselves beautiful
and profitable The first OF these is thank
fulness. which he declares should be eN-
tended to all things. Here is a new view
OF life. Some suppose that some things
are good and profitable. and that other
things are hurtful and painful. The for
mer are from God. and for them one may
be grateful. The others are from Satan.
to be regretted and endured. But here is
the comforting reflection which only the
Christian may cherish. that through the
entire period OF this earthly life all things.
whatsoever their character. are either
sent or permitted by the Heavenly
Father. Hence, under all circumstances
there should be an acceptance as from
Him, a patient endurance of hards.-.p at
tended by a grateful acknowledgment Of
His goodness, which. though sometimes
Obscured, can never be doubted. All this
however. 10 be done in the name OF Christ.
SUBMISSIVE. Verse 2D. - Now
comes one Of the most beautiful of all the
virtues. one which no wording can prac-
tice or even comprehend. 1t Is an ad-
justment OF relations among Christians
themselves, presenting an ideal to social
order for which many long, but which
cannot be attained without the gospel
Submitting yourselves one to another in
the fear of the Lord" This is based on
the absolute equality among Christians
(Rom.. u:1D. who are all children of one
father. brethren in one household. They
find the largest play and development In
all their faculties and the most constant
and blessed enjoyment by their mutual
love resulting In efforts to please one
another, and therefore to subordnate
their personal interests to the general
good. Depraved humanity is selfshness
carried into life's relations. Exalted hu-
mainly is regard for others. an outgoing
Of the heart toward others for their good.
Here Is the high tableland Of Christian
living, quite on the border OF heaven.
q Peter. i:22).
CONCLUSION.-This lesson presents
a striking contrast between the bad life
Of those who are without Christ and those
who live for Him. There are several
heads in a natural order. First error
given by false teachers Is condemned and
truth taught In the gospel is COM
mended Here is the vital point of life
There is a perpetual battle between truth
and error. What a man thinks deter
mines what he is. Second. deception. by
the error, leads to wickedness and truth
to Righteousness. The former is to he
avoided. the latter sought. Get the eyes
open. See things as they are. Be not de-
ceived, and you will not be led astray.
Third. the things of God should be proved
found to be worthy. The things of evil
should be reproved. opposed as hurtful.
The good man lives for this purpose
Fourth. the daily conduct should be not in
folly. but I'm the fear of the Lord: not
after maxims Of men. but after the teach
ings Of God. Fifth. physical excitement
through intoxicants should give place to
spiritual exaltation. Sixth. thankful to
God and lovingly submissive to good men
is the crown Of holy living.