Mexico Missouri message., 1908-06-25
TEMPERANCE
LESSON .
Sunday School Lesson Tor June Is. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

wine, wherein Is excess; but be nlled with
the Splrit"-Ephesians 5:lS
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES on TEN
PERANCE.-Gen. 9:2i; pcut. 2l;cn. q.
Sam. 1896; l Kings 1863: 2O:l6; Esth. i:lo,
IL; Prov col; 2l:i7. 1890, q, 1915, 3lt s,
lisa. 5;li, Il, %; @S:l 2. :; Dan. 1874; Sal
G, Hos. AL; Amos CO; Nch. l:lo; Hab.
2lb, Matt. "a: ISL; Mark SO; Luke q:
"a; Rom. 1919; l Cor. 5:ii: G:iO; 92j-2l.
Gal. J:2i; Eph blS; Thcs SOS; Tim
80. 3. S: Tit aga. s. Il; 1 Pet. l:iS; -,
LS: Pet. l:G.
TIME.-Paul visited Ephesus twice. the
second time remaining more than two
years. This letter to the church he
founded was written from Paurs prison
In Rome. A. u. 69-6i OF COG.
PLACE-Ephesus was n splendid city
on the western coast OF Asia Minor, south
OF Smyrna. on the Aegean sea. II was
the capital OF Roman province, rich,
idoiatrous luxurious. with the immortli-
ties Of Rome. II had an nmphIthcatcr
WhiCh would hold 2i.tO0 persons. and
magnificent temple to Diana, one OF the
seven wonders OF the world.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
THE specific note OF this epistle
is its idea OF the church as the body
OF Christ. or. In other words, of the
new humanity created in him. Eek.
positor's Bible. The first three chap.
ters teach the theory OF IL; the last
three. in which the lesson lies, teach
the practice OF Il. The argument OF
the first three chapters Is that Christians
are to live, move and have their being
in Christ; the aim OF the last three
is to show how this union with Christ
Affects The daily walk and conduct.
The key.word OF our lesson Is, there.
fore, Walk" and its analysis is;
/. Walk In love Tvs. 1.5).
2. Walk in light Tvs. G.l4.
3. Walk In wisdom Tvs. l5-2D.
To walk In love" means to 90 on
errands Of love Let your daily walk
and conversation" be In the atmos.
phere Of love Rejoice in the pros.
perity OF others, and seek in every way
to increase II. That is what God
does. and living thus is initiating him
The temperance applications: I. No
one can walk In love" Of his brother
man and not be n total abstainer.
.. lntempcrance is closely and in.
cvitably associated with the three
great sins which Paul names: Impuy-
fly. covetousness and foul speech
Houses OF evil reputc have always
saloons connected with them Tho
saloon is kept up quite as much by the
greed OF the proprietor as by the ap.
petite Of his customers. The profanc
ard indecent language of drulkards is
matter Of common observation
When the wine is In. the wit is out"
Paul gives many answers how we
may walk ns children of light. l. Seek
the fruits OF the light" Or. V. verse 81
which Is "all goodness and righteous.
ness and truth" Have high ideals.
drawn from the Bijle.
.. Prove what is acceptable CR
v, 'wcllpleasinsD unto the Lord" "
l0). Take as your standard OF pleas.
ure the actions that give God pleas.
IRE. This is the test to apply to nil
doubtful Gmuscmcnts" - could you
take Christ into them with you?
>. Do nothing that you would wish TO
conceal. Live In the open. Ask your.
self every night whether you woulI
be willing for God to publish the en-.
tire history OF your day.
(. Lot your light shine into the dark
places Tvs. l2.lN. Publicity is one
of the most potent remedies for evils.
Take down the saloon screens. cnd
the young man will hesitate long be.
fore he will be seen there Turn the
search.light Of public opinion into the
ways of the saloon lobby at the state
house. Cause the railroads to publish
their accounts. and the insurance com.
ranies. and the trusts. All evil loves
darkness rather than light, as fungus
and mold luxurlate in dark cellars. and
disease germs multiply in dark bed.
rooms. Let in the light!
5. Remember that the light Is not
in you: Christ shall give thee light. Z"
Paul is not quoting literally, but is
translating into the terms OF Chris.
tian experience several passages Of
the Old Testament, such as lisa. GO: l.
Walk in Wisdom.-Paul has been
speaking OF love" and flight" as re-
gIons through which the Christian
should walk: now he passes on TO con.
slider the manner in which the Chris
tlan should walk: See then that ye
walk circumspectly." r. ", Look
therefore carefully how ye walk, not as
unwise. but as wise"
Drunkenness may come from any
thing wherein is excess: from over-in
diligence In society, in pleasure, in
music, and in the delight OF listening
to oratory Fullness OF the Spirit
Gains; fullness produced by excite
ment satiates and exhausts The world
of fashion either is or affects to be
proof against surprise and TO have lost
all keenness OF enjoyment. We want
the vision Of a calmer and simpler
beauty to tranquilllze us In the
midst OF artificial tastes; we want the
draught OF a purer spring to cool the
fame Of our excited life; we want the
fullness OF the Spirit which can never
intoxicate!"-F. w. Robertson.