The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-05-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson VI.--second Quarter, For
May 10. 1903.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, John xvi, ais.
Memory Verse, 1a-Goiden Text, John
xiv, documentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.

-
xiv, documentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Copyright, 1906 by American Press Association.l
While definite portion Of this great
discourse is assigned as our lesson for
the day, it is evidently intended that
we. should take specially the portions
Of the whole discourse which refer to
the Holy Spirit. who Is four times
called the Comforter. or Paraklete. one
ever ready to heed every call for help
and to be to the redeemed all that
Jesus was to His disciples (xiv. IL. 26:
XIV, &c; xvi, y. The same name Is
| given to the Lord Jesus Himself In |
John Ii, i. where He Is called our Ad-
vocate. So we have an abiding Com
forter, Helper, Friend. at the Fathers
| right hand and another in us always.
From xiv. II, %. we learn that the Fa-
ther, Son and Holy Spirit are willing
to make their home in us and live in us
the heavenly life which it is so impos-
! sible for us to live ourselves. They de-
| sire to possess us fully. The spirit
which He made to dwell in us yearn-
eth for us even unto jealous envy
alas. iv, 8, r. V. NJ What He would
do in US aud for us and through us, to
the glory Of God. perhaps no one has
vet fully learned. He is the Spirit of
truth. and everything that has the least
faint Of deceit. not merely outwardly,
but in the inward parts. grieres and
binders Him. He is the Holy Spirit,
and everything that IS unholy IN
thought, word or deed is hindrance
to His filing us as He would like to
and using US as He might. He is the
Great Teacher, guiding US into all
truth, testifying Of Christ and show
ing US things to come. When He fills
US we will never be occupied with our.
selves, but with Him whom He de-
lights to honor He Is also our Re-
membrancer, bringing to our minds, as
Eve need it, all that We have ever read
or heard of the sufferlngs and the
glory of the Lord Jesus. The world
seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him,
but they ought to see Him In US.
Israel vexed His Holy Spirit, and it is
| possible for US to resist or griere or
quench Him Qsa. xiii, 10; Acts vii, 81;
Eph. iv, 30; Thess. V. 19). The one
only thing to do Is to so behold the
Lamb Of God that His love shall con-
strain us to be all that He wants us to
be. and then, opening our hearts wide
to the Holy Spirit We will purify us
and work In US all the will Of God.
Then shall we learn the meaning of
abiding and of bearing the fruit for
which He has chosen and ordained US,
Then shall we know the meaning of be-
ing hated by the world as He was and
prosecuted Chapter XVI. He told the
disciples that they would beEput out
of the synagogue and even killed by
those who knew not the Father nor
Him, but that they must not be Of
Tended. The seemingly strange thing
is that those who would so Ill treat
them were most religious people and
professed friends Of God. When He
sent word TO John the Baptist about
not being offended. 1t was evidently
because John was offended by what
seemed like neglect or Indifference on
the part of Jesus The words of Mar
tina and Mary also sound as If they
we're offended at Him because He had
not come to them What is much the
spirit Of complaint among Christians
generally because He does not do as
they think ue might, but simply be-
ing offended at Him?
Either self or Christ is on the throne
Of our hearts. and it is the enthrone-
mcnt of self that makes all the ditti-
Guilty. He had spoken of going away,
but none of them asked Him whittier
He was going. because they were
thinking more Of themselves than of
Him. Imagine yourself saying to some
intimate friends that you are going
away for an indefinite period but that
it will undoubtedly be Of great benefit to
YOU, and they at once begin to say how
lonely they will be and to wonder what
they will ever do without you. You see
at once the prominence Of self and their
interest rather than yours. If you can
also add that you are going OH their
behalf and that it will be greatly for
their gain to have you go, they may
be quieted as possibly the disciples
were (verse y, because Of the benefit
to self. Some one has defined conse-
Grafton as persistent determination
never to please yourself, but where do
we see 1t? Is it in us by His grace?
Note the threefold work of the Spirit
convincing of sin. Of righteousness and
Of Judgment The great sin, the sin OF
all sins, Is that Of not believing on or
receiving Jesus. for "he that believeth
not IS condemned already" Qi1, lS).
Conversion that does begin with con-
| viction of sin is not true conversion,
and the awfulness Of sin Is but little
apprehended. Until men see ther1-
selves as sinners they will be going
about to establish their own righteous
ness and will not submit to God, but
once truly convinced Of sin and seeing
no hope in their efforts they Will turn
to Him who has gone to the Father
and who is the righteousness Of God
unto all and upon all who believe
(Rom. i'll, 10. "a; K, A.. This world has
a ruler who blinds people to the light
Of the glorious gospel, but he is al
ready judged and only waits to be cast
In due time into the lake Of fire. All
who will not receive Jesus Christ are