The Winslow mail., 1909-12-18
PAULON SELF
DENIAL
Specially Arrs,soa iur lnls rapv1

LESSON TEXT-Rom. 14:1O-2l. Mem
DRY verses 10. 20.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"It is good neither to
cat flesh, nor to drink wire, nor any
thing whereby thy brother stumbleth.'-
Rom. H:21.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
One-The School of SelfControl
Temperance means the control of all
the lower parts of mans being by
his reason, his conscience, and his
will. 1t is keeping the soul on top"
The all pervasive thought in the
verses of the lesson for to-day is this
self-control the basis of temperance
Why are we all, even the youngest
children. placed in the midst of so
many temptations, to lie, to steal. to
+ gamble. to drink Intoxicating liquors,
to be selfish. and disobedient?
Because there is no other way of
opening the door TO mans highest pos
sibilities, his fullest development, his
purest holiness. his greatest happi-
ness. his largest usefulness. All who
would become strong and useful must
gain their power largely through vic
tory over temptation. 1t is thus that
the soul builds itself larger man
sions" II is a chief factor in educa-
ton. Men cultivate courage through
things that test courage. They grow
in faith through the things that try
their faith They learn business by
taking the risks of business. People
without trials and temptations are al
ways failures.
Why are we so full of impulses and
passions. of faculties and powers that
may be used for good or for evil? Be
cause the question of life with every
man is the question of self-control. of
temperance. Prof. Thomson in his
Brain and Personality says that "the
Will creates the man" I'VE make our
own brains" by repeated choices which
are acts of Will "The Will is the
ranking official of all in man
Why then do we pray, Lead us
not into temptation? Because there
are plenty of temptations for our edu-
cation without our seeking for more.
Because our only true attitude toward
temptation is that of fighter con
=
with desire, into temptation is already
more than half fallen. The mad man
described in the Greyson Letters, had
an illusion that he was acquainted
with the devil. They say the dell
is very busy in tempting men; but he
maun hae an easy time OF, I'm think
ing. All of them meet him more than
holt To tn
him and say, 'Haena we some dainty
temptation for me to-day, now, Daddy
Satan? I'm sair wracked for coax
ing temptation
A learned professor wrote the .other
day that people ought to drink little
wine moderately, in order to train
themselves in self-control. But that is
to throw open tie castle of your life to
the enemy. 1t gives him every ad
vantage. For the tempter is like those
people who go in large band to haze
a simple freshman, or as was once
the custom in national military
school to make an unframed newcom-
er fight an athlete of an upper class.
Two-Away with the Stumbling
Block of the Saloon. Hon Neal Dow
was lecturing, one summer evening.
and the flies and gnats gathered in
such swarms around the lamp near
him that he took his handkerchief and
waved them away. They went for
time. but soon returned He repeated
his movements with his handkerchief,
with the same results. Finally. he
turned around and blew out the light:
and henceforward the insects were no
longer attracted, and kept away. SO
warning people away from saloons
will not be enough; you must extn-
guish the saloons themselves
Three.-The Only Safe Way. Don't
Begin-A little couplet, written for
children. holds weighty wisdom:
From drink. with it's sorrow and ruin and
sin,
| surely am safe if I never begin
Said young man to me once:
When | feel thirst coming on that
brings visions of the delight of it's
Stacking, ! drink all the water that
cana great deal more than | want ~
and then think of something else
But, one asks. must not use
wine because others abuse it,"
Does every one who drinks wine be
come a drunkard?
BY no means. But no one ever be
comes a drunkard who refused to take
the first glass.
Several times men have tried to sail
across the Atlantic in a very small
boat It was very dangerous and
some succeeded
But if you cross in one of the great
liners, which can carry more than
1000 persons, and can laugh at and
sport with the waves that would over
whelm the little boat, you are as safe
as you are at home. When | cross the
Atlantic | take the great liner
If some millionaire should offer me
IL