The Brinkley argus., 1909-12-10
PAUL'S LAST
 WORDS
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. IF, 1909
 Specially Arranged for This Paper

I.E l.
 GOLDEN TEXT.-"For to me to i've is Christ. andAat to die is gain. ."-PhiL l'zL
 Succession and Practical Thought.
 Paups battieields, victories and crown.
 IA Picture of One of Paul's Battle fields-vs. 1-5 The advice which Paul .rges upon the younger Timothy was counsel he himself had often acted upon. He knew it was good. for ne dad tried 1t. So that in the evils and iifficlties which Paul knew were con. fronting Timothy, we may see enc. mics which Paul had been compelled to meet And in the weapons anq methods of warfare Paul charged Fim= othy to use, we see the means py which Paul gained the victory.
 The Three Kinds of Enemies. l. Paul, like other men, had to fight ene- mics within himself. When we see good man we are apt to think that ne has natural qualities of goodness, or savoring circumstances that make II easy for him to be good.
 2. Paul had many, outward enemies and difficulties with which to contend. Many of them were brought before us ia Lesson u FIlII where we studied his aeesunt ef bis life. His @Wfestilng" was against tke prineipalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness.'
 g. In the lesson to-day we find series of dangers and enemies within the company of disciples which must pa overcome
 3. For the time will come who.; they will not endure: the s6ulft, ksaisi.fpi, saying 'dectrine.@ teaching which Paul had preached, and all tae apostles.
 f. They shall turn away their ears from the truth" They are well pic tured in Southey's poem, The Inch cape Rock" The holy abbot of Aber- brothock'' had placed bell over this rock, in such way that it was rung Dse sne.inAaioE gf the waves
 @If. Hoy Paul oyercamee Ihssa Eoe- mics to the Truth-Ns. l, ?, 5: Paul gave to Timothy the most solemn eaarge using the m9tiyes which had h d influenced his eWH Ifs.
 1. Before God, that is. s'tH the sight of God,' R. ". who was always with him and watching to see if he did his duty" watching, not to find fault but to encourage and help.
 And the Lord Jesus Christ. His Mas lei qua .Iescber and Friend Who shall judge the qliitk, the JtsgssAg aag the dead. This was m9re FhaH tfe censeieusHess that he himself must be judged aeerding te what hs was and what he did but it added the even stronger motive that the fate ef these to whom he preached depended on his faithfulness.
 The coming again of Christ. At his apesar4Ls ani his kingdom Christ's glorious second: eomlus, possible at any time, should spur Timothy to pe U faithful steward and he should do his work well because it would help to establish Christ's rule on earth, his Hhgd8m q lsass end righteousness
 Breach, proclaim like 2 leraiq. t4s
 word, the gospel message, the Word q God, embodied in the life and teach iass ef tne Word whp was made flesh. Be instant, urgent, impprtanafet
 pressing on against all obstacles: Ii
 season, in the regular course ef work, 1 when the opportunity Is favorable, 1 +icI 1 III. Pauls Victory in the Conflict | Vs. 6, ', 8. For l am now ready to be offered" R. V's margin, T am already being poured out as drink eHer,pe His life was wearing away in 3 l9nl dihsesH. sn. ,jEhrmities of age after life Of great tpIl ahr gs,
 posture were upon him, and at any i time the sword ol Nero might end i his life by martyrs death. But this was merely death; his dying was a
 libation fin honor of God, willing 1 sacrifice of sweet savor, holy and ac-
 ceptable It was the giving to God the choicest and most precious of all
 his epessess,pn Il was the fitting close Of a life which .,naa oeeA ieg
 years a living sacrifice: Paul's1 very [ death was Il victory.
 l ". Paul's Crown.--Y. $. Hence.
 forth Paul's life struggles were over; there remained only to receive 1 the reward There is laid up for
 me" Deposited. reserved, put by in store out of the reach of all enemies and sorrows. Bishop Wilson. A
 R.. '. dne grown of righteousness" :"
 The leaf garland ef inc srgeeian samss,
 taken by Paul as 2 symbol ef his
 eternal reward in heaven. Of right
 eousness is the name of the race for
 which the crown is awarded, just as
 Pindar wrote: "Pythels. broad-shoul-
 dered son of Lampo. won the crown
 of the double contest (wrestling and
 boxing) at the Nepean games" It
 is crown that marks the wearer
 sg risAiesps pefg.a God" (IIervey). It
 is q grown that . iishlepas Ioy pt
 slows en cue who has become worthy
 of ii.
 A crown is 2 symbol Il siga, an em.
 blem. Men seek erswn ngi fer ita
 value in gold aud jewels, but for the
 things for which it stands It means
 worthines to wear it, 1t means sue
 cess in winning the race. 1t stands
 for kinship. the character. the man
 tt.x. \.