Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-08-06

faul s Instructions u lue
mans. 1 Thess. 5: 1874.
Golden text: See that none render
evil for evil; but ever follow thas
which is good" l Thess. 3: 10.
Our lesson is the conclusion OF the
first epistle to the Thessalonlans.
This was a church which had lately
been converted-about two years. by
reading the first chapter carefully do
well as the rest of this epistle IL VIII
be found that this church was clearly
and beautifully saved. This eplstle IS
one of the many indubitable proolo
that entire sanctification is a seconu
work of grace subsequent to regenera-
ton. If we had no other proofs ex-
cept what are in this epistle, II Woulu
be sufficient. Verses II to 10 sho"
them their duties to others. h rest
of the lesson shows them their duties
to themselves.
Verse IL. know them that labor
among YOU" He refers to their
preachers. They were to reverence n
love them. cover you in the LORD
They were not over them as tyrantS'
or as task masters or popes, put as
those set over them of the LORD 10
admonish, comfort and guide thenl'
Preachers are not magistrates TO com
pei US, but the relation is grounded
in love. For Christ's sake who Or
dained the different orders of the min
istry we are to love and esteem them.
10. BE at peace among yourselves.
1t is our duty to do all we can, With
out violating any principle, to be at
peace with the brethren.
IA. WAR them hal are nruly
THE whole phraseology of the verse
is military; I shall consider the m
port of each term. The unruly are
those who are out of the ranks, and
are neither in a disposition or sltua-
ton to perform the work and duty
of a soldier; those who will not do
the duty prescribed and who VIII
NEEDLE with what is not commanded
There are many such in every church
that is of any magnitude" (Clarke.)
Comfort the feeble-minded." En-
courage the faint-hearted.' Grew.
Ver.) Tell such of the wonderful
power of our God and bid them hope
in Him. "Strengthen the weak We
must remember that there are some
very weak people in the church. we
must not judge them by our light or
experience, but have pity on their
weakness and make allowance for
them. Give them our sympathy. BE
patient towards all" "Be long suf-
fering towards all" (Rev. Ver.) We
must have the grace that suffers long
and is kind.
"None render evil for evil" To rem
der evil for evil is devilish. To render
good for evil is God-like. Let no man
who desires to pay back grudges think
that he is a Christian. This IS the
is good" Make a business of follow
ing after that which is good-not only
in your own sect or company, but ev-
erywhere you can find it. This is the
sense OF this verse and is a rebuke to
sectarianism.
~. ANSJo4SO 1oASs Ao LIS
impossible? So some say. Is it not
enough to say that they have not yet
found the fullness of salvation? God
wants us to be happy and so we shall
be when, the disturbing factor, sin, is
cleansed out of our hearts. Full sal
walton brings happiness.
II. Pray without ceasing." Since
we are always receiving Of God it is
our duty to always have a devotional
frame Of mind. Our hearts can be
constantly fixed In Him and going out
in duplication to Him, and II we
have this frame of mind we shall de-
sire to have stated times Of prayer.
IS. "In everything give thanks"
He does not say for everything give
thanks, but in everything give thanks.
We are not to give thanks for the
wickedness about us, but we can give
thanks in spite OF It, no matter what
it be. The man who is ever thankful
is doing the will Of God according to
this verse. The " thankful man is
the EVER happy man.
10. "Quench not the Spirit" "The
Holy Spirit is represented as a fire,
because it Is His province to enlighten
and quicken the soul and to purge,
purify and refine it. This Spirit is
represented as being q%uenched when
any act is done, any word Is spoken,
any temper Is INDUCED contrary to
His dictates. It is the Spirit Of love
and therefore anger, malice, revenge
or any unkind or unholy temper will
guench 1t so that He will withdraw
His influences. and the heart be left
in a state Of hardness and darkness.
It has been observed that the fire may
be quenched by heaping earth on IT
as well as by throwing water on It;
and so the love Of the world will as
efectually grieve the Spirit and
quench the Spirit as any ordinary acts
Of transgression." (Clarke.)
20. "Despise not prophesyings."
Prophecy IL the New Testament is
more than telling future events. It is
the declaration Of the will Of God.
81. prove all things" Arrive at
some conclusions and stick to them.
or rather, "hold fast to hat which is
good" The devil would have us al.
ways proving when we have received
reasonable proof as to what things
are. When we see poison kill some
one we need not stop to prove It
farther.