Holbrook argus., 1910-01-18
Paul on Self Denial

LESSON TEXT-Rom. 14:10-21 Mem ory verses 1S. 20.
 GOLDEN TEXT.-"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brotfer stumbleth."- Rom. I:21.
 Suggestion and Practical Thought.
 One.-The School of Self-Control Temperance means the control of all the lower parts of a mans being by his reason, his conscience, and his will. It 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 abilities, 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. It is thus that the soul builds itself larger man. sions." It is chief factor in educa- tion. 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 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. we 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 a fighter, a con- queror Whosoever goes willingly 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 de'il is very busy in tempting men; but he maun hae an, easy time o't, I'm think ing. All of them meet him more than half way. Ilk ane seems to gang to him and say. 'Haena ye some dainty temptation for me to-day, now, Daddy Satan? I'm sair wracked for a coax ing temptation
 A learned professor wrote the other day that people ought to drink little themselves in self-control. But that is to throw open the castle of your life to the enemy. It gives him every ad- vantage. For the tempter is like those people who go in a large band to haze a simple freshman, or as was once the custom in national military school to make an untrained newcom- CT fight an athlete of an upper class.
 Two.-Away with the Stumbling was featuring, 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 a 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
 
 warning people away from saloons will not be enough; you must extin- guish the saloons themselves.
 Three.-The Only Safe Way. Don't Begin.-A little couplet, written for children, holds weighty wisdom: From drink, with its sorrow and ruin and sin,
 surely am safe If I never begin.
 Said young man to me once: When I feel thirst coming on that brings visions of the delight of it's stacking, I drink all the water that cana great deal more than want and then think of something else"
 "But," one asks, must I not use wine because others abuse it?"
 Does every one who drinks wine be- come drunkard?
 By no means. But no one ever be- comes drupkard 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 2.000 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 $1,O0O,0O0 in gold on condition that with it I should take a drunkard's craving appetite for strong drink, and run my own risk. would refuse it in- stantly. though 1 went to the poor