The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-30
INTERNATIONAL
SUllDAYSC[lOOL
LESSON
ing Department. The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago.)
LESSON FOR MAY 26.
TRuTHFULNEss.

LESSuN run MAJ 20.
TRUTHFULNEss.
LESSON TExT-Matt. b:ss-s7: James 3:
LIZ
GOLDEN TEAT-"Putting away false
hood speak We truth each man with his
neighbor; for we are members one of
another. "--Eph. 4:25.
In this lesson Jesus makes a still
further application, or rather gives us
another illustration OF the righteous
ness OF his new kingdom, which must
be greater than that taught by the
Pharisees. We have studied the sa-
cred relations OF then righteous life.
now we are to consider the matter or
truth. We have first a paragraph from
Jesus, then an ethical teaching and APP
plication from the writings of James
the apostle.
Under the old law men swore by
heaven which is Gods throne, by the
earth which is his footstooi, by Jeru-
salem which was his peculiar chosen
city. They swore by the head and
yet they could not change one hair
white or black Jesus contrasts all
OF this with his new Kingdom in
which absolute simple veracity in our
speech is all that is to be required.
This makes all oaths profane When
men live in these new relations, with
this new consciousness OF God they
rxrf1I no ,,n Nv nd ar
necessity. To such there will be no
need for any form OF speech or oath,
for the simplest, pIainest speech will
be the only necessary and the alto
sgether satisfactory medium OF giving
and Of creating assurance. How about
oaths in court? Jesus is speaking to
the members of his new kingdom. Be
tween them yea and nay is sufficient,
but as between them and others we
must adjust ourselves and therefore
we do not read into this any admoni-
ton not to take an oath in court.
i Should Be Swift to Hear.
BE not many teachers" We now
turn to a paragraph from the Epistle
OF James which has its peculiar value
and interest as showing the difficulty
of mastering the tongue. In the
church of Christ there must of neces.
sity be a great many more disciples
Qearners) than teachers. Every man
should be swift to hear, but the posi-
ton Of teacher carries with 1t such
burden Of responsibility that no one
should audaciously assume 1t, see
Eph ALL, etc. With this Responsible
ity is also a correspondingly heavier
Judgment IL we stumble. He tina,
stumbles not In teaching, In the use
OF his tongue, Is indeed a perfect mar
and one that is able to bride the
whole body; to guide the ship OF life
Of state, and OF the church, amidst
| the fiercest storms.
The tongue Is fire" 1t is In
deed for 1t infiames with anger the
| whole body, the family, society ant
the nation. History is ablaze with the
CONGREGATIONS that are consequence
| of untimely words and OF unbridlec
tongues, Prov. 1871 etc. The tongue
| giving utterance to the thoughts OF the
heart flor out OF the abundance Of thu
heart it speaks), will intiame lust
wither purity and consume strength
1t fires jealousy and burns the swee
bonds OF friendship. 1t will sever tn,
ties of home, burn away the founda
| lions of character, Of commercial in
tegrity, social purity and destroy tn,
bonds of civic righteousness. 1t il
indeed "a world OF iniquity among ou
members" Let US quote from DR.. X
| A. Torrey: The fires OF he'll ar,
kindled by idle words that set mel
thinking wrong about God and sin. ant
Christ and the Bible. Men usual.
CAREFUL in handling fire are careless
about the tongue. Whence come tn,
words that infiame the imagination
and the passions? Whence come tn
| words that undermine faith and tn
credibility OF the Bible? II any mai
question James words that the tongu
1 can no man tame he has evfdenti.
| never tried it himself" This does no
mean. however, that the tongue cal
/ not DC tdmSu, LUZ WAdC Ab ALhp0cCADA
with man is possible with God. jaime
draws a frightful picture Of the ur
tanned tongue and of its evil conse
| ouences. He shows us that 1t ha
i proved physical, moral, spiritua
eternal death to the whole circle q
life. He also draws attention to al
other alternative, for with the tongu
we may also bless God. James
the most intensely practical OF tn
i New Testament writer's and when n
alludes to the sixth commandment h
strikes at the root OF the whole ma
ter.
Profane Men Classified.
! These things ought not to be
No more can, a fountain yield fres
and salt water at one and the sam
time, or a fig tree yield olives. tina
for a Christian to bless God and wit
the same tongue curse his fellow mel
4 Not only is it unkind but It Is III
Chrfstlike. Sarcasm means iNerall
ito tear flesh Hike dogs" the char
oteer's whip tore the flesh, so we us
j the tongue az lash. biting the sens
tive spirits OF men; verify these thing
, fought not to be-" Phillips Brooh
said, .Tell me the words man use
and reproduce his tone OF voice an
I'll tell what sort of man he is
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