The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-11-04

olAS' 1Io SuSClo VI Siuop anu VI utCSSY *
ings alike, are unto the succeeding
generations. France is still paying In
the physical realm the cost Of Ma
p%oleon's ambition. Europe will have
a greater debt to pay biologically than
any which will be charged against fits
exchequers as the result OF this Tn
human and uncalled-for war.
!. Those Who Trespass, wv. rs.
Jesus plainly instructs US that tres
passes must needs come" Our prob
lem Is (a) to avoid being the tres
passer and (b) the manner OF our COM
duct towards those who do trespass.
In this lesson the second question is
treated first. Though a man be over
taken in the very act of trespassing,
those who are taught and governed by
the Holy Spirit (see chapter 5:16-25)8a
are to prove to the world By their
conduct that they are thus taught and
governed. They are to restore such
an one" considering at the same time
themselves lest they, too, stumble. To-
restore is to replace, ITO reduce a frac.
ture," to put a member of the body
into its proper place. Every believer
is a member of the body Of which
Christ is the head / Cor. 1872 IA, IT.
and one who falls tstumbleslifn into sin
is a member out of place. This work
is not,a severe or brutal process. II
is to be gently and meeklys done: There
is great danger OF spiritual pride at
this point, as we see others down thst
we, In our assumed holiness, no not
ALLEVIATE, or offend, those whom we are
seeking to restore, see I Cor. 1912
Mans Duty to Man.
The first step is to help d erringS
brother to bear his burdens (weights)
Of temptation, weakness, failure and
sin, and in so doing we fulfill the law
of Christ" Oh. 6:14; John 1884; ROM
1873. Jesus Christ not only gayesus
this law, but he also lived It as vel,
Phil. 2:5S. The true disciple, who III
really trying to help his brother bear
his burden, does so withft the conscious
ness not Of his own rectitude, but ratd-
er that through thefgrace ofsGod he
has been kept from a like fate. Other.
wise the man who "1thinketh himself
to be something deceiyes himself, and
no one else. God knows, 80 toes the
one whom we seek to help II we are
animated by spiritual pride and boastS
~fulness. This is q measuring line
whereby we may Judge ourselves
". ~. Pride and criticism Of others
largely comes from a desire to glory
in ourselvesl not so much that we
condemn the acts Of our neighbor. In
verse three we are admonfshed to bear
the Observation-Disclosures others. In
verse five we are toldsthat every man
must bear his own burden-e1oad" !.
e., the burden Of his own RESPONSE
bilty. No man can bear that load
for another, whereas all men can share
the weights Of temptation, weak.
ness, failnre and sin. No man is held
responsible for the failure and weak
ness of others, Rom. 14:12, and every
man is urged to cast his burden OF care
upon him, l Pet. 5:7.f No man4can es-
cape the burden of his personal re-
sponsibility, and parttof that respont
sibility Is the work fof helping the
weaker brother to bear his burden
III. Those Who Are Taught, wv. $40.
Paul clearly sets before US the re-
sponsibility of being enlightened. Being
taught, we must pass on the knowls
edge we have been taught, share the
good things" ". 81 we have REL
ceived, see Prov. 11:24; II Cor. 9;6.
Those who refrain from thus aiding
their teachers gain no personal adj
vantage. The word Knocked" means
to sheer. Men may sneer at God and
think they escape the result OF their
sin, but like still produces like. Sow
corn, reap corn; figs, reap figs; sin, I
reap sin; Rom. 8:5, 6. In spite Of the
contempt men have for God and in
the face of their acceptance OF this
principle in other realms they con-
tinue In their sin with a strange IA
talistic persistence.
Habits Bless or Curse.
This principle has a wide applica
ton. Sow shame, reap d%ishonor; SOW
hate, reap bitterness; SOW love, reap
the fruits Of love, kindness, affection
and esteem. Every act Is a process OF
sowing. Every appetite fostered, graft
fled and pampered helps to produce
a crop Of habits either to bless or o
curse. This gives color and signih-
canoe to the words Of verse eight. He,
that soweth to his own flesh shall OF
(his OWN the flesh reap corruption"
If, however, under the leading OF the
Holy Spirit (cf. John 6:63; II Cor. $3.50
we sow to the Spirit, we will rear
eternal life for this Is eternal life
that we may know him." To SOW to
the flesh is to reap moral and physical
decay and destruction. To SOW to the
Spirit is to reap lie, eternal, endless
and like unto his divine life. Certain
" these words are as practical" as
the most advanced pragmatist or man
of business could ask for. 1t Is doubt
full If we can find anywhere in the
world any more convincing or impress
sive language.
Sow a thought, reap an act; -
Sow an act, reap a habit;
Sow a habit. reap a destiny.
The practical application is in verse
nine. If there are such possibilities OF
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