The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-11-10


soWeth. that shall he also reap.-Gal 6:7
Nowhere do the Scriptures excuse,
men from the results of their Own
SINS The effects of sins, and OF bless
lngs alike, are unto the succeeding
generations. France Is still paying in
the physical realm the cost of Ma
poleon's ambition. Europe will have,
greater debt to pay biologically than
any which will be charged against it's
exchequers as the result of this In
human and uncalled-for war.
|. Those Who Trespass, Wv. IS
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 con-
duct towards those who do trespass
In this lesson the second question is
treated first Though man be over
taken in the very act of trespassing,.
those who are taught and governed by
the Holy Spirit (see chapter 5:16-25N
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 member of the body
into its proper place. Every believer
is member of the body of which
Christ is the head l Cor. 12:12, IA, 81.
aud one who falls (stumbles) into sin,
is member out of place This work
is not severe or brutal process II
is to be gently and meekly done. There,
is great danger Of spiritual pride at
this point as we see others down that
we, in our assumed holiness, no not
ALLEVIATE, or offend, those whom we are
seeking to restore, see l Cor 1912.
Mans Duty to Man.
The first step is to help our erring
brother to bear his burdens (weights)
OF temptation, weakness, failure and
sin, and in so doing we fulfill the law
Of Christ" Oh. 5:14; John 1894; Rom
1873. Jesus Christ not only gave us
this law, but he also lived it as we'll,
Phil. 2:5-S. The true disciple, who is
his burden, does so with the conscious
ness not Of his own rectitude, but rath-
er that through the grace of God hea
has been kept from like fate. Other
wise the man who 'thinketh himself
to be something" deceives himself, and
no one else. God knows, SO does the
one whom we seek to help, if we are
animated by spiritual pride and boast
fulness. This is a measuring line
whereby we may judge ourselves
". A.. Pride and criticism of others
largely comes from desire to glory
in ourselves, not so much that we
condemn the acts of our neghbor. In
verse three we are admonished to bear
he burdens-"weights" others In
verse five we are told that every man
must bear his own burden-''lcad," l.
g, the burden of his own RESPONSE
bility No man can bear that load
FOR another, whereas all men can share
he weights" of temptation, weak
ness failure and sin. No man is hello
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, Pet ST. No man can es-
cape the burden Of his personal re-
sponsibility, and part Of that respon-
sibility is the work of helping the
weaker brother to bear his burden
Ill. Those Who Are Taught, w. e-10.
Paul clearly sets before us the re-
sponsibility of being enlightened Being
taught, we must pass on the knowl-
edge we have been taught, share the
good things" (v. g. we have re-
ceived, see Prov. 11:24; II Cor 9;6.
Those who refrain from thus aiding
vantage. The word Knocked" means
to sheer. Men may sheer at God and
think they escape the result of their
sin, but like still produces like. Sow
corn, reap corn; figs, reap figs; sin,
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 dishonor; SOW
hate, reap bitterness; SOW love, reap
the fruits of love, kindness, affection
and esteem. Every act is process of
sowing. Every appetite fostered, graft
fed and pampered helps to produce
a crop Of habits either to bless or to
clio
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 reap
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 life, eternal, endless
and like unto bis divine life. Certain
ly 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 thought, reap an act;
Sow act, reap habit:
Sow habit. reap destiny.
The practical application is in verse
nine. If there are such possibilities Of
development, "1et us not weary of we'll
doing" Our sowing is not matter of
caprice or convenience. Nor should we,