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A WORD OF EXPLANATION.
The introduction of our Sunday-school lesion de
partment in The Golden Age has met with enthusiast
ic approval and commendation, but some of our read
ers living in distant States have raised the complaint
that the paper does not reach them until too late
for the lesson to be of service. To remedy this,
and to give a better opportunity for a careful pre
paration of the lessons to all of our readers, we have
decided to publish these lessons two weeks in ad
vance. In this issue we are giving two lessons in
order to catch up.
On account of having to double up the Sunday
school lessons, Piney Woods Sketches were crowded
out this week. They will make their appearance
again next week, however, fairly bubbling with smile
provoking sense and nonsense.
' REVIEW.
September 19th, 1909.
Places —Cities of Asia Minor, Macedonia, Achaia,
Syria and Palestine.
Golden Text: “So mightily grew the word of God
and prevailed.” —Acts 19:20.
SUGGESTIVE THOUGHTS.
What Should I Do? In reviewing the lessons of
this quarter let us consider some things we are
taught we can and should do.
First, Obey the Heavenly Vision.—Acts 16:6-15 and
Acts 26:19-20. God knows all fields and will direct
us to the place where we are most needed and where
we can do the best work for Him and humanity.
Second, Sing and Pray When Satan Seeks to Hinder
Your Work. —Acts 16:25-40 and Phil. 4:6-7. If we
will take all to God in prayer He will make the
persecutors fall at our feet and enable us to lead
sinners to Christ.
Third, Study and Preach God’s Word. —Acts 17:1-12.
The evil ones will always seek to hinder the Lord’s
work and to injure the Lord’s servants, but if we
will study God’s word and faithfully declare the
whole truth, God will bless the work and multitudes
will be added to the Lord.
Fourth, Make Known the Unknown God —Acts
17:22-34. We will never know the fulness of the
power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, unless we are
earnestly seeking to make Jesus known x o all the
world. (Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:46-49).
Fifth, Show the Power of a Consecrated Life. —
18:1-11. Every child of God has the high privilege
of showing to the world how much one consecrated
life can count for Christ and His Cause. (Eph. 3:20.
Phil. 2:13. Matt. 28:18. Eph. 3:17. Col. 1:27).
There is no limitation put on what God can and will
do with a fully consecrated man.
Sixth, Act Right Toward All at All Times. —I Thess.
5:12-24. If we surrender to God to become doers
of His will at all times, He will sanctify us wholly
and preserve us blamless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Seventh, Speak Boldly For God. —Acts 19:8-20. We
should know Jesus as a personal Saviour and always
be ready to speak and boldly testify that He can
and does save. If our testimony is of a Jesus
some one else knows and preaches it will not bear
good fruit, but may bear evil fruit.
Eighth, Engage in Honorable Business. —Acts 19:
23-41. Those who engage in the liquor business, or
any other dishonorable business, will have to resort
to evil means to protect and maintain their busi
ness, while those who engage in the right kind of
business need never do wrong.
Ninth, Be Perfect in Love. —I Cor. 13:1-13. Love
is pre-eminent over all gifts. Love fulfills all the
law (Rom. 13:8-10). Love is eternal. “God is
Love.” (I John 4:8). “He that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (I John 4:16).
Tenth, Accomplish My Course. —Acts 20:17-35. Paul
says, “Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether
it be by life or by death. For to me to live is
Christ.” (Phil. 1:20-21). Nothing could move him.
With him it was more important to do God’s will and
accomplish his course and fulfill his ministry than
it was to live. Therefore at the end of his life
he could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have
SUNT)A Y SCHOOL LESSON
The Golden Age f>r September 16, 1909.
finished my course, I have kept the faith: Hence
forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteou
ness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give
me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all
them also that love His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
We can win this crown, not by fighting a great fight
or doing a great work, but by faithfully fighting the
battles God gives us to fight and doing the work
He gives us to do. When this is done whether
great or small we can say with Paul and our Lord,
“I have finished the work which Thou gavest me
to do.” (John 17:4).
Eleventh, Do the Will of God. —Acts 21:1-17. Jesus
came into the world to do God’s will. (Heb. 10:7).
As the Father sent Christ so he sends us into the
world. (John 17:18). We must be doers of His
will in all things. (Rom. 2:13. Matt. 7:21. James
1:22 and 25).
•s
TEMPERANCE LESSON.
September 26th, 1909. I Cor. 10:23-33.
Time: 57 A. D. Place: Ephesus.
Golden Text: “Let every one of us please his
neighbor for his good to edification.” Rom. 15:2.
SUGGESTIVE THOUGHTS.
What should I do?
First, Seek Our Neighbor’s Good. —Verses 23 and
24. We must not do things because we have the
right to do them, or because it is lawful for us;
we must consider whether or not it is expedient
to do so, whether it will be helpful or profitable.
If true to our Lord we will not ask, What have I
a right to do, but What can I do to build up the
Church of Christ and help my fellow-man?
Second, Abstain For Conscience’ Sake. —Verses 25
30. We may eat what is set before us and ask no
questions for conscience’ sake, but if we are told
“This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for
his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake;
not thine own” conscience, but the other person’s
conscience. This being true as to that which it
is perfectly right for us to eat and which is for
the building up of the body, how much more is it
true that we should abstain from strong drink on
account of our brother who is weak? A Christian
should abstain from the use of all intoxicating
liquors.
First. Because it injures the user.
Second. Because it may lead some one else to
become a drunkard.
Third. We are priests and God forbids priests
drinking strong drink. (Rev. 1:6. Lev. 10:9. Luke
1:15).
Fourth. Because we are a separated people unto
tne Lord and therefore are forbidden to use strong
drink. (Num. 6:3. I Cor. 6:17. I Peter 2:9.)
Fifth. Israel never touched stronk drink during
the forty years God led and fed them in the wilder
ness “and there was not one feeble person among
their tribes.” (Dent. 29:6. Psalms 105:37.)
Sixth. These things happened to Israel for ex
amples unto us. (I Cor. 10:6,11.)
Third, Do All Things For the Glory of God. —
Verse 31. What we do we should do to the glory
of God and we should never do anything we can not
do for the glory of God. Can you drink intoxicating
liquor to the glory of God? Can you go to the
theatre for the glory of God? Can you vote to
legalize the sale of intoxicating liquors to the glory
of God? Can you use the Lord’s day as you do
other days for the glory of God? If we can not do
these things to the glory of God we have no right
to do them.
Fourth, Be Temperate. —“The fruit of the spirit is
temperance.” (Gal. 5:22,23.) “Every man that
striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.”
(I Cor. 9:25.) They were running for a corruptible
crown and were temperate in the use of those things
necessary to keep them in health and strength,
but abstained altogether from the use of anything
that would hinder them in running. We are in
the race for the incorruptible crown and must use
necessary things temperately but all things that will
hinder our own spiritual growth and weaken our
influence for good with others must be given up.
< B. Lacy Hoge.
We must lay aside the sin that dota so easily beset
us and also “every weight.” (Heb. 12:1. Rom.
14:15,16.)
Fifth, Give None Offense. —Verses 32,33, Paul
says, “If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat
no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make
my brother to offend.” (I Cor. 8:13). If Paul
would give up necessary food rather than offend a
weak brother, surely a Christian should give up
wine and liquor drinking for fear he might cause
a weak brother to offend. To be right with God
we must give up these things that offend, for when
we sin “so against the brethren, and wound their
conscience, ye sin against Christ.” (I Cor. 8:12.) The
true Christian principle is total abstinence from
everything that would hinder us in winnng souls for
Christ. (Rom. 10:1. Rom. 9:1-3. I Cor. 9:12 22.)
* *
COMFORT ME.
When my sin in all its blackness
Looms before my brimming eyes,
And my shame, so vile and crushing,
Bows my soul as men despise;
Holy spirit, let me hide myself in thee;
Comfort me, O Comfort me!
When a chast’ning hand has taken
All most precious here on earth —
Good repute, and home, and loved ones,
Calling, means, and all of worth;
Holy Spirit, thou who more than all canst be,
Comfort me, O, comfort me!
When the friend on earth the dearest
Fails me in my darkest hour,
And the love I thought eternal
Fades like fairest, frailest flower;
Holy Spirit, to thy fadeless love I flee,
Comfort me, yea, comfort me!
When my faith has well-nigh faltered
Through my fervent prayers denied,
Or my anxious pleas which seeming
Fail to reach the Crucified;
Holy Spirit, help my blinded faith to see;
Guide, convince and comfort me!
When temptation’s flood o’erwhelms me,
And my strength fails hour by hour,
Mighty Saviour, strong Deliv’rer,
Seize and hold me by thy power;
Holy Spirit, ne’er forsake or turn from me;
Cling to me, O cling to me!
Whether walking on the waters,
Whether sinking ’neath the waves,
Whether hoping or despairing,
May I hold to Him who saves;
Precious Saviour, O how sweet to rest in thee!
Send the Comforter to me.
O thou gentle Holy Spirit,
Never, never leave my side,
May thy pureness, love and wisdom
Ever in my soul abide;
Sweetest solace for all sorrows is in thee;
Surely thou wilt comfort me!
—Repentant.
Troy, New York.
* H
The official figures of the internal revenue depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1909, are
reported to show a decrease in the revenue from
distilled and fermented liquors amounting to $7,725,-
188.46. It is apparent that Prohibition with even
less than half a chance is beginning to make inroads
upon the production of alcoholic liquors. It seems
to show clearly that the statements of brewers and
distillers, that they sell more liquors under Prohi
bition than under license, are unqualifiedly false.
The idea is also suggested that if results of this
kind can be obtained with Prohibition laws in the
hands of their enemies for enforcement or nulli
fication, how much greater the benefits would be if
the entire nation were under Prohibition laws, and
those laws were placed in the hands Os real prohi
bitionists for enforcement.
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