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CHTIISTIAN’
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HEIiALTl
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that no man can injure himself understand this ? Then, in addi­ and thou hast magnified thy mercy,
without damage to others, and no tion to this iuqxjrtant clearing which thou hast showed unto me I
The Church at Ephesus.
man can injure Others without de- Away of evil+ we are to lie kind, in saving my life ; and I cannot es- '
triment to himself. Therefore men tenderhearted ami forgive one an­ cape to the mountain lest some evil
BT 8. H. HBDRIX.
should not sin through anger, nor other, as God, for Christ’s sake, take me and I die. Behold now,
NUMBER VII.
let the sun go down on their wrath, forgives us. Therefore, followers this city is near to Hee unto, and it
, as -firtovvr1 ThrMren, .vwaik^
mw give
' ’ Sec. 11. begins at "chapter iv ; 25.
make an‘honest living ami be a ing in love, even such as Christ ex­ thither (Is it not a little one ?) and
It includes the particulci «of Paul’s
ercised in giving himself an offer­ my soul shall live.” Gen. 19 : 17-20.
grand and instructive exhortation. benefit to others, in liestowing good
Just without the doomed city,
things upon them, the thief must ing, sacrifice to God for us. To
1. The contrast between right
quit stealing. This shows that this end God’s word is our only not yet fully escaped from danger,
and wrong are specially noted.
liars and thieves can reform, and safe guide. It alone reveals his he dared counsel with the Alost
There is scarcely
vice known to
1 Cor. vi: 9, 11, shows that even will and points out the way of life. High, and choose for himself a
the human family but is Imre
worse churapters than these oh . 7. The apostle next condemns place, disregarding the Lord’s ap­
directly branded by the apostle.
whoredom and all uncleancss and pointing I and the Lord listened to
tained mercy.
Those which he docs not name are
inordinate
desire. He not only his importunities,* and granted his
But this reformation of life cm-
minor in character, or they are the
forbids the practice of these things, request. But mark the result, lie
lineal decendents from th >se which braces other items ; Christians must
but as topics of conversation, and had feared to go to tire mountain
he designates
All pf these he not use corrupt discourse, “ but if
with that all foolish talking of the Lord had appointed, lest some
would have us put away, ami who any speech be good for the use of
things unwanted, or of no benefit evil befell him, but before he
soever follows liis advice will find edification, speak it, that it may
But rather giving of thanks. I reached the place of his own ap­
there is much rubbish to be cleared impart a lien efit to the hearers.’’
know we can’t help thinking, and pointing, his wife was lost to him
out before his house is swept and Language is our means of com­
municating with our fellow men people will talk, but they can ami forever, and was left upon the plain
garnished.
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should guard their thoughts and a monument of God’s justice to the
•2. The apostle just as positively' ^Therefore, since it is wrong to in­
words and keep them upon- proper disobedient. Afterward, when he
specifies virtues to lake the place jure ourselves or our neighbors, our
things.
ha«l determined in his own mind to
of the old habits ami vices. There speech should be always used for
8 No fornicator, unclean person, go up to the mountain, unguided,
is nd ’virtue calculated to bless their. benefit. Speech is thoughts
nor lacivious man, who is an idol- another humiliation awaited him. *
mankind and make each one a expressed. And all the good or
sein- the - - But—as lito^ -experiences are -
blessing which this cpistltTdoes not evil thatmen do, - theydo in -pro— d^tcr,_has. - anyi
perly or improperly using their kingdom of Christ Because of brought out to our spiritual view,
embrace.
these evil things God’s wrath comes by trial of our own weaknesses, we '
3. It is specially adapted as a thoughts in words and action 5.
• ■
Ain
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11
1
5/ “ And grieve not the Holy upon the disobedient. We, there­ find that this same prayer is often
guide to the man in the toils of
practical everV day life, ^t does Spirit of Gojj.” I understand by fore, ought not to be deceive« 1 with uprising from our own hearts, “Is
vain speeches by any one, ami par- it not a little one?* Sometimes-
not require a philosopher to see the this that we are not to express dis­
.take with them to our ruin. These we feel the spirit’s call to go up to
difference between what the gentiles satisfaction at what the Holy
Ephesians were once in darkness, some mountain heights of exper­
were and what God would have Spirit has revealed, nor weary or
$nd all of us were in that state long ience, the duties for which, in our
them be. There is, indeed, a great tempt him to reveal or provide
enough. In the Lord we are to own estimation of our capabilities,
gulf between a wicked and a right­ more or less than what he has so
walk in the light as children, and we are wholly inadequate to per­
eous life. No man or woman can fully bestowed. Jesus told the
the result will be the fruits of a form ; and to our minds are pic­
be a close student of the Bible, or tempter: “ Thou shalt not tempt
consistant life consisting of all tured all the difficulties of the wav,
even this epistle, and remain a (or test) the Lord the God and
goodness, righteousness and truth, magnified.
very wicked person ; and no one just liefore this Jesus said : “ Alan
approving whaVis well pleasing to
We can think of others whom we
who does not study its precepts can shall live by every word that pro­
God.'
Having
no
part
in
the
un
­
think are just fitted for the place,
be a righteous individual. It is ceeds out of the mouth of God,”
fruitful
Works
of
darkness,
but
but we are so weak ! We look at
only by giving the most earnest viz: by all the means which God
being
a
continual
reproof
to
them.
the instrument which the Lord has
heed to the teachings of the holy has provided. Hence, since the
It
is
base
to
mention
the
secret
chosen, instead of the mighty hand
writ that a wicked man becomes a Father provides all, the Son brings
doings in darkness.
all,
the
Holy
Spirit
Odel
’
s
it
for
all,
upholding, and querying, we ex-
righteous man.
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abundantly
richly.
Therefore,
to
claiin
t“ Is it not a little one and,
4. A consistent Christian life de­
Is
it
Not
a
Little
One.
like Lot, feci that we can not go
mands that men shall avoid evil ask for something not provided, W
I have often wondered at the up lest some evil befall us (or the
thoughts, words and deeds. These to express dissatisfaction witli_some
are negative things which God pro­ things, and ask an amendment or a temerity of Lot after he had re­ cause), and remain in the low at­
hibits.
Therefore wicked men repeal, or to ask his help in our ceived a warning from the Lord to mosphere of the plain, rather than
must first learn to observe God’s weakness while failing to use leave the city of Sodom; and, at obey ami go up to experience the
prohibitory decrees, which require?; remedies already offered to us last, after much parley, had been exhilarating sensation greeting
/
them to forsake their way—cease to would be to grieve.if not to weary led by the angels, and^sst without' those, who scale the mountain
and
tempt
the
Iloly
Spirit,
and,
the
city,
”
ami
commanded,
“
Escape
peak of obstacle and duty, ami
do evil ami then learn to do right.
therefore,
this
is
forbiden
because
for
thy
life
;
’
look
not
behind
thee,
with whom the Lord goeth up
I will not affirm which is the
easiest for a man to do ; but one his already ample means are pro­ neither stay thou in all the plain, For if we go in the way of God’s
thing is certain, no man can succeed vided, whereby we are sealed till escape to the mountain, lest thou appointing, lie will go with us;
in doing good until he forsakes the the day of redemption. If I am be consumed that at such a time, and the loftier the mountain scaled
evil. Therefore the apostle ex­ wrong here, 1 hope some critic will after so signal a bringing forth through difficulties, remembering
horts us to cease lying and speak enlighten me with a full exegesis of from danger and impending doom, the sacredness of God’s upholding,
he could still parley with the Lord the clearer and more far-reaching
every man truth with his neighbor, the text.
6. The apostle further specifies as to the choice of a location, when the view of the country lying just
for we are all members one of an­
other, The object of a lie is to de- all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor he had already specified the place beyond, and which greeds not the
ceive. To deceive a man is to do and evil speaking, with all malice of safety. And Lot said, “ Oh, not eyes of those content to tarry on
him injury, and in this you injure to be put away. This is certainly so, my Lord, behold now thy ser the plant, An«I how very often
yourself. It may be safely affirmed very plain. Does any -one fail to ’vant hath found favor in thy sight, the enenij/ suggests" a little lapse
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Original Contributions.
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