The Sunday School

1. "Mybrethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greatei condemnation. " The R. V. says "teachers" insteud of "masters." Although the word is translated "master" about 45 out of 65 timos, yet it. is "teacher" in John iii, 2; Eph. iv, 11, etc. In Luke ii, 40, it is "doctors." Tho rerb "didasko" is always translated "teach" or "taught. " The iñjunction, therefore, eeems to be that we are to bear in mind that the position of a teacher is one of such responsibility that we hardly dare covet it. Yet if our Lord choose us and send us forth, no matter in what capacity, His gracc is suflieient for us. Happy are those in whom He lives and speaks. "Who teacheth like Him?" (Job xx;xvi, 22.) 2. "Tor in many things we off end all. If any man offend not in word, tho same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body." The B. V. says, "In many things wo all stumble. " And yet the ascription in Jude xxiv, B. V., ís, "Now unto Him that is able to guard you from etumbling und to set you before the presence of His glory without blemish. " If we would but trust Him, who alone of all men never stumbled, never sinncd in thoaght, word or deed, He would keep us from stumbling, for He is able. "Thine is the power, O Lord. " The difficulty is all on our side. He says, "I would, but ye would not. ' ' 3, 4. Here we have a great creature, the horse, managed by the driver by means of a small bit in his mouth, and we have a mighty ship managed by its governor by means of a very small helm. We might consider the smallness of that which in either case controlled the large body, or we might consider the driver or governor controlling. In Ps. xxxii, 9, we are inBtructed not to be like a horse or mnle, without understanding, whose mouth musí be held in with bit and bridle. But some horses and mulos have understanding, and I believe that Eome have more tlian their drivers. We are not warncd against such. The great thing is to have a good governor and to be absolutely under his control. 6. "Even so the tonguo is a little memter and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little flre kindleth." Thereforo we are admonished, "Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speakingguile" (Ps. xxxiv, 18). And we are reminded that there is not a word in our tonguo but He knoweth it altogether (Ps. cxxxix, 4). "Dcath and life are in the power of the tongue," theref ore "whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles" (Prov. xviii, 21 ; xxi, 83). 6. "And the tongue is a Ure, a world of iniquity, and it is set on fireof heil. " Perhaps sorue have secn and heard fearful things from the tongue, but have not considered these things as indications of the state of affairs in heil. This is the word "ge-enna," the place of burning, and is used only by our Lord except in this one instanco. "Out of the abundance of the heart tho mouth speaketh" (Math. xü, 34), and if satan has control of the hoart we may expect the tongue to smell of flre and brimstonc. 7, 8. While every kind of creatures can be tamed the tongue is untamable, an unruly evil full of deadly poison. This, of course, describes the worst phase of the tongue that has only the natural, unrenewed heart behind it, but the possibilities of fearful inauifestations are in every unrenewed heart. Flattery, mischief and vanity, backbiting, deceit and lying, are all in a wicked tongue (Ps. v, 9; x, 7; xv, 3; lii, 4; lxxviii, 36), or in the heart that is back of the tongue, f or "the heart is deceitful ubove all things and despcrately wicked" (Jer. xvii, 9.) And "out of the heart procced cvil thoughts, munters, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falso witness, blasphernies" (Math. xv, 19). This is our Lord'sown testimony, and He alono knows the heart. 9. "Therewith bless we God, even the Father, and therewith curse we men which are made after the eiiiiilitude of God. " It does not 6eem possible thaí the same tongue could bless God and curse man. The tongue with only the natural heart back of it can curse, but the natural heart cannot truly blcss God. What have we here then, a new heart which blesses God, and the old heart which is pronc to cursing, and each usiDg the samo tongue? It looks even bo, and, according to the Scriptures, is so. 10. "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not bo tobe." These sadly tiiie things are a dishonor to Christ and ehould not continue. If we have rcceivod the Lord Jesus Christ nnd have thus a new and divine nature (II Pet. i, 4) the Spirit of God, whose templo we now are, jealously dcsireth us and liveth in us thut we niay not do the things which we otherwise would if controllcd by the carnal mind (Jas. iv, 5, R. V. GaL v, 16, 17, R. V.). Inasmuch as the Lord Jesus is able tosubdue all lliings unto Hiruself and will do it in due time (Phil. iii, 21; I Cor. xv, 28), He is surcly able to rubdue in us, and keep subdued, even if He does not in this life Cast it wholly out, that old Einful nature wliich was born in us. Let us yield fully to Him, crying, "ïhine is the power." 11, 12. "Doth a fountaln send forth at the same placo sweet water and bitterP Can the fig tree, my brethren, baar olive berriesf Either a vine figaf So can no fountain both yield aalt water and fresh," Both treea and fountains produce only after their kind, and if our words or actloo are not right before God it is because of un evil root or ource or fountain wltliln us. Jesus said that the wator which He glves would be in ug o, well oí water springing up into everlasting Ufe (John W, 14). H Himself is the íountain (Je. 11, 18). 13. "Who Is a wis üma aód liabucd With knowledge among youf Let him show out oí a good couYcrsutioa hi wcak wlth meekness of wisdom. " On to th end of the chapter we havo lxapiesaed upon us that the heftvenly wisdom, which ie none other than Christ Himaelf, when allowed to control us, will be firat pure, then peaoeablo, gentle, eagy to be lntreatad, etc. Eterythlng llke enry, Btrlto or oonfuaion ia from the devil. Aecording to Isa. ixxli. 17, "Thework of rlghteousness shall be peace, and the effect (eerrlce) of righteouBness, quietness and asmirance forever." Our Lord Jesns Is the Prinee of Peace; He is our peaoe; at Hia birth the angel Eid, "Peace on earth," and we, Sis mssengers, are to preach peace (Isa. 6, 7; Eph. 11, 14 Luke ii, 14; Acts x, 36), believing that ths time will come when of the increase of His government and peace npon the throne cf Dayid thcre ehall be no end; natlon hall not lift np sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.