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4. Make religion a help every day.

Think of it as part of

life, now, here, at study, at play, at home. Religion is good will, justice, fair play, honor.

5. Faith and works go together. A little stream flows from a small spring; a tiny dynamo will not move a carriage. So no one can be a splendid doer unless he has a strong conviction, nor can he hope to keep his conviction long if it is never exercised; it becomes "dead in itself."

A Better World.

What a world this would be if all the things Christians say they believe could be carried out? We need more faith, but we also need more works. There are signs of progress: we must take courage. But it remains for the young people to carry goodness and religion farther along.

Do not lose patience. Little by little the victory is won. Remember the rules given in this lesson. Have faith in God, faith in man, faith in truth, and keep that faith growing deeper and stronger by every-day works.

HINTS FOR TEACHERS. ·

1. Be careful to do justice to both faith and works, but for the purpose of the lesson emphasize works.

2. Show the scope of practical religion in modern life,— home missions, hospitals, institutional churches, etc,

3. Explain the five rules, and draw out the pupils by questions on them,

4. Enforce the motto " live up." Illustrate its applicability to every-day life.

QUESTIONS FOR PUPILS.

Do they

What is faith? What do you mean by works? go together? Why do we praise a doer? What two things was this letter intended to stop? Did some persons think they could be Christians by faith alone? What is meant by the motto "live up"? What did Jesus say about judging by fruits? Can you mention the five rules given in the lesson?

THE GROWTH OF CHARACTER.

GRACE to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature. Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness love of the brethren; and in your love of the brethren love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

II. PETER, chapter one.

THE GROWTH OF CHARACTER.

Different Messages.

Jesus called around him different apostles. And those who saw not Jesus, but went out in the old days of the beginnings, and preached the gospel, they, too, were not alike. Like sunshine falling on a window of various-colored glass, there are many hues produced.

The one light of the gospel falls on different minds, and they color it. But it is one truth from one source. We need the various messages, though we must be careful to compare and explain.

Previous Passage.

In our previous Passage we had a message about works. Now is given to us something different. Yet they are one; the same light, one through James, this by Peter.

The lesson before this looked out; this one looks in. The other told us to be doers of the word; now we are directed to look carefully after the sources of doing.

The language of this extract from the letter by Peter is not easy for young people to understand. I think this to be one of the most difficult we have had. The words and terms are very theological. It will not be necessary to go over all of the Passage. Let us take one part, and that alone, and see what it

means.

The Goal.

There is set before us a goal, an object of priceless worth. We are to share with Jesus, God's love and blessing. How is the object to be reached? How are we to be "partakers of the divine nature"?

Seven steps are pointed out, by which a kingdom within can be built. That means the growth of a Christian spirit, the creation of a noble character. You remember the fourth point in "Our Faith," salvation by character. Here we are told how it is to be done.

One.

"To your faith supply virtue." we saw how faith is first of all.

In our preceding lesson We cannot take a step toward

anything, of ourselves, of our own will, unless we have faith. But something is needed to give faith strength, and that is habit. Virtue is goodness in habits. We say a man is virtuous when he pursues a regular, manly course. Faith will always disappear when unsupported by habit. It grows by regular treatment. Two.

To virtue add knowledge. This, too, is clear, and easily understood. Goodness alone is blind; goodness alone makes mistakes. We must train our minds to accurate judgment; we must draw lines between true and false. A man of good heart may do much injury by ignorance. Goodness needs direction. Sunshine is good; but it accomplishes its best results for man, when guided by science and knowledge.

Three.

To knowledge add self-control. Here, again, how wise is the advice! We may know many things, and yet lack control of ourselves. You have met learned persons who were not masters of themselves, though masters of languages and books. Knowledge is not character, though it is helpful in making character. The great education is to have self-control.

Four.

To self-control supply patience. And is not this a true rule to follow? Is there anything harder than to go on every day, and practise self-control. We are tired, cross, rebellious. We lose our temper, we quarrel, we are excited. The rescue comes by patience. "Try, try again," is a motto not to be despised. No one ever fully succeeds; and, therefore, patience is our friend. To-morrow we will do better.

Five.

To patience add godliness. Now what does that exactly mean? The word "godliness" sounds strange, as though it belonged to the pulpit. It is a good word right here, and means that in the growth of character we must draw on religion, on God-sources. That is plain. We must nourish and feed patience, self-control, and all the rest by the gospel of Jesus. By his truths and example. Our strength is from God; our life is from him; all we do or hope for rests in him.

Six.

Unto godliness add love of the brethren. Another simple rule. If we are followers of Jesus,- godly,— then we must show our faith by our works. That is the meaning. Religion

Our high priest is one who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. He learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and, having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation. Come with Me.

Jesus does not say, Go! He gives the invitation, Come!

He does not stand aloof and watch our struggles. His spirit attends those who are seeking light and life. "Come with me," he says, "and we will live the good life. Come with me, and let us walk toward the light." Not in one temple made of wood and stone, but in each temple of a human heart, the Master is heard with his loving message.

HINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Facts about the high priest and the Jewish priesthood will prove interesting to the pupils.

2. Describe clearly the differences between prophets and priests in the Hebrew national life.

3. Distinguish for the pupils the fitness and the unfitness of the term "high priest " as applied to Jesus.

4. Bring out the contrasts between the Old and the New,— between the "law" of Moses and the " gospel" of Jesus.

QUESTIONS FOR PUPILS.

Did

Who was a great man among the Jews? Can you tell what a high priest did? What was the duty of other priests? they dress differently from other men? Was the high priest always kind and good? How does this name apply to Jesus? Why is he a better high priest than the old ones? What is a religion of form? What is a religion of spirit? Who was the first Jewish high priest?

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