A LESSON FROM "THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT." ARRANGED FOR A SABBATH-SCHOOL EXERCISE BY P. GARRETT.* This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.-Gal. v: 16. SCHOOL. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.-Gal. v: 22, 23. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbor as thyself.-Gal. v: 14. SCHOOL. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down is life for his friends.-John, xv: 13. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.-John, xv: 14. SCHOOL. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. I. John, iv: 8. The Lord preserveth all them that love Him.-Psalm cxiv: 20. (THE IMMORTALITY OF LOVE.) They sin, who tell us. love can die: All others are but vanity; Its holy flame forever burneth, From heaven it came, to heaven returneth. At times deceived, at times oppressed, *This combination of extracts and responsive readings can be rendered with very good effect by the teacher, or a leader, repeating the FINE PRINT and the school, or class, responding by giving the remaining portions, either in concert or singly, as the case may be. The assignment of parts is given as a guide, but they can be changed to suit different cases, and any number of divisions and sub-divisions may be introduced, The extracts not assigned are intended for individual recitations. Other extracts may be substituted for those given, and the number may be increased, or diminished, at pleasure. Singing can also be very readily interspersed throughout the exercise, if desirable. 1st Voice.-A Deity believed, is joy begun; Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy- SCHOOL. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.-Isaiah, xxxv: 10. INFANT CLASS. That pleasure is of all Most bountiful and kind, That fades not straight, but leaves A living joy behind. Campion. Follow PEACE with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.-Hebrews xiii: 14. (THE PATH OF PEACE.) Poor worldling! stay thy vain pursuit of peace In all the gilded charms that mock thee: cease Ye heavy-laden, come, and I will give You rest." Oh, heed that call! in holy fear, In deep humility, bow down: the star Of hope shall rise, and joy shall speak thy soul's release. Isaac F. Shepard. SENIOR CLASS. In active health or sad disease Oh, ne'er forget that precious word"He shall be kept in perfect peace, Whose soul is stayed on God." G. B. Cheever. The Lord is-LONG SUFFERING and of great mercy.-Numbers, xiv: 18. SCHOOL. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious; long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalm lxxxvi: 15. (BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOUrn.) For every dark and troubled night; For God hath marked each sorrowing day W. C. Bryant. It hath been truly said, "Long suffering leads to GENTLENESS." BIBLE CLASS. (THE POWER OF GENTLENESS.) If a soul thou wouldst redeem, And lead a lost one back to God:- To one who long in guilt hath trod, Go kindly to him-take his hand With gentlest words within thine own, Till all the demons thou dethrone. C. M. Sawyer. Shakspeare has said-"God's goodness hath been great," What saith the Holy Scriptures? SCHOOL. Or despiseth thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.-Romans, ii: 4. (AN EXTRACT.) The goodness which struggles and battles, and goes down deep and soars high, is the quality of which heroism is made, by which the world is salted and kept pure;-it is the seed which bears fruit in martyrs, making mankind "faithful unto death." The Scriptures saith "Now the just shall live by faith;"-will you tell me, by the same authority, What is FAITH? SCHOOL. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.-Heb. xi: 1. Who hath given us the most wonderful lesson on Faith? INFANT CLASS. The apostle Paul, in Hebrews, 11th Chapter. SENIOR CLASS. (TRUE FAITH.) The childlike faith that asks not sight, Shall see things greater, things divine. Keble. MEEKNESS has been defined as "A grace which Jesus alone inculcated, and which no ancient philosopher seems to have understood or recommended." SCHOOL. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (REWARD OF MEEKNESS.) Matthew, v: 5. The gentle heart that thinks with pain, And if it dared its life to scan, Would ask but pathway low and still; Often such gentle heart is brought Who will speak for TEMPERANCE? JUNIOR CLASS. "Tis to thy rules, O temperance! that we owe All pleasures, which from health and strength can flow; Vigor of body, purity of mind, Unclouded reason, sentiments refined. M. Chandler. While we are especially enjoined to be "temperate in ALL THINGS," God, reason, and humanity DEMAND US to "Beware of strong drink!" (A SHORT TEMPERANCE SPEECH.) Let young and old, let rich and poor Until all people, climes and tongues What lesson do we find in Proverbs, 23rd Chapter? 1st Voice.-Who hath woe? 2nd Voice.-Who hath sorrow? 3rd Voice.--Who hath contentions? 4th Voice.--Who hath babbling? 5th Voice.-Who hath wounds without cause? 6th Voice.-Who hath redness of eyes? SCHOOL. They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. And what the solemn warning? SCHOOL. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. Will the INFANT CLASS please tell us what our drink shall be? INFANT CLASS. The sweetest, purest, best of things Is cool, bright water flowing free, |