The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-08-31


We have heard that certain which went out
from. US have troubled you with words, subyert-
ing your souls, saying, ye must be circumclsed
and keep the law, to whom we gave 10 such
commandment.-Acts, XIV, 1920
No one can read the New Testament and fail
TO observe that through grave misunderstand-
ing OF the spirit and genius OF the gospel there
was constant sntagonsm between the jew
and Gentle. The Jew believed that the keep
ing OF the old ceremonial law WAS essential to
salvation. When Christ came declaring that
we are no longer under law, but under grace,
even then the Hebrew could not see how any
one could be saved who did not keep the law of
Moses. And when the gospel was preached
and the Jew became convert to christianity
Inc still wanted to keep the law. Not satisfied
with this, he demanded that the Gentle, also,
should observe the Mosaic ritual. This created
30 much trouble in the church that council
was called at Jerusalem to settle the question.
1. The first lesson that We CLEAN from this
incident Is that 1t is an easy matter to create a
serious disturbance by talking. Forasmuch
Ms we have heard that certain which went out
from us have troubled you with WORDS" The
worlds greatest troubles have been caused by
words. Nations have sprung to arms. churches
divided asunder. families broke up forever be-
cause OF words. Many one has lain awake
far into the night, weeping over an unkind
word that some one has uttered.
In England young clerk, in jest, SAID to a
friend, Have you heard that E. & Co., the
bankers, have stopped PAYMENT" 1t was
after four o'clock, and he meant that they had
stopped payment for the night, a. usual. His
friend mentioned the remark to another, he to
another. and 30 on until all over town the re-
port HAD spread that the bank had suspended
payment, The next day the depositors came
demanding their money. OF course NJ word
OF explanation would suffice. aud the bank had
ia stop payment Tor several days. All tins
because OF words, and those words spoken
IN jest. In the church, in the neighborbood,
in the family, beware OF creating trouble with
words.
2, Again. learn from this incident that the
business of the church should be managed In a
busIpess-like way. This dispute about keeping
the law OF Moses breaks out III the church at
Antioch. The council at jerusalem send their
decision 10 the Antioch brethren. They send
a committee down to tell them the conclusion
that has been reached. This would seem to be
all that was necessary, but that there might be
no possible mistake they wrote letter con-
tanning the decision. There 1t was III black
and white. 80 that none OF the Antioch people
could say the committee were not fairly telling
them the decision. And to make the letter still
moro apparently the true report OF the decision
the committee is sent, "who shall also tel
you the same things by mouth" THIS was
conducting the matters OF religion in a syste-
matte manner.
In handling the finances OF the church Paul
was good business man: Now concerning
the collection Tor the saints, az have gwen
order to the churches OF Galata even so do We.
Upon the first day OF the week let every one OF
you lay by him in store as God hath prospered
him, that there be 10 gatherings when / come.
And when l come, whomsoever We shall approve
by your letters them will send to bring your
liberality unto jerusalem" See the system
about this. /. Let the collection be taken on
Sunday. 2. Let each one give as he has pros
pered 3. Those that you recommend by your
letters I will send to Jerusalem with this
money. Paul would not handle the funds of
the church carelessy. He did not say this is
public moaey anu it makes but little difference
where it goes.
We admire this system and order in the man
angement OF all secular enterprise. In Prussia
every traveller must go from place to place by
public conveyance. All the stage lines are
owned and run by the government. No mat
ter how urgent the travellers business no pri-
vate party has right to carry him from one
town 10 another. The government owns and
controls every stage, and the driver is required
by law to keep register containing the name
Of every person who rides in that stage, the
town where he entered the carriage and the
locality where he got out. This is done for
police purpose and enables the government
10 track rascal ali over the country. In
financial report Of one OF the governments OF
ho Old World an inaccuracy of one penny was
This was email matter to inves-
igate, but there was great principle under
ying il and the report was not accepted. A
official that would wilfully steal or
arelesely lose one penny might steal or lose
anger sum. Inc lnaccuracy was traced through
large number OF hands and Its origin found |
We like to see such system as this, and can
veil think that IL our own government had
Ilways been a. careful in looking after It's lost
,ennies the times might not be quite so hard. !
n this matter OF order and system in the man
cement Of things should the children OF this
World be wiser than the children CT light |
hero is no more reason why the finances OF
he church should be managed IN a loose, 1
hifilops manner than that a bank or store |
hould be thus controlled. Let the Lords |
be managed in business-lke way.
g. Learn again that good character has more
nfuence than any other element where that
noral worth is lacking What kind OF men did |
he church at Jerusalem send down to Antioch
0 help quel the Disturbances there? Did they
,ok for one that could make long prayer
nd tbey look TOR one who could at any time
rise in prayer meeting and make fluent
peech2 These talents are useful but there is
higher one. 1t seemed good unto us being
ssembled with one accord to send chosen
len unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and |