Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-09-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. II.

21-Golden Text, Rom. xiv, 21-Com-
mcntary by the Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
IL. so then every one Of us shall give
account of himself to God" This epistle
may be divided into three sections and la
beled doctrinal Chapters to Wild, dispen-
rational chapters tx to XII and practical
xii to xvii. The practical, with which we
now have to do, may be supdivided as fol-
lows xii, character; xiii, relation to civil
rulers; xiv, relation to brethren; XIV, labors;
xvi, Christian salutatious. So that we find
ourselves today dealing with the practical
question of right relations to the brethren,
and specially i'll the matter of eating and
drinking. We are reminded of the judg-
ment seat Of Christ Verse 10; see also II
Cor. v, lW and of individual responsibility
49, Let us not therefore judge one an
other any more, but judge this rather, that
no man put a stumbling block or an occa-
sion to fall in his brothers way" In Cor.
iv, 5, we are exhorted to judge nothing be-
fore the time until the Lord come. In Jas.
ii, 10, it is written that "he shall have
judgment without mercy that hath showed
no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against
Judgment" while Jesus Himself said "If
ye had known what this meancth, will
have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not
have condemned the guiltless'' (Math. xii,
II. We are here not to live unto ourselves.
but unto the Lord oversees Z, s. and by "A
Chrstlike life lead people unto Him.
IA. Il know and am persuaded by the
Lord Jesus that there is NOTHING, unclean
of itself; but to him that esteemeth any
thing to be unclean, to him it Is unclean.n
Jesus taught that mot that which goeth
into the mouth defleth man, but that
XIV. ny. And Paul in another nlace tencbes
us that if one should sec fit TO accent an in
yitation to eat with an uubeliever the pror-
err thing would be to eat what is provided.
asking no question for conscience sake II
Cor. X. 27j unless the host should saw.
This is offered in sacrifice to idolsn Then
a believer could not eat of it. The rlorv Of
God must be the one aim in all eating and
drinking MS well rs in all else II Cor X an
10. But if thy brother be rrieyed with
thy meat. now wall,est hon not cbaritablv
Destroy not him with thy meat for whom
/ Christ died - This matter is more fullv
dwelt upon in | Cor. viii 1-13, and IS
summed IN in verse 10. ''yVherefore. if meat
make my brother TO offend I will emf no
| flesh while the world standeth." The great
/ question with n believer should not be
| NAV do this or that and not SIM" but
How can best hasten His kingdom and
win men to HIM"
1G. Let not. then. YOUR good be evil
snoken Off A ncrfectlv lawful act some
thing that might do or enjoy with n clear
conscience before God MIGHT bo ,nisnnder.
stood bv n weak brother and become TO
him a stumbling block. in which case it
would be for he glory of God and the good
of the weak brother for me to refrain from
even that which in Gods sight might be in
uocent.
Il. For the kingdom of God is not meat
and drink. but righteousness and peace md
/ low in the HOLY Ghost - The chief business
| of those for whom Christ died is not eatinc,
and drinking, Int a right relation to God
our neighbors and ourselves. The founda-
ton is Righteousness Rom. X. 4: II Cor
V. 2D. the state is Deace (Rom. V. |. Eph i.
| lO and the manifcstatio is iov LJohn Nv
II: xvi. 81: Pom. XIV. l3) All will be dis
order and confusion until we seek first the
kingdom Of God and His righteousness
CNath. vi 33). not for ourselves merely. but
for all whom we NAV reach.
1a. For he that in these things serveth
| Christ is accountable to God and aDproved
of men - Having received Christ as orr
Saviour we are always accented in Him
GInh ! 6, but for this reason we seek to
J be teU of him : TO service - W q
labor that whether nresent or absent we
NAV be accented of Him. III Cor v. iy).
Salvation full and free is Gods gift to who
soever will We are saved by grace not of
works lest anv one should boast (Eph. ii. q.
Rom Nv. 81 Int we work because we are
saved This is profitable to men. and we
shall he rewarded according to our work :
| Enb ii 10: Titus iii. s.. Cor. iii. s: Rev
xxi, 12).
10 "I.et us therefore, follow after the
.bings which r,oka for nesca and THINGS
wherewith one NAV edify another" our
Lord and Saviour is the Prince of Peace,
and a mind staid ON Him will have a per.
fect neace Tins we shall he abletopublish
neoce lisa tx A. xxvi & Iii 7. Rom X 15)
20 For meat DESTROY not the work of
God. All THINGS indeed are pure. but il is
evil for that man who eateth with offense. u
.Jnto the pure all things are nure. but IN.
to them that are defiled and unbelieving i.
nothing pure" Titus i. 15). In this lesson,
however it is the brethren-the believers