The Progress., 1893-09-09
Home Readings.

duct is likely to be upon our fellow
men. st. Haul said: IF meat make
my brother to offend, | will eat nc
more meat while the world stands. "
The same law holds good in regard tC
strong drink. Even if we could use
it in moderation, and without personal
damage-,-hich is not likely-we
should yet, for examples sake, be
under obligation To practice total alb
stinence.
|. The Principle Stated, verses r.
10. IL. Every one shall give ac-
count of himself" This is the strong
est possible statement of the doctrine
of individual responsibility.
13. Let us not therefore judge one
another" Since every man must stand
for himself at the bar of God. it Is
folly for us to pass sentence upon one
another. Judge this rather etc.
Let this be your purpose: not To do
anything likely to make your brother
fall into sin.
IA. IL know" Am entirely certain.
Persuaded by the Lord Jesus" My
persuasion comes from the indwelling
spirit of the Lord Jesus. Nothing
unclean of itself" No article of food
is, on religious grounds, unfit for use.
"To him that esteemeth ANYTHING to
be unclean, to him il is unclean." If
he thinks it wrong to eat a given
article of food, he offends his own
conscience by eating it, and is offended
if he sees another doing it.
Is. "If thy brother be grieved. "
That is, injured or hurt "Walkest
thou not charitably." Thy conduct is
not according to the Christian law of
charity. Destroy not him with thy
meat, for whom Christ died" Give up
thy freedom and eat no flesh, rather
than thus lead into perdition him for
whom Christ gave up his life to save
from perdition.
16. Let not then your good be evil
spoken Of" The phrase your good
means your stronger faith and fuller
liberty.
II. THE kingdom of God is not meat
and drink" etc. It's essence lies not in
external things, as eating and drink
ing, but in the inward graces of the
spiritual life. Bible Commentary.
IS. 'In these things" In righteous
ness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
''Is acceptable to God and approved of
men," Is respected in heaven and on
earth.
10. "Follow after" Strive for "The
things which make for p sace." In our
own hearts and all around us.
II. The Inference Drawn, verses %
%. 20. For meat destroy not the
work of God" Do not, simply to graf
ify an appetite, run the risk of destroy
ing soul that God has made. "WhO
eateth with offense." Whose eating
is a cause of stumbling or offense to
others.
81. 'It is good neither to eat flesh,
nor anything whereby thy broth
er stumbleth," etc. 1t is good not to
do anything that may blight your
brothers prospects for time or eter-
nifty.
90. Hast thou faith?" Not saving
faith, but such latitude of belief as
will enable you to eat different meats
indiscriminately. "Have it to thyself
before God" So that God is the wit
ness of thy faith, and parade it not
before men.-Meyer. Happy is he
that condemneth not himself" etc. He
has the blessing of a clear conscience.
23. Damned" The sense of the
word here is condemned"
Memory Verses, 10. Let us there
fore follow after the things which
make for peace, and things wherewith
one may edify another.
90. For meat DESTROY not the work
of God. All things indeed are pure;
but it is evil for that man who eateth
with offense.
2l. 1t is good neither to eat flesh, n or
to drink wine, or anything whereby
thy brother stumbleth or is offended,
or is made weak.
%. Hast thou faith? Have it to thy
self before God Happy is he that
condemneth not himself in that thing
which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned
if he eat, because he eateth not OF
faith; for whatsoever is not of faith
is sin.
Things to Be Remembered. Per-
sonal responsibility is an awful
thought
.. Let us judge ourselves rather
than others.
3. We ought to give up even inno-
cent things il they become a source of
evil to others.
4. The soul that God made, and for
which Christ died, is inexpressibly
valuable.
HUMOROUS.