The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-23

BY REV. JAMES z. ID. D.,
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
ligious Education.
students of these lessons are requested
to send to DIR. Gilbert, Washington, D.C.,
their names, denomination and postoff1ce
address for enrolment in the offlce OF the
society, mentioning this paper, thal docu-
ments on Bible study may be mailed to
them)
The lesson committee, ~suspending its stud
les in the life of Christ. has directed us to
a passage in one of PauPs letters. Many
will regret this. The charm and fascina-
ton in the wonderful story makes one de-
sire to follow it continuously. And yet,
after the confession and probable CONVEX
sion of Zaccheus, the theme of our present
lesson follows with great appropriateness.
Besides, the committee, responding to nu-
merous petitions, has given us these verses
as a temperance lesson. And, surely, that
subject enters here in its usual biblical
way as a part OF a more extended thought.
Let temperance always appear in it's rela-
tons to other great virtues.
PAUL-The author of the book from
which the lesson is taken was a man of
great learning. (Acts xii, 81 Raised a
Pharisee (Acts XVI, 81, he early imbibed
the feelings of hostility toward Christians.
Converted while on his way to Damascus
Acts tx, 80, he became an earnest adyo-
cate of the cause which he had so bitterly
opposed. The twelve men whom Jesus
called to be apostles having devoted them
selves to the ministry among the Jews, Paul
was called by the Holy Ghost to be thes
apostle of the g~entiles. Acts tx, 15) For
that service he was qualified by visions and
revelations QI Cor. xii, Id, which, added
to his natural and acquired talents. placed
him in the front rank among ministers Gil
Cor. XII, 81, and gave him a commanding
influence in the church. Solemnly set apart
at Antioch Acts xiii, u, he went westward
on a series of missionary tours, preaching
and establishing churches. But, because he
was not one of the original twelve, neither
a personal acquaintance of Jesus, and be-
cause his views were peculiar, he was re-
garded with suspicion by many and COM
PEELED to assert and defend his authority.
His writings constitute the largest section
of the New Testament.
| ROMANS.-Paul wrote thirteen letters,
some say fourteen-the book of Hebrews
| being in dispute. The one before us is the
| sixth in the order of time-it having been
preceded by / ThessalOnians, ii Thessa-
lonians, I Corinthians, II Corinthians and
| Galatians. 1t was written at Corinth, "A.
D.. So. Expecting to visit Rome on his way
to Spain Rom. XIV, 24, he desired to pause
there and render some service. Rom. ], III
He had many friends in the Imperial City
| tSSG CIldplGE VI, WiiCll iO wa AlO ~
meet. That the way might be prepared for
him he wrote this letter and sent it by the
hand of Phoebe. 1t Is the most elaborate of
all his writings. Godet calls 1t .sthe cathe-
dral of Christian faith Coleridge says;
A whole library has been written in its eX-
| position. Some of. its cover the
vastest themes that ever engaged. the mind
of man. Here is the battle ground of Prot
estant sects. The letter Contains Pauls
| idea of the gospel, it's chief theme being
Justification by Faith The first eleven
chapters are doctrinal, and they form Sc
cure basis for the practical directions con-
tanned in the closing chapters.
To appreciate the full force of the seven
verses that form our lesson one needs to
the epistle, Chapters xii-vx. In ,nis way
only. may be obtained the sweep and swing
of the thought of this great man. Still,
there are three points which may be profit
ably considered. even though detached from
[ ali that preceded and followed.
NEW LAWN verses s. 9 and 10 the
apostle enjoins love as the Christian rule
Of 6en lIfe Of In per aaetner place scol ne ill., fai t., 1t rh hens
are three manifestations of love--that which
is due to God. that which is due to ones
is due to the followers of Christ. Paul is
dealing here with the last form. Love one
Thes. iv, %, he declares that Christians
are taught of God to do this, ana John
ae foye. + because sans 'S God loved og in us and ob Because Sc
Jesus commanded us SO to do. q John Ill,
II; John XIV, I'D Peter ia moreover ,ors ha u says nt the
heart and fervent. q Peter i, 70 But in
the lesson Paul puts the law in a more
to love" He deems love to be a debt. one
that can never be discharged, which one
c GnSs alMaf together By Mutual affection. as
every planet in the solar system is bound
to every other planet. and as all worlds IN
This is the new law under which believers
are placed. The old law regulated mems
conduct by statute. Innumerable regula-
tions were imposed and judges were APP
pointed to adjust differences so that the
might be secured. This law does not abolish
the Decalogue-it fulflls it (Rom. Ill. 80.
because love works no evil to ones neigh
NEW DAY.-Werses IL and I'D Now is
high time to awake out of sleep; for now is
hand The Inspired writer's were no
but forward for the golden era. Eccl. vii,
1o.) Fully aware of the evil in the world
| did not therefore conclude that all things
were. fastening to ruin. On the contrary
they be ,e " 1 hstte the e. e general ahat tendency ths E a"f
come would be to the glory of God. phil.
ii, III With, the prophets every dark
the Messiah. Mal. ", 1, p With the
apostles there was the expectation that
Jesus would come again. Gil Tim. iN, So Not
the least of the services rendered by
prophets and apostles was ne awakening
been filled with despair. So in the lesson
Paul calls attention to the period in which
he lived. THE night'-the time of darkness
and ignorance. of sin and oppression-..1s
far spent The day is at hand'-the
time of light, of joy and good will, is being
ushered in. He would have the Roman
Christians realize that they We're entering
upon a new era which Abraham John viii,
Sc, and Zacharias duke l., 7S), though sep
arated by centuries, rejoiced to see. He de-
sired them to know >-4eir exalted privileges.
| as children Of the day tThes. v, 5, 81, and
calls special attention to re fact that they
had made spiritual progress since they first
believed QI Cor. vi, y. an earnest of what
they might expect. That they might be pre-
pared for this new time fHeb. iv, y he ex-
horts them to awake out of sleep Qsph.
v, 1D, to shake off the stupor that had
settled down upon the carnal world, and
bring into fullest activity all of their re-
deemed powers.
NEW WALK.-Uerses II to 1D-The apos-
tie next exhibits the conduct becoming TO a
Christian in this new day. That conduct
he calls d walk a favorite expression. used
by him thirty times in his epistles, also by
the other sacred writer's. Gen. v, "a; / John
i. - The follower of Jesus is not a perma-
nent dweller here Heb. xiii, 40, but he is
on IL journey through these earthly rela-
tions to an eternal home. Neither is he ex-
| pectetl to remain in d fixed type of char
i arfer hIlt m ha continually advancing fHah