Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-09
Explanatory.

Discrimination: that Is, hypocrisy. Let
love be without acting or pretense. This
little sentence implies more than it says.
Love was so prevalent, and so strongly
characterized the church, that he who
had it not was tempted to simulate it."
ALL the verbs that follow have the idea
of continuous action. The sort of conduct
that is here prescribed is not to be a mat
ter of occasional remembrance; it is to
be a life, constant and unwearying in
love.-Cleaving to the good is here rep
resented in the original by the word
meaning to glue, to cement-a very strong
figure
I'm honor preferring one another: a
"holy emulation" in unselish deeds. 1t il
not ''preferring one another" in our sense
of the word, but preceding one another in
the effort to do each other honor Com
pare the passage in / Cor. ID: 3, seek
eth not her own" The Romans are ex-
horted to be fervent both in the outer
manifestation Zeal and in the inner
source 1.-THE spirit Of the divinely given
love.
Continuing instant in prayer: that is,
persisting in prayer, in spite Of opposition
or encouragement.
Distributing to the necessity of
saints: rather, sharing in the necessity
Of saints; the Romans are exhorted to
share the sorrows as well as the joys Of
their brethren, sharing their necessity by
giving what could be spared.-Hospi-
tally is not merely a pleasant social ac-
complishment; it is a Christian virtue and
duty.
BLESS them which prosecute you:
from the sermon on the mount.
"Be Of the same mind: this does not
command uniformity of opinion, but toll
erance and liberality. mind not high
things" is a way Of saying, do not give
much thought to outward social distinc-
TONS"
This sums up the whole passage and in
deed the whole principle of Christian liv-
ing with regard to outward conduct.
Teaching Hints.
A striking comparison may be made be-
tween this chapter and 1 Cor. 10, which
we studied some weeks ago. In both the
theme is Christian love, but in the other
chapter love Is considered from the point
of view of the poet and the prophet, while
in this Paul is the wise shepherd Of men,
the student Of human nature, the lover of
souls and the hater OF evil, whose words
are suited to the actual needs of Roman
Christians subject to the temptations Of a
great city and of eternal dissension.
1t may be pointed out that while verse
IL rightly translated does not refer spe-
officially to secular business, so-called, the
diligence and zeal there recommended in
spiritual affairs should lead to similar ac-
tivity In ones daily employment. Chris
tian living does not always insure sue
cess in business, in the worldly sense; In
deed, in the opinion of some, obedience to
the rules laid down In this lesson would
make it impossible for most people to ac-
quire wealth. But whether that be true
or not, il Is certain that the Christian
should do the best Of which he is capable
in whatever trade, business or profession
he may be placed. hT
The last sentence OF the lesson. as was
noted, is the epitonie of the whole. No
better life motto could be found than that
sentence, BE not overcome of evil. but
overcome evil with good" The cease
less strife between these two great forces.
good and evil. cannot be confined to re-
straint OF evil. The evil must be dis
placed by the good. the darkness by the
light. And the glorious fact which
shines out through the whole Bible and
the history of Christianity is that good ID
more powerful than evil and can overs
come It.
Next Lesson--'Paurs Address to ~
Ephesian Elders. Acts 20: 22-36.