The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-06-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for June 70.
IsD7-Personal ResponsibiIity-Ro
mans 14.1O-2l.


THE sEcTIoN.-Read chapter IA and
TIME.-Written early in the spring of
PLACE.-written to the church at Rome
from Corinth. at the close OF the three
months residence there OF Acts 20: 3.
LESSON NOTES
1. Some Difficult Problems of the
Early and of the Modern Church.-Two
of these practical problems are referred
to in the early part of the chapter.
First. The question of what it was right
TO eat. The church consisted of Jews
and Gentiles, who were brought up un-
erdifferent influences and ceremonials.
Some ate only vegetable food, others
felt that they could eat any kind of
food they pleased ". p. Second. A
similar question among those who be-
lieved it right to eat animal food was
whether it was right to eat flesh that
had been offered to idols. Third. There
was a question of Sabbath observance
Tvs. 5, g.. We are to remember that at
this time the seventh day was kept by
the Jews, and the first day of the week
by the Christians, both Jews and Gen
tiles. Some kept one day, some the
other, and some both. 1t was not ques-
ton whether the Sabbath should be
kept, but which day should be the Sab
bath rest.
III. The Only True Solution. The
Law of Love.-The method of settle
ment is that employed all through the
Bible, of laying down general prin-
ciples, and not definite rules and com
mands. We must apply the same prin-
ciples to our modern problems.
First. The Law of Love, Freely Grant
ing Liberty of Consc;ence.-Vs. 1913
10. 'Why dost thou judge thy brother?"
The word Judge" here does not mean
"form an opinion" for everyone must
do this of many persons and things. 1t
means to impute wrong motives, to put
the worst and not the best construc-
ton on the actions or words of others.
"Set at nought thy brother" AS if he
had no conscience, no right to decide for
himself, as if he were unworthy of con-
fidence. For we shall all stand" etc.:
AS Christ said with what Judgment
We judge, ye shall be judged" IL. For
it is written" in Isaiah %. IL. Give
account of himself" The book of his
life will be opened, and every act, in
Guiding his censorious judgments Of
others, will be open before God.
Second. The Law of Love Refuses to Put
Stumbling Block in the Way of Others.
VS.. 1915. But judge this rather:"
That is, turn your judgment to your
selves, and see to it that by your use
of your liberty do not cause others to-
fall into sin.
IA. II know, and am persuaded" In
reference to different kinds of food
or food offered to idols. There is moth
ing unclean of itself. The food does
not affect the spirit, or the character,
for good or evil. If one had to do only
with himself, there would be no difficult
~ whatsoever. But to him that es-
teemeth anything to be unclean, to
him it is unclean:" Because in eating
it, he goes against his sense of right,
and defiles his conscience, just as much
as if it were really unclean. 1t shows u
want of principle.
Is. "If thy brother be grieved:" In
jured, hurt; this word expresses tho
painful and bitter feeling produced in
the heart of the weak by the spectacle
of the free and bold eating of the strong.
Destroy not" etc. BY tempting him
to sin, by our example or per-
suasion, and especially by ridiculing
him, as narrow, bigoted, puritanical.
Third. The Law of Love Gains It's
Victories by Putting the Highest
Things First.-Vs. 1921. II. For"
Do not lay such stress on this freedom
of yours as to cause a breach in the
church, for eating and drinking are
not the principle of that Kingdom
which you hope to inherit. But there
are some things absolutely essential;
righteousness" in heart and life, espe-
cially duties toward man, peace" with
God and man, land JOY" in the Holy
Spirit, pure, Heavenly joy.
10. Follow after" With all your
heart, letting no such outward matters
as food and drink interfere with your
reaching the goal. Things which make
for peace:" In the church, among
Christians. "Edify another:" Build
up character and Christian life, as
temple is builded for Gods indwelling.
or house for true living.
81. at is good" Honorable, noble,
worthy. There is nothing, except what
is honorable, Paul means, in abstaininS
when we sacrifice our liberty to cha'-
fly. We not only have liberty to eat,
we have also liberty to abstain from
eating. "Nor to drink wine:" Will you
not give up poor tickling of the palate.
an unwholesome tingling of the brain,
to rescue your nation from bhghting
degradation? Not long ago there was
an explosion in colliery, by which
400 miners were suddenly hurled amid
shattered ruins into horrible death. 1t
was caused by a single miner, who had
opened his safety-lamp to light his
pipe. To that pipe were sacrificed 400
precious lives of fathers, husbands and
sons. The social atmosphere around us
is full of the explosive fire-damp of
intemperance. Total abstinence is our
ety-lamp.-Farrar.
Liberty does not prevent anyone from
holding decided opinions, and speaking
of them. and arguing for them. Liberty
is not indifference.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Every one must settle the questions
of right and wrong before the bar OF