The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-15
2. Decided by the First Apo


given the price for the support Of the
impoverished believers. He had ever
atterward been an honored representa-
| tive of the church. Paul, after his con-
version we recall, had been twice before
at his nations capital. Soon after the
revelation he received on the way to
Damascus, he came for conference with
Peter and James; he had come again
with Barnabas bearing to the prosecuted
believers in Jerusalem the contributions
of the brethren of Antioch.
They acre received of the church and
the apostles and the elders. and they re
hearsed all the things that God had done
aDith them. 1t was naturally the first
duty of the missionaries to make mani
fest to the brethren in Jerusalem the ex-
tent and nature of the mission they had
fulfilled in foreign lands. The question
to be decided by the Jerusalem church
was, whether, by the adoption of policy
of exclusion, it was to set itself against
such inspiring missionary endeavor.
There was, we easily infer, a growing
JOY among the home apostles and the
larger-minded brethren, in hearing of
the acceptance OF the Gospel by the dis
tant Gentiles.
But there rose up certain of the sect of
the Pharisees aoho belieued saying, 1t is
needful to circumcise them and to charge
them to keep the ldaU of Moses. The
time had come for the missionaries to
ask the question which had brought
them to Jerusalem. The fret apostolic
council was summoned to decide what
should be the doctrine and policy of the
church.
The question at issue may seem to US
simple; but it was really complex and
difficult.
The Pharisaic Jews. with the training
of the Pharisees behind them, and the
spirit of the Pharisees in them, plausi.
bly, asked: as the rule of fifteen hun
dred years to be reversed? Are we, the
chosen people of God. to descend to the
level Of the people with whom we have
hitherto scorned to eat? Who can point
to definite declaration of Jesus that
we should thus deny the old Scriptures
and insult Gods elect? IL we repeal
the old law. are we not going contrary
to both the example and the teaching of
Jesus?"
This appeal to the ingrained preiudi-
ces of the Pharisaic Jews was not with
out its influence.
In the council the humanitarian
view was supported by Peter Tvs. ILL;
by Barnabas and Paul I've. 12); and by
James I've. 1921
Peter reminding his hearers that he
had himself, good while before, been
chosen of God to begin the work which
Barnabas and Paul had been continu-
ing. He declared the fact that the Gen.
tiles under his own ministry had re-
ceived the Holy Spirit; proving that the
Holy Spirit does not regard us as differ.
emit from the Gentiles. The Gentiles
have been actually saved by the Gospel;
their hearts have been cleansed by faith.
Peter then touched upon the bondage
to the Mosaic Ritual Law which they
had all as Christians thrown off; would
they impose yoke on the Gentiles they
had themselves been unable to bear?
But, he said, ace believe that ace shall be
saved through the grace of the Lord
Jesus an like manner as they.
There was an impressive silence in the
assembly when the missionaries gave
their testimony. Barnabas was the
fret to speak. But it cannot be doubted
that. here as elsewhere. Paul was the
chief speaker. They told their story.
The events of Paphos, Antioch of Pisidia.
Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, and the
many conversions made to the New
Life by the marvels of the Spirit, proved
beyond gainsaying that the same Power
which had been with the church in Je-
fusalem, and with Peter in the first
preaching to the Gentiles. had been
with them in their free proffers of the
Gospel 70 the pagane,
James, the brother of the Lord. was
known, because of his austere sanctity.
as james the just" A tradition, to
which Dean Stanley gives credence,
describes him as like the ancient saints
even in outward aspect. with the austere
features the linen ephod, the bare feet.
the long locks and unshorn beard of the
Nazarite." No judgment could have
such weight as his with the Judaizing
party. He plainly pronounced that the
Mosaic rites were not of endless obliga-
ton. He referred to Peter.-rendering
his name in Jewish form Symeon.-as
having proved that God was making for
himself people outof the Gentiles. He
quoted from Amos saying signifying
that grace to all the Gentiles was Gods
intention from the beginning of the
world. He declared it to be his judg-
ment that the Gentiles should not be
troubled with Hebrew ritualism; but
that they should simply be admon-
ished to abstain from all idolatry
and from the grossness and impurity
of the pagan customs accompanying
idolatry. He said that the claims
of the Law of Moses could be
made unon the Gantilaa nv the Jews