The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-19

of the church at Corinth.
KINGDOM. -- The progress in the
thought of the apostle led him, at this
point, to a more comprehensive as well
as accurate view of the Christian religion.
He would have the Roman believers know
that there were many weightier matters
than the questions of meat and drink about
which they had contended (verse 10. They
were members of the kingdom of God,
which John the Baptist proclaimed
(Matt. iii, p, which Jesus came to estab-
lish Matt. iv, 20, and which His follow
ers ought to promote (Matt. vi, 1O. That
kingdom was one of righteousness OBJ
tanned by faith, and peace and joy re-
sulting (Rom v, 1-2. Men are to be ac-
cepted on that ground (verse lS), and not
because of any mere abstinence from
food. or any performance of a rite. TO
lift up the thought to this grander con-
ception and make the people understand
the nature Of the very system which they
had adopted was calculated to deliver
them from disputes and to enlist them
in an earnest seeking after that which
was essential.
UNITY,--The three closing verses uf
the lesson Q9, 20, 2D form an earnest plea
for unity, based on the ideas previously
advanced. Let us, therefore" Paul says,
an exhortation following an argument.
He first Of all commends those things
which make for peace and the things
which edify, things that are usually con-
Joined, becarse divisions enfeeble the
church aud hurt the individuals compos-
ing 1t. Uames iii, lD. He does not spe-
city particular things, but offers a regu-
lating principle. That principle acts on
Doth sides in any controversy and demands
change of temper and action. The apos-
tie however deems 1t wise to reiterate
the teaching on charity, given in verse
10, as a cQroilary of the principle. The
man whose conscience does not condemn
him must regard his weaker brother The
strong must always yield. (Gal. vi, p.
IL Is good, Chrlst-like and beautiful, to
indulge In no practice, however innocent
whereby another is offended. The very
object OF the church is to join the weak
and the strong for the special benefit of
the former. (Rom. XIV, D.
RIJFLECTIONS.-Th substance of our
lesson may be briefly set forth in these
precepts; /, No Christian should con-
denim another because God Is the Judge
OF ALL and all are TO answer to Him alone;
2 No man is thereby licensed to act in
dependent of his brother. but Is obligated
soto live as to avoid judgment; 8. Outward
conduct is good or bad according to the
motive that prompts IT, but as men can
not see the motive they are disqualified
for proper judgment; 4. The Christian
church Is not society for finding fault
with men but the kingdom Of God, seek
ing Righteousness, peace and holy 10Y; g.
They only viii be acceptable to God ana
approved by men who serve this Kingdom
according to its true spirit: g. Labor for
the peace OF the church and the upbuild-
Ing OF its members; 7. Though all things
are In themselves pure. man must keep
their conscience clean; g. The strong
should deny themselves whatever tends
to make others weak. or turn them away
from Christ These are all high truths
distinctively Christian, deserving our
study and practice.