The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-24
BY
j. E. Gilbert, DID,
Secretary of American
Society of Religious
Education.

I ,ians. To pass them by in silence would he a
! reproach TO the gospel. But what instruction
shall be given. to meet their needs to prepare
for a better order of society? The practical part
of the advice is very beautiful. Tie order to
adorn the gospel is all important. A slave may
| shine. tPhil., iv, l1)
THE MINISTER'S MOTIVES.
DIVINE GRACE.-(vcrse 1l.)--This kind Of
ministerial service, and this kind Of living ON
the part OF those addressed is to be commend.
ed because we live under dispensstion of grace.
(Ephesians, iii, - 1t is the free favor OF God,
| and not any merit in man. that brought people
into the relations in which they are expected to
live to His glory. But grace ought to be a
| constructing force, inclining men to goodness II
Corinthians, v, l+.l5). This grace brings saliva.
tion from sin and wrath to faith and holiness.
This that il ehioncd il the very end sought
by divine grace. To live in this way is to
live agrceably to the design OF God
DIVINE TEACHlNG.-(Verse l2.)--More0ver,
the gracious revelation is a teaching process. 1t
is not merely II call or command. life or
pattern, but series OF precepts, all running in
one direction and urging men to deny ungod.
ness and worldly lllsts and to live soberly and
rShtcously. II is no longer a matter Of infer.
enee but course OF wholesome instruction. As
reason OF those addressed.
BLESSED HOPE.--(Ncrse l3. 3.)--The gospel bids
men TO look forward and TO be influenced by the
things OF the future. Herein it Is distinguished
irom most purely human systems OF thought
They rest largely upon the past, the memory Of
which creates Il conservative spirit. 0rientaliSm
Is conformity to the institutions Of the fathers.
Hence, the eastern world Is stationary. But the
thnu
are dominated by hope, In this instance Paul
cites as the ground Of hope which he calls
blessed. 1.-THE glorious appearing OF Jesus Christ"
PECULIAR PEOPLE.--(Verse 1L)-FinaIy as
the most potential OF all motives. the apostle
mentions the end which Jesus sought to accom-.
plish by his selfsacrfcing life and death. lie
came into the world, taught, labored and died
that he might gather out OF the great MASSES
of humanity people for himself (Matthew, i,
aD who should be distinguished from all Others
by their purity, by their zeal for good works
that is for right living, and by these qualities
might be a very peculiar people. tEphesans,
81, l0.) This being the ease the ministry which
Paul urged and the doctrine which he outlined
as well as the kind OF life which he enjoined,
were all so many necessary prelmnaries 10 the
accomplishment OF our Lords purpose
SUMMARIZING see what pointed and prac.
tical work thc minister has 10 do, a work not
less important in our day than in the first cen
tuly. We see what large place the minister has
in pertccting society. lie is the teacher OF the
people, We see how the various members OF So
cicty--oli men, old women, young men, young
women, seYants-arc to conduct themselves to-
ward each other; what dispositions they should
cherish, what practices they should avoid, what
practices they should indulge. The maxms pre-.
sented herein are old,fashioned. quite contrary