The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-17
EXPOSED ERRORS. Tho expostitor OF
Scripture must be faithful to the intent
ana context OF a passage Under treat

EXPOSED DRRoRs.--Th exposition Of
Scripture must be faithful to the intent
and context OF passage under treat at
n,ent Hence. It is proper here e to expose 'ssi
three errors made by the international n '''
CON n,lttce In ithe lesson Of the day.
The title given by them as above IS ap-3
propriate only as covering the first th t's g
verses The subject OF temperance, IN
the Interest OF which they desire me
whole lesson to be used. Is mentioned
only in one clause OF the thirteenth
verso. n " lille the seventh verso belongs
With the six preceding verses OF the chap
tcr, from which II Is violently torn. Thes
word therefore. OF that verse is a PRO-
test against such NUT ton ne studetlt
Will find these notes cast pom the true
construction OF the section It will be In
every way helpful TO read tho entire
chapter. thereby obtaining the general l
drift Of thought that. was IN the minu
OF tho apostle. In that way alone Fay ny
tho several items presented here receive
their proper setting and their fair con-
sideratlon. Z,
JUST DUES (verses Z and 81 N The
duty Of tho Christian to the civil powers
is ,nfolded In verses L to Q. AL Is the
officers OF government are ordained OF
God-they arc tcrrors to evildoers, minis
tiers OF righteousness to the people. ann ar
are worthy OF all honor. tDan. ii: -!
This Is made the ground for generni
rule which rises above even poliNtica,
relation in life. Something Is due 20
every human being-to one tribute. to an
other fear, to another honor. Lie Is a
| 3networl OF influences. No one llyeth 10
| himself. (Rom., xiv:D. Every one is
obligated to every other, and ny these
reciprocal duties society Is made corr.
plicated system, in which eacl, must I ma
| a place and act a part. Hence, each must
| carefully consider what is justly due %
each person with whom no comes IN COZ. con,
| tact and render that with exa ctness and
promptness In this way there must be
m effort to keep out Of debt, to owe no
man anything, and to feel that only ono
! debt Ia allowable. namely, love. 2. 5t
BRIEF IIAW.--(V s and 81 This
! conception OF human relations and duties
| puts now complexion upon tho law IN
| every country legislative bodies have
prescribed or prohibited and so regulated
conduct. The statutes enacted In every
| State are numerous and complicated, ana
| the many revisions show that the work
! has never been perfect. It falls to meet
all circumstances. On Sinai eek. * :3--ll)
God gave a code In ton requirements
which have been admired wherever they
have been published rs simple. compre-t
hensiye and Just. Paul shows that these
may all be compressed into one-'thou
shalt love thy neighbor AS ithyself :" Love
| fulNIJs all the cnactments pertaining to
man. This Is only a repetition OF what
| Jesus had said (Matt. XIII :3a). and. in
deed is in fun harmony with the teacn
ling OF Moses. Q.av. xix;1S.) It Is brought
| into this place to show that mechanical
conformity to law Is not true keen:
Ing OF It. Behind the act there must be
a state OF tho heart.
HARMLESS LovE.-Werse 1o) But
why IS love so essential2 Why
does II give significance and value
to the act? why is It, in fact,
equivalent to all tbs obligations
| imposed upon mon vi tn reference to their
fellows Because It 10 a REGULATE tive force,
l and that in two senses-lt prompts to
| good deeds and restraints from evil deeds.
| The later are those things Of which the
'llaw takes cognlznnce. which is Furnishes
! with the Wow to prevent repetition. But
love does moro than the lay It keeps
one from doing any harm to his neigh
! bor. He who loves needs no law, and none
| Is formulated for him. Flo rises IN an
i other realm where he has respect to the
rights and interests OF others and seeks
i to promote them. II a men were prompts
ed by love all tho criminal laws would
b
/ lly come to most peaceful and happy
4 state, This Is ono thing sought by the
4 gospel n Or ON. XII :1o), whose attainment
/ will bring In that golden era for which
4 good hearts pray and earnest hands labor.
i (Matt.8 vl:10) ft4 ss
GOSPEL TIMELY 1l,) Having
! shown the power OIL loyo ms n rogula-
tive principle In human affairs the eos
4 pei presents reason for Its adoption
Il beyond the mere fact that It brings good
I and prevents evil A new dIspensntior
or era has come r time OF larger light
4 and privilege. when the gospel in all Its
! purity is preached to all men. Renem.
berlng this fact all tho followers o1
Christ arc expected to awake out OF
sleep. to coma TO their best intellectual
:. land spiritual state, to- lead wholly life ant
do Justly to all, Here Is q beautiful fg-
lure OF speech Tho new time WAS like
tho dawn; OF the day, whom men leave
their couches and go forth to duty. Sc
says Paul must tho Christian consider
that he is to summon himself to the
7 utmost possibilities OF good living, AND
! this he ought to do with greater alac
|rity, because at that time progress hut
been made and the results wero appar
ont. Salvation tho end sought. was
nearer than when faith was first exer
olaed. There was q daily approach t
tho now Kingdom
g AI FAST IL nj FL erSe 3lI,) NntuTSl!y y ~
4 mind Of Paul turned from tho glory o
the present time, the gospel day, to con
slider In contrast the darkness that wa wa
\ passed, The deplornble condition OF tn
heather had been portrayed by him u
the caller part OF this eplstle Rom.8 !
2l-sl). and the Jews were not far he
q hind. notwithstanding they had been q
highly favored. Q2on. III, o. But If,
II time for such Ignorance and crime wa
far spent. It was rapidly disappearing
before the splendor of the day, Of wftcl
4 mention had Just beanmnde Under sucl
circumstances the believers are callet
K to emerge from tho darkness 70 IN
light, to advance from the past TO IN
present, Tho exhortaton - Ike tina
which might be made now with prophet:
to any who proposed 70 llnger IN |, th,
gloom OF the eighteenth century Whieel
has wholly departed forgetful that tn
twentieth century has come with ~ y
magnificent opportunities its nigh iaeal
and It's splendid prospects, Put on. then