The Washington herald., 1909-08-28


Primarily though. his warrant was that
Of every great spirit who feels himself
possessed of a vital truth. The great
writer's and orators and teachers have
never sought any other credentials that
the knowledge that they had a message.
Paul's high passion that the truth OF
Jesus might prevail az the center Of the
empire led him to address this inspired
exposition OF the ways OF God to the dis
ciples who represented the Gospel at the
very seat Of imperial government.
The reading public delights to gather
even scraps of personala concerning
great writer's and the makers of their
books How we envy Gaius, in whose
house in Corinth this letter was written.
Little did the open-hearted host realize
that his act Of hospitality would inn
mortalize him, and make his home one
OF the landmarks Of literature. We won
der II Galus sat in the room. an inter
ested listener, while Paul dictated this
great work to Tertius. who acted as his
| amanuensis. II so. we can imagine him
rehearsing choice portions Of It to his
wife, and sharing them with his fellow
Corinthian Christians.
A great strategist was the Apostle
Paul. He ever kept his eye on the
pivotal places. II was his deliberate pol
icy to try to capture and hold the cen
ters of Influence for the new faith OF
which he was a minister. II he were
living to-day he would be leading the
forces Of Christendom up against New
York and London and Paris and Shang-
hal and Tokyo and Calcutta. Even as he
coveted Rome for Christ. that out from
II might radiate the teachings OF the Cos
pei, so he would adapt the wisest modern
methods to the ChristianiZation OF the
great metTopolises of earth. The church
needs to be delivered from thinking in
terms OF parishes. and to learn to think
in terms Of cities, nations, and the world
No great writing Is ever dashed of. "
Into It must go preparation. either espe-
cial immediate preparation. or that larger
preparation which comprehends a life
time OF observation. study and thought
This letter 10 the Romans contains no
! less than sixty-one quotations from the
/ Old Testament, and these not from any
one special portion OF the canon which
Paul knew. but ranging over at least
! fourteen OF the books Of the Hebrew
/ Scriptures. The person who Is saturated
with that thought and phraseology OF the
Bible is excellently prepared for both
| literature and life.
Paul eagerly desired 20 go TO Rome
But he had to wait for three years after
the writing Of his letter for the fulhument
OF this wish. and then he went. not as
a free agent. but conveyed as a prisoner
and so shielded on his way by Rll the
power OF Rome. Upon arrival he was
met by some OF the friends 10 whom
\ this letter was addressed. The first two
years after reaching Rome the apostle
spent as prisoner, but in his own hired
/ house. Whether he was released from
! this imprisonment and made another
/ missionary tour IS point upon which
| scholars do not agree 10 Is certain thai
eventually he was executed for his faith
and now the tourist in Rome Is taken q
a magnificent new cathedral built over
what is supposed to be the apostle.
grave.
A small portion OF the Book OF Ro
mans praCtlced is better than the whole
volume discussed. The book was writer
in order to be lived.
The pregnant sentences that sparkle
throughout the letter TO the Romans
afford unlimited lessons" These may
be commented upon according 20 indt
vidual taste. The chapter selected fol
special study has often been called THE
Christian Endeavor chapter" because q
embodies so well the genius Of the young
peoples movement.
An unfamiliar but Illuminating render.
ing OF two words in the first verse OF
the twelfth chapter OF Romans Is giver
in the margin OF the American Revision
The familiar reading is. Il beseech yol
therefore, brethren. by the mercies O'
God. that ye present your bodies a lv'
ing sacrifice. holy. acceptable unto God
which IS your reasonable service" Tn,
margin translates those last two word:
as spiritual worship" That is TO say
( spirituality is not something intangible
and mystical; II is expressed by energies
and activities. II is when Christiani
offer up their bodies in service that they
render a spiritual worship"