The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-31

splendid OF men ana women
| who are the partners OF one another
in the greatest work in the World, ana
mariners with Christ himself.
a REA BOOKS GREAT THEME.
T-erse Comments Upon the Christian
Endeavor Topic for September 5,
"Iife's Lessons for Me from the
Book of Romans" Rom. 12:1-21.
By WILLIAM T. Ellis.
"I think the Epistle to the Romans
the most profound work in existence
said the poet Coleridge. That is a
trained literary mans judgment Of the
book that the Endeavorers of the
world are called to study this week.
At the present moment, when there
is a Zeal Of flabby, inconsequentlal n
undigested discussion of ''new' relig-
ion and new" thought, it is important
that the stimulus of this tremendous
essay should be impaired to the minds
of those who are learning to do their
own thinking. Especially valuable
should it BE, in accrediting the his
toric Christian faith, to have young
people perceive the shallowness and
%inanity of the modern high-sounding
retension of men who, as
are to this great philosopher, Paul of
Tarsus, as the hines astrologer is
TO the late astronomer, III NEW
comb. The man who Sneers at the
New Testament teaching as being
crude, primitive and ~outgroWn, s1mp-
" writes himself down as
with the New Testament.
It is easier to scott at a big book
than it is to understand it.
A taste vitiated by the reading Of
nnuvcnanorS M q p9 zines and current
fiction is likely to find such a book as
Romans hard reading" While full
Of superb simplicities, and Of counsel
that the least thoughtful can not fail
to comprehend, the main argument Of
the book is on a high plane, where the
atm osphere is rather rare for feeble
constitutions. Paul here sets forth the
Observation-Disclosures by faith.
SecOndarily, he arrays the unansWer-
able arguments against the Judaizing
tendency that was abroad in the early
Christian Church, showing the uni
versatility of the gospel. When a writ
err undertakes to set forth the nature
of the relation that subsists between
man and his Creator, he is on
the deepest water tina the human in
tellect has ever ventured to nav1gate.
Admittedly, this is the weightiest ques-
ton that has ever engaged the mind
Of the greatest In this book,
the learned traveller, philosopher and
theologian presents the most satisfac-
tory treatment of the theme ever adj
duced. So it is strong meat Of which
Christian Endeayorers are this week
asked to partake.
Until men have succeeded in living
up to even the lower levels Of the
Book Of Romans, there is no burning
need for any "new thought"
When did Paul write this tremend-
Gus letter.? He had never been in
Rome. The church there was not di-
rectly Of his founding; and surely he
had cares enough with his own
churhes to engross him. There were
lesser and greater reasons for the
writing Of this epistle. Paul had per-
sonal friends among the Christians
in Rome; and, secondly, he wished to
advise the brethren Of the city of the
Caesars Of his purpose to visit them.
Primarily, though, his warrant was
that Of every great spirit who feels
himself possessed Of a vital truth. The
great writers and orators and teach
ers have never sought any other Gre
dentials than the knowledge that they
had a message. Pau1's high passion
that the truth of Jesus might prevail
at the center Of the empire led him
to address this inspired exposition Of
the wa of God to the disciples who
represented the gospel at the very seat
Of imperial government.
h reading public delights to ga
Their even scraps Of personalia con-
corning 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 immorta1ize him, and make his
home one of the landmarks Of 1itera-
ture. We wonder if Gaius sat in the
room, an interested listener, while
Paul dictated this great work to Ter