The Yale expositor., 1913-11-06

thing whereby thy brother stumbleth."
Rom. H:21.
Paul was in Corinth, a city of lux
Try, learning and RIGHTEOUSNESS when
he wrote this letter to the believers in
Rome, a letter of profound logic and
ethics as well as profound study in
psychology and philosophy.
!. None Of US llveth to himself"
w. 7-11. Paul begins this chapter by
giving a caution as to doubtful dispu-
tations, judgments upon thoughts"
whether II be in the matter OF eating
herbs or meats, or In the observance.
of set days. Who are we but fellow
servants ". A. of God? About such
things as habits and observance Of
days we must each be assured in our
own minds, (v. 81, but while that is
rue yet, none liveth to himself
". y, for 1--WE are the Lords" ". 81.
lie is the universal Lord, both OF the
living and the dead, ". 81. What folly,
therefore, for any believer to set him
self up in judgment upon his brother.
Four Things Suggested.
II. "Give an account TO God" w.
1918. Verse IL suggests four things:
Q) A universal summons, each one
OF US" great and small, obscure or ia
nous, each one must appear, none
overlooked none excluded, none ex-
cused. (2) A particular summons,
each one Of u.s." not en- masse, but
as separate units. go A purposeful
summons, ito give account" not of
others but each of himself. II will not
be blind justice" that shall await us
there, but a holy God, one who knows
all, sees all, every thought and imagi-
nation Of the human heart (Gen. 6: 81
and whose judgment will be righteous.
(4) A rightful summons, because of it's
source, before Cod" and shall not the
Judge of the whole earth do right?
No excuse because OF the failure OF
others will avail, no subterfuge be ac-
ceptable, strict justice" will condemn.
Man-made laws and ordinances as to
what we eat or what days we may OBJ
serve will then be revealed in the
white light Of the God whose name is
love. In the light of such a prospect
how pertinent therefore that we turn
". 49,, from judging others and look
well to our own conduct, lest that con-
duct become a rock of stumbling to
other and weaker brethren.
Another Law.
III. "Follow after things which make
for peace w. 1928. To follow that
which shall edify is to exercise the
'law of liberty" James in his epistle
G:25, 2:12) tells us to look into this
law and to continue therein for by 1t
we shall be judged, yet there is still
another law, "the royal law" (2:S,
Matt. 22:36-40), the fulfilling Of which
will settle every question of mans re-
lation to man. We should so use our
liberty that IL be not evil spoken OF
or become a rock of stumbling to any.
Whether or not the kingdom of God
be in us, or we in the kingdom, de-
pends not upon the scrupulous observ-
ance of ordinances either as to eat
ing, or the observance of days, but
rather in the manifest righteousness Of
our lives and in having peace in our
hearts, ch. 1913. being filed with 10y
in the Holy Spirit" v. II. Therefore,
il to eat meat shall cause my brother
to stumble or to be made weak ". 21)
Il will eat no flesh for evermore," I"
l. Cor. S:13.
All of this leads up to the true prin-
ciple of total abstinence as revealed
in verse 21, ut is good not to eat
flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do
anything whereby thy brother STUN
bleth or is offended" This does not
alone apply to the Great American
Juggernaut, the commercialized liquor
traffic, which, according to the United
States Supreme court, has no legal
ground upon which to stand. When
the members of the church of God
in this "land of liberty" shall each
be governed by this principle it will
not be long before the liquor problem
any many other questions that are
troubling us will be settled. The real
question will not be rs it wrong?"
but rather, How will it affect my
brother?" All meats are clean, we
know that, Acts 10:15, but we also
know that many cannot eat, cannot
participate in our acts, with q clear
conscience because in so taking part
there comes before the mind of the
weaker brother the evil associations
and practices which so frequently ac-
company such acts or such eating.
Our indulgence, no matter how innQ-
cent and entirely harmless IL may be
to us, is therefore not to be thought
of. This settles the drink question.
the tobacco habit, dancing, card play.
ing, theater going, and all question
able amusements."
Z For once teach temperance lesson
not on the ground of the narrowing
effects of this awful traffic, but try to
show that intemperance is largely the
result OF selfishness. Show how less
selfishness in our social relations
would help to keep men away from
the saloon. Less selfishness in money
would keep us from accepting blood,
tax money. Less selfishness on tn
part of churches by activities durins
the week would keep children and
young people from growing familiar