own credit, for exBmple, or his own comfort. Equally In the enl7al7ement~ of domestic life, of business life, of public affairs; equally (to look towards th; humbler walks of duty) In the doy's work of the Christian servant, or peaaant, or artisan ; • whether ho lives, he lives unto the Master, or whether he dies, he dies unto the Master; ' wheth-rr he wakes or sleeps, whether he toils or rests, whether it be the term or the vacation of life, • whether he eBts or drinks, or whatsoever he does,' he is the Master's property for the Master's use. " ' Teach me, my God and King, In all things thee to see, And what I do in anything To do it as to thee. '"' A servant with this clauae Makes drndgery divine : Who sweeps a room as for thy laws Makes that and th' action fine.'" (Moule's • Thoughts on the Spiritual Life,' pp. 150, 151.) V. INSTEAD OF .nmomo OTHERS, WE OUGHT TO THmK OF BEING JUDGED AT THE .TUDGMENT-BAB OF JESUS OURSELVES. (Vers. 10-12.) Paul points the lesson home. He would have his readers to give up the judgment-seat and think of the jndgment- bar. Better to think how we shall meet Christ's scrutiny ourselves than be contemp- tuously condemning weak brethren around us. Leave the weak and the strong with the Lord, who is no respecter of persons, and let us judge ourselves only, and make sure of II proper appearing at the judgment-bar of Christ. Thus, when all relations are carried up to the feet of Christ, peace is preserved and progress through self-knowledge secured !-R. M. E. Vers. 13-23.....:..Deference to weak consciences, not condemnation of them. Having taken his readers up to the judgment-bar of Jesus, the only Lord of the conscience, he now proceeds to show how we are to help weak brethren. It will not be by condemn- ing their scruples, but by following Christ in seeking their salvation. We are to defer to conscience so far as our weaker brother's spiritual interests are concerned, and sur- render meat or wine, if by our total abstinence we can promote his salvation. L WE ARE·BOUND TO CONSIDER WHETHER OUR MANNER OF Llvn:IG llLI.Y NOT BE A !!TUMBLING-BLOCK TO OUB WEAK BB.OTHEB, Having taken his readers to Christ's judg- ment-bar, he now asks them to examine themselves as to the influence of their mode of living. Is their freedom an offence to the weak? Then in the spirit of the Master, who gave his life to save the weak brother, they ought to surrender their freedom in deference to their scruples. Surely, if Jesus surrendered life for the weak. brother, dying to redeem him, we ought to be ready to surrender meat or to surrender wine, if by so doing we can promote our weaker brother's welfare. Paul's position was a noble one. He knew that nothing was unclean of itself. He was none of your squeamish and scrupulous individuals. He could eat whatever was set before him; he could drink without the least exoess. But he was ready to surrender both meat and wine for the weak brother's sake. And this is the very spirit of Christ. It is here that we base our temperance reformation; not on partaking being a sin, but being inexpedient in view of the weak brother's dangers. 1 !L DOUBT AB TO OUR DUTY SHOULD LEAD US TO ABSTAIN BATHEB THAN I~D!JLGB UNTIL WE ARE FULLY PERSUADED IN OUR OWN MINDS. The apostle wants every man to be fully persuaded in his own mind as to his course of action. One who is not, one who hos no real faith in the course of aotion he is pursuing, is selt~ondemned. Paul wishes to bring all such to the side of abstinence. Better abstain from meat or drink until such times as the path of duty is clear. Now, there are multitudes that act quite dift'erently. They ~o on indulging themselves because they have not made up their minds. Now, ~hie 1e moral indifference, and deserves reprobation. Ill, THE DEATH OF CHRIST 1B TIIE GREAT MORAL LEVER WITH CONSCIENTIOUS SOULS. The apostle bases his whole plea for tho endangered brother on the death of Christ for him. If Christ died for him, we should surely abstoin for him. The death of Jesua • Bee Bortoln'a sermon on " Deferonoe to Oonsoienoo," in hla ' Sermons,' p. S51, eto. THE 'EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on. xv. 1-SS.
i~ thu~ !leen t-0 be t.he ~at mo~ leveJ'&t.,"6 for the world. Into the midst of things 'WldijFernit-for" the kingdom of God is not meat end drink; but righteousneee, and pea~ an~ joy in the Holy Gh<ll!t "~tho self-sl\crifice of our Master enters and compole ront<C1ent1ous souls t-0 make some 111\Crificcs for the sake of the brethren. 7Viei'r edifica- tion becomes our aim, sinoe the things 11ro indifferent. We are not eelfisbly to usert our liberty, but self-denyingly we are to forego it, and bind ourselves to abstinence for whatever may be a brother's snare. If we could get such a deferenco to conscience practised in the Christian Chun:h, society would very soon be regenerated,-R. M. E.