ness.

that they may be saved. I bear Gentiles to excite them to emulathem witness that they have a zeal tion; and if their stumbling is the for God, but it is not according to riches of the world, and of the Genknowledge. For being ignorant of tiles, how much greater will the God's righteousness, and endeavor- riches of their restoration be? ing to establish a righteousness of 2 I am now speaking to you that their own, they have not submit- are Gentiles; inasmuch as I am ted themselves to God's righteous- the apostle of the Gentiles, I magNow Christ is the fulfilment nify my office, that I may, if pos of the ceremonial law, so that every sible, excite to emulation those who one that believeth in him may obtain are my kindred according to the righteousness. flesh, and may restore some of them. 12 And there is no difference be- For if the rejection of them is the tween Jew and Greek; for one and reconciliation of the world, what will the same Lord is over all, rich in the restoration of them be, but life mercy to all that call upon him; and from the dead? every one who calleth upon him shall obtain salvation.

3 If the first portion of the dough is holy, will not also the lump be 13 But how shall they call on him, holy? And if the root is holy, will in whom they have not believed? not also the branches be holy? If and how shall they believe in him, of then some of the branches have been whom they have not heard? and how broken off, and thou, a wild olive, shall they hear without a preacher? hast been grafted in among them, and how shall men preach, unless and become a partaker with them of they are sent forth? As it is writ- the root and fatness of the olive ten, How beautiful are the feet of tree, do not boast, for thou dost not those who preach the gospel of bear the root, but the root thee. peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!

14 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. Then Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? Nevertheless, belief cometh of hearing, even of hearing that which is spoken of God.

4 Thou wilt answer, The branches then were broken off, in order that I might be grafted in. Well, be it so. But on account of their unbelief they were broken off, and thou abidest on account of thy faith.

5 Be not high-minded then, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, take care lest he spare not thee. Consider the severity as well as the goodness of God;-severity toward those who fell; but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be rejected.

6 And also they, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be

grafted in again; for God is able to him, and through him, and to him graft them in; for if thou hast been are all things; to whom be the glory cut off from an olive tree wild by forever! Amen. nature, and hast against thy nature been ingrafted into a good olive tree, how much more shall these, the natural branches, be ingrafted into their own olive-stock?

SELECTION IX.

Entire self-consecration, humility, and unfeigned love enjoined. BESEECH you

I

you therefore, breth7 For lest ye should be wise in ren, by the mercies of God, to your own conceits, I would not present your bodies a living sacrifice, have you ignorant of this mystery, holy, well-pleasing to God, which is that blindness hath to some ex- your reasonable service. And do tent come upon Israel, until the not conform yourselves to the fash. gathering in of the Gentiles shall be ion of this world, but rather be transaccomplished; after that shall all formed by the renewal of your mind, Israel be saved. As it is written, that ye may learn by experience the There shall come out of Zion the will of God; what is good, and wellDeliverer; he shall turn away ungod-pleasing, and perfect in his sight. liness from Jacob; and this will be 2 Through the grace given to me my covenant with them, when II warn every one among you, not to shall have taken away their sins. think of himself more highly than 8 In regard to the gospel then, he ought to think, but to think sothey are enemies to it, because they berly, according to the measure of hate you; but in regard to God's faith which God hath imparted to favor, they are still beloved of him each. Even as in one body we have for the fathers' sake; for in respect to his gifts and appointments, there is no change of purpose with God.

9 Ye in times past were disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; so they too, though now disobedient, shall also obtain mercy through the mercy shown to you: for God permitted all to become disobedient in order that he might show mercy to all.

10 O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his purposes, and his ways past finding out! Who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been made his counsellor? Who first gave to him, so as to merit a reward? For from

many members, and the members have not all the same office, so we, though many, form one body in Christ, and each of us is a member of it in common with the rest.

3 Having then gifts which differ according to the grace which hath been bestowed upon us, if we have the gift of speaking, let us speak according to the measure of our faith; or if we have the gift of service, let us serve; or of teaching, let us teach; or of directing others, let us do it with diligence; or of advising, let us do it with simplicity; or of giving, let us do it generously; or of presiding over others, let us do it faithfully; or of doing deeds of mercy, let us do them with cheerfulness.

4 Let love be unfeigned. Abhor ernments which exist have been ap evil, cling to the good.

5 Be affectionate to one another; love as brethren; in honor, give each other the preference.

pointed by God; he therefore that rebelleth against the government rebelleth against what God hath appointed. And they who are rebel6 Be not deficient in zeal, but be lious will bring upon themselves fervent in spirit and in the service punishment; for governments are of the Lord; rejoice in hope; be not a terror to the good, but to the patient in affliction: persevere in evil.

prayer.

2 Wouldst thou then

thou then not be

7 Relieve the wants of the breth-afraid of the government? Do that ren; be given to hospitality; bless those who persecute you; bless, and

curse not.

8 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep; be of a common mind among yourselves.

9 Set not your desires on lofty things, but content yourselves with what is humble; and be not wise in your own conceits.

Io Render to no one evil for evil, but have regard to what is honorable in the sight of all; and if it be possible, so far as dependeth on you, live in peace with all men.

which is good, and thou wilt have praise, and the government shall be come God's servant to thee for good. But if thou doest evil, be afraid; for they who bear the sword bear it not in vain; they too are God's servants, avengers to inflict wrath upon him that doeth evil.

3 It is necessary therefore to be loyal to your government, not only through fear of punishment, but also for your conscience' sake.

4 And for the same reason pay tribute also; for they who collect these are also God's servants, attending continually to this special business. Render to all what is due to

II Dearly beloved, be not revengeful, but rather subdue and put away your wrath. Even as it is written, them: Retribution belongeth to me; I will due; repay, saith the Lord. But, if thy enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. brotherly love; for he that loveth

SELECTION X.

tribute, to whom tribute is custom, to whom custom is due; fear, to whom fear is due; honor, to whom honor is due.

5 Owe no man any thing but

others hath fulfilled the law; for these, Thou shalt not commit adul try, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and

All forms of civil government are providential, therefore men should be submissive to lawful authority; and toward all the other commandments, are all should be just and pure. summed up in this precept, Thou

LE

ET every one submit to the gov-shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ernment that is over him; for Love worketh no ill to one's neighthere is no form of government bor; therefore love is the fulfilling of which is not providential; all gov- the law.

6 And now, since we know these things, it is already high time for us to awake out of sleep; for our salvation is nearer than we first believed; the night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us then throw off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.

7 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in lewdness and wantonness, not in strife and envy, but let us be imbued with the spirit of Jesus Christ the Master, and think no longer about satisfying the lusts of the flesh.

SELECTION XI.

Toleration and charity to be exercised toward all, because God alone is judge, and each man's conscience is his own judg.

ment-bar.

HIM

Master; and he that regardeth it not in honor of the Master, he doth not rightly regard it.

4 Also he that eateth rightly, eateth in remembranee of the Master, and giveth thanks to God; and he that doth not eat in remembrance of the Master, and giveth not thanks to God, he doth not eat rightly.

5 None of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord; if we die, we die to the Lord; whether we live or die therefore, we are the Lord's.

6 Why then dost thou judge thy brother? Or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God; as it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall give praise to God.

7 So then, as every one of us will give account of himself to God, let us no longer judge each other; but let this rather be our judgment, not to put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in a brother's way.

IM that is weak in his faith receive with sympathy, and do not pass judgment on his opinions. One man thinks that he can eat every kind of food; another, who is sickly, can eat nothing but herbs; let not him who can eat every thing, despise him who can eat but a few things; and let not him who can eat Jesus the Master, that no kind of but a few things, judge him that eat-food is unclean in itself; but to him every thing for God accepts that thinketh it unclean, to him it is unclean: now, if on account of thy

them both.

8 I know, and am persuaded in

2 Moreover, who art thou that food thy brother is made to stumble, judgest the servant of another? To thou art no longer walking accordhis own master he standeth or fall-ing to love. eth; yea, he shall be assisted to stand, for the Lord is able.

3 One man esteems one day as more sacred than another; another man esteems every day alike: let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He that regardeth the day rightly, regardeth it in honor of the

9 Do not with thy food injure him for whom Christ was willing even to die. Let not the freedom which we enjoy be made a stumbling-block to others; for the kingdom of God consists not in eating and in drinking, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy through the Holy Spirit.

me.

IO And he who in this matter of Christ did not seek his own pleasure, self-sacrifice followeth the example but, as it is written, The reproaches of Christ is well-pleasing to God, and of them who reproached thee fell on approved by men: so then let us strive to promote peace, and the edification of each other; and not for the sake of food undo the work of God.

13 Whatever things were written aforetime, were written for our instruction; that we through the patience and the consolation of the scriptures might have hope.

II All things indeed are pure; but that which is pure becomes evil 14 And now, may the God of pato him who useth it in such a way as tience and consolation grant that to be an occasion of stumbling to you may be of the same mind one another. It is better neither to eat with another, according to Christ flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do Jesus; that with one accord ye may any other thing whereby thy brother with one mouth glorify God, the stumbleth, or is put in danger of fall- Father of Jesus Christ our Master. ing, or is made weak. Help one another, even as Christ helped you, to the glory of God.

15 And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope,

12 So it is that we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not merely please our selves; each one of us should please his neighbor, so as to promote what through the power of the Holy is good, for mutual edification. Spirit.

LETTERS TO THE CORINTHIANS.

SELECTION I.

Sectarianism and party rivalries in religion condemned; worldly wisdom shown to be of less account than consecrated lives, and simple faith in God.

PAUL, a chosen apostle of Christ

name of our Master Jesus Christ, that ye all remain united, and that there be no separations among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same spirit; for I have been informed that there are dissensions among you.

Jesus, by the approval of God, and Sosthenes the brother, to the congregation of God which is at 3 What I mean is this, that all of Corinth, consecrated to Christ Jesus, you are saying, one, I am a disciple and appointed to be holy; also to of Paul; another, I am a disciple all in every place who are called by of Apollos; another, I am a discithe name of Jesus Christ, our Mas-ple of Cephas; and another, I am ter and theirs, grace be to you, and a disciple of Christ. What then? peace, from God our Father, and Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucifrom Jesus Christ our Master. fied for you? Or were ye baptized 2 I beseech you, brethren, by the into the name of Paul? I thank