eateth; for God's mercy is plenteous he hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judgest another? to his own Master [to God] he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be strengthened [holden up], for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another; observeth fasts, festivals, the passover, pentecost, new moons, the feasts of tabernacles; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind that his practice is in accordance with the gospel.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it to the Lord [esteems it his duty to keep it holy], and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it; [considers, that by the liberty of the gospel, he is freed from these observances.] He that eateth freely of all kinds of meats, eateth with thanksgiving to the Lord for his liberty; and he that eateth not, still thanks God, though he abstain.

7 For none who are Christians eat or drink but as they think God pleases; we neither live nor die to ourselves.

8 For whether we, as Christians, live, we live unto the Lord, in observance of his laws; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord, in dependence upon his promises: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's.

9 For to this end [purpose] Christ both died and rose, and revived, that, having gone through all for

our sakes, he might be the Lord both of the dead and the living.

10 Why then dost thou, a poor worm, judge thy brother? or why dost thou, glorying in thine own fancied obedience, set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand for judgment before the judgment-seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, Isaiah xlv. 23, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God the Son.

John v. 22,

The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to Jesus Christ.

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more but study this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block [a doubt, temptation], or any occasion of falling, in the way of his brother in Jesus Christ.

14 For instance, I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, by the light he has given me, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him who acts against his conscience, there is offence, it is unclean.

15 But if that which thou doest offends thy brother [thy fellow Christian], if he be grieved at thy eating meat, [meat perhaps which had been offered to idols], then dost not thou walk charitably; let not thy liberty mislead unto destruction one for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good [that which is lawful for you] be a cause of falling [reproach] to your neighbour, but rather refrain.

17 For the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus does not depend, as in the law of Moses, upon eating or abstaining from meats or drink, [as for instance, the Nazarites, who drank no wine ;] but in well-doing towards God and man, in love and peace, and spiritual joy.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God and approved of all good men.

19 Let us therefore follow after those humble virtues which tend to peace, and things by which we may strengthen each other in Christ.

20 For meat, or any lawful thing which may appear wrong, destroy not thy weak brother; all things [all lawful things] are pure, whether it be meat or drink, but it is evil to him who eateth or drinketh either against his own conscience, or so as to offend the conscience of another.

21 For it is right neither to do so lawful a thing as to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? dost thou believe these things lawful? thou mayest use them without offence before God, but not always before men. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth himself to do.

23 He that doubteth whether it be right or no, is under condemnation if he doeth it, because he acts

against his conscience [his belief]; for whatsoever is

not of faith, is sin.

CHAP. XV.

1 WE then that are strong in the faith ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not act for our own satisfaction only.

2 Let every one rather strengthen than wound the conscience of his neighbour.

3 For even our Saviour Christ did not consult his own pleasure; but, as it is written, Psalm lxix. 9, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me [I suffered for others].

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime [in the Old Testament] were written for our learning, that we by patient dependence upon and comfort in the promises of scripture, might have hope.

5 Now the God who giveth patience and consolation grant that as he metes kindness to you in Jesus Christ, so you may be like-minded one toward another;

6 That all [Jews and Gentiles] may with one feeling and one expression glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, without distinction of Jew or Gentile, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was the minister to the Jews, to show forth the truth of God, and confirm the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

9 And that, by thus fulfilling the Scriptures, he caused the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, Psalm xviii. 49, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy

name.

10 And again he saith, Deut. xxxii. 43, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11 And again, Psalm cxvii. 1, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

12 And again Isaiah saith, xi. 10, There shall be a root of Jesse [one to be born of his lineage], and he that shall arise to reign over the Gentiles; in whom they shall trust.

13 Now the God [the author] of all hope fill you with all joy and peace, by giving you faith, that ye may abound in hope, [may be full of faith in the promises,] through the power of the Holy Ghost.

14 Think not that because I write these things I doubt you; I am the rather persuaded that ye are filled with goodness and knowledge, and able to admonish [teach, advise] each other.

15 Nevertheless, brethren, being God's Apostle, I have written more boldly to you, as putting you in mind of your duty, because of the grace given to me.

16 Grace given to me, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, preaching the gospel of God, that this my peculiar duty, the bringing the Gentiles to Christ, might be an acceptable offering, made holy, like the sacrifices of old, by the Holy Ghost, Isaiah lxvi. 20.

17 As a priest therefore of the things which per

E