Romans xiv. 1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2. For one believeth that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth; for God hath received him.

4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth: yea, he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him stand.

5. One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6. He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

9. For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.

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

12. So, then, every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

13. Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

14. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Had the principles of this lesson been always observed, the spirit of sect could never have arisen in the Church. The first broad principle here laid down is, that, in all details of the Christian faith and life, every man must be allowed to act according to what he himself regards as the will of God. The second principle is, that, since Christ is the Judge to whom every one must give account of himself, there should be no tribunal in the Church for enforcing uniformity in matters of belief, worship, and life. The third principle is, that inasmuch as to each individual his own conscience must be the rule, and to violate that would bring him under condemnation, his conscientious scruples should be respected even by those who differ from him in views of duty or of expediency. The fourth principle is, that Christian fellowship is to be accorded upon the basis of devotion to Christ, and not of conformity in de

APPROPRIATE HYMNS,]

16. Let not, then, your good be evil spoken of; 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

tails of Christian conduct. And a fifth principle is, that even those whose faith is weak through ignorance or prejudice should be received to fellowship, not with a view to proselyting them to a certain set of opinions, or course of action, but in order to strengthen their faith and zeal in the service of Christ.

In the primitive churches, disputes arose touching the lawfulness of eating meats offered to idols: the Jew thought this an abomination; the weaker Gentile might be betrayed by it into idolatry; the more enlightened and liberal could do this with impunity. Paul advises mutual forbearance in such matters. The same principle applied to the observance of the Jewish sacred days. Liberty of conscience, mutual respect and good-will, maintained in the love of Christ, will give a peaceable solution of all such questions.

and all in any trouble or sorrow.

[Nos. 53, 63.

We beseech thee to regard us as a family, and constrain us by thy Spirit to walk in the narrow way. Help us to rely on thy promises, and obey thy commands. May the Holy Comforter guide us into all truth, sanctify us for every duty, sustain us under every trial! May Christ be in our hearts the hope of glory!

We commend unto thy fatherly mercy all classes and conditions of men: more especially do we

May all who are weary and heavy-laden come to Jesus, and find rest! May thy heralds be multiplied until the world shall hear and obey thy truth! and, according to thy promise, pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, that all may be saved.

O Lord! we commend ourselves and all our concerns to thy gracious care. Keep us to-day from every snare of sin and of the Wicked One. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; and whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, may we do all to the glory of God! And we will ascribe all praise to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.

Amen.