Romans - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 1185

ROMANS.

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IO II I2 will be approved by it: for it is the servant of God for your good. But if you do wrong, fear ; for it carries not the sword in vain: because it is a servant of God, showing displeasure to those who do ill. Therefore it is necessary to obey; not only because of its displeasure, but for the sake of conscience. Consequently, pay taxes ; for they are God’s o&cers attending to that. Give to all their due: to the

tribute holder, tribute; to the taxer, taxes; to the mighty, respect; to the honourable, honour. Owe nothing to any one, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled law. Therefore, You sum.; Nor c0MM1i1‘ ADULTERY ; YOU SHALL NOT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT s1·nAL; You SHALL Nor Ltrsr.1 And if there is any other command, it is summed up in this: YOU SHALL BEFMEND YOUR NBIGHBOUR As YOURSELF} Friendship does no harm to a neighbour; therefore friendship is perfection of law. And, observing the time, it is

the hour to be now arousing from sleep; for at present our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is advanced, the day dawns; therefore let us leave the practices of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us march orderly, as in the day—time; not with riot and drunken- ness, nor with profligacy and excess, nor with mutiny and rage: but equipped for the Lord jesus Christ; and not providing for the body to gratify its lusts. 14 And help the feeble in faith, not perplexing with discussions. Indeed,

2 he who believes it may eat all things; 3 but let the weak eat vegetables. Let not the eater despise the abstainer; and let not the abstainer reprove the

4 eater, for God will accept him. Who are you reproving another man's ser- vant? To his own master he shall stand or fall; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to support him.

5 Some distinguish day from day; some regard every day. Let each be fully

6 satisfied in his own mind. He who regards the day, regards it as from the Lord, And the eater eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; 1 Exod. xx. 13, 14, 17. ’ Lev. xix. 18. and the abstainer abstains for the Lord, and yet gives God thanks. Since none of us can live for himself, and none dies to himself; for if we live, we live by the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord : therefore, if we live or if we die, we belong to the Lord. For this purpose Christ died and lived; so that dying and living He might direct us. But you, why do you judge your

brother? or why do you despise your brother? for we shall all be reviewed at the judgment-seat of God. As it is written: I Live, SAYS THE LQRD, so THAT EVERY KNEE SHALL BEND IO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE CQNFESS T0 GOD} Therefore each oneof us shall give a reason for himself to God. Let us no more, therefore, blame

one another; but rather endeavour not to place a stumbling—block before his brother. I know, and was con- vinced by the Lord jesus, that nothing is essentially defiled, except to those who think it is defiled————to them it is defiled. And if your brother is grieved on account of food, then you do not conduct yourself affectionately. Do not by your food lose him for whom Christ died. Let not your own benefit be evil spoken of : for the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and glad- ness, in a holy spirit. Therefore, serve with Christ in this, pleasing to God, and approved by men. Con- sequently we should follow what leads to peace and friendliness among our- selves, nor destroy the work ot God on account of food. All is pure; but it is defiled to the man who eats in doubt. lt is noble not to eat Besh nor to drink wine, nor anything by IO I1 I2 16 18 20 21 which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or weakened. You have faith ? Have it with your- 22 self before God; he is happy who does not convict himself by what he approves. But he is blameable if he eats contentiously; because that is not from faith: and all not originating from faith is sin. And we, the strong, ought to support the weakness of the feeble, and not to indulge ourselves. Let each of us make himself pleasant to his neighbour to promote loving- kindness, For Christ did not indulge Himself; but, as it is recorded,

1 Isa. xlv. 23.

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