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12 THE PRESBYTERS
Prayer Meeting
UNTO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE.
Week Beginning September 26. Titus 1: 15, 16.
In evangelizing the island of Crete (now Candia) Paul and
Titus encountered exceptional difficulties. The people had
no moral character as a ground-work upon which to build,
li was hard to appeal to conscientious conviction or to their
self-respect, for they appear to have had little of either. The
apostle was, therefore, after leaving the island, the work
having been committed to the care of Titus, very solicitous
for its welfare. He accordingly wrote this epistle giving directions
about organizing churches, refuting and resisting
false teachers, and purifying the moral atmosphere from its
many polutions.
Progress had evidently been made in winning converts to
the true faith, so that instruction had already been given to
ordain elders in every city. But great care was needed in
the selection of these elders, or bishops, as they are
called indiscriminately in this context, and minute specifications
are made lest men should be selected for thfe high office
who were incapable, either because of a lack of native ability,
or of sufficient training, or of moral integrity
The qualities required for the eldership having been specifipH
(hp nnnstlps nrnpppd to warn acrafnst daneprniiK and nth
erwise objectionable men. His arraignment of them is pointed
and severe, and he does not hesitate to require that "their
mouths must be stopped" because they subverted whole
houses by false teaching for filthy lucre's sake. He then
makes a sweeping indictment of the whole Cretan population,
as in verse twelve, and to sustain his charge he quotes
Epimenides, a poet of reputation, and a native of Crete, and
affirms the statement of this "prophet" is true. He describes
them as a population of liars, for which they had long
been notorious; as evil beasts either because of the beastliness
of their tastes and habits, or their being like ferocious
animals, a menace to society; and as indolent gluttons, spending
their time in eating and loafing.
The most objectionable element of this low social order
consisted of Jews, "they of the circumcision." So Titus is
next instructed to warn the people against "Jewish fables
and commandments of men that turn from the truth." Paul
gives great prominence in his writings to warnings against
and refutions of error. In our day there is a great tendency
to wink at error and exhibit a "charity" whicn, while ostensibly
"broad," is really superficial and spurious.
When the writer reaches this point in discussing the evils
of Cretan society he is constrained to declare a great principle
in the words: "Unto the pure all things are pure; but
unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, is nothing pure;
but even their mind and conscience is defiled." Their works
deny their profession, inasmuch as they are "abominable
and disobedient and to every good work reprobate."
That the churches in Crete might be sound in the faith,
Titus was directed to instruct tnem not to "give heed to
Jewish fables," or human traditions and commandments
of men that turn from the truth." These related principally
to distinctions between clean and unclean meats (such
as some churches make now at Lent), divers washings and
other fancied purifications. Paul said that what they needed
was pure hearts. Meats and ordinances and sanctuaries and
worshipers were all holy, to the pure in heart; and to the
corrupt, ceremonial purifications availed nothing. What God
wants is purity of heart and life, and not the subterfuge of
ceremonial cleansing. When the motive is pure and the conscience
is clear and the understanding is enlightened the worship
is accepted, and no amount of ceremonial or will worship
of any kind will render us acceptable In the sight of God to
whom we must^Hfll account.
We once heaw a very comDlacent man Justify himself In
reading coarse novels by quoting the text, "Unto the pure, all
things are pure." What a perversion?a corrupt mind pharisaically
justifying its grossness hy such a quotation! Our
answer to every such evasion is "Unto them that are defiled
and unbelieving, is nothing pure."
i
lN OF THE SOUTH. Sept. 22, 1909.
Young People's Societies
LIFE LESSONS FROM EPHESIANS.
Topic for Sunday, October 3.?Life Lessons for me from
the Book of Ephesians. Ephesians 4:1-6, 25-43.
DAILY READINGS.
Monday: The eternal purpose: Ephesians 1: 1-14, 2: 10.
Tuesday: My great desire. Ephesians 1: 15-23.
Wednesday: My spiritual resurrection. Ephesians 2: 1-10.
Thursday: The old man and the new. Ephesians 4: 17-25.
Friday: Walking in the light. Ephesians 5: 1-21.
Saturday: Social relationship. Ephesians 5: 22, 6: 9.
The Church at Ephesus enjoyed peculiar advantages.
Paul found it and spent a longer time with it, in giving it a
start, than with any other.
The conditions there were such as to give him peculiar interest
in its people and in the church. The cost to him of
his work there was large.
In 'writing to the people there, when he heard of the need
to guard them against doctrinal defection, his whole heart as
well as mind were in the letter.
There are no personal salutations In the Epistle. -It is peculiar
among Paul's letters in that respect. It is due, the
best scholars agree, to the fact that it was put into form to
make it suitable elsewhere.
The "encycficial" nature of the Epistle, that is, that it was
intended to be used as a "circular letter," enhanced its general
interest, but in no way lessens the local interest at
taching to the Ephesians themselves who were to read it
and pass it on.
Great principles are dealt with in this Epistle. Any one
who is afraid of such expressions as "chosen in him before
the foundation of the world," "having predestinated us,"
"riches of his grace," "the mystery of his will," "God hath
before ordained" would do well to avoid it!
Great principles make great men and great women. The
trouble with many of us is that we are afraid of the very
things that make men great. Little souls will always stay
little if they abide and revel in little things. The lifting
power of great things is not with them.
But with the great principles of this Epistle are enjoined
great duties. They are inseparable. Faith and practice belong
together. Believing and doing are united. Large ideas
make large action. The most splendid deeds are never apart
from the most splendid character.
The principles laid down are, God's election of grace, the
sovereignty of his will, his eternal purpose, according to the
counsel of his own will, the sealing of the Spirit, the resurrection,
death in trespasses and sins, quickening by the
Spirit, salvation by grace alone, the atonement, union with
Cnrlst, "tfie fellowship of the mystery" of Christ.
The duties laid down are lowliness, meekness, long-sufTering,
forbearance, unity, faithful use of gifts, truthfulness, selfcontrol,
purity of heart, tongue and life, kindness, tenderheartedness,
a forgiving spirit, walking in love, temperance,
devotion, thankfulness, submission, faithfulness in the relations
of life, watchfulness, prayer.
A passage worth memorizing is, "Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and wituout blame before him
in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure
of his wiu."
Another splendid memory passage is, "Take unto you the
whole armour ofGod. Stand therefore, having your loins .
girt about with truth,-"and "having on the breast-platfc of
righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with
all prayer ahd supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."