the last. Christianity he
says, does not interfere with existing relationships. First he lays
down the principle, and then unfolds the principle in two ways,
ecclesiastically and civilly. The principle he lays down in almost
every variety of form. In the 17th verse, "As God hath distributed to
every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk." In the
20th verse, "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was
called." In the 24th verse, "Brethren, let every man wherein he is
called therein abide with God." This is the principle. Christianity
was not to interfere with existing relationships; Christian men were
to remain in those relationships in which they were, and in them to
develope the inward spirituality of the Christian life. Then he
applies this principle in two ways. First of all, ecclesiastically.
With respect to their church, or ecclesiastical affairs, he says--"Is
any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is
any man in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised." In other
words, the Jews, after their conversion, were to continue Jews, if
they would. Christianity required no change in these outward things,
for it was not in _these_ that the depth and reality of the kingdom of
Christ consisted. So the Apostle Paul took Timothy and circumcised
him; so, also, he used all the Jewish customs with which he was
familiar, and performed a vow, as related in the Acts of the Apostles,
"having shorn his head in Cenchrea; for he had a vow." It was not his
opinion that it was the duty of a Christian to overthrow the Jewish
system. He knew that the Jewish system could not last, but what he
wanted was to vitalize the system--to throw into it not a Jewish, but
a Christian feeling; and so doing, he might continue in it so long as
it would hold together. And so it was no doubt, with all the other
apostles. We have no evidence that before the destruction of the
Jewish polity, there was any attempt made by them to overthrow the
Jewish external religion. They kept the Jewish Sabbath, and observed
the Jewish ritual. One of them, James, the Christian Bishop of
Jerusalem, though a Christian, was even among the Jews remarkable and
honourable for the regularity with which he observed all his Jewish
duties. Now let us apply this to modern duties. The great desire among
men now, appears to be to alter institutions, to have perfect
institutions, as if _they_