MR. brown' S SECOND REPLY. 81 



Ernn. xiv. — A distinction between " meats," and " days." 



weak faith — with imperfect knowledge — with mistaken judg- 

 ment — in true Cliristians ; — who, however they for the time 

 doubt or differ as to the will of God, still with conscientious 

 love do, or forhear to do, solely to please Him. (See verses 

 1, 5, 9.) Now mark, one momentous distinction. As to 

 ^^ meats,'' tlie Apostle decides the question dearly, while nrging 

 forbearance {verse 14); whereas in regard to "days,'' he 

 leaves the question heve undecided, as one of a more compli- 

 cated nature, and requiring therefore the greater forhearancc, 

 in the existing relations between Judaism and Christianity. 

 At the same time, he urges conscientious care in deciding this 

 question on right grounds. " Let every man \)q fidly persuaded 

 in his own mind." {verse 5.) He then forbids all uncharita- 

 ble judgment of each other's motives {verse 10), and urges the 

 utmost caution against every antinomian tendency, or unohari- 

 table stretch of our Christian liberty, lest it should betray 

 others into sin, and jeopard their salvation. {verse 13. See 

 also to the same purpose, verses 15, 16; 19 — 23.) His con 

 clusion is, that "the strong in faith ought to bear the infirmities 

 of the weak," and not to please but deny themselves, after the 

 bright example of the meek and benevolent Saviour. (xv. 1 — 7.) 



Now, if this be the Apostle's real meaning, my friend has 

 small occasion to triumph in this passage. For he can find in 

 it no condemnation of a Christian Sabbath, express or implied. 

 On the contrary, every tendency to overstrain Christian liberty, 

 to the injury of a brother's soul, is smitten as with lightning 

 from Heaven. If any wish to see the awful force of the expres- 

 sion, " put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his 

 brother's way," he may consult Matt. xviii. 6 — 14 ; Marh ix. 

 38 — 50 ; Rev. ii. 14 ; and 1 John ii. 10 ; where he will find 

 various examples, and the most impressive warnings. 



Notwithstanding my friend has indulged in a little witticism 

 at my expense here, I hardly think, after reading my remarks 

 on the passage in Colossians, in part ii. of my Reply, explain- 

 ing the Apostle's stand-point, and illustrating his real aim, that 



