Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 77
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70 LIFE OF PAUL . as men who had hazarded theirlivesfor the Lord . Judas and Silaswere sent with theseapostlesto declareto the Gentiles, by word of mouth,the decisionof thecouncil: "For itseemed good to theHoly Ghost,and to us,to layupon you no greaterburdenthan thesenecessarythings; that ye abstainfrommeatsofferedtoidols,and from blood,and from thingsstrangled,and from fornication;fromwhichifyekeepyourselves,yeshall do well." The four servants of God were sent to Antiochwith theepistleand message,which put an end to allcontroversy; for itwas the voiceof thehighestauthorityupon earth. The council which decided this case was composedof thefoundersof the Jewishand Gentile Christianchurches. Eldersfrom Jerusalem, and deputiesfrom Antioch, were present; and the most influentialchurcheswere represented. The councildidnot claim infallibilityin theirdeliberations,but moved from thedictatesof enlightenedjudgment,and withthedignityof a church establishedby the divinewill. They saw that God himselfhad decidedthisquestionby favoring theGentileswiththeHoly Ghost; and itwas leftforthem to followthe guidance of theSpirit. The entirebody of Christianswere not called to vote upon the question. The apostlesand elders--men ofinfluenceand judgment- framed and issuedthe decree, which was thereupon generallyacceptedby the Christianchurches. All were not pleased,however, with thisdecision; there was a faction of false brethren who assumed to engage in a work on theirown responsibility. They indulged in murmuring and fault-finding, proposingnew plans, and seekingtopulldown thework oftheexperienced