150
Sketches from the Life of Paul
for them to violate the Sabbath of the fourth commandment without
suffering the severest penalty.
The disciples themselves yet cherished a regard for the ceremonial
law, and were too willing to make concessions, hoping by so doing
to gain the confidence of their countrymen, remove their prejudice,
and win them to faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer. Paul’s great
object in visiting Jerusalem was to conciliate the church of Palestine.
So long as they continued to cherish prejudice against him, they were
constantly working to counteract his influence. He felt that if he could
by any lawful concession on his part win them to the truth, he would
[214]
remove a very great obstacle to the success of the gospel in other
places. But he was not authorized of God to concede so much as they
had asked. This concession was not in harmony with his teachings, nor
with the firm integrity of his character. His advisers were not infallible.
Though some of these men wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit of
God, yet when not under its direct influence they sometimes erred. It
will be remembered that on one occasion Paul withstood Peter to the
face because he was acting a double part.
When we consider Paul’s great desire to be in harmony with his
brethren, his tenderness of spirit toward the weak in faith, his reverence
for the apostles who had been with Christ, and for James, the brother
of the Lord, and his purpose to become all things to all men as far
as he could do this and not sacrifice principle,—when we consider
all this, it is less surprising that he was constrained to deviate from
his firm, decided course of action. But instead of accomplishing the
desired object, these efforts for conciliation only precipitated the crisis,
hastened the predicted sufferings of Paul, separated him from his
brethren in his labors, deprived the church of one of its strongest
pillars, and brought sorrow to Christian hearts in every land.
* * * * *