The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1866-05-12
Above Appearances.

There is one characrer in the Bible of
whom we know but little; yet that little
glimpse of him makes US wish to know
more. He is a great faVorite of ours.
Whatever his parentage, he certainly came
of that most ancient of all orders-the ''or-
der of manhood" Whatever were his Vir-
tues or failing, he certainly had one rare
virtue. He was a faithful friend; and he
recognized true ability wherever be found
it. He was ''above appearances, or else
Paul would Deysr have said. ''The Lord
give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus,
for he oft refreshed me, and was not asham-
ed of my chain.''
How grateful is this recollection of the
old war-wor Apostle! He says that Ones
iphorus oft refreshed him. As cup of
| cold water to a fainting wayfarer of the des-
ert, came that visit of his Ephesian brother
unto Paul. When he arrives in Rome he
searches Paul out. He does not find HIM
in a mansion, but in prison. ''No man
stood with him. The timid have turned
their backs on him, and left him in the
lions paw. There he is-with an iron
chain on that arm that waved over the
Acropols, and awed the philosophers of the
Violet City into silence-that arm which
| udu6 II CHA UCLuOiOS anu AlOlA HHEOu IA0 W.
per fell off harmless into the barbarians' fire
| of Melita Like another Paul of modern
ages who wrote the Pilgrims Progress, he
is under bolts aud bars.
Hitherto that Mamertine Prison,
comes Onesiphorus with the refreshmrnt Of
his fervid sympathy. He is not ashamed
of the chain. He counts it rather deco
ration. As Napoleon hung the grand cross
of the Legion of Honor on the breasts of
those who.had been baptised in the fires of
Jena and Austerlitz, so Nero put Through
quite unconsciously) badge of glory on
the bold Apostle, when he bound that chain
upon the right arm. He would not have
taken so much pains to catch coward or
| to tie up fool.
A smooth popularity hunting preacher
would have been safe at Rome, as he is safe
any where. But the Lu,hers find their need
in Wartburg Castles. The Latimers and
John Husses have their crown in crimson
flame; the George Wisharts find themselves
promoted to the celestial dignity of the scat
4 fold for Jesus sake. In our day, fashion
able church turns Dudley Tying into the
street for preaching liberty. But 10 ! God
takes him in, and gives him whole nation
/ for his audience
1t was as badge OF honors therefore, tnaL
Onesiphorus greeted the Apostles chain.
Il spoke of a constancy that never compro-
missed. 1t spoke of loyalty to Christ, and
cIanked out noble eulogy as Paul drew it
over the Geld prison floor. A mean spirit
ed, cowardly sycophant would have said
that appearances were against" the poor
old prosecuted man in the Jail, and would
have given a wide berth to such ''suspic-
ious characters" None but a true hero
could have worn Paul's chain; none but
/ true man would have come and visited him
10 that house of bondage.
o for more OF the spirit of Onesiphorus
10 the church of God o for the spirit
that shuus place when Nero is in it. and
seeks out prison when it is the abiding
place of ST. Paul ! We want more of the
spirit that holds men at their true value, re-
gardless of appeara nces-thst looks more at
principles than social positon-that honors
virtue when in coarse raiment, and takes
sides with fidelity to Christ when in the pill
lory or the prison.
Come rest in this bosom,' as the tur-
key said to the stufing.
A bot shovel held over vanished fur
> iuifure will taxa ont white enots