The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-26

hold him as with hooks Of steel A single spark
Of real loyalty and love Of truth win explode
solved into sneer, but the Apostle. did not SO
the Acts of the APOSTLES to strange meeting OF the
Old and New Worlds. On the one siie we see thu
stately and proud Roman Empire, mistress Of ~
world with her imposing splend0rs, It's pov2
and Its Justice, by which 1t had subdued the work
we see Festus, tue Roman Governor, In his super.
gance OF his inherted dignties, and we sea Berncc
WIN the gloss Of wealth and power upon her foul
man, frendless, mcneycss, despised and chained
prisoner Festns seems 10 have looked this poor
enthusiast with mingled resnect and amused ana
somewhat scorniul condescension. But the bright
ministers Oh God whose gores, if yisbly revealed
ior moment, would have blasted the ministers 81
the empire, not to say their tinsel The powers OF
the world TO come were made known to Fes-
tns In the person of the Apostle, though
were occupied with their ordinary duties OF
earth, and the unseen government Of the
in visible encounter. Festus ana Agrippa
were here to meet the Supreme Sovereign They
They are Singled Out ' o t sa as
cial privilege and high trial. In their hearts the
worlds show and glitter aud the bright truth OF
Christ shall meet and struggle and by that strrg-
gle shall be measured and determined. Paus
words OF heavenly wisdom We're 10 him madness
only to be scolcd at; but Agrippa, however he
might affect contenpt, had in his moral conscious
ness the power TO struggle against cnnvictI0ns and
the painful singing OF religious leeiings His hall
Jewish descent, mis- knowledge of Jewish scripture
prepared him Iof the Apostles teachings
The great grandson RAM rpn Of me ,os st Mer1a
iunoeents OF Bethlehem; the nephew or aefod who
had slain the Baptist; the son oil Herod, the king
then taken Peter also. He was expert In al the
customs and questions which were among the Jews,
ana nom him were hidden none OF those things
whereof Paul SPOKE lie could weigh the Apostles
arguments drawn nom the old Testament, Toy he
% ne te nc u s c s OF a. ro.
ernment The expectation OF the coming Messiah
was not sirange to him. so That what was madness
TO the Roman Fesfns was, o. ought TO have been,
the wisdom OF God to the Jewish Agfippa.
Agrippa was buf seventeen at his fathers
death, ana the foul who're OF INDUCED pas
sion had not yet corrupted the springs
OF his moral nature. Young he was, and early
clad In the purple OF kinEiy rule life had looked IN
upon him In some OF its Sterner and more appa!-
ling characters. The brilliant lie Of the great
founder OF his line, Herod The Great, was darkened
aud emhittered through all its course by nnre-
lieved suspicion and misery and had ended in en-
traoriinary ignominy and agony. Paul spake to
him rs never man before HAD spoken Ills Inner
man responded To the Apostles words us to words
lie had never heard before Impulses awak-
encd which threatened 10 overmaster his ievity
and scorn; but he resisted the warming. Like
small vessels OH the sea- which at night appear for
moment In the moonlight and then lost In
the darkness, Agrppa stands brightly before vs.
Tor moment amt then vanisEes INTO gloom. He
lived for many Years afterwards, but only to snIer
shame ana, it II Is To be feared. only TO sin evc
until death. let us seek more earnestly ana habit
uaIy the aid and guidance OF the blessed Spirit Of
God The more deeply reflective and spiritually
sensitive we are the more shall VIC feel our need or
this aid and guidance Tic very answers TO our
prayers dangerous TO s. The Voice OF God In the
Scriptures, the voice OF our own conscience, the
ordinances OF our holy religion, all full OF dan
ger to US because OF the dcceitIulness OF our
own hearts. We all need continually to
pray for the all aud guidance OF that
Holy Spirit who alone can enable us to perceive
and know such things We Mlght &c TO- ana
secure for grace faithfully TO fulf the same, so
that in principle, In aim ami In endeavOr If not In
actual attainment, we may be not almost, hui
altogether, Christians.
SATURDAY NIGHTS FESTIVITIES.
There were hops nc nearly alt the hotels on Sat-'
urday night The Grant Opera House troupe gave
Oporatlc concert at the st. James, but through
acknowledgements 1t failed OF success. The hop
which followed, however, was grand success. The
large hall was filed, ana the Ninth Regiment Bank
lent much spirit to the scene by its
splendid Music. Prominent among the null
ttude were Frank Swift, wife and daughter;
John Mc!iugh and lady Mr.. Arthur, Mr.. Cumntrior,t
and lady, Miss Sweeney, OF Brooklyn; Miss Lizzie
nonuey, The Misses Rigney, Miss Josie raggart,
Miss Kelly, G. q. Barclay ana lady, Lizzie Downs.
Miss oNei, Mr.; Van WAGNER. John Mci! !,, an.. ana.
lady, Mr.. q. T.. Brown and lady, J. NJ. sickle ana
lady, Miss Kate dempsey, Charles heidelberg and
lady Miss Callahan, Miss kinsey, Miss Cornell.
Hugh King, J. +. Butler Mr. Etchbery, Or. Duly,
George Lalor, G.. +. swift, George Cahill and lady.
Mr.. Young and lady, OF New York. John Cassin ana
lady, OF Albany; Miss Hatfield, Janlaics.