The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-06-27
recognized tho truth that God is
WISE creator and has purpose in all

recognized tho truth that God is
wise creator and has purpose in all
His creatures, and moro than all in
His highest creature, man, and that
every individual has an assigned place,
a peculiar destiny to fulfill in the
economy Of Providence. lie knew
that God had made him not TO live
for himself and he had no sooner re.
eognized the authority of Jesus OF
Nazareth than he felt his obligation
to live for man; to labor in tho field
Of his beloved master. He began 10
preach Christ and repentance. il
was course Of gospel preaching. and.
like one who would succeed in any
course, he made all things bend TO IT,
He did the lone thing" and did that
one thing well. In this his example
may commend itself to every student.
The student, who has the one determin-
ell purpose to learn as his only object IN
attending school or college, never
fails. Paurs one course was gospel
preaching. In Damascus, Jerusalem,
Corinth, Ephesns and Rome. every
where, he went with his one message.
In the Temple, Areopogus, on ship
board, in Jail, on the seaside. or in his
hired house, every where. in season
and out of season, he preached the
one glorious message, and to every
variety OF characters. King Agrippa
and Felix, surrounded by the insignia
Of royalty, the child Timothy, the
women that resorted TO the seaside
for prayer, the learned philosophers
of Athens, the inmates OF Ciesar's
household, the inhabitants of storm
beaten Melita, who had rescued him
and his companions from q watery
grave--to all, and in every place, this
herald of the cross had but the one
message: believe on the Lord
Jesus aud thou shalt be saved" And
he did not preach in vain either. The
men Of one idea have always been dis
pissed by the world; but they have
generally afterwards astonished the
world with their success. The pur-
pose of discovering the new world
seized the very being OF Columbus
Unknown dangers had no terrors for
him. The entreaiies of friends could
not move him. and even pinching
poverty could not detain him. His
enthusiasm infused itself into the
heart of The generous Isabella, and
her private jewels are pledged 10 Sc
cure the necessary outfit. Such men
have always succeeded whilst the
changeling, the "double minded" man,
unstable IN all his ways, is miserable
failure. The Apostle did succeed.
but his success was not only assured
by his unwa,ering purpose and un.
tagging zeal; but il was absolutely
secured by mighty power working
with him. He planted. others wa
tered, but God gave the increase. IL
Was work Of mighty heroism to un-
dertake 10 overthrow the religion OF
the world; 10 stand before the as
sembled wisdom of Athens and tell
them: "Ye men of Athens. ye are too
superstitious"-to say TO the literate
of the world: "Wbom yc ignorantly
worship, him declare unto you;"-
but he did il not in his own power
lie went forth as did the youthful
David against the Philisiinee-in the
name of the God Of Israel whom they
had deficd. The Apostle entered on
his course only rs q fellow laborer
with God.
His course was not only N preach but
10 live the gospel. He had body TO
keep under-lusts to conquer; law
in his members 10 make, subject 10 the
law of his mind, but he did il all, and
Sc well that he conld honestly ask his
followers tn initiate him, TO take him
as their example, 10 follow him as he
followed Christ. This course OF liv-
ing the gospel 10 perhaps the hardest
part of our moral course, and It is
what all are called to do. We are
not 10 suppose that persons situated
as the Apostle have only their pnblic
trials, or snch as result from their of.
ficial labors; they have many a mes.
senger of Satan sent TO baffle them.
and il il only through the sufiiciency of
grace they can overcome. Many q
brilliant genius, who might prove a
success in the the church, is dragged
down by vile appetites. Many q By
ron commands an admiration of his
geDiIs, only less than the horror with
which we view his moral deforInity.
Our positions in life, in the church and
in the world may be various; but in
the same course of private walking
with God we are all companions-all
equals. We a,e passing over the
course we'll beaten by Apostles,
prophets and martyrs of every age
Paul had finished the good course OF
christian lire, aud his reward was
ijnst before him. Labor, toll, privation
and suffering were about TO give place
toa glorious crown. His course was not
only private success. He not only
gained, az an indiviuaI. the prize which
all may gain for a finished course
but his public labors were such a
finished course as the world had
never before seen. Instead OF
being remembered only as the victim
of imperial Roman cruelty, he is now
the great Apostle of the Gentiles.-
His thoughts on the simple truth Of
the Gospel and the mysteries of Divine
purpose are the thoughts revolving in
the minds of all deep thinkers of every
country. Being dead, he yet speak.
eth as living power, and even bis
earthly fame is greater than any mere
mortal of his age. Not by an apo.
theosis, like the great of Rome, or q
canonization as by the authority oi
degenerate Rome, nor by having
his earthly house of this tabernacle
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