The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-03-13
FoR THE. CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
READINGS IN THE GREEK.
Acts xiii: l.
MANAEN AND HERoD.

Apart from such specifications in biS.or.
as were presented last week, we possess thi
one item of real fact: Manaen the preache
of Antioch and Herod Autipas the tetrarcl
Of Galilee, were reared side by side, possess
ing the same opportunities, enjoying the sam
advantages. Is there not suggested mos
striking and solemn lesson in this simple re
cord Luke makes of the fact? Manaen an(
Herod The humble, faithful, pious preach
er of little church The courted, powerful
princely ruler of Gslileel What contrast
On the side of Manaen, obscurity, reproacb
loss, almost certainly poverty; on the side
of HerOd, pOmp and power and magnificent
luxury and imperial honors. The one lowly
ambassador of Christ, fading his happiness
in service to others, seeking in his narrow
sphere to be pattern of morals and devo-
tion, laboring to elevate mems thoughts and
purify their lives even with the loss of all
things to himself, leaving behind him no his
tory but the simple mention of his name on
the list of the Church's teachers. The other
renowned, unscrupulous, selfish, deSpotic,
corrupt; with all his power weak enough to
fear the opinions of bis mobiles, and to trample
on his sense of right to please diSsolute
woman and a reckless girl-a man whose
glories have been recorded on the pages Of
history, only to exemplify the truth of Gods
Word that "the name of the wicked shall
rot" Yet the two began alike. Together
they listened to the warnings of John aud
his fervid exhortations to repentance and q
new life. Together in all probability the
two looked upon Christ when carried to
Herod's palace. Bat Herod clung to his lust
and his honors and his oppression and his
ambition. While Manaen sunk his own name
and fame in the higher and nobler ambition ;
4" For me to live is Christ. Is there not
then word of most impressive warning in
the quiet touch of the evangelist, "Manaen
which had been brought up with Herod the
tetrarch?" "Wherewithal shall young man
cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto
according to Thy Word" Fame like Herod's
is but the curse which age after age pro-
nounceS upon the men whose greatness was
made the instrument of untruth aud injustice
and vice. A name like Manaen's may well
nigh slip from human memory. But not one
deed of truth or nobleness that he wrought
but earned its reward by being perpetuated
in the characters of others. Let US be con-
tent to wear away our lives in hard, unre-
membered service to the world Let us, like
M4naen, trrn away from the defasive lighSs
that lured the tetrarch to his ruin. Let US
accept obsCurity if necessary that thereby
we may live to some purpose. Let our names
perish if only we can leave behind US silent
Influence for the right, that shall perpetuate
itself through all the changes and ca.aStro-
phes of time. 1t may not be recorded of US
as was so nobly written of William: "While
he lived, he was the guiding star of whole
brave nation and when he died, the little
children cried in the streets" But in the
book of Gods remembrance shall be written
some little line like this concerning Manaen,
suggesting that we did our allotted work in
the fear of God and that through those hum
bic labors some human hearts were made
braver and truer and more hopeful. "My
friend" says Carlyle in that true, homes,
earnest way of his that make his words, like
Luther's, seem half battles; "My friend, all
speech and rumor is short lived, foolish, un-
true. Genuine OOrk alone, what thou work
est faithfully, that is eternal as the almighty
founder and world builder Himself. Stand
thou by that; and let fame and the rest of
it 60 prating-
Heard are the voices,
Heard are the Sages,
The worlds and the Ages
Choose we'll: your choice is
Brief and yet endless"