, 1879-02-16
AFTER THE nIODERNS.
HOW TuET MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN SCRIPTU
IN ANCIENT TIMES.

HOW THEY MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN SCRIPTURE
IN ANCIENT TIMES.
Philadelphia EHlfelir-
The contrast between the condition Of things
when Manmon was prosecuting the Church,
and wlcn Mau,mon is holding pew, and help
ing to pay for the choir, would, perhaps, be
rather startling. Even more interesting would
be at1 attempt to conceive the present condition
OF things as existing in the Apostolic age. Sup
pose for example, that such record should
contain information like thc following: Peter
went to Joppa to carry the Gospel to Cornelius,
but upon arriving at his destination he liscoy
cred that lie had accidentally left a l!s sermons
behind him at Jerusalem, and, ds he did not
know how to speak ex:emporaneously, be was
obliged to postpone his intended Sunday scrr-
ice until he could send and fetch his manu-
scripts. The brother Of Oncsinaus came t. hear
Paul preach, but rs he was person. OF very
humble birth, and all tllc pews upon the ground
floor were rented by wealthy people. be was
Shown to back scat in the gallery. The church
edificc ut Antioch cost S370,0o0; two-thrds Of
which remained as mortgage upon the build
ing. The brethren stroye earnestly to reduce
the debt, and with this intent they held fair at
which piu-cuSnious and lce-cream were sold, and
during which there was much excitement over 4
rattle for cake. The god-hcaded cane that was
offered to whichever clergyman obtained the
greatest number of votes vas awarded to Paul,
who had 3Sl votes, while only 210 were given to
Peter, and Ill scattering. The attempt to raise
money having, however, failed, the cditice was
sold BY the Sheriff, and was purchased h7 o Ko-
man, who fitted it up for circus. Apollls hav-
ing been attacked With light form Of bron-
c!litis, went to Malta for the benefit Of his
health, and the church to which he min'stcTcd
was closed all summer. repairs being conducted
in the interval. Philip, having for many years
performed pastoral duties faithfully in parish
Of Ethiopia, number Of members in the coll
crcgation grew tired Of him, and they cut doxn
his salary to get rid Of him. When he resigned
q Young 1nan was called, and us nobody extend
ed cali to Philip, he was admitted to the Home
for Decayed Cfcrgymcn, where he ended his
days. Paul preached at Corlnth with
power and fcryor, and ut the conclusion OF
his sermon he asked that hymn should be
choir the solos for the soprano and alto being
unusually brilliant, while Paul was especially
pleased with the extraordinary lcft-hand play
ing OF the organist during the performance OF
the 1lorid accompaniment. A Gentle from
Alexandria, who attempted to sing, was re-
-questcd bY not to Interrupt the nusic:'
When Paul visited Ephesus, he wus entertained
By Alex ulder, the coppersmith, who although
not believer, held pew in the middle Alsle oil
the church, belonged to the vestry, and con-
tributed SO literally to church objects that he
was more highly regarded than any OF the con-
yerts whose circumstances were not So good.
Paul, while in the pulpit, preached with force
against sin; but, OF course, carefully avoided
saying anything that might hurt Alextndcr's
feelings. While at Lystra, Paul encountered
cripple who mad been robbed Of the use Of his
limbs by rheumatism. He advised the uutor-
tunutc man to read carefully the patent 1neGi-
cine advertisements in tho religious newspapers
in the hope of being directed toward relief.