Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-02-07

She influenced her household also 10
enter the new way. If She had young
children she pat upon them, as well as
upon herself, Christ's -cnl. If her house.
hold consisted cf persons in her service,
she interested herself IN their religious
welfare She mnde hers Christian
home. Gel She opened her house to the
messengers of the gospel assumed her
part in the burden of christian work
| ID Further on tv. 40l we see that She
was neither ashamed nor afraid TO stand
by the apostles when they were de.
nounccd and prosecuted These were
sure signs. Her. was earnest faith, con
trolling the heart and life
Note how this fruit was gathered not
10y formal discourse, but by religious
conversation. How many opportunities
for this We ct-lip.
J. .SieHeiag q tropjir The troublcr
in this instance. was damscl, subject to
demoniac possession. An evil spirit
either enabled her to forctell the In
turc, or stirred her up to pretend to d."
it, There were dcmoniacs ia the So
yiors day. and it would be- too much ="
say there are none now. Thi, womnu
followed Paul and hi, companions, aud
cried after them. testiking to their d..
4. 4 4
of orr Saviour. whether her cries were
scornful dcri.ion, or haIfundcr~tool
longing Of her heart for drliveronce, Z.
not certain. At any rate i.
troubled Paul n- similar following
and testimony did the Saviour; and ia
the nam. of .Icsu- Christ he hadc the
spirit come out of her. Obscrv" that
his way of -ilcncing this troubler wn.
by an act Of kindness 20 the damscl. at
the same time it was one uf stcrnuess
toward the evil spirit We may always
be stern toward any evil, or sin. or spirit
OF wrong doing But sinners are 10 be
p tied. To do them good i the best, as
il i often the aur,'st way TO silence their
opposition. Save them from their
slavery to vice, intempcrance. and ha-
tired to the gospel, and they sill be hin
dercrs no longer.
1. Suffering for 'o>ii >iidoing.-The trouble.
some damsel, who followed Paul, was
slave not 20 an evil spirit only, but 10 a
company of masters who, with dcmoniAc
self-hnes-, made gain Of her fortune.
tell ng. The command Of the Apostle
set her soul free. Her masters ought
10 have been glad But sclfishhcss can
60 so far as 20 regret a sinners saliva
ton; a. 20 make merchandise of an
othcr'- soul; as to BE- angry when slave
Of sinful habit i set free. How hard.
ening j. covetousu"ss? There il no
baser, more cruel, more satanic passion
than that can grow To be. 1t was that
which incited the owners Of the de
moniac slave at Philip to their wicked
traffic; as it is that which uow incites 60
equally wicked traffic in intoxicating
drinks, and in corrupiinF literature.
When her masters saw that their hope
Of gains was gone, they we're enraged,
and cast Paul and Silas into prison. So
nov the trafhckers in vile drinks and
base literature are full Of bitterness and
spirit Of revenge when their ruinous
work Is hindo,ed Should this intimi
date or discourage fidelity? Our Sa
viour has told rs beforehand thst veil
doing will always be with cost. To de-
stroy the works of the devil will never
be child's play. No great good i. &C.
compli-hed without suffering.
PRACTICAL sUGgEsTIuSs.
/. There Il no excuse for religious
idlers; seekers after work find il.
2. The most effective preaching is 20
little groups, and single hearers.
J. One hearing sufficed for Lydia.
AZ x~arlt.rs aaeL and cxpert sudden