Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-01-31


ian heart than the cry Of the needy for
help. Nothing more delights such a
heart than 10 be able to respond to that
cry with the help needed. The Apos
tie, who had so often heard and given
il heed, now hears it again. Hence his
second missionary journey. The nara
tive indicates:
/. The importance Of .tOiiolOing up a good
'OOrk VeH bcgun.-It was less than two
years,since the Apostles return from his
first journey. And this had been, so far a
time OF work rather than Of rest. Save
when engaged with the Conference at
Jerusalem he had been all the while
teaching and preaching" at Corinth.
Why should he set forth again so soon.
Antioch was city of luxury and splen.
dor it had also large Christian church
atfording oongenial Christian oompan,
ionship. Why should he so soon again
leave so comfortable a place ? In gen
coal, il was the love of Christ Which
constrained him. In particular, he was
now concerned for the spiritual welfare
those to whom he had lately convsye ed
the saving word. lie knew their weak.
ness, their trials, their temptations,
their disoouragemen,s, their peril
Would they hold out, and grow in
graoe7 He would go and see; and con.
firm their faith and courage.
DO we always consider how wise and
needful it is to follow up q good begin.
ming in any kind Of Christian work. You
have succeeded in interesting friend in
personal religion; follow him with pray
er and wise effort until he surrenders to
Christ. lie gives evidence of conver.
sion do not leave him out in the cold !:
but introduce him to the church. He
has openly assumed Christian VOWS;
surround him with enoouragements and
indictments TO fidelity and usefulness.
The Church has been blessed with a
great revival: the fruit must be cared for
as we'll as gathered. Follow up good be.
ginnings, and thus make promised bless.
ings real and abiding.
2. TIE use God s,ateI Of he impcyteetioas
Of His snvaHts-The strongest Christian
seeks compAnionship in his work.
Paul's companion on his first journey
was BarnAbas and it is to him that he
now makes the proposal "Let us 20
again" Barnabas is ready, but would
again take Mark, his nephew, who had
before failed them at psmphylia. Pauls
remembering his former failure, dissent,
from this. Both are firm and the con
tention is sharp, the end being tha,
they 60 different ways. Possibly there
was fault on both sides. The gospel nara
tive nowhere represents the best dis
cIples as perfect. They, as we'll as we,
needed daily pardon through the blood
Of Christ. The difference between these
two was not lasting, aud doubtless they
parted in all at, cion. But for the
hour they appeared IN an unlovely
light.
Here, however, we note that even
this imperfection was overruled Tor good
Mark afterwards became the loved aud
trusted associate of Paul, and no doubt,
vas made better man iorPauPs presen,
plain dealing with him. Aud a. Bafna
has went one way and Paul another
each with a congenial helper, there
were two missionary journeys instead
Of one. And so the gospel WAS all the
more widely preached.
II, on account of differing tastes, judg.
ments, or choice of associates, men can.
not work together, let them by no
means give over work, but 90 each 10
his own chosen field. And even where
differences are most serious, and
churches are rent asunder, God some.
times oyerrules the separation for good.
More may be done. The differences
which have multiplied denominations
have been evils; but out Of them God
has brought enlarged blessings. We
need never despair because his insttu.
ments are 20 imperfect.
3. Hoe tie 0eak arc sonet,nes coay5aod
and Fvde stTOrg.-lal Paul's visi, to the
churches lately planted was a comfort
ing expression Of sympathy and what
is sseeter and more sustaining than
that7 lbl Taking Timothy, one of theri
8 'od men, as g missionary assistant, he
enlisted them in work for Others; and
what .urer way is there than thai Of dc
veloping faith and hope and courage
aud zeal ? tel Conserving 70 the circum.
cision of Timothy, under circumstances
which could not mislead, he oonciliatcd
favor asah s.ratuofaff hurr,r,,,v a. "A .&aa,.a