The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-26

scriptures And yet q portion only OF his
hearers received It. Some believed. aud
some disbeiisved." And il would see N that
the believers were either very few, or that
they were only intellectually convincsd.
| For Paul seems very soon TO lose sight OF
them. He speaks as IL his all days sermon
| had proved failura. Bat ne Gao not let
! them go without final word OF the nature
of startling warning for the unOslieving
portion.
Note here, in passing, that the words
quoted from Isaiah are Quoted as words OF
the Holy Ghost. The Saviour more than
| once quoted them in the same way. Isaiah
claimed to speak by divine authority, and
Paul and Jesus certify TO the truth Of The
| ella m
Just what is the mesDing OF the words
| quoted2 This is not obscure. It is that be
who is dull OF hearing, and shuts his eyes
against the divine message, Is in danger Of
Bringing upon himself fatal blindness and
| hardness. This result is natural; it comes of
| the laws Of our own being; the blindness aud
/ hardness are our own doing. BUTT is als) q
! judgment of God. II we are unwilling to
| know the way OF lie, We are suffered TO have
our own way. God gives Us over We come
20 believe lie. Right about Us there would
seem 10 be people OF 1st this SORT They are
now settled in their decisions; unable to
| hear. see and undersi and the Truth. How
| peIi.ous Is istless dishonest hearing
| .. The last thiog we would notice in this
narrative is the illustration ii affords OF the
| ruth that he who desires to work for Christ
| will find opportunity to do it in circum-
s'ascss the most adverse. Pauls stay in
Rome was two whole years. During all this
| time he was prisoner, chained TO a Roman
soleier. And yet such was his record and
| his barring that he was trusted, aud allowed
10 occupy his own hired house. And here
| lie received eli who came to him, boldly
skHVao hsa fvou nd no
| thidgs concerning Jesus Nor was this all.
l. vas during these years that he wrote his
| EI ist es TO the Colossials, Philippians
anO Philemon. How many of us, in Giro 1m-
Stances lar less adverse, think ourselves eX-
cused from all active effort for Christ and
souls.
The foundations of the Christian Church
are row laid deep and vide. The kingdom
| of Christ Is transferred from Israel 70 the
| Gsniiles, and So 10 the whole human race.
This may be the reason for the abrupt close
| of this narrative. From some later epislles
it Is inferred that after his two years at
| Rom Paul was tried and acquitted; that he
visited Ephesus and thence returned TO the
| Capital; that be travelled to the east yet
sgair, and on bis return penetrated into
| Soaiu and that at last be was arrested at
Rome and put to death about the end OF
NeIo's reign" The tradition is that he was
bel ea6ed IL the ear a. ID. 6S, though some
say in the year IS. II was in anticipation OF
he msrtyIdOn ne suffered that he wrote his
las epistle. the secoHd to Timothy.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
/. God has always sure, but often stran ge
ways OF accomplishing our desires Tor use
iulness.
.. Earnest spirits are not long in finding
or slow in taking up Christian work.
3 Our trials, like the Apostles chains, nay
be means or y ct rester success Ia WORK tol
Christ
4 That some, and many, do not profit by
our labors should not surprise, and shouC
ntver dishearten Us.
z. The fear OF jud cial blindre s and hard
D,ss should make Us prompt to heed aad obey
tx VOID Of salvation.
g. We are told nothing OF PGuls death il
ths Scriptures, bat only of his life. The life
is TIE all important thing. IL We live ne h'
did, VIC cen anticipate whatever hour or enc
the Master appoints without fear; nav. Will
exUlting ~ am now ready to be offered,
tic. = Tim. A. 6S)