The Magnolia gazette., 1886-08-27
Ess. IN j. j. wilnAr

cnapter OF nomun9- au uOt
ashamed Of the gospel of Christ,
for it ia the power of God unto
salvatiovsS' He said: 1T srems
from this yclse that Paul ex-
pressed a jenre to visit Rome;'
this fact became known 10 the
Romano, and they We're amazed
that Paul should desire to face
the andience at ROM, the home
Of education, history, the most
powerful Z army in the world,
with all # It's refinement and cul-
tore that art and beauty would
give; p rhaps his own brethren
reminded him of the same things.
But tho Apostle Paul sald be was
not ashamed to preach the gos-
pei in Rome any more than at
Athens. He was not ashamed,
for God put power into the gos-
Del, a power vast and inccnceiva-
bic, and which mov,s the world.
The Christiao religion has for
its author q Gallilean peasant.
He wae carpenter and followed
that trade. In small and de-
spised villaga, this Jesus of Naz-
areth> grew up and lived as a Ia
borer. At the. age of 30 years,
without the influence and the
wealth required to elevate man,
he began a teacher. He was a
failurr, and in three years he had
only gained a handful of apostles
ard tls greater number of them
deserted him, and his fruits Of all
this time andSlabor was list. He
died between malefactors and was
buried by his enemies; they
rolled stones over his grave and
stationed soldiers there to guard
it. The apostles were gathered
,here and were imbued with prin-
ciples from on High and bid to go
into the work aud preach the gos-
pei to every living man. As they
went, wonders and signs accom-
panied them in their long and
tiresome travels. They preached
Christ and his resurrection and
began revolutions; and men OF
uealth grew dumb as the name OF
tJesus was call,d; temples were
deserted, and they took upon
their hearts a new life and II new
religion, and it was propagated
from heart to heart, and appoint.
ments were arranged for this neW
change in the whole life that
came. 1t went on and grew, ane
even in the fourth century it sal
upon the throne IF the Caesars. Ii
the wreck, and ruin, and SORROW
: of Europe it preserved its gooe
for The coming people. 1t was
and is the refuge of the weak ane
the orpharage for orhans How
humble it is. q
To-day it is the acknowledged
basis of civilization aud the cor
ner stone Of education. No in
stitution of educa ion in. the worlt
has risen from the agnostlcs. Ii
political institutions every sys
tenn is at the foot Of Jesus, ant
his spirit anirnates them all. I'm
ped, d in some instances, yet i
stands there and knocks for ad
mlttancs, and finally it gains en-
trance and is planted there for
ever.
What are the elements of thu
great power?
Religion began its career BY
appealing to each conscience ant
heart, and to mans sense Of righ
and wrong. 1t found man every
where prepared to be taught OF
the subject of sin.
Sin was in this country long be
fore Christ came, or Moses came, O
the Bible carne. 1t was a gres
sorrow hanging like a mountain Q
lead OIL their hearts
Men need not bs reminded Of
their sirs by the Gospel. They
know it aud know why they ar,
burdened; and know now the
means of escape. We find great
many temples erected by mans
genius and piled up In monulnen
tai splcpdor all over the world tt
honor God and His Word. Affairs
are made and ground it worship
ers come aud pray for the peace
they SO much need.
Prayer, it is said, is all the crea-
tieh Of priesthood II this be true
f,om whence came this prirsthocdS
1t was born Of this longing fol
pence to the soul. The Gospe1
came to correct aud heighten mer
from the danger to which they were
exposed. 1t came expanding and
illustrating the Word of God. II
came TO illustrate man's duty ane
nynvilo wav IN fuit and hrouqhI