Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-11-21

which roamed for the Temptation Oh
hunters stays and hares and wild poars;
and ali styles OF game, whether winged
or lour-rooted. There was cave Win
statue so intensely brilliant that IL OK,
tinpuished the eyes OF those VINO lookeo
upon Il. unless al the command Oh the
priest. the hand OF the spectator some
what shaded the eyes.
In this city the mother OF Jesus was
said to have been buried. Here dwelt
Aquila and Priscilla OF Bible mention,
who we're professors In an extempor-
lied theological seminary, and they
taught the eloquent Appolis how to be
eloquent for Christ. Here John preach
ed. and from here because OF his hdelity
he was exiled 10 Patmos. Here Paul
warred against the magical arts for
which the famous Ephesus was famous.
The sorcerers OF this city pretended
that they could cure diseases and per-
form almost any miracle, by pronounc-
inc the senseless words: "Aski Ca
taski Liz Tetrax DamnamensusA 'slon: -"
Paul having performed q miracle IN
the name OF Jesus. there was O lying
family OF seven brothers who initiated
the apostle. and instead OF their usual
words OF incarnation, used the word Je-
sus over q man who possessed a devil,
and the man possessed flew at them In
great fierceness and nearly tore these
frauds TO pieces, and In consequence all
I'M and down the streets OF Ephesus
there was indignation excited against
the magical arts, and great bonfire OF
magical books was kindled In the
streets. and the people stirred the blaze
until So, 600 worth OF black art litera-
ture had been burned to ashes.
But all the glory OF Ephesus l have
described has gone now. At some sea-
sons OF the year awful malarias sweep
over the place and put upon mattresses
or in graves a large portion Of the pop
ulation. In the approximate marshes
scorpions, centipedes and all forms OF
reptilian life crawl and hiss and sting.
while byenas and jackals at night stink
in and out OF the ruins OF buildings
which once startled the nations with
their almost supernatural grandeur.
But here Is q lesson which has never
vet been drawn out Do you not see in
that temple OF Diana an expression OF
what the world needs? 1t wants Goa
who can provide food. Diana was q
buntress, and in pictures on many OF the
coins she held stag by the horns. Oh,
this is a hungry world. Diana could
not give one pound OF meat or one
mouthful OF food to her worshippers.
She was q dead divinity, an imaginary
God. and so in idolatrous lands the ma
jority Of people never have enough to
eat.
So also in the temple OF Diana the
world expressed its need OF refuge.
To it from all parts OF the land came
debtors who could not pay their Gebts
and the offenders OF the law that they
might escape incarnation. But she
sheltered them only little while. and
while she kept them from arrest she
could not change their hearts and the
guilty remained guilty. But, our God
in Jesus Christ is refuge into which
we may fly from all our sins and all our
pursuers. and not only be safe for time,
but safe for all eternity, and the guilt
is pardoned and the nature Is trans
formed. What Diana could not do for
her worshippers, our Christ accom-
plishes for US.
But. notice what killed Ephesus, and
what has killed most OF the cities that
he buried in the cemetery OF nations.
Luxury! The costly baths. which had
been the means OF health to the city,
became its ruin. Instead sof the cold
baths that had been the inauguration OF
the people, the hot baths which are
only intended for the infirm or the in
valid, were substituted. In these hot
baths many lay most OF the time. Au-
thors wrote books while in these baths.
Business was neglected and a hot
bath taken four or five times q day.
When the keeper of the baths was rep
rimanded for not having them warm
enough, one of the rulers said: You
blame him for not making the bath
warm enough; 1 blame you for having
it warm at ALL" But that warm bath
which enervated Ephesus, and which
is always enervating except when fol-
lowed by cold baths, (no ref
erence, of course, TO delicate
constitutional was only type OF
what went on in all departments OF
Ephesian life, and in luxurious indul-
gence Ephesus fell, and the last TRAN
gle OF music was tinkled in Diana's
temple, and the last wrestler disap-
peared from her gymnasiums, and the
last racer took his garland in the Sta
dunn, and the last plea was heard in her
forum, and even the sea, Us II to with
draw the last commercial opportunity
from that metropolis, retreated down
the beach. leaving her without the har-
Dor in which had floated 1000 ships.
Brooklyn, New York, London and all
modern cities, cisatlantic and transat-
lantic! take warning. What luxury UNI
guarded did for Ephesus, luxury un-
guarded may do for all.
Opulence and splendor God grant to
all the people. TO all the cities, to all
the lands, but at the same time may He
grant the,rfghteous use Of them.
Gy,n6asiums? Yes; but see that the
vigor gained il them be consecrated to
God. Magnificent temples Of worship?
Yes: but see that in them instead of con-
II \ Il - H.