Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-09-29
Saul of Tarsus Converted.

new parsonage comes TO the front, aud SC
strong and marked Is his career In the an
nails of the early churches that it would
seem that oil up TO this point was but pre-
liminary and preparatory 70 the introduce
tion OF this transcendent genius Certainly
we may say that the Acts are, as IL were,
the gospel according 10 Peter ana raul
and pre-eminently according to Paul Inc
latter, born out of due season. knowing only
the spiritual Christ, presents to us the new
gospel OF the risen and enthroned Christ,
who vet works as q present ana potent
energy M and through his people. Thank
God for the testimony OF saul or Tarsus-
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES
And Saul yet breathing out threaten
ings and slaughter. Let IL oil out, all that |
sort of breath. Saul is unwittingly pre- |
pairing for a new work, and threatenlngs
and slaughter have no place In the king |
dom of Jesus More properly speaking. II
was an inbreathipg, an Inspiration TOT
murder. Very well. get 1t out OF the way, |
let it run its bad course; or rather, let II !
suddenly be checked In Its Wild course and
a new inspiration be given, an inDreathing
of Gods love and mercy. And SO we shall
presently see Saul of Tarsus, 10 preserve the
language here used. breathing out instead
cntreaties and salvation. He Is to be in-
breathed OF God, and God Is love.
Desired of him letters to Damascus That
was all Saul wanted, letters to Damascus
He got q larger commission on the way
down. letters TO IA world lie had his Da-
mascus credentials oil In proper order then
on the midday journey We never near OF
them again. wonder IL he did not leave
them lying right there In the midst OF tue
highway, there where the light shone and
the voice cried. He had heard clear call,
@Arise. and so into the city. and 1t shall
be told thee what thou must 40" hlght
there he dropped his worthless paper or
instructions He had an errand, but he
had not understood 1t before. But now
presently 1t rises distinctly before him
and o, what a mission !--@to bear my name
before the Gentiles, and kings. aud the
| children OF Israeli Exit Saul OF Tarsus:
| Hail Paul the world apostle
Be filed with the Holy Ghost 1t came
at once with Paul Some OF US wait TILL
| long after conversion and baptism for that
utter filing which makes the heart foun-
tain of testimony and blessing. "Stralght-
| way,n 1t Is said OF Paul, "he preached christ
| In the synagogues, that he Is the son or
| God.p q. for such filing us will make us all
| Gstraightwayp witnesses +. b. Meyer, at
| Northfield. spoke words on this matter that
| deserve bordering. and we venture 10 re-
| produce them here as reported In con-
temporary. OF the filling Of the Spirit as
az added gift subsequent to conversion ne
| saws: ain a most solemn way, under the
/ very deep sense OF the solemnity OF the
hour, ask each of you, as man, nave
| you ever claimed and got your share In the
| gift Of PentecOst ] do not mean regenera-
~
| over and above regeneration. L know
| you are regenerated people; believe you
| are consecrated people believe the SOL
emn hush of this moment over you inol-
| Gates that you are entering by falth INTO
| the very depths of the mysteries or the
| Kingdom of God. But ask you again IL
| you ever claimed your share as constitu-
emit member OF the enc church, In the giit
of Pentecost, bestowed on Jesus as the
Trustee Of all who believe? III you nave
do hn mis-
your life, and / am not at all surprised to
learn that your Christian life has been a
failure and u disappointment, and 1 am
glad to be the humble instrument and ad-
ministrator TO tell you these glad tidings
Now, IL you were filed. hve things would
happen First, Jesus Christ would become
a living reality to you. The man who Is
most spirit filed is most Christ hllei' Tor
the Holy Ghost reveals Christ secondly,
IL you nre filled with the Holy Spirit you
will have an undoubted assurance OF your
sonship; you will have over you clear
vision, and the spirit within will witness
to the Savior. and be an assurance OF
, your relationship to the Father Thirdly,
, II you are filed with the Holy spirit you
| will be cleansed from the power and love
, ! of indwelling sin; you Will be tempted
still but you will find that your inner ma
ture is like a finder box which has become
wet or damp You know we'll enough no"
often you strike matches upon a DAMP
when a man is filled with the Holy Ghost
the devil will still try to strike his matches
upon him, but the man won't respond; ne
will be so saturated, so to speak, with th'
divine influence that there will be no incli.
| nation toward the yielding OF other days.
| do not say that the old nature is eradicated
but / do say that It Is kept as torpid a.
| serpents and toads are kept In the winter
They are there. and when the condition.
alter they wake up. but just so long as thu
1 l. N...r nd ~ "a ar
torpid and dead. 30 tho old nature is no
eradicated from the soul, but IL Is Kept -
| utterly quenched and still and inoperatiy'
| that when temptation comes from OUTSIDE
there is no inclination to yield within
Then, fourthly, when man Is filled Will
the Holy Ghost he has marvellous power II
witnessing for Jesus to others. Some o
| you who are listening to me perhaps shrln
| from entering into conversation Win PEG
pie about their souls; you have no powe
in testimony; you work In the midst OF
number of ungodly men, and you neye
try TO stay their foul talk You hav
never gathered your child. your nearest, I
you and spoken about the Redeemer Why
Because you have never yet been filled
Because, when you are filed. ut once tn
torrent flows forth. And, ffthly, II 20
are filed with the Holy Spirit, you will b.
filed with love, perfect love
How are we TO receive the filing of tn
Spirit? First, seek the presence OF the Hol
| IL.
'e Distinguish between the presence and til
IT gifts II you have the former you also hav
o the latter. Secondly, confess the sins {
n your past life against the Holy Spiri
% | Thirdly, there must be an intense desire 10
= this great boon; God is not going to give I
ie any one the power of the Spirit unless Their
y is eager desire for IL. II you can get o
q without tho Holy Ghost, why he will leav
~ you to get on without the Holy Ghost: -bt
IL some OF you have been feeling lately ths
,r you can't live another day as you have bee
is living as II ft was the one passion and CT
" of your heart. then he who has created eli
y desire will fulhllit. Foarthly, there mus
Q. be fulIness of surrender to Jesus. Ant
ID lastly, we must receive the filing OF th
" Holy Shirt by faith. Gal 3: IL.
Is This much may be said OF the filling O
as the Shirt 1t may come with conversion
In IL may come presently after, IL may com
after "A long interval in which the soul hi
realized, to a greater or less extent. God
o. saving grace; but when It does come
III carries with IL its own demonstration
lie manifest fruits OF power OF conviction an
re power OF WITNESSING. In the Septemb'
Is Teacher, Rev. VIM. Hurlin argues that u
M arifts of the Holy Spirit spoken OF in 81
- Acts of the apostles refer main
~ TO those extraordinary powers whiC
le God at that time bestowed for vii
IS, and special purposes.n Another writer
Du the same number argues for such thir
III to-day as tho distinct advent OF "the Ho
&c Shirt in personal experience" think u
re reconciliation is not far to seek. I'll
- marked bestowment OF the Holy Spirit
- apostolic times was for apostolic purpose
~ including miracles of attestation; the gif
~ of the Holy Spirit to-day. adapted TO {
y times and TO be prayed for no less fervent