The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-09-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY OF CALM
REFLECTION.
A Pleasant, Interesting. and Instructive
Lesson and Where 1t May He found-A
Learned and Concise Review Of tho
Saul of Tarsus Converted.

|
INTRODUCTORY.
| To-day We come TO the conversion of
Paul. In one sense. the last OF the apostles
What has gone before In the Acts has dealt
largely with Peter, as the center of thought
and action Now the scene is shifted, a
new parsonage comes to the front, aud so
| strong and marked Is his career in the an
nails Of the early churches that it would
seem that all up TO this point was but pre-
| liminary and preparatory To the introduce
tion OF this transcendent genius Certainly
We may say that the Acts are, as it were.
the gospel according TO Peter and Paul,
and pre-eminently according TO Paul he
latter, born out OF due season, knowing only
the spiritual Christ, presents to us the new
| gospel OF the risen and enthroned Christ,
who yet works as a present and potent
energy In and through his people. Thank
God for the testimony Of saul OF Tarsus.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
And Saul, yet breathing out threaten
ings and slaughter. Let it all out. all that
| sort OF breath Saul Is unwttingly pre-
! pairing for new work, and threatenings
and slaughter have no place in the king
dom of Jesus More properly speaking. 1t
was an inbreathing, an inspiration for
murder Very well, get IL out of the way,
let IL run its bad course; or rather. let II
suddenly be checked In its wild course and
new inspiration be given, an In breathing
of Gods love and mercy. And we shall
presently see Saul of Tarsus, to preserve the
language here used, breathing out instead
entreaties 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 a larger commission on the way
down. letters 10 world lie had his Da-
mascus credentials all In proper order then
on the midday journey We never hear OF
them again. wonder IL he did not leave
them lying right there In the midst OF the
highway, there where the light shone and
the voice cried He had heard a clear call.
ARISE. and so into the city, and IL shall
be told thee what thou must do" Right
there he dropped his worthless paper OF
Instructions lie had an errand. but he
had not understood IL before. But now
presently IL rises distinctly before him
and o, what a mission -"to bear my name
before the Gentiles, and kings, and 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 IA foun-
tain OF testimony and lessing. straight
way It IS said OF Paul abe preached Christ
In the synagogues, that he is the Son OF
God" q, fer such filing as will make US all
"straightwayo witnesses Il. II. Meyer. at
| Northield spoke words on this matter that
deserve bordering, and we venture to re-
produce them here as reported In con-
an added gift subsequent TO conversion he
says: "ln "A most solemn way, under the
very deep sense of the solemnity Cf the
hour, ask each OF you, "a a man, have
| you ever claimed and got your share In the
| gift OF PentecOst. ] do not mean regenera-
ton, for there Is gift OF the Holy Ghost
over and above regeneration. | know
you are regenerated people; / believe you
| are consecrated people. believe the SOL
emn hush OF this moment over you indi-
| Gates that you are entering by faith into
| the very del tbs OF the mysteries OF the
| kingdom OF God. But ask you again IL
you g, er claimed your share constitu-
emit member OF the enc church, In the gift
! Of Pcntccost, bestowed on Jesus. "a the
Trustee OF all who believe? II you have
not you have made the greatest miss OF
your life, and am not at all surprised to
learn that your Christian life has been IA
failure and "a disappointment. and | am
glad TO be the humble instrument and ad-
min'5trator TO tell you these glad tdings
Now. IL you were filed. five things would
happen First, Jesus Christ would become
living reality to you. The man who Is
most spirit filed is NEST Christ f.iel, for
the Holy Ghost reveals Christ. secondly,
IL you are 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 ale filed with the Holy Spirit you
will be cleansed from the power and love
OF indwellng sin; you VIII be tempted
still, but you Will find that your inner ma
ture is like n finder box which has become
wet or damp. You know well enough how
often you strike matches uLon damp
finder box and they will not ignite; 20
when n man is filed with the Holy Ghost
the devil will still try to strike his matches
upon him, but the man won't r, spond: he
l hn en- attfr tod Cn n N a.
divine influence that there will be no incll-
! nation toward the yielding OF other days. l
do not say that The old nature is eradicated,
/ but / do say that IL Is kept as torpid as
serpents and toads are kept in the winter
They are there. and when the conditions
alter they wake up. but just so long the
| conditions are kept Icy and frosty they are
! torpid and dead 20 the old nature Is not
eradlcated from the soul. but 1t Is kept so
utterly quenched and still and Imperative
that when temptation comes from outside
there Is no inclination 10 yield within
/ Then. fourthly, when a man Is filed with
! the Holy Ghost he has marvellous power In
witnessing for Jesus to Others. Some of
you who are listening to me perhaps shrink
| from entering into conversation with peo-
pie about their souls; you have no power
| in testimony; you work In tie midst OF
number of ungodly men, and you neve-
try TO stay their foul talk. You have
never gathered your child your neare t. 10
| you and spoken about the Redeemer. Why?
| Because you have never yet been filed
Because. when you are filed. at once tho
torrent flows forth. And, filthy, IL you
] are filled with the Holy Spirit. you will be
! filed with love. perfect love
How are we TO receive the filing OF the
| Spirit? First, seek the presence OF the Holy
Spirit, and not the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Distinguish between the presence and the
gifts Ifyou have the former you also have
| the latter. Secondly, confess the sins OF
your past life against the Holy Spirit
/ Thirdly, there must be an intense desire for
this great DO IN; God is not going ID give 10
\ any one the power OF the 81 ir t. unless there
I is eager desire for IL. III you can get on
without tho Holy Ghost, why he will leave
you 10 get on without the Holy Gho {: but
II some OF you have been feeling lately that
you can't live another day ms you have Lccn
living, as IL 1t was the one passion and cry
OF your heart. then he who has created the
desire will fulfill IT, Eourthly, there must
be fullness OF surrender 10 Jesus. And.
lastly. we must receive the filling OF the
Holy Spirit by faith Gal 3: "a.
| Next Lesson-"Dorcas Rasel TO Life