The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-12-14


while his morse is ryiug wildly away. Ther
ask your skeptic what II was that frightened
the one and threw the other. Oh, no. II 4
no weak gospel. II is n glorious rospel n
Is an all conquering gospel. IL is an omni-
potent gospel. II is the power OF God and
the wisdom OF God unto salvation.
Again, learn from the text man cannot
become Christian until hs ia uphorsed'
Ihe trouble is, we want 10 ride into the king
dom ofGod Just as the knight rode into castle
gate on palfrey. beautifully caparisoned. we
want 10 come into the kingdom OF God In fine
style. No kpeeIiny down at the altar. no
sitting on anxious seats" no CRYING over
sin, no begging at the door OF Gods mercy.
Clear the road and let US come in all pranc-
ing IN the pride OF our soul No. wa will
never get into heaven that way. We must
dismount.
inere Is no Snignt errantry In religion. no
I.,ngeu trapPings OF repentance, but an
utter prostration before God. a going down
In the dust with the cry, "Unclean, un-
clean "A bewailing OF the soul. like DaviJ
from the belly OF hell-a going down In the
aus, until Christ shall by His grace In us up
as he lifted Paul. oh, proud hearted
hearer. you must get of that horse Nav a
light from the throne OF God brighter than
the sun throw you Come down into the
uust and cry for pardon and life and heaven
Again. | learn from this scene OF the text
that the grace OF God can overcome the per-
secutor. Christ and Paul we're boys M the
same time in different villages, aud PauI's
antipathy to Christ was Increasing He
hated everything about Christ. He was go-
ing down then with writs in his pockets to
nave Christs disciples arrested. lie was not
going as a sheriff goes to arrest man against
whom no nad no spite, but Paul was gong
down 70 arrest those people because he was
glad TO arrest them.
The Bible says. "Ho breathed out slaugh-
ter. He wanted them captured and he
wanted them butchered. | hear the click
and clash and clatter Of the noofs Of the gal
lopiny stceds on tho way TO Damascus. Oh
do you think that proud man on horseback
can ever become Christian2 Yes There
Ia a voice from heaven like thundercap
utteriny two words the second word the
same as the first. but uttered with more en-
phasis. 50 that the proud equestrian may have
no doubt nsto whom Is meant "Saul : Saul :"
That man was saved and he was "A persecu-
tor, and 80 God can, by His grace overcome
any prosecutor
The days of sword and fire for Christians
seem TO have gone by. The bayonets OF
Napoleon l. priod open tho "inquisition"
and let the rotting wre,ches out. Tho
ancient dungeons around Rome are to-day
mere curiosities for the travellers The
Coliseum, where wild beasts used 10 suck
up the life OF the martyrs while the emperor
watched and Lola Phulina sat with emerald
adornments worth 50, 900 900 sesterces clan |
ing her hands rs the Christians died under
the paw and the tooth OF the lion-that Col /
lseum Is ruin now. The scene OF the
Smithheld fires is n haymarket. The day of |
hre and sword for Christians seems 10 have 1
gone by. But has the day OF persecution 4
eeasedY No. Are you not caricatured for .
your religlonf In proportion ~ you try 10
serve God and be faithful to Him, are you
not sometimes maltrentedp
That woman finds IL hard TO bea Christian
a. her husband talks and jeers while she IL
trying TO say her prayers or read the Bible.
Ihat daughter finds II hard to be a Christian
with the whole family arrayed against her
father, mother, brother and sister making
her the target OF ridicule. That young man
ilnds II hard TO be Christian in the shop or
factory or store when his comrades jeer AZ
him beca Sc he will not go to the gambling
hell or otter places Of iniquity.
On. noNhe days OF persecution have not
'eased and will not until the end OF the
world. But oh. you prosecuted ones, IL II not
line that you began TO pray for your perse-
'utorsr They are no prouder, no fiercer, no
more set In their way than was this perse-
'utor OF the text. He fell. They will fall II
JC-ttSt ran the heavens. grandly and glori-
iSy looks IN -tban. God CO - qis
Ace max