The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-02

the Things lndl Snslll beIdl me there.
Last week we left Paul at Ephesus
alone, his companions having gone to
Macedonia. Then followed the uproar.
after which Paul left for Macedonia,
went as far as Greece. tarried there
three months, then returned through
Macedonia, and now we find him at Mi
letus on his way To Jerusalem. hasten
ing TO be there if possible by Pentecost
Cverse 49,. Touching at Niletus on their
homeward voyage, he sent TO Ephesus
TO have the elders come down TO him.
and our lesson today is his farewell TO
them. He reminds them of his manner
of life among them and Of his teach
ing. Doing must precede teaching. See
Math. V, 10; Acts i. 1; Mark vi, So Josh
i, s; Ez. vii. 10
% Save that the Holy Ghost Wit
nesseth in every city saying that bonds
and Affections abide me-" While he did
not know what particular events might
befall him, he had a general knowledge
that it would be as it had been, and
even 50 to the end. 1t was in his COM
mission that he should suffer acts tx,
I'D, and large foretastes had he already
in the stoning at Lystra and the scourg-
ing and Imprisonment at Philippi
"A. But none Of these things move
me, neither count l my life dear unto
myself, so that l might finish my course
with joy" The ambition of this SER
want of Christ may he seen in such pas
sages as this in connection with 1 Cor.
ii, ,; IL Cor. V, 3; Phil. i, 20; Gal. vi, IA.
To make known the gospel of grace TO
make Christ known through these bod
les, to be in all things pleasing unto
Him, these were his constant aim, and
in these directions He exhorted his son
Timothy QI Tim. H. 3; iv, 49,. and
through His writings eXhorts all be-
levers.
%. And now, behold, 1 know that We
all, among whom / have gone preaching
the kingdom of God, shall see my face
no more In some way he knew that
he would not meet them again till he
should meet them at the judgment seat
of Christ, and therefore he would speak
TO them the more earnestly nd waste
no time in vain words. If when we
speak TO people even in ordinary con-
Versation, we felt that might not
meet them again in this world, we
would be more apt to say something
about Jesus and things eternal
70. Wherefore 1 take you TO record
this day that i am pure from the blood
of men," not only in the sense Of hav-
ing wronged, corrupted or defrauded
no man I'll Cor. vii, p, but he had
cleared himself of all responsibility in
reference to their souls salvation. If
we, as the messengers of God faithfully
declare His messages of salvation, then
we are clear of the blood OF those who
hear. whether they believe or not. See
Eek i'll 10; XxXiii. 1913.
p. For 1 have not Stunned TO de-
clare unto you all the counsel of God"
That which he had received of the Lord
he had made known unto them without
diminishing word Il Cor XIV 3: Jer
NNNi ~ He had l-an Ia
Verse 20) through fear of man. So he
lived and labored not as pleasing men,
but God. who trieth our hearts u Thess.
ii, a. What a needful word that is.
HE that hath My word let him speak
My word faithfully DER. xiii. 30.
2S. Take heed therefore unto your
selves, and TO all the flock, over which
the Holy Ghost hath made your over
seers, to feed the church of God, which
He hath purchased with His own blood"
One of the risen ChriSt's last words to
Peter was a threefold exhortation to
feed His sheep and lambs (John XXI,
Is. 10 and Peter passes il on to US,
saying, Feed the flock OF God which is
among you q Pet. Y, y. Nothing can
feed us but the word Of God. The writ
ten word is full of Him who is the living
word, and He Himself said, He that
eateth Me, even he shall live by Me-"
John vi 50.
29. For / know this. that after my de-
DdIllllB Shall SIltNOuS MOlNtS enter IN
among you. not sparing the flock It
was Paul's delight to maintain himself
by his own labor that he might have to
give to the needy things temporal and
spiritual. But there were and there are
those who. processing to be shepherds,
not only do not feed the flock, but take
good care to live upon the hOck-wolves
in sleeps clothing. CMath. vii, IS; X,
16).
80. also of your own selves. shall
men arise, speaking perVerse things, to
draw away disciples after them" 1t is
one thing for a man to be accused OF
drawing people after him, while his
whole aim is 10 point them to Jesus q
Cor. iii. 4, s. IT is quite another thing
for a man to live and labor for the sake
of a following acts V, sc, 30.
81. Therefore watch and remember
that by the space Of three years ceased
not to warn every night and day with
tears" Woe be unto the pastors that
destroy and scatter the sheep Of Ny
pasture, saith the Lord DER xiii, ID.
See also Eek. XXXiv, ?. Prayerfully,
tearfully and increasingly had Paul Ia
bored for their souls welfare. and as he
foresaw the possibility Of false teachers
and souls ruined and lost his heart was
grieved.
80. And now. brethren. I commend
you to God and to the word Of His
grace which is able to build you and
give you an inheritance among all them
which are sanctffied" He knew that If
they would only hold fast to the word
of God they would not waver nor be
led astray. The only safety then and
now Is Ito the law and to the testimony.
If they speak not according TO this
word surely there Is morning for
them Qsa. viii, 20. r. VI.
SO. 81 have coveted no mans silver or
gold or apparel" He was not seeking
theirs but them. He wanted nothing
from them, but he had something TO
give them. Though he was poor. yet
he made many rich; though he seemed
to have nothing, yet he possessed all
things 0I Cor. VI, 10). When any gave
him gifts. he was especially glad for
them. because Il was just so much added
to their account in heaven.
a. 'Yea. We yourselves know that
these hands have ministered unto my
necessities and TO them that were with
me-" Therefore, when the false teach
ers would come seeking theirs and not
them. only wanting To make something
out Of them. not caring for their souls.
they could saw: Thus did not Paul.
He never asked us for anything for him.
self" See further instruction upon this
point in II Thess. iii. S-io.
s.. 81 have showed you all things.
how that so laboring We ought TO sup
port the weak. and TO remember the
words Of the Lord Jesus. how He said.
II is more blessed to give than to re-
ceive" II is not recorded that Jesus
ever said these words. so that possibly
Paul has here given us some Of the IN
recorded words Of Jesus This principle.
| however. was certainly IN His teaching
and very prominent luke Vi. 80; xiv.
10. I'd.
In ALI der-a ngernpnts of the liver a