The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-09-07
in the fear of God"
AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH.


Rev. Mr.. Wood spoke last Sabbath
morning from the 9th chapter and 22nd
verse of the book Of the Acts of the
Apostles.
The conversion Of the Apostle Paul Is
one worthy of notice because 1t deals
with character In which had been in
doctrinated the most adverse views OF
Christ and Christianity. Fitted by pre-
vious training he became an important
factor in the intellectual and social cir
cles in which he moved. In the inception
of the Christian church he took promi-
nent part as an opposer and prosecutor
and vet in the midst of all his attempts
to overthrow, to bring to naught and per-
secute the church and God, he himself
was brought before power from which
there was no escape. The very God
whom he had opposed had brought to
him realizing sense of his own unwor-
thiness and into Pauls life had come
deep rooted and abiding conviction, that
his past life had been failure. From
henceforth the theme of his life was to
be Salvation by grace through faith In
the Lord Jesus Christ, and knowledge
that there was no other way given under
heaven among men whereby they must
be saved than in and through the merits
of Jesus Christ. We notice from record
of his life in Christ how he increased in
strength and we ask by what means this
strength came. Blessings from God al
ways come as result of conditions 1ui-
filed When theSLord appeared to Paul
and caused him to fall down before him
Paul received this command, "Arise and
90 into the city and it shall be told thee
what thou shalt do" If we could but
see the reason for every commandment
or could figure out the result of every
duty performed in advance of its per-
formance, there might not be the hesitan-
CIV in doing, what now seems unreason-
able. A certain person said one time. II
have found in my experience that it pays
to obey God whether can see reason
for it or not" This was what Paul dld
amid the darkness of physical and spirit
ual sight, he obeyed. Paul increased In
strength by a conscientious waiting on
the Lord "They that wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength Declension
in spiritual strength, in spiritual life, in
spiritual activity, can be traced In every
case almost if not quite without excep-
ton: to relaxation of spiritual com
munion with God. As the stream detach-
ed from the fountain head soon becomes
exhausted and fails, SO the soul detached
from the fountain head of spiritual NE
must invariably become withered anu
parched. To the soul in communion Win
God an Ananius of vision will come ana
also an Ananius of spiritual strength
.Receive We the Holy Ghost" Paul In
creased in strength by bearing witness
for God. He was not silent Christian
neither did he want to keep his expert
ence hid from others. Nothing stlmu-
lates spirituality so much as pubic con-
fession of ones faith in Christ. Inc
very fact of confession, which Is duty,
defends us from weak desertlon oi
duty. The growth and strength which
Paul received is best prototype OF what
our own may be in the Christian hfe'
May we seek to grow in grace, strength
ened with might by Gods spirit In the
inner man, more and more into the image
of our divine Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, in whom is strength sufficient for
all our needs.