The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-01-26
SUDDEN CONVERSIONS.

hear from so good Christian as Ma
jor Chas w. Campbell that there was
nothing miraculous in the conversion
of st. Paul.
Notwithstanding the pFoverbial
meekness of the first Christian mar
tyr, and although his 'countenanee
shone like that of an angel Paul
helped TO stone him unto death. AT
the time of his conversion he was on
his way to Damascus to further perse-
cute the Christians. He had IL in the
neck for them bad. Was Paul living
in our day and had not yet been con-
verted, nothing would delight him
more than to be the leader in a lynch
ing bee. Not content with simply
displaying his hatred to the gospel as
preached in Judea, he applied for and
obtained special authority from the
high priest "to go to Damascus and
bring back with him bound any Chris
tians whom he might find in that
CITY," He was on his way thither
when his con version took place. The
vision that he saw was so dazzling
that it blinded him, yet il wac invis-
bic to his comrades, and the voice
that he heard sounded to him like
heavy thunder, though it was not
heard by those who were with him.
Paul was felled to the earth and arose
new man, and yet Major Campbell
tells US there was nothing remarkable
nor miraculous about Tit was just a
common, ordinary, everyday event.
He says: "Paul was wise enough
when the scales fell from his eyes to
see the utter folly and wickedness Of
his course" The scales suddenly fall
ing from his eyes is the remarkable
part of the story. That is what
makes it miraculous. Had the scales
still blinded his vision his conversion
would never have occurred and his
name would. have no place in history
But if the theologian Will be sur
prised to be told that Paul's CONVEX
sion was not miraculous, he viii be
still more surprised to be informed
that Jacobs was. Indeed, he will be
surprised to hear this word applied to
Jacob. He was born in one faith,
lived in one faith and died in one
faith. All his life he was true to the
faith Of his fathers. If he, at any
time, renowned his religion, or
changed his creed, ii is not 50 recorded
4<ssn any of the books that we have read.
Nor is ii fact that he was covetous
man, robber and thief A man is
not very covetous who labors fourteen
years for wife. a man would not be
called covetous who would do this in
these days. The Major has gotten all
mixed up in history and theology and
has been reading some other fellows
character for Jacobs. Jacob pur-
chased his birthright, he didn't steal
it. He received his fathers blessing
which was intended for Esau, il is
true, but he did so in obedience TO his
mothers wish and at her express
he went into far country, he tramped
for six hundred miles on foot, taking
not even as much as OK or an ass with
him. Does that look like covetuous-
ness? He permitted Esau to enjoy
the patrimony for full twenty years,
which was his by right of purchase, as
well as by virtue of his fathers bless
ing, which he refused to revoke after
discovering the deception that had
been praeticed upon him. He fell in
love with his cousin, Rachel, at first
sight, and to have her for a wife he
had to give her father seven years of
labor, all he had TO give, and at the
end of the seven years of sweat and
toll he claimed the hand of his be-
loved. There were no incandescent
lights in those times and when he
awoke the next morning after the
nuptual night and found that Leah,
whom he hated, instead of Rachel,
whom he loved, had been imposed
upon him, he didn't swear aud turn
red in the face, but patiently entered
into another seven years contract for
the hand of Rachel. Had Jacob been
living in these times does Major
Campbell believe that he would so
quietly have submitted to so barefaced
an imposition? No, indeed! Not only
this, but Labon refused to give him
the number of cattle he agreed to, at
ter his fourteen years OF labor had
ended and he had entered into an
other contract 10 labor still another
seven years for his crafty and cunning
father-in-law. And we see Jacob
meekly submitting to these injustiees.
And after meeting Esau after sep
aration of twenty years, what is the
picture given US? The two brothers
weeping on each others neeks. Jacob,
not Esau, had been wronged. And so
throughout his long and eyentfuI ca
reer Jacob lived agreeable to Gods
purposes and many divine blessings
were bestowed upon him. He was
loved of God and God favored and
prospered him in many ways.
Whether Constantine saw cross in
the heavens with the words embla-
zoned upon it: .By this sign con-
quer,n or Mahomet saw sword sus-
pended there, seem absurd to Chris
tians, yet large part of the human
race believe the story, at least 50 far as
it refers to Mahomet.
But if Major Campbell can see MOTH
ing miraculous in the conversion Of
ST. Paul it is not to be expected that
h would sec anything specially in