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

sim Of three remarkable men, viz ::
paul. Constantine and John @. Car
isle. will certainly indicate that you are
awell upn in theology and sacred and
profane history; also that the reply of
Festus to Paul is very applicable In
your case: "Much learning doth make
thee mad.
However, believing your premises TO
be wrong and not a true version in
either case, ] ask space that your read
ers may hear 1.-THE other side"
Now, there was nothing remarkable
In the conversion OF Paul, it was sim
ply manifestation of the power of
the Holy Ghost through the Son to
show Paul how hard ii was for him to
kick against the prlcks," and utterly
useless.
Paul was not converted against his
will-nor any other man-there was a
perfect Willingness when he cried,
Lord, what wilt Thou have me to
dop'
Your biblical reading will tell you
what he did and how he was saved.
'Tis true Paul learned at the feet of
Gamaliel, who was learned doctor of
the law.
But Paul was hard headed aud over
Jealous in bad cause, and no more
needed the advice of Gamaliel in re-
gard to prosecuting the Christians
than some hard headed newspaper
editors of the present day, who claim
to have learned democracy at the feet
of Thomas jefferson aud Andrew
Jackson, remember their teachings.
Ii was not the teaching of Gamaliel
that induced Paul TO be party to the
stoning of Stephen and the halfing of
men and women; quite otherwise, for
Gamaliel advised ''if this thing he of
men it will come to naught-if of God
it can not be stopped
You remember the old saying, wise
men sometimes change, but fools
never do" Paul was wise enough
when the scales fell from his eyes to
see the utter folly and wickedness
of his course and changed, so
there was nothing remarkable in a
wise man changing from error to
truth.
In the conversion of Demetrius,
the silverswith, and others who made
''silyer shrines" for the Goddess
DIANA" there would doubtless have
been something remarkable for there
were many Craftsmen Of that kind,
and their occupation brought them
much gainp-doubtless some of them
owned silver mines.
If you will read back a little further
you will read of a conversion seeming
~ more remarkable than Paulis, al
though you say his was the most re-
markable that had taken place up to
that time. We have no record that
Paul was covetous man, a liar,
and robber, and thief, or that he
was prosecuting the Christians for
gain.
In Jacob we find all these things
combined, with everything else that
was mean and despicable to make up
his characterized Jacob lived at the
present day he doubtless would have
cheated somebody out of silver mine
and would have been in favor of the
unlimited coinage of silver.
He would certainly have been heard
bargaining with the Lord for all the
silver, and as a seniorage promising
to give Him one-tenth.n
Jacobs conversion occurred long be-
fore Paul that there might be such as
Paul. Still there was nothing more
remarkable in one than the other
In one who $50 loved usn as TO
give His only begotten Son" there
was nothing remarkable in the exer-
else Of His power TO change two bad
men-by opening their eyes TO the er-
ror of their ways-that the world
might be made better.
As for Constantine, his conversion
was from purely selfish motives. He
no more saw cross and the words
"by this sign conquer" emblazoned on
the heavens than Manommet saw a
sword suspended, the placing of it on
Christians.
Had it been sign from heaven
there would not have been a Mahome-
den lett to occupy the Holy places to-
day.
There has been but one showing of
the cross and that was so firmly plant
ed on Calvary that all might see it
who would look that way, and time
Will cause its light to shine in the ut
termost parts of the world.
A closer reading of your biblical liter
allure will convince you there was and
is only one cross, and that conquers by
peace and not by slaughter.
Having been close observer of
John q, Carlisle since his advent into
political life, and having very closely
read his speeches, including the ia
nous one before the Chamberof Conn
merce dinner, and considered the oc-
easions upon which they were deliv-
cred, fail to see any Inconsistency in
his course, but find much to commend
in his consistency as great states
man and patriot.
Whilst Speaker of the House time
and time again he was credited by
both friend and foe for his consistent
fairness in his rulings and honesty of
purpose.
Knowing you to be incapable of in
tentionalIy misrepresenting anybody,
you surely must have been thinking
of somebody else when You ascripe 10