The Newtown bee., 1895-07-19
Around the Preside.
OUR LIVES CASTING SHADOWS.

A SERMON PREACHED BY REV OTIS W. BARKER IN THE VIEWPOINT CONGREGA- TIONAL CHURCH.-THE PASSIVE 1N- FLUENCE OF ACTIVE MEN.-THE CRATE FIJI CHARACTER OF SHADE, SHADE AND TREE, INFLUENCE AND MAN, ARE ALIKE INSEPARABLE.--BADI INFLUENCE EVERYWHERE MEETING US HOLD US SHORT OF PERFECTION.-MEN'S LOW IDEALS KEPT CHRIST FROM HIS IDEAL. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT OTHERS UNCONSCIOUSLY RECEIVE FROM
 US, AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE ALL THE
 TIME.
 shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."
 That is the picture of the great Apostle Peter walking along the street of Jerusa- lem-that is all, simply walking along, and yet doing a mighty work. The work was so mighty and the fame of it spread so far that in the next verse we read: "There came also multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and them that were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one." The result ac- complished by Peters walking along the streets of Jerusalem was so grand that 8 great multitude wished to share in it. It was very simple way of doing very great thing. The shadow of Peter fell that is all-unconsciously fell (Peter hardly knew why the sick folks were there, certainly did not dream of the mighty work of healing that was being done) and they were healed every one.
 There seem to have been two Peters, the impetuous, quick-spoken Peter, and the medtative, subdued Peter, just as there seem to have been two Pauls, the Paul who boasted himself not whit be- hind any of the apostles, though he was as one born out of due time, and the Paul who humbly classed himself with sinners and of them claimed to be chief. In oul text we have the picture of the medita tive, subdued Peter; earlier
 IN THIS BOOK OF ACTS
 | we have the energetic, impassioned Pc ter. There we see his powers in ful play she is preaching his great Pentecos tai sermon, and he implores men with al earnestness which makes his eyes snal with fire and his tongue quiver with emo tion that they be reconciled to God, tha they believe in Jesus as the Messiah ant the only one who is able to save then from their great sin of crucifying tn Lord. This last picture is like a catarac plunging down & steep or a tornad l sweeping across the ocean. It is Peter I admit, as we generally know him,-th Peter who is so heady and unrestraine' in his impulses that he always seems t be saying the wrong thing at the wronI time, the Peter who never thinks twic the occasion seems to require either word or blow, lets the blow come frs and the word afterwards, the Peter wh denies his Lord with vehement oath an as vehemently repents, the Peter wh plunges into the sea and is away to tn shore to greet his Master before the ott CT disciples began to haul in their nets That is Peter as we generally think c him and speak of him; and, just becaus that is so, just because that picture c him is deeply and internationally fixed i your mind, have chosen this text to-da in representation of him, to show you tn unconscious influence of great men, tn passive influence of active men, the quie influence of boisterous men, and the ir fuence which goes forth from all ou lives constantly, without any design O our part, without any fuss or friction just as sweet aroma goes forth from bunch of violets, or as warmth and glad ness go forth from the sun.
 "That, at the least, the shadow of Pc ter passing by"-there is a beauty in tha thought which we must not let escape us Shadow and shade are terms that sugges at once delight, especially at this hot sea son of the year. How