The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-16

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Time Of game. one hour ana i"''' ''9
minutes. Umpp, Mace.
The Conversion Of "a Nobcman:
The book which We call Ihe ~ ~
the Apostlcs' Is n missionary inatd~l"
made IN, nc silly of accounts or i'NiN"ia "a
r,Iglon ana Of the conversion OF in"'
vidrals If we consider the nieNlty, Vt
tho narrative as Whole We may WI D"
impressed with the fact that so Nlsv
part of IL devoted 10 deialicd aC,V"n'S
Ct individual cases Of conversion. IN tic
eighth chapter W. have am account OF "
GREAT revival i'm the city of Samara' loie
lowed by a circumsiantial narrative Oh
the conversion Of Queen Nauodoe IT, -
uf.r II is not my purpose mere w ~
"a critical discussion Of this latter passhse
tA.te Vuf yi,-yfu but to note some pihc-
teal lessons TO be learned from the story
An evangelist VINO has been preach
ing with marked success IN a glorious le
NiNal in q city. is suddenly oIucicu y"
unaD a solitary Journey along an nniie
qLented road through wilderness
have often wondered how the 'reviNauSl
felt when. i'm the midst OF his wOndelini
success i'm the awakened city. ne was pei
CmptOrily ordered 10 leave. ana 10 Walk
on 10 the south along that lonely I"aI.
Luke however. does not favor us WIN
any reflections upon Philips state OF nlhd
an nat memorable occasion What an ad-
nirallc opportunity for moranzihs a.
hero throws away What modern irhsl
Gus biographer would ever have ulSS'I
10 But While Luke gives VS. no hint OF
what the evangelist felt. he tells VS. qui'e
distinctly what the evangelist dld. ne
ohcyed And i'm obcymg. he soon iourl
an explanation of the mysterious orIeI;
Obedience often brings light Goa h9u
prepared an audience Tor thc iVi'eE
preacher. for in that chariot. traVeilhs
inrorgh Tho desert Ethiopia Is stretching
forth her hands unto Col. Upon the puz-
lied soul Of this foreign nobleman, stIug
Cling with the difficulties Of mysterious
and pcrpleXing prophecy. the sun oil
Righteousness rs about 10 rise WIN near
inc I'm mis- beams.
We preachers are often too prone to IN
deyiate the importance OF the lndlVldual
We are inspired by the great congr"-
CATION. and depressed by the small COM
pamy: and IL Is important for both preach-
crs and people TO remember that true re-
lgion is an individual thing. Crowds may
be- converted. but they are converted as
individuals When a nation shall be born
In a day. each person composing the ma
ton. must be- horn for himself.
One of the most striking Characters
tics of the religion Of Jesus Christ is the
immeuse importance which il attaches
TO the individual soul.
2 Tho treasurer Is In a promising state
Of mind lie had taken the time and
trouble 10 go all the way 10 Jerusalem
I'm order TO engage I'm the worship Of Cod.
II does not appear that ne went WIN
the expectation Of hearing some distln-
guished preacher. nor, indeed. that ne
expected 10 hear any preaching at all.
And Just herle let me- respectfully ask II
there Is not. among us modern Chris
tians. n strong tendency 10 underrate the
importance Of worship. and 10 allow the
sermon 10 monOpolize our interest," How
often we find many members of the con
gregatiOn listless ana utterly lnattehuNe
during the whole OF what we somewhat
sugCcstivcly call THE preliminary eNer-
cises. az # the sermon were the only
thing worth attending to- A man who.
like the treasurer has just been really
and personally engaged in worship. VIII
tc "a more promising reader. a well as a
more hopoful hcarcr of Gods word.
II is a noteworthy fact that the treas
urcr was reading the Scriptures aloud,
for we are told that Philip heard him
reading Isaiah. the Prophet. Now, ] do
not say that this statement was intend
cd 10 teach that our private devotional
reading az the Bible should be done IN
am audible voice: but. at the same time.
| am satisfied that no small advantage
may often be derived from just this eNer-
else When We read aloud. IL is much
easier To- fix our attention upon the SUBJ
stance OF what we read. What solitary
and silent reader has not frequently
found himself at the bottom Of page
without having taken In the meaning OF
"A single lire? And then, reading aloud
often gives rcancss TO the exercise.
| once said TO that vc-, able and
thoughtful man. a NJ. P0indeXter. that
j sometimes found II diihcult 10 pray
with any satisfaction, that even IN PIT
vate devotion / found II hard 10 be really
engaged and that consequently my pri-
vato PRAYERS seemed too often TO De dead
:ormalites. He advised me 10 try pray
ing aloud. and he stated as MS reason
for this advice. that when we put our
petitions into audible words. We are much
more apt TO fix our minds upon what
We are asking for ] am satisfied that he
was right and have found beneht from
following his suggestion.
NV brother preacher. YOU who have
taken senior Greek" at the Seminary,
Won have found n hard even with the
help Of Tischen1orf and Winer. 10 read
chapter i'm tho Greek Testament critic
ally" so aS TO satisfy your Professor OF
New Testament Greek; but If You have
not found IL harder 10 read your English
New Testament devotionally. so as 10
arouse n sin-sick soul 20 huugerlng ana
thirsting after righteousness. then ~
.. Tho treasurer humbly asks for aid.
Real HUMILITY Is sensible. practical
thing If "a man tells YOU about his hu-
miity. until you think of Uriah Hcep.
you may bee pretty sure that ne is very
PROUD Of the humility which he imaCncs
himself to have or else that he is putting
an false show of the umility which he
thinks he orght 10 have. But the truly
humble man does not parade Us humility.
no acts humbly He is willing 10 receive
instruction from an npretcnding teacher.
Though he rides in a chariot OF state.
ne does not dcspse the poor preacher
who trudgcs on afoOt. He does not hest
tate TO confess his ignorance. and he
meekly asks guidance In his pursuit of
the truth.
/ wonder that have never heard a ser
mon from the text blessed are the
meek: for they shall inherit the earth
Matthew v. T. The theme is surely
fruitful one and it's discussion would nat
urally lead a thoughtful preacher 20 in
sist upon some mOmentOus Scripture
truths which. i'm these modern days we
are sorely tempted 20 ignore. The preach
er who can inStill some meekness into the
people Of this fast. furious fussy age,
will be a great public hsncfactor. I have
no doubt that the treasurer found I'm the
Gospel Of Christ all that "the earth" could
furnish that was worth living for; and
his mcekness opened the way for the
hearty reception Of that Gospel. No man
ever nherits the earth until he learns
can bee learned by none but the meek.
lie who regards this world as a theatre
upon which 10 display his own greatness,
may indeed be
---"e poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the
stage.
And then Is heard NJ more"
1t was wrecked and wretched ambi-
tion-of the earth carthv-that caused a