The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-04
ON CHRISTIAN HEROISM
REV. DIR. SIMS TALKS UPON THE
CHARACTER OF ST. PAUL.
Life-Sunday in LOndOD-Feast
of the Holy Rosary.

DR.. c. N. Sims preached to a large au-
dience at the Meridian-street NJ f. Church
yesterday morning on Christian Heroism. 3"
He spoke from the text, Acts Xxx. 24-'None
of these things move me, neither count l my
life dear unto myself; so that 1 might finish
my course with joy The topic of the dis
course was Christian Herosm.
The pastor said in part: The picture
which forms a setting for the text is sim
pie and pathetic. Paul is Fastening to Jeru-
salem for the feast of Pentecost, although
impressed with the apprehension of the
bonds and Affections which he actually ex-
perienced there. He is visiting the churches
where he can and holding interviews with
the elders of those he cannot visit. At Mile
tus he is giving parting advice to the eld
ers from Ephesus, in which he utters these
words Of heroic steadfastness purpose, con-
secration and hope. He had great mis-
sion, to which he brought great consecra-
ton, sustained by great hope. And this
made him a hero. Heroism is the unselfish
doing and suffering of a great soul in
great cause. Selfish genius may be great
and brilliant but it cannot be heroic. Caesar
and Napoleon, Richelieu and Machiavelli,
may be great, but they cannot be heroic.
A hero sees great cause and devotes him
self to it, accepting without evasion all its
labors and perils. All the world admires
hero, for he is the realization of the spirit
which every man in his best moment as
pires to. He is at once our example and
reproof.
HEROISM OF ST. PAUL.
1.-The men of his times could not compre
bend the heroism of st. Paul. He did not
look it. He was small of stature, dim-eyed,
homeless poor and without the graces Of
oratory. His associates were from the hum
bier classes. He had passed from judge
of the high court of his people to an out
cast wanderer. To the Jew he seemed
pervert to the Greek babbler, to the Ro-
man a lawbreaker and to the civil magis-
trates storm center of confusion and vio-
lence. Yet all these critics have gone down
into silence and the words and fame of st.
Paul fill the world.
He was a hero by every adequate test.
He appreherded great mission. Men often
become heroes by some divine amounting,
some sudden apprehension OF new relations,
some instantaneous great resolve. Moses
was shepherd until he threw down his rod
at Gods command by the burning bush,
but when he took it up again he was nero
with the rod of God in his hand and the
power to conquer Egypt in his heart.
Luther was only a disturbed monk Whe en-
his knees, but he was hero before ne
reached the top. when he had heard in his
soul the divine words, THE just shall live
by faith" Saul was only a devoted, mis-
guided. brave man as he rode toward Da-
mascus breathing out threatenlngs ana
slaughter against Christians. lie was
hero when in the light of the knowledge
revealed to him he inquired: Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do?
Saul the PhariSee saw only the glory or
his cOuntrymen, and hoped only for COM
ing prince, who should sit on the throne of
David and restore the liberty and prosperity
of his people. Paul the Apostle saw a spir-
itual kingdom of truth and love and power
which should I'LL the earth with authority
and abide through all the coming ages.
And he knew himself called of God to pro-
claim and defend it. He gave hlmSen 10
it with an absolute conservation. He knew
that it meant the surrender of all that he
had counted gain, the breaking OF friend
Ships the loss of position wanderingS, pow
erty, imprisonments, stripes. 1t meant all
these through the long years to the weary
end and then violent death. But he says,
None cf these things move me- He was
a hero. He cherished great hope or 1lnal
triumph and unmeaSured blessing to NM
self and others. He had visions, as all great
souls do. There are men all about us VINO
can see only property and pleasure, ana
place and society and the emnence OF po-
sition, as realities God, heaven, spiritual
communion human brotherhood, are only
uncertain dreams which fit dimly before
them as tnsubstantiaI Pigments of a fevered
brain. Paul was caught up into the hlgh-
est heavens and heard holy words which ne
could not tell whether his great spirit was
i'm the body or out of the body. Macedonia
came to him in the vision of man, saying
come over and help us He saw the man re-
turn to the Son of Man to take possession or
a redeemed world and thought 1t might
even be in his own day. lie saw the uay
when death should be swallowed up in VIC
tory. and lifted the exultant shout, o
Where Where is thy sting? Thanks to God, who
giveth us the victory through cur Lord
Jesus Christ He had the faith and hope
of a hero and at the last, out of the chill
and gloom of his Roman prison, he could
go forth to the place OF execution S saiy!hts;
I have fought good fight; / have nmsned
my course; / have kept the falth.
Even for us is the same great mission
of winning the world for Chrlst ana Pla asslg
the crown of life on the brow OF redeemed
humanity
WAY is STILL OPEN.
''For us is the same great conservation;
for to-day. as in the past, if any man Will
come after Him he must deny himself and
take up his cross to be His follower. But
the form of service differs with the shifting
needs Of the ages The early heroes fought
great giants; David conquered Goliath, Co
lurnbus compelled way for commerce over
the stormy and trackless ocean, and Cyrus
Field forced it to spread its waves like a
mantle over his roadway for thought. Ere
mont pierced the solitudes of the cloud
capped Rockies and was pathfinder to the
Western seas. But our battles are with mi
crobes, not giants, We fght r the choiera
$50 In spiritual things. 1t is ours 10 over
come the allurements OF wicked pleasure 10
conquer unholy seitishness, 10 Keep d the so t1
In immaculate whiteness, to Stana firm ana
steady in the way of common daily duties,
to live the Christ teachings SO that men VIII VIII
know that we have learned or ttlrn-so shal
we see visions and hear voices ana hhish
orr COURSES with 10y.