The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-21
The ron,er.lon Of a NobIeman.

The book which we call "lhe Acts OF
the Apostles is missionary magazine,
u AIDE up mostly Of accounts ol reFNdis oI
religion ana of the conversion OF uul-
ylduaIs. AZ We consider the breVty OF
the narrative as d whole. We may VOL be
IMPRESSED with .he circumstance mat $50
largo parf OF IL is devoted 10 detailed
accounts OF individual cases Oh CONVEX
sion.
In the eighth chapter we have an ace
count OF a remarkable revival ~ the
city Of Samaria, followed by circun-
stautial narrative or the conversion OF
queen Cmdacos Treasurer. AZ - not my
purpose here 10 give critical discussion
of TINS latter passage tAcla WIZ - go
but 10 note some practical lessons To De
derived irJm the story.
i. An evangelist VINO mas neeh pie4cH-
iug with marked success ln glorious
revival iu % city. DIS suddenly ordered
OH ulSl solitary journey along an UNI
fIeQutul.l Iuau lui OuLu M4lot4uter,
have often wondered now the IeNlfdl-
ISL felt when, 40 iAc midst OF MS Won
Qerful successes in the awakened city, lie
was peromptOrly ordered 10 leave, ana 10
walk on 10 the south along mat lonely
road. Luke. however, does not favour
us with any reflections upon the state
OF Philips mind ON that interesting oc-
caslOu. What all admirable OppOl tuully
for mOralIzlng he here throws dWa+ d.
What modern religious Di0srapher would
ever have missed IL!
But while Luke gives US no hint Of what
the evangelist tclt, he tells us quite dis
tnctly what the evangelist did-he obey
co., ANA lu oDeying. DE soon found an
explanation OI - mysterious Oiutl. Oot-
ol,ulc often bIlAIs Nsut. God Mad pre-
pared ala .udients Tor the lonely preach
a.. for lu that chariot, travelling through
the desert. Ethiopia IS stretching forth
her hands unto God. Upon the perpleN-
td soul of this foreign nOolcman. stIug-
Cling with the dlihcuiues OF Il mysterious
prophecy the Son Of Righteous ness Is
about 10 rise with healing in hls Leans.
We preachers are often too prone TO
underrate the Importance OF the Individ-
uaL We are inspired by the great cOngre-
cation, and depressed 10y the small COM
pany. and 10 Is important Tor both preach
crs and people 10 remember that true Ie-
hgiOu Is an individual tning CrOWds
may DE converted. bat they are converted
as individuals. When nation shall be
born in a day, each individual composing
the nation must be born for himself. one
Of the most sulnng characteristics OF
the religion Of Jesus Christ is the i'm
mense Importance which II attaches 10
the individual soul.
q The Treasurer is IN a promising state
OF mind. He had taken the trouble 10 20
all the way 90 Jerusalem IN order 10
engage in public worship. IL does not
appear that he went with the eXpecta-
ton Of hearing a sermon from some as
tinsuished preacher, nor, indeed, that ne
expected 10 hear any preaching AZ al.
And just here let me respectfully ask II
there is not among some modern Chris
tilus. "a strong tendency 10 underrnte the
Importance Of wOrship-tO allow the sef-
mon 10 monOpClze their interest Row
often do We see many members OF the
CONGREGATION listless and utterly mat
tentive during what are somewhat sus-
gestiyely called the preliminary eAer-
cises as II the sermon were the real, Z
not the only thing worth attending 70.
A man who. like the Treasurer. HIS just
been engaged-really and personally en-
gaged-in worship. will be a more prom
is!ng reader, as well as more hopeful
hearer OF Gods Word
II IS a noteworthy fact that tho Treas
urer was reading the Scriptures aloud.
Phflfp heard him reading Isaiah. the
prophet. Now, | do not mean 20 say that
this statement was intended 10 teach that
our private devotional reading or the Bi
bic should be done in an audible voice.
but. at the same time. ! am satisfied that
no small ADVANTAGE may often be derived