The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-25

Not only did his own human judgment
tell him that he was to suffer danger,
bonds and imprisonment; but Divine
Voice sounded to him from the Heavens.
warning him Of disaster, yet command
ing him to go forward. While it held
out prospect of danger. it extended a
message of faith and hope also. with
out were fghtings. within feare;" but
the prospect of triumph was also
with him..
3. The leading of this purpose
was strong and constant. Ithelpe1 him
overcome the peril which surrounded
him at Corinth because of tt plot Of
his foes. 1t carried him over the long
journey by sea, with the uncertainty of
conveyance, the changes from land to
ship and from ship to ship. He'd he
faltered he might easily have missed the
ship his eager search discovered. The
very winds REINFORCED his purpose and
waited him on to danger. His friends
opposed his going with entreaties and
tears; he was torn from the beloved
elders at Miletus: and at Ce sarea a
final and seemingly Divine Voice reused
all the apprehensions of his friends, and
concentrated all their fears, desires, and
prayers in one final appeal TO him to
desist from his purpose. 1t was the last
trial; and he put it aside and went on
his way. just 30 had his Master gone
up to Jerusalem.
A. The wisdom of his purpose
has many signs in the record in Acts and
10 his Epistles. He was carving up
with him the offerings of the Macedon
ian and Greek churches for the poor of
the church at Jerusalem. as if to plead
by the tender ministry of charity for a
common life and church. He had agreed
to bear this thing in mind at the close
OF the Apostolic Council; and the gifts
he bore might we'll appeal to the Apostles
in the mother church.
His Epistles show US many signs of
his knowledge of his own ministry, and
of his sacrifices in its pursuit. He had
rehearsed to himself the story of his
work among the Gentiles; some of the
men whom he had converted he was
taking with him on his way. that he
might reveal to the Apostles the nature
OF his successes. He went out of his
way to confer with Philip. and perhaps
plan with him the nature of the appeal
to the 'pillaIs of the church." and Sc.
cure their approval of his ministry
When he was at C9ssrea, Agabue, a
man OF prophetic temper and rank
came to meet him; and when he re.
turned he took with him some of the
men in the church at C4sarea, and a
man who had been one of the early con-
verts to the faith.
Acts does not reveal this story of pru
dent planning to meet the danger he
had feared; it only tells us in single
sentence the story of the glad result
But the Epistles show it. just SO it is
in life. When the success is achieved
the difficulties, dangers. and sufferings
are forgotten and laid aside. and only
the gladnees recorded. Yet the strain
of endeavor, and the ministry of wisdom
are found within the struggle.
3. The indifference of circum
stances to this purpose is interest
ing to be observed. Knowing what strain
OF spirit held the minds of the voyagere,
we wonder as we read the story Of their
travels. There is not word about the
dangers that confronted their leader ex-
cept at significant points; but the writer
tells OF each place they stopped at, and
OF their course from point to point in a
very matter of fact way. So men some
times bury their deepest feelings, their
sorest griefs, their most painful expert
ences under the common aspects of
every day life. This is when supreme
purpose controls the soul. 1t is as if
this treasure were held in earthen ves-
sells to enrich and dignity our common
ways. And again when danger or dis
aster Expresses the souls of men they
turn to the outer things, to passing har-
bors, to old accustomed scenes, even to
objects alien from their interests; and
the transfer of their thoughts brings
them relief.