Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-06-29

into Rithynia: but
the Spirit suffered
them not. s. And they passing by Mysia
came down TO Troas. g. And vision ap-
peared to Paul In the night: there stood Il
man of Macedonia and prayed him, say
ing. Come over into Macedonia, and help
US. 10. And after he had seen the vision.
Immediately we endeaVored TO go INTO
Macedonia assuredly gathering that the
Lord had called US for TO preach the gos-
pe unto them II. Therefore loosing from
rroas. we came with straight course to
Samothracia. and the next day to Neapo-
lis. u. And from thence 10 Phiippi.
which is the chief city of that part OF
Macedonia. and colony: and we were III
that city abiding certain days. IL. Ana
on the Sabbath went out OF the city
by a river side. where prayer was wont
to be made; and we sat down, and spake
unto the women which resorted thither.
H. And certain woman named Lydia
a seller of purple, of the city OF Thya-
tra. which worshiped God. heard us:
whose heart the Lord opened. that she at
tended unto the things which were spok-
en- of Paul. H. And when she was bap-
IiZed. and her household she besought US.
saying, II ye have judged rne to be faith
full to the Lord come into my house. and
abide there. And she constrained us
Time--A D. 81. The second missionary
journey was taken early In A. D. oil.
Europe was reached in the following year.
Synchronistic Note.-Paui entered Europe
two years after the Britons of England
were conquered by the Roman armies
He was now about fifty years of age, and
had been Christian for sixteen years.
Felix this year "a. ID. so became COVER
nor of Judea.
Lesson Preview.-"We stand with Paul
ON, alc of Asia
sea, begins another continent. still I'M
blessed with the Gospel. 1t is remark
able spot we stand on-near to the site
of old Troy. and in the very city where
Alexander the Great halted on his march
to conquer the East. But how comes
Paul here? He had no thought of coming
when he left Antioch the second time
with Silas Through Syria, Cecilia, Ly-
caonia. confirming the Churches (Acts
Is: ~; l6: 1-5)-that was his first object:
but not his only object. He is the apos-
tie of the Gentiles, and into PhrySia and
Galatia he penetrates, telling the good
news of salvation. and evidently setting
forth Christ crucified gal. 3: u. notwith-
standing bodily weakness Gal. 4: 1919.
Then his eyes turn wistfully TO Asia (the
western part of what We now call Asia
Minor, and its great cities (Ephesus and
othersD, and he would turn to the left to
go thither, but the guiding Spirit forbidS
right: Blthynia needs the Gospel too. No,
he must not go there either. AS IL be-
tween two hedges he moves straight on.
wondering; and now he is on the seashore
at rroas. Shall he take ship? No, not
without the Lords direction: so he waits.
And he writes, Il door was opened I'M
to me of the Lord One morning, in Tro-
as harbor. four men are inquiring for
ship going across to Macedonia-Paul, ST.
las, Timothy Luke (see the we in verse
l0). That vision has called them, and
'immedia tely' they seek means to an
swer the call. And striking confirma-
ton that they are rightly interpreting
Gods purpose is granted them. The
words came with a straight course, in
verse II, mean literally sailed before the
wind and the next day they had COM
pleted voyage which on another occa-
sion took five days (Acts 20: %. Philippi.
where they now arrive, was colony.
that is military station of Roman citi-
zens and soldiers in conquered coun-
try governed by pretors, who were at
tended by lictors (the magistrates and
'serieants of verse S5). No Jews here Tor
very few and no synagogue. But a few
devout female proselytes have got lit
tie prayer house by the river side; there
he quietly teaches, and there is founded
the first European Church
The Cry of the Heathen.-"Come over
and help usv' Consider-l. They sadly
needed help Who did? The Macedon-
ians only? No; that man in the vision.
though his speech and dress indicated
which way God meant Paul TO go, was
the type and representative of all Europe
of the whole heather world in all ages.
What help did they need? Those who
cry for help do so because they are help
less but We cannot call the Greeks help
less with their subtle intellects, or the
Romans. with their strong arms. Yet
there were two things they did need, ami
which all of us need: first, TO know what
20 do in order to be holy and happy; sec
ond 10 have power 10 do it. .. But did
they know their need, and know where
to get help? Paul did not find IL so. The
man of Macedonia cried 10 him in Wis
ion but the real Macedonians, many OF
them, at least, wanted none Of his preach
ing Yet sometimes there was In them.
and sometimes there is in us. an uncon-
Portable consciousness of all not being
right For instance. death-what was It?
Where did 1t lead to? Gay and thought
less as they seemed. in their heart of
hearts they did sometimes cry for help.
though they knew not TO whom TO cry.
Here is a twofold applications: First, YOU
know who can help. Ask him that you
may both perceive and know what
things you ought TO do. and also may
have grace and power faithfully to per-
form the same
Lesson Hymn
Souls I'm heather darkness lying, where
no light has broken through.
Souls that Jesus bought by dying, whom
his soul In travail knew
Thousand voices call us, Ger the waters
blue.
Christians hearken: none has taught
them of his love so deep and dear;
OF the precious price that bought them:
of the nail. the,t Norn. the spear;
Ye who know him, st them from their
darkness drear.N
Mrs. = Alexander.