Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-07-27

was divided by the Romans, the otnef be-
ing Macedonia. Though destroyed by the
Romans about the same time that Carth-
age was destroyed (B. c. 1860, Corinth
was rebuilt by julius Caesar. and was,
when Paul entered 1t, in most nourish-
ing condition. 1t was the meeting place
of nations for traffic, and swarmed with
trading population. One of our best
styles of architecture sprang from Cor
NTH, and carries its name through all
time. Ii was also noted for its 'Isthmian
games and for its pre-eminence in VICE
Even among the pollutionS of heathen-
ism historians pronounced it the most
itcentious of all cities that are or nave
been" To play the Corinthian" was a
proverbial expression for being man adj
dicted TO dissipation and debauchery. Two
reasons may have Influenced Paul in VIE
iting this wicked city for apostolic Ia
Dor: !. 1t stood in immediate connection
with Rome and the west of the Mediter-
ranean, with TheSsalonica and EphesuS
in the Aegean, and with Antioch ana
Alexandria in the east. The Gospel pro-
claimed In its markets and squares would
spread rapidly throughout the world. :.
Being one of the worlds great centers
of merchandise, Jews were there in great
numbers What Jerusalem was to them
reliStously Corinth was commercially. Ii
is now struggling. uncouth. and rather
unhealthy town Of eight thousand inhabi-
tants. The only remains OF the city
known TO Paul are seven massive Doric
columns, each consisting of one gigantic
stone some twenty-one feet high and six
teet In diameter. surmounted by portions
OF the architrave which once formed the
front and part OF the side OF temple
THIS massive temple, which even then
had survived the changes of probably
seven hundred years, the great apostle
must have seen.
Connecting Links.-Paul's mission to
Athens had failed. Its proud philosophers
had greeted his messages with cold DIS
dain which to one of his fiery faith was
harder TO bear than the stones of the mob
or the lictorS' rods. Sorely discouraged.
he started for Corinth, which was dis
tant forty-two miles by land or some hVe
hours sail by sea. Competent critics al
firm that Paul came by sea, that ii was
winter, and that one of the shipwreckS
mentioned in = Cor. H. % may have oc~
CURED at this time. He came unattend-
ed and alone. Fortunately he found there
u certain Christian Jew named Aquila.
and his wife Priscilla, fugitives from
Italy. and tent-makers like himself. With
them he lodged and wrought. on Sab
bath days he repaired to the synagogue
and there reasoned with the Jews prov
ing that Jesus was the Messiah. The
same result followed as in other cities; he
was expelled from the synagogue and
betook himself to the Gentiles. A church
thus the first formal separation between
Jews and Christians took place. The work
progresses, as Timothy and Silas arrive
and unite their labors with Paul's AT
times the apostles spirit falters under the
hate OF Jewish foes, the hardness of Gen
tile hearts. and the burdens of sckly
body. In his darkest hour. at midnight.
his dropping soul is chez cred by a sight
Of that Saviour whose face he saw years
before at the gate of Damascus, and
again in the court of the temple. He is
comforted as he learns from the Mas
| ter's lips that his work is not in vain.
For more than year the labor goes on,
during the week with the flying shuttle
in the tent shop. on the Sabbath with the
growing company OF Christian worship
erS.
Lesson Hymn
The cross! it takes our guilt away: it
holds the fainting spirit up;
II cheers with hope the gloomy day, and
sweetens every bitter cup.
1t makes the coward spirit brave. and
nerves the feeble arm for fight:
Il takes its terror from the grave, and
gilds the bed of death with light;
The balm of life, the cure of woe, the
measure and the pledge of love-
The sinners refuge here below, the an