The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-27


man with Greek name, with Hebrew
learning, who here begins his work of
telling men of all races the story of
Jesus.
z. A Ready Learner.-vs, 80 35.
1t is remarkable that the Ethiopian
should be studying the SD chapter of
Isaiah. 1t is the usual province of proph-
ecy to foretell triumphs; to modify the
aggravations OF the present with enticing
visions of better future. But in this
chapter the prophet describes Gods Ser
want as suffering humiliation and de-
feat. The passage on which the Ethio
plan especially dwelt. in the rendering
which comes to us through the Greek. is
this:
He was led as sheep to the slaughter,
And as a lamb before her shearer is
dumb
So he openeth not his mouth:
In his humiliation his judgment was taken
away:
His generation who shall declare?
For his life is taken away from the earth
Such picture of Gods Servant. who
ever he might be, was contrary to the
natural thought of the Ethiopian. The
representative of Jehovah led as sheep
to the slaughter! His life utterly taken
from the earth! How could the Servant
of Jehovah come to such a destiny?
He asked of Philip: I pray thee of
aohom speaketh the prophet this ? ofhim-
self, or of some others
The passage from Isaiah was thus prov
identially given to Philip as the text OF
the first missionary sermon preached to
an Ethiopian, and through him to Ethio-
pia. From the remarkable picture
given of Jesus by Isaiah, Philip could
easily and convincingly unfold the Cos
pei story. Many another point of light
in the Scriptures would help elucidate
the same wondrous story. And Philip
opened his mouth. and beginning from
this scripture. preached unto him Jesus.
Jesus.-the Fatherhood of God; the
humiliation of the cross, the glory of
Christ's resurrection; the disciples COM
| missioned to assure all men of their Di.
vine brotherhood and eternal hope; the
certainty of Christ's presence and help
in the Christian work OF redeeming the
word from sin; the society of Jesus al
ready formed, now undergoing persecu-
ton in Jerusalem,-as Jesus had before
endured,-as the prophet indeed had
foretold, must be with the Servant Of
God; baptism, the symbolic entrance
into the visible kingdom of Jesus.-such.
we conceive must have been topics or the
! gracious sermon. What sermon to
| captivate an open heart is reported in
the brief Characterization: He preached
unto him Jesus.
3. A Rejoicing Believer,-vs.
36-40.
The record which tells us that as they
acent on their acay they came to a GER
tain mater, and the eunuch said, Be-
hold, here is aodter;; aohat doth hinder
me to be baptized9 reveals to US man
who had. in the crisis of his experience.
arrived promptly at lifedecision. The
record, nevertheless. does not indicate
undue haste. For hours they may have
rode together, before the Ethiopian's ar
dent inquiries had been answered. Then
the sight of water by the way reminded
him of the appointed symbolic door into
the Christian church.
The subsequent record of the eunuch
commanding the chariot and all his ret
inue to stand still, while they acent into
the mater. both Philip and the eunuch.
and he baptized him, has been hotly
disputed over as to whether it implies
sprinkling. pouring, or immersion. But
what does the letter of the symbol sig
nifty? THE letter kileth, the spirit
! giveth life." The exact letter of the
Memorial Supper, we know, is modified
by modern propriety and convenience.
So should the form OF baptism be. The
fact to observe, the central fact, in the
baptism at the Ethiopian, is that he
thus publicly, in the sight of his reti-
nue., gave in his professed allegiance to
| the Name.
The sudden departure OF Philip,
| which followed after he and the eunuch
came from the wate-,-an impulse of the
Spirit which caused him instantly to de-
part from his royal companion,-is a
! striking incident in the narrative. Not
in courts would he fulfill his mission.
Soon afterward he was found preaching
the Gospel at Azotus; thence he preach
ed in the cities Of Joppa and LYDIA and
others in his way, till he came to
Cesarea. This was an important city
lying on the line of the great road from
Tyre to Egypt. Here he could fulfil his
mission as a preacher to the nations.
Here he could also enjoy the inestimable
privilege of Christian home.
When twenty eventful years shall have
passed away, Philip will receive in his
home in C@sarea friendly visit from
Saul the prosecutor, then prosecutor no
more; he will gladly welcome the old per-
secutor, now Paul the renowned mission
airy. And it will be no slight addition
to Philips Christian Joy, as Luke tells
US (Acts 2l:S) that he has four daugh-
ters gifted in prophesying and assisting