The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-24
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
July %, 1S97-Acts xviii, 22-34.
By DAVIS w. CLARK

There was glaucoma in the 'eye of Greece"
The very light that was in Athens was darkness.
All her radiant beauty was married Even the
frozen music" Of her architecture was dis
cordant. What dimmed it all was her foul idol
ism. 1t was this that caused Paul to break
silence which he seemed intent on maintaining.
He must needs speak, though the word be "out
of season." and though his auditors should for
bear" AS a work of art in speech,
the sermon in the midst of the Areopagus is
worthy of its peerless setting The preacher was
an observant and accomplished traveller. Out of
the multitude of objects seen in Athens,
made to serve Paul most happily in his
ordium. He recognizes and compliments a re-
ligousness which, after crowding their lovely city
with incompatible temples, raised additional
fanes to the as yet unknown gods in anticipation
of their disclosure. With dialectic skill he covers
himself from the capital charge of introducing
a deity by affirming that the God he pro-
claims is the one whom they have already I'M
knowingly worshiped. whom they have been feel
At no time was He FAR IRON, them ~ HAHN
gained this vantage. he strikes polytheism by
idea of the eternity of matter, he asserts its
creation. Next. he asserts a spirituality of God
which renders temples unnecessary and an indie
pendenee which makes it impossible for man to
argument is the assertion of f the unity Of the
race-its providential distribution, and an omni-
Ike an atmosphere. Having now brokefn
With his auditory he regains his hold by the
aptest possible quotat ton from their own classics
II God is Sire as Aratus and Cleanthes affirm,
an image, though it were craven with the un-
earthly art Of a Phidias Now the
closes with the directness OF exhortation. Paul
sets up a mourner's bench on Mars hill, and
in the Highest tribunal of the nation. he points
the last Judgment, and solemnly abjures them to
prepare for it. The sermon had the his
procrastinated. Some clave to the preacher.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Paul in the midst The most intelligent
dience the heather world could furnish.-Iange.
Mars hill: R. ", AreopRgus. Too
superstitious; r. ", very religious. Be-
held your devotions: r. v, observed the objects
of your worship. The unknown god r.
v, to an unknown god. That no deity
might punish them for neglectng his worship or
not only eTeetsd ataTs to al the gods named ped
they might not comprehend fully the extent OF
their subsection and dependence, they erected
exist. although as yet unreveaied to them.-Hack-
EFT.
Dwelleth not: A strong, decisive stroke against
the whole system of Grecian idolatry.-Clarxe.
b Wth he Gods anna brouh food ae
drink and imagined that the gods obliged
TO He gveR The G q of all Surely Cannot be
dependent upon the receivers of ALL. F. and
One blood all nations: The unity of God and
Athenians the distinction between Greeks and
barbarians was rs radical as that which has
negro.-Cambrdge Bible.
Greeks held first men had sprung up in Attica
like radishes. that like flowers and trees every
nation the product of its own soil, and that
trey were the arstocracy-all others were bar
Observation-Disclosures.
Hath determined: Gods hand revealed in gov
eminent OIL the world as well as in its creation.
Sitter.
with nations and individuals to bring them to
knowledge OF the one true God.-Abbott
Offspring of God: If we rational beings
the offspring of Cod ought not to think the
Divine One the Sire. is like senseless idol.
Now commandeth: The now is significant Of
a change of policy on the part Of the Supreme
Ruler. Men had long sought Gcd, but now God
seeks The history of the world before the
Incarnation NAV be summed up in one sentence
man seeking God. Its history since-in God seek
ing mau.-Jones.
Heard of the resurrection: The Greek religion
v as but the glorifcation of the present life The
resurrection presupposing the vanity Of the pres
ent life. gave the death blow to their cherished
ideal.-J.. F.. and B.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
l. Abraham Lincoln mistaken when he said
at Gettysburg: 1.-The world will not long remem-
Der what we say here" Lineons words at
Gettysburg are the immortal treasure of Amer
lean patriotism Paul's sermon Mars hill IS
often described a failure. He may have es-
termed it so himself. AS far immediate re-
suits are concerned it may have been disap-
pointing. But that sermon. reproduced upon the
printed page, counts its converts by the myriad.