Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-16

Lesson for sept III.
Golden Text.-"Remember the words
Of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 1t IL more
blessed to give than to receive. Acts
20: 35.
'Paul's Address to the Ephesian Eld-
ers' is the subject of this lesson.-Acts
90: 22-35.
After the three months in Corinth, dur
ing which Paul wrote the epistles to the
Galatians and to the Romans, he jour-
neyed northward through Macedonia, in
tending to make last flying visit to some
of his churches before departing for Jeru-
salem. He passed through Philippi about
the time Of the passover, this being in
April, A. d., SO (Acts 80: o.. A short
stay in Troas was marked by the raising
OF Eutychus GO: 7-12). From Troas Paul
Travelled by land down the coast to Assos,
thence by sea to Miletus, near Ephesus.
He was unwilling to stop ut the latter
city, knowing that IL he did multitude
Of duties would claim his attention and
prevent him from hurrying on to Jerusa-
lem. But he desired nevertheless to leave
a message with the Ephesian church, so
he sent for its elders or presbyters to come
to him at Miletus. These elders were the
leaders in the church. The early Chris
tian churches often or usually had more
than one elder, or, as we should say, pas
tor. Where there were several OF these
officers, perhaps the duties OF all except
the leading one resembled most closely
those OF the deacOns in our churches; for
the ancient deacons seem to have had
charge of ministering to the poor, and
probably left the elders some of the spir-
itual functions which we assign to the
Office of deacon. That there was no fixed
distinction between presbyters and bisn-
ops appears from the very passage; for in
verse seventeen the men who came to
visit Paul are called presbyters, in verse
twenty-eight the epskopai or ovcrseers,
that is, bishops. The term presbyter seems
to have been most used in Jewish Chris
tan churches, episkopos in Gentle
churches, and both interchangeable in
such churches as that at Ephesus.
Explanatory.
This matchless farewell address should
by no means be divided. 1t should be
studied entire. In it Paul shows not
only his lofty devotion and humble resig-
nation, but also his quiet self-assurance
based on twenty years faithful, unselfish
labor; n justifable pride, if the word may
be used. in his steady adherence through
all sorts of trials to the high purposes
with which he had begun his missionary
career.-"Ye yourselves know" when a
Christian minister can thus appeal with
out hesitation to the record Of his work
and the testimony of those for whom he
has labored. 1t is far from true that a
| faithful minister can hope to receive such
| confirmation from all who nave been
under his care; for his very faithfuness
must surely have been an offense to some.
| But there will always be select few like
| these Ephesian elders, between whom and
their pastor there is understa nding and
| affection. II it were not so, the burdens
would often prove too heavy to be borne.
Il shrank not from declaring unto you
| anything that was profitable; few indeed
| are the public teachers and pastors that
can say this. 1t is certainly not IN easy
thing to say. Fewer Christian ministers
than is sometimes supposed are guilty OF
shaping their utterances with regard ia
| the money contributed for their support
but there are many other ways in which
! they may and do shrink from declaring
what their people should hear; because
| of timidity, or fear of misunderstanding
L
son.
Repentance toward God and faith to-
ward our Lord Jesus Christi" the sum
and substance of the gospel. Paul's
preaching always had the true emphasis
| Doubtless he preached many sermons
that were not strictly ''evangelistic, as
we use the term but the gospel was in
every one of them.
L A. ~ sl.s.
phrase. Did Paul know, did he even sus
pect, that when he left Jerusalem hi
would be bound in body as well? If hi
did, 1t made no difference to him. The
power of the spiritual necessity that val
upon him was just as compelling as chains
would have been. "Save that the Hol.
Ghost testifieth unto me in every city,
the one sure thing was this-afilictions ant
prosecutions he found everywhere.
Il know that We all shall SCI
my face no more:" Paul was leaving TO
Jerusalem, and he felt assured that trou
! BILE awaited him there. 1t may be that h
thought his death to be nearer than i
was. He probably felt the intirmties o
age begin to creep over him. When Pau
said that he knew the elders should Sc
his face no more, he was speaking as
Borrowing man, who knew little of tn
future but expected years few and full o
sorrow. 1t was from the Holy Spiri
that these men had received their author
ity and commission as overseers or 'bish
ops" of the church OF God. How ofte
that cannot be said of the officials o
churches at present; how seldom could
be said at all of the ecclesiastics Of tn
Middle Ages.
After earnest admonition and entreaty
Paul sees the touching grief Of the me
that surround him, and his heart is gla
as he remembers that his work for ther
and for the rest has been freely giver
that no thought of gain or equivalent Ia
interfered with their tender relation. ii
owes them nothing but love, and has PAL
them with interest. The saying of til
Lord Jesus, 1T is more blessed to Civ
than to receive" is not found in the Cos
pels. But we can well believe that it wa
favorite text of Paul.
The final parting, as they believed 1t (
be, was bitter indeed. Those words, an
more" had a mournful sound that file
their hearts with gloom. But when thes
elders returned to Ephesus, they probabl
took back an account OF their intervie,
which inspired the church to action rattle
than TO idle tears and sorrow. s.
Teaching Hints.
Paul was a man Of strong affection.
He did not spend three years with
church without becoming personally NJ
tached to the people; he was not me
chanioal dispenser Of religious service.
indiffaronf IN his surrou ndinus. MT n fro \