Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-06-17
DECISION.
A study Of This Side Of Pauls Char.


ncter.
Paul's conversion is not to be made the
standard by which other conversions
should be measured. 1t was accom-
panied by peculiar incidents and super
natural manifestations which are in no
wise necessary to other cases. The
turning point in the life of the great
Apostle to the Gentiles was signalized,
bat it was signalized for a purpose.
Paul was man of deep and intense con-
victions. He was fully persuaded that
the course he had been pursuing in per-
scouting Christians was in the interests
of truth and righteousness. His con-
science was blameless. 1t needed, per-
haps, the Heavenly vision that came to
him on the way to Damascus to con-
vince him that he was wrong in oppos-
ing Christ. However this may be, he was
so convinced, and was not disobedient
to the Heavenly vision. He never asked
for further signs or proofs. He was
fully satisfied, and went without hesita-
ton or complaint to Ananias to receive
his sight. Here the human element,
rarely or never absent in conversion,
came in.
With his convictions settled and his
faith fixed, Paul brought to bear on his
new life all the forces of his strong ma
ture. He did not wait to become accus-
toned to the new faith, or until his
change had become gradually known to
his former coreligionists. He appeared
among the prophets before they were
prepared to receive him, except as an
enemy. The moment he was converted
he became as active in propagating the
Gospel as he had been before in perse-
cutting it. Like a man who has been
running the wrong way, as soon as he
found out his mistake he turned and
ran swiftly in the opposite direction.
He broke instantly and completely
with the old life. There was nothing
gradual or prolonged about his con-
version. He gave up without moments
debate the doctrines and duties in
which he had been nurtured, and those
things in which he had taken pride and
satisfaction. He saw that religion was
a matter of the heart, not of ceremony
or prescription. He would trust no
longer in the circumcision, nor in the
fact that he was of pure lineage, He
brew of the Hebrews; nor in the careful
observance of the law. His zeal in per-
scouting the church was nothing. He
had counted all these things as gain;
now he counted them as loss. They were
no more to him than refuse, or filth. His
zeal burst forth in new lines, and he
became a man of one idea.
There is great power in enthusiasm.
Not one of the disciples who had been
in intimate daily companionship with
the Master, seen His miracles, heard
His wonderful teachings, observed the
crystal purity of His life, surpassed
Paul in zeal for the Gospel. With his
mind at rest concerning the truth of the
Gospel and with the great powers of
his logical and cultured intellect en-
ployed in persuading men to be recon
ciled to God through Christ, Pauls zeal
made him well-nigh irresistible. 1t
was not zeal without knowledge, but
zeal according to intense and settled
convictions.
Men who try to be Pauls will fail.
L hC tiiouSlO ol'i ih6o thOhi ~ ~.
greatness, and greatness is not achieved
by imitation. But some of Pauls good
qualities we may study with profit.
We may be, like him, decisive. There is
strength in decision. Waverers and
double-minded men never amount to
anything. Having found what we ought
to do, it is within the power of all of us
to be very determined in doing it. We
must not expect any overpowering
heavenly illumination, or sudden access
of strength of will from conversion. The
decision must be made within the soul
by it's own powers, and these are sutii-
cient to make it sharp and thorough
and final. Decide, as did Paul, once for
all, and like him forget the things which
are behind and press forward with all
the might of the whole MANN. \.
Independent.