Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-12-23


view OF the quarter or summary review
of the whole year. The latter plan Is rec
commended. 1t will be in effect a review
of the entire history Of the period from
the death Of Christ to the death Of John
from A. ID. 80 to about 90. The period
will be differently subdivided according
to the view Of the teacher. These may
be suggested as the most obvious divis-
ions: "a From the ascension Of Christ to
the conversion of Saul (30-37). (2) From
the conversion of Saul to his first mission
airy journey (37-4S). CD From Paurs
first missionary journey to the release
from the first Roman imprisonment AS
63). az From Pauls release to his death
(63-6S). 90 From the death of Paul to
the death of John (6S-90).
Probably no other fifty years in the
worlds history ever witnessed such stu
pendous changes as this period from 30
to so A. ID. The fact is not so generally
recognized as it might be il the changes
had been jim the field Of politics instead
or in the realm Of the inner life.
The marvellous growth of Christianity
is fifty represented by the parallels OF the
kingdom in the thirteenth chapter of Mat
thew. Like the heaven, like the mustard
seed, like the seed cast upon good and bad
soil, the seed of the kingdom had pro-
duced marvellous results. The growth Of
the church had been strictly along the line
indicated by its founder-that of personal
contact and influence. Christianity went
from man to man, at first slowly, but
gathering in power from year to year, un-
til at the centers Of the early church, An
tioch, Ephesus, Corinth and Rome, there
began systematic evangelization Of the
surrounding country which was in some
ways more thorough and successful than
even our modern systems Of missionary
work.
1t would be wholly erroneous to attrib-
ute to Paul the major part of this great
world movement which found the empire
pagan and decadent, and left it with the
seeds of a new religion.
Perhaps no single fact is so prominent
in Paups references to himself as that he
traced his apostleship directly to the
Lord. This is in no sense boast, but it
is distinction and a responsibility of
which he was deeply conscious. He used
it when necessary to defend himself from
unjust criticism.
or course the conditions of Christ's
work and Pauls work differed very wide
ly. The one attempted to preach his Cos
pei, which was in its form, though not in
its substance, similar to the accepted re-
ligion to a few hundred thousand Jews
in country not larger than four or five
average western counties. Paul's task
was to set in motion current that would
revolutioniZe great empire containing
hundreds of millions. Hence even more
than Christ he had to work through 9th
ars; had to be an organizer. In each city
where he founded church he gave his
time diligently to training few presby-
tiers and deacons who could afterwards
carry on the work efficiently in his alb.
sence. He held sort Of travelling train
ing school for Christian workers, just as
Christ did for the twelve. Usually there
Travelled with him one or more companions
who could assist him in the several towns
visited.
Certainly there is a vast difference be-
tween Paul and Christ in their method of
approaching men and of instructing and
exhorting them: but we can see growing
in Paul during his career a resemblance to
his Master in patience, in tolerance, in
L.
tolerant Of wickedness, and in that re-
spect did not change; but grew more mer-
ciful towards the sinner. Unfortunately
we have comparatively few records Of his
conversations-thos being chiefly with
public officials, and rather addresses than
conversations. We must judge chiefly
from his letters, which show that he knew
how to get the best out of men by showing
that he expected it; and knew how to
Approve in the most effectual manner, by
simply showing deep disappointment al
the failure of those whom he had trusted
Christ could hardly be said to have a
system Of doctrine. He taught germinal
truths. There has been long and some,
times spirited discussion as to whether
Paul simply developed truths that appear
in the recorded teachings of Christ in the
gospels, or introduced new doctrines; and
II the latter, it is again argued,how large q
human element there was in this part OF
his teaching, or whether, being inspired
by the Holy Spirit, it is of equal author
ity with the gospels. These are questions
that have no place in the Sunday school
At the time wien Jerusalem was de-
stroyed, A. ID. 20, thus scattering the frs
Christian church, and practically bringing
the death blow to Judiastic Christianity
there were in existence half dozen stronf
centers of Pauline" Christianity, from
which the whole Of Christendom has
grown. 1t might have been, Of course
that Peter, James and the others, would
finally have become broad enough in theil
views to begin missions to the Gentiles
If God had not raised up Paul he would
doubtless have raised up another man t.
do the work. But as a matter Of fact
neither Peter nor John, nor any other OF
the twelve can be compared to Paul fol
their influence ON the church Of subse
quent ages. And in closing this review
lesson it will be fitting to refer once more
to the reward which Paul received wher
he had fought the good fight. "The END
crowns the work." says the old proverb
In larger sense, the end crowns the worl
when it is but the beginning of new and
endless task for generations to come.
Next Lesson-"Jesus and John. Matt
3: III.
The Coming Crisis.
The teachings of history but empha