The semi-weekly messenger., 1898-01-25


cheered and comforted by the warm
touch of friendly hands and the cordial
greeting of Christian brethren, COM
mon believers with him in a common
Saviour. Here is a lesson not to be
overlooked. 1t is our duty to COM
fort those in affection, those who are
suffering in any way, those are our
fellow prisoners in the bondage of
the flesh" and who are in any way
oppressed by the evil one, and especi-
ally is it our bounden duty to help
and strengthen and comfort those who
are fellow heirs of the same inheri-
tance beyond and of the same house
hold OF faith, brethren in the Lord,
and sufferers and soiourners together
looking to the same deliverance at last
and the same eternal reward when this
life ends. We are all pilgrims, and we
stop but a short time at this point or
that port in the journey of life. 1t is
delightful indeed that in this earthly
journey we are not alone. but have so
many kind companions and gracious
and sympathizing friends on the way.
We are bound for far greater city
than ancient Rome-for a city which
hath foundations and whose maker
and builder is God 1t is very glad
dening and inspiring to the soul to
know that we are guided by the un-
seen but mighty haud of a King. our
heavenly Father, Imnso ortal and Invisi-
BILE. 1t is indeed marveslously inspir-
ing to know that we shall<each that
city, when our bonds will be>,forever
sundered and our bands broken. 1t is
full of cheer and gladness to the soul
to know that the earthly friends, who
have been drawn to our souls and
fastened with hooks of steel, as the
great dramatist phases it, will contin-
ue the journey too and enter into the
same rest and participate forever in
the same undying joys and bliss. Paul
went towards Rome. At the Appii
Forum and the Three Taverns-who
can ever forget them Friends from
Rome met him. They too were of the
brotherhood Of the Saints, had found
peace and rest in believing in Paul's
Redeemer, and they came to meet and
cheer their aged brother in the Gospel
of whom they had heard as coming
bound as a prisoner. This moved
deeply, greatly touched the mighty
throbbing heart of the great apostle,
and we are told that seeing them, 'he
thanked God, and took courage" We
would be glad to know the names of
those faithful Christian friends who
thus cheered Paul the prisoner. 1t was
most kindly graciously done. Paul
reached Rome in due time, and he
found a friend in the man who was
captain of the guard, for he was per-
mitted to dwell by himself, being
watched by a soldier to whom he was
probably chained. The first thing
he did was to call the Jews together
and to make known to them the cause
of his Imprisonment He showed that
he had not lost interest in his own race
although he was the chosen Apostle
to the Gentiles. His address to them
was interesting and worthy of consid-
Grafton, but we have not space to dwell
upon it at length. He evidently in
terested his auditors, for he told the
'chief of the Jews" that he wore his
chains because for the hope of
Israel" They told him that they de-
sired ito hear Of him what he thought" "
At another day he addressed them at
length. The thing that struck the
Jews in Rome above all other things
was that the Christians, designated as
this sect" were every where spoken
against" 1t was inded a trial of cour-
age and test of faith in those early
times to be a Christian-a follower
of the despised Nazarene, when perse-
cutions were hot and rife and the
number so very few. The way to
heaven then was indeed way Of per-
secution and suffering and death-Via
Dolorosa. But think not that Chris
tians are not spoken against in the
world now The consecrated, earnest,
spiritually minded Christian is made
to walk on burning marie sometimes
10y the wicked of the world. Universal
scorn is sometimes heaped upon God's s
most deserving servants. A pious
minister in the Established Church OF
England more than a half century age
wrote this. 1t was true then and it is
sad to say, true now: "See how pro.
ho h1y tbof which pou roapIipd ppoci