Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-12-15
ABSENCE FROM CHURCH.
Eloquent InveCtive Against
Sowing Wild Oats.

Paul went down to cultured Ath-
ems, and on to Corinth. There he
fell in with Aquilla and his wife,
Priscilla. This man and woman
were Jewish refugees. Claudius,
the Roman emperor, had issued
decree expelling all Jews from the
country; and this despised son and
daughter OF Abraham, had sought
and found refuge under the more
liberal and indulgent institutions
of the Greeks. Being of the same
craft, he stopped with these peo-
pie for a time, and joined with
them in the making of tents.
While working for his board in
this way, he economical time also
to preach the gospel. 1t was a
new doctrine, a strange doctrine.
Purporting, as it did, to save men
from sin, degradation and misery,
the Jews crowded into the syna-
gogue to hear it. Here, they said,
we may find something that we
want, something that will do us
good. But they were disappointed.
Instead of finding a philosophy to
apologize for their sins and sensu-
ality, they met with doctrine
that pricked them to the heart,
and reminded them of account
ability, of judgment, and final
penalties. They were offended.
They said let us away from the
presence of this babbler.
And so they went and began to
concoct opposition. They were
mad, sin-crazed; their spiritual
vision was obscured by the strabis-
mus of guilt. Jesus, the Messiah,
was to them indeed a root out of
dry ground; there was no beauty
in him. So they pursued and ma
ligned, and misrepresented him,
and sought to take his life.
This blind, obstinate, and un-
reasoning conduct on the part OF
his brethren after the flesh, was a
great disappointment to Paul. SO
deeply imbued with the truth
which he preached was the preach
er's own heart and soul; so clearly
he saw it; so sensibly he felt and
appreciated its power, that he was
both amazed and grieved at the
dullness of his countrymen. Sc
Jesus himself once had occasion
to express astonishment at the aw-
full unbelief of his Jewish country
men.
The ground of this astonishment
on the part of Paul and the Savior,
was certainly well founded. These
Jews hadbeen under the instruction
of Moses and the prophets for hun
dreds of years. And this instruc'
ton was designed to prepare them
for hearing and receiving this
same gospel which Paul was now
preaching to them. But it was
schooling utterly lost upon them
In a state of righteous despair II
reference to his countrymen, ht
determined TO leave them to theil
narrow prejudlces and to die IL
their sins. When they opposed
themselves and blasphemed, h'
shook his raiment, and said unit
them, "Your blood be upon you
own heads; l am clean; from
henceforth | will 60 unto the gen
tiles"
The gospel according to the de
vine plan had to be preached frs
at Jerusalem, TO the Jews. Ha'
they accepted it and carried /
abroad to the gentle, God
scheme of salvation for the worl'
had been carried. But the gos
pei was not to make its abode a
Jerusalem; nor was its promulga
ton among the gentiles to depend
upon the tickle loyalty of th'
Jews. 1t had to go to the gentiles
and God found away in Paul t
send it.
So be departed and went int
the house of one Justus. ma
who worshipped God. This man.
house stood close by the side of
Jewish synagogue. Crispus wa
the ruler of the synagogue, and b
and his whole house believed o
the Lord. They were Christian;
Now the ruler of a synagogue i
those days, was generally a chit
man in the community; a man
character and influence; a ma
! that was looked up to and who's
opinions were generally consulte
on all questions, of municipal in
portance and public interest. Wh'
an example here for the leadin
men in our town today. We hay
men of influence in our communit
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