Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-03-30
OLD MURTON'S Ward.

By the Rev. W. E. Needham of Cal
vary Baptist church, Brooklyn.
Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called
to be an Apostle. Romans l., l.
When grace laid hold Of Paul it en-
braced mis- whole being, from his great
heart TO fnger-tips seemed consecrated to
God.
As freely as the blood flowed in his
body, so freely did the truth of God fill
him. In a sense you might say he was
filed with all the fullness of the God
head bodily.
History describes preacher who trem-
bIed violently before a king, but in Paul S
case it was the king who trembled before
the preacher.
Men have fallen from dizzy heights,
climbing inaccessible mountain peaks.
But you can never dislodge Il man like
Paul, whose grasp was on the Almighty
God.
Let me call your attention to a few Of
the striking pictures in this mans life.
First, his conversion: l have rapidly
drawn here the road to Damascus. Notice
the old building, the overhanging palms,
the distant hills
This man was very religiously inclined;
the only trouble was, his earnestness was
cast on the WaySide. As in a furnace
YOU cast iron bolts and bars, SO deep in
the furnace Of his prejudices were cast
bolts of hate and malice.
When the sweet and sanity Stephen
was dying, his prosecutor sat a greedy
onlooker. To what fearful extent will
the human heart go when acting in ig-
norance and blindness. But it was 4 re-
markable day in the prosecutors expert
ence. He, with others, were riding over
his roadway. | suppose Paul was think
ing how he would deal with this new
sect, how he would bring them back in
chains to Jerusalem. But a change came
Ihe leaden sky gave way to bright azure.
and then to 4 flashing light. The high
priest was wrapped in the glow of the
shekinah on entering the holy place.
Paul saw the very effulgence of the
glory Of the upper world. Constantine
saw red cross burning in the sky. Paul
saw the epitOme of heaven itself for
from the binding light came this quaking
appeal: Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me?'
His horse became unmanageable
through the unseen power, and the per-
secutor weakened in his saddle, and
from that hour the fields, the hills, the
road, all faded from his eyes; and in
falling he became a blind impotent under
the torch of that Jesus whom he had
fought so long.
And as you look upon the road and
view, the striking scene, let me ask you,
my nearer. who is this man? Is he
learned or is he ignorant? Why is this
man who sat at the feet of Gamaliel
learned in ali the arts and sciences of
his day. He was a Philomath, a lover
of learning. He possessed a mind that
could rule a kingdom.
What miserable theory it is that
sl1eptics hold, that Christianity is only
fit for the weak. Why, the teachings of
Jesus Christ challenge the loftiest minds
and lead to the hottest and highest as
Ill. IL,
Of the gospel Only give it a chance and
it win subdue the wickedest man and
save the Yilest person and cleanse the
fouiest leper.
But | pass from this, and ask you to
notice the second sketch. Here are the
faces Of Paul and Silas. They were i'm
prlsoned. You notice the prison bars
and the light striking down upon their
features. They were the witnesses of
Christ, and because they witnessed for
Him they were flung into a dungeon and
their feet made fast in the stocks
But God makes the wrath of man to
praise him. The very man who had to
watch them became their friend. wash
ing. their stripes, and caring for them in
their distreSses.
God uses an earthquake for a key
sometimes, and in fearful conviction the
jailer cried out: what must I do to be
saved:' They said: Believe on the
saved" Not by works, not by deeds,
not by mercy, not by theory, but by be-
ieving in Jesus.
Pass On to a third picture Here I
draw the shipWreck of Paul He was a
missionary, pioneer, ever on the alert,
ever planning for the advance of truth.
If you look at the map of Palestine and
trace cut his missionary trips, you will
find it a network of lines.
That was a thrilling scene when the
ship struck Malta. [ remember once,
when delivering one of my illustrated
lectures III crowded congregation, /
made picture like this-the sinking of
the vessel and the frenzied men strug-
Cling to reach the shOre-a young lady
tainted. 1t was probably the impression
upon her mind. | tried to show the
vessel representing the world sinking,
settling down into the sea of sin and
death; and it also represented u.s. in our
Worldliness and sin sinking down within
sight of the shore. The secret of the
salvation of the drifting ship was in the
presence OF one man, Paul, and the Sc
cret OF our salvation is in the presence of
one man, the man. Christ Jesus.
But now look, as the vessel is broken
up 2nd all escape safely to land. You
see Paul standing in the surf seeking to
save those who are floating near him,
Just as we should seek to save others
after we have been saved ourselves.
Now they abandon the wreck. and
Climb over the rocks and build Il fire, and
out Of the flames leaps a viper that
fastens to the Apostles waist. but he
shakes it back into the flames from
whence it came.
You cannot go through life without be-
ing attacked by the viper, and sometimes
It fastens to the hand that has been a
blessing. but you must in the strength of
the Lord, rise above it and throw it back
Into the fire from whence If camel IF