The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-26

knights of Malta, a special sermon was
delivered to members of that order in
the Calvary Reformed church by the
pastor, Rev. George w. Welsh. n num-
Der of members of the local command
cries of the knights of Malta occupied
seats in the centre of the church. The
speaker took for his text words taken
from Revelation, second chapter, tenth
verse: BE thou faithful unto death.
and 1 will give thee crown, life
During the course of his sermon, Rev.
Mr.. Walsh said, in part:
In these days Of exposes one would
think that religion had all left the
cities and fled into the country, and
we are often led to believe that such
has been the case always. / think the
facts show the opposite. Great reforms
| nearly always have their first substan-
tal start in cities.
Christ did most of His preaching in
the country but the first church was
| in Jerusalem, and from this center radi-
ated the influences and pulsated the
blood which established and kept alive
| the churches of early Christendom.
These churches after the middle of
| the first century became Sub-CenterS for
| like influence and life and afterwards
| played an important part in shaping
| the future Of the church.
| LETTERS Ot JOHN.
John. the Beloved. makes number
| of them famous by the letters he writes
| to them. In these letters he paints
| many pictures of the times which are
| valuable aids to the understanding of
| the remainder of his letters. OF these
| letters seven are sent unto the seven
| churches of Asia. These were all
| planted by Paul and nurtured by him.
| OF the seven, two are commended.
| These are Ephesus and Smyrna.
| Smyrna was the one to which our text
| is directed and it was a beautiful city,
| called the lovely one, the Grown Of
| Ionia."
The great abundance of grapes In
| that vicinity had caused temple to
! BaCChus to be erected and the trade of
| the seaport had gathered large con-
| tingent of the Jews. The first drew
| away the early Christians by tempta
| tiOn, and the second by persecution of
! which Paul speaks.
TO this church there seems to be no
blame attached. We see this because
| none is mentioned i'm the letter, and we
see it also in the fact that this COM
| manding spirit told Paul to Mrite, but
| thou art rich rich in Gods favor, rich
in Gods grace and in the indwelling of
the Holy Spirit. But this poverty was
to be laid off and the sign of power
and wealth assumed if their faith
should abide.
But tho, gh rich in all these things,
they We're not free from mpediments,
for Paul says II know thy works and
tribulation, and poverty"
THEY WERE SLANDERED.
They were to have sore tribulation
The storm forecast by the Savior WAS
| beginning 10 break. The sword which
he brought was beginning to cut. Per-
secutors in blasphemous Jews and per-
seCutiOnS did not lack. They We're also
poor and that may not seem so GrieV-
Gus to our minds. But in city like
| smyrna poverty was disgrace, as
some try to make it appear now. and
| yet much of the poverty of these
praised people was traced to their be-
ing Christians, for they had all in COM
mon and the rich provided for the poor.
| They We're also the subject of gross
slander. As their occupations and cir
| CumstanCes compelled them to hold
many of their COnVoCatiOns at night,
they were charged with all sorts of
hideous and criminal practices. Under
the guise of "A test of their loyalty, they
were prosecuted because they would
not sacrifice to idols, nor eat of meat
offered to idols.
| They dared not partakc of the pleas
urcS of the day, games and shows, be-
| cause many Of these involved sac
rifiCe to a god or goddess.
| The Jews said they did not worship
| God hut the Devil, and then, as all
! through the centuries, the killer of a
hereto was the instrument of God and
| that which was their dearest hope, the
Christian name and life, was the surest
means of destruction, for when Poly
carp, the angel of the church at
Smyrna, was burned his accusation
was. He confessed himself a ChrlS-
tian."
How they could pass through all this
J and survive, was marvel to the world
| But they had meat the world knew not
Of They had the strength of His name
| He who was the first and the last
which was dead and is alive. The
| name they bore was their rock anc
shield. the name Of Christ. lie was
near hem, he watched over them, he
held them in the hollow of his hand.
Again, God was not ignorant of the
| life of His people. He SAYS, II know
thy works" He knew their condition
their struggles, Ihair prosecutions. and
he tells them IN all this, Thou art
rich" for there is a StOrehouIa thou
knOwest not oI, filled with wealth
| grand and riCn, that will rcCOmpensC
thee for all thy losses, and even though
they would be put into prison and
tribulation should come upon them
But all these would he as a nine days
wonder and quickly pass away
PURIFYING FIRES.
For these were only the purifying
fires which would be useful i'm taking
out the dross from their souls cleans
ing the church from hypOcrites, and
| cause them to appreciate more anC
more the end prepared for them. Tn,
| end was life, not a faded laurel wreath
not an ivy wreath, but life, Deati
, was the quickest way to this life, anC
the axe, the fire, the beast, the dungeon
We're only helpers to the great prize
life.
So in the weary toll and turmoil o
this life, let us feel that If we ar
| faithful unto death, faithful to our
; selves to make the best of us, faithful
to our life, faithful to our religion ant
church. faithful to God, life shall b.
our reward. BE thou faithful, then, {
Christian warrior, and thou shalt OBJ
| tain q croWn-life.
AN ADDRESS ON PATIENCE