The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-12
THE CONVERTED POLITICIAN.
Rev. Arthur j. Smiths Sermon at the
First Presbyterian Church.

"A Converted Politician" was the sub
ject of Rev. Arthur j. Smiths sermon at
the First Presbyterian Church last night.
He took as his text Luke s. 9th and 2Sth
verses: "And after these things he went
forth and saw a publican, named Levi,
sitting at the receipt of custom, and he
said unto him, follow Me. And he left
all, rose up and followed Him."
! In the introduction to his sermon he de-
scribed the city of Capernaun, which
was thought to have been situated on the
northwest shore OF the Sea of Galilee.
! He said 1t was the chief commercial city
| in Northern Palestine, for through it all
the great caravans from Damascus and
Central Asia had to pass in order TO reach
the Mediterranean ports, and the cities
of Egypt. Herod AntipSlas, the tetrach
of Galilee. had an army of tax gatherers
in his employ to watch these caravans
and exact customs from tHefn.s These
men had positions OF great influence among
the people, but not for good. They be-
came rich by extorting from the people
more than was required by the law. They
had the people in their power, and there
seemed to be no redress.
There seem, said Rev. Mr.. Smith, 10
be many hneal descendants of these an
cient politicians in the world to-day
having the people in their power. The
laws are enforced, or they are not enforced
at their will and there seems to be no re-
dress, An enraged public opinion seems to
have no influence over them. Levi was
one of a class of men like these. His po-
sition was more like that of q, heller than
of boss. He was a Jew and conse-
quently was despised by his own people
He was classed by them among thieves
and pickpockets, and was not permitted
TO fnr thnf~ -xrra or 10
THE only recorded words we have that
Jesus ever used in addressing him." said
Rev. Mr. Smith, ARE found in the text.
There are only two of them, viz: Follow
Me-" There is no record that Levi ever
answered Jesus in words, but there is a
record that he answered Him in actions.
The scripture says He left all, rose up,
and followed Him" His conversion was
sudden. He did not wait until next day,
but then and there turned his back upon
his past life and began to follow Jesus.
His conversion was thorough. He did not
try to carry his unholy business with
him. He left ALL" and made a surrender
of all he had that he might become one
of Christs disciples. His conversion was
public. From his seat of Gus
toms he arose. Doubtless there
Were many standing about, but he was NOT
afraid or ashamed. He soon after gave
a banquet to his old associates in business,
and Jesus was the guest OF honor. His
conversion was permanent. He never
ceased 10 follow Jesus. There is legend
that he died a martyrs death in Ethiopia.
We read of his being among the number
in the upper room on the day of Pente-
cost and the days preceding. He did not
go back to gathering taxes. His CONVEX
sion was fruitful. Doubtless he was great
ly ussd on the day Of Pentecost, together
with Peter and the remainder of the 100
disciples who were baptized with the Holy
Ghost. His greatest work Was the soS-
he wrote to the Jewish people, known to-
day as st. Mathews. The influence 1t
has exerted on the world, Jewish ana
Gentle, would be difficult to calculate"
Mr. Smith urged his hearers TO emulate
the example of the man who once was a
politician, but who, in obeyng the call of
Jesus, became a disciple of usefulness and
power
There was a very good congregation
present in spite of the rain, and Mr.
Smiths sermon was listened to with much
interest.
Rev. NJ G. Park. D. d., for ffty-one
years pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church at Pattston, Pa, will preach sun
day next, at II a. m.