The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-01

great difficulty in obtaining all the money
needed for tho work there, and all the men
fitted to do it.. So II there eyer was time
or place, when and where the usual argu-
anents for @sshomes missions" in preference to
'tforeign missions was sound, it was then
and there. ..Str
If the church was thus apparently slow in
the beginning to obey the great command Of
the Lord-'Go We into: all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature (Mark
xvi, 15), she appears to have been far more
slow to complete it's fulf1lment. For nearly
two thousand years have now passed away
since the command was given, and as yet 1.-The
seventh angel seen by John has not been
able to sound his trumpet and awaken the
glad response-"The kingdoms of this world
his Christ (Rev. XII, 49,:
May it not be, however, that the church, as
body. has made the same mistake that the
idea was that the kingdom which Jesus was
to set UP was to be an earthly kingdom-a
kingdom ds n. which should simply improve ma.
| man to man made far better than it Was.
To their minds this was to he the special
purpose for which it should be established.
But when the Holy Ghost came upon them
| they saw that the kingdom which he was to
| set up was radically different from anything
that they had ever expected. 1t was to be
brought into right relations to God rather
| than with one another. This was to be its
essential and pre-eminent feature. The i'm
proved relation Of man to was to be
! simply natural and necessary result of the
setting up of that kingdom, but by no means
the purpose for which it was to be set up.
| In the beginning, therefore, the disciples
| taught by the spirit went everywhere meet
G CO 'ne 'o'l0e'on . tnen AZ sinners against
Being filled with the Holy Ghost they
never preached anything or went anywhere
| to preach except as they were led by him
any more than they had done when Cod the
/ bo- had fin
| ished his work for them and assembled into
heaven, then God, the Holy Ghost, began his
work in them. And. although they could not
see him with their bodily eyes any more than
| they had been able to see God, the son. after
his resurrection Except when he specially re-
vealed himself to them), yet they realized
that he was just as real a person as Jesus
had ever been, and they were always as con-
scious Of his presence and as dependent upon
his guidance. When he is again as fully
honored, and again dwells in the hearts and
lives Of the great body of protested believers,
they Will undoubtedly be as marvelously used
as then to enlarge his kingdom among men.
But it will probably be in different way
from any that they are now pursuing.
In the wisdom of God the stoning of Stephen
was used by the Holy Ghost to inaugurate in
the early church it's first missionary work.
He did it not, however, by any organization,
but by individuals, and by their voluntary
action. Then the seed which had been nour-
ished with SO much care was ripe enough to
be scattered abroad. 1t was no gentle zephyr
Of summer, however, that was sent against :, Il,
l
ones Is as a storm against the WALL (Isa.,
XIV, q. 1t began not only Eat that time
(v.. ], A. W, but there arose on that day
the very day when Stephen was stoned-''a
great, persecution against the church which
was in Jerusalem" ". 1, R, VI
WheE this hatred thus manifested itself, ii
is evident that the Holy Ghost brought 20 the
"renemblarce" of the disciples John xiv.
, 16,. the Hcrd of their Lord-'When they
persAcute you in this city, flee We to,another'
| Matt. a., 2S;. So some went to other parts
| of Judea adjacent to Jerusalem. Some Wen
to Samarla just north of Judea, some fa1lhe,
/ north to Phcenicia, on the seacoast-soine
| still farther north, to Antioch Of Syria--an(
some went even to the island of Cyprus, the
home Of Barnabas Cxi., 19). Nearly ever,
one left the city, except the aspostles'
1 But the disciples did not flee 'sas people
being ashamed steal away when L, they fee il
war to wage against their prosecutors, and
therefore. they did not fly because they hat
been defeated, but because they could not b.
defeated. Neither did they flee because the.
q were afraid to stand up for their faith. I
. was rather that they: might have large
/; liberty to .., proclaim the glorious gospel .
+ tered abroad went everywhere preaching tn
: word Verse ~
AS they joined others in travel; as the.
/, found occupations and settled here and Their
for business; as they went in and out social
among new people, and as they attended re
ligious services in the synagogues, by wor'
of mouth and by upright living everywher
and Under all circumstances, they ceased no
to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.
Duke to protesting disciples Of the presen
day. For, if ever there were circumstance
Z when men would be justified In keeping silen
as they moved in and out among men, IL wa
| then and not now.
The most active leader in this persecution
| was the young man at whose feet the wit
| nesses laid their garments when Stephen wa
!. stoned, and whose name was Saul vii
58). Wherever he suspected there might b
a disciple he sought him out, even thrustn
e victims. 'and hailing men and women com
: mitted them to prison" iyerse 81 And his eft
forts were crowned with s. success, tor he after
| wards said: Many of the saints did shu
d up in prison, having received authority froI
e the chief priests; and when they were put t
Se baReo Of u
# church" (verse g..
!: Among those who left their homes at thi
. deacons appointed for '.the daily ministra
e tons wi, 1-6.)S From the record given {
It his leaving, however, no one would suRpos
; that it was in any way connected with a .ierc
! persecution raging in the city. He was prob
:, ably just as marked man as Stephen. an
i. his life was in as much danger. but we woui
9 historian simply says Then Philip wer
d down to the city of samaria and preache
r Christ unto them.".sC0 % He went" az
q make a brief visit to friends. or because b
It had received an invitation to preach
$ When he reached 'the city of samaria"-
, Whatever Guy III lu<ty nave USeu- ISCSlVS
n a hearty welcome. For ..the people, With or
Z accord, gave heed unto those things which h
{. spake, hearing, and seeing the miracles whic
y : he did And there was great JOY in thu
/ city" wv 6. 80
!, But sin that city, he found man ''calle
y Simon now popularity known as ~Simo
= Magus,'' or. Simon the Magician. By b
=. tricks and cunning performances he hs
- - amazed the people of Samaria.. giving OF
- that himself was some great one ~.
R. W They accepted his explanation Of ., wh
20 is the great power of God. w. l0.) 81
y when Philip came, preaching the simple go
Z, pei of Christ. this delusion was broken u
= and many were baptized both men and WI
1t men, ". 12o
:. In due time, however, the apostles in Jerr
e. salem heard Of Philip work in samaria an
+ they sent Peter and John to aid him. 3
il their ministry it was greatly strengthens
y and in answer to their prayers, many OF tf
a IDeople were endued with the miraculous pow
ii ers Of the Holy Ghost. They could heal th
ID sick-cast out devils-speak with new tongue
N and do many other things for the confrmin
p Of the faith OF others. It was a new revels
ton to Simon If he could add such powt
ID to his tricks and sorceries, what a rich peel
N MARY harvest could he gain! So he offere
re the apostles money, saying, Give me ais