The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-14
THE suNpAY-scHooL LESSON.


The genius OF Homer had converted the spot
where Paul now stood CTroas-Troy) into YER
liable picture gallery. But among these imper-
ishable classic delineations the New Testament
flashes out one which eclipses them all in psthos,
significance and power.
After the visitation OF the converts or MS nrst
missionary tour. act which was prompted BY
tender pastoral solicitude, Paul eSsayed 70 enter
new fields He naturally turned to those that
were nearest But two doors were shut sharply
in his face. These provinces may not have been
ripe for the gospel: or some one else could work
in them who could not in the field 20 which Paul
was about 10 be called. The Lord Of harvest
still surveys the field Ministerial apportton-
ment is not even yet a matter OF caprice ana
favoritism. The Lord still regns. Bithynia and
procensular Asia were not reprooated. Feter
salutes them in his first epistle.
The same hand which had closed two doors
opened third wide and by unmistakaele
sign babe Paul enter. The Spirit Of Jesus ,R
W. promised by him, sent in answer to his
rrayer-by whom we. too to be led and
in whom walk and 'live'-gave the token 10
the waiting missionaries. In the weird hour
OF night. in a vision man, Macedonian rec
ognized as such by his garb and accent. appears
and with outstretched hands and supphant
tone. cries: Come over into Macedonia ana
help u.s.
The religious destiny Of Europe was quivering
in the balance. Suppose Paul had been DISC
hedient to the vision. The history OF the world
would have 10 be rewritten from that date. You
must needs strike out from the New Testament
the epistles to the Corinthians, Thessalonians
and Philippians.
But Paul had not begun his career by being
disobedient to heavenly visions" The gray
of the morning found him at the docks of Troas.
fn- shi in q
donia brief voyage! An insignificant COM
pany, Yet they carry the seeds Of a civil
ization for Europe and the western hemisphere.
II has been well said that as from Maeedon
Europe sent a eonqueror 10 Asia in the person
Of Alexander the Great. go now Asia sends a
conaueror to Europe in the person OF Paul the
apostle.
This is another instance of small beginnings.
Some Jewish matrons bowling in one of ma
lures oratories the river bank at Phiiippi'
in Macedonia wayfaring man joins their
company He talks with them. That is all.
Yet not all The kingdom of heaven comes then
and there. as Jesus said it would, without
observation" noiselessly And woman
PRAYER meeting was the cradle Of Christianity on
the continent Of Europe.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
In that little company by the riverside there
was one woman whose name will be held in
everlasting remembrance as Pauls first convert
in Europe-Lydia. the seller of purple OF the
city of Thyatira. II is worthy OF notice that
she came from the very province where the
apostle was forbidden TO preach Thus indi-
reetly, by his obedience 70 the Spirit, he intro
duced his message into the very country which
he essayed to enter. for. doubt. Lydia wrote
home the news Of her conversion and. when
she returned to Thyatira, opened the way under
the most favorable auspices for the coming OF
Peter, or one of the apostles.
Lydia was far from home. She was in place
where there were the fewest possible Jews The
heather knew nothing about Sabbath. They
were accustomed to buy and sell seven days IN
the week. She might have used little subtility
and said: IF keep my shop open sunday will
sell out that much quicker. and 60 home
sooner. What is the use OF closing my shop wher
there is no synagogue for me 10 go and WORSHIP
at? The heather would never remark anything
unusual in its being open, and there few
Jews that the moral effect Of an open gate upor
them would be insignificant" She might ever