The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-05
THE sUNDAY-sCHooL LESSON.
April g, 1902; Saul of Tarsus Con-
in, 1-12.
S1SSS>$S>>S>SS>>

Hebrew ecclesiasticism is lettering to it's fall.
Those who enjoy her easy-going benehces are
in a rage against the ~plebeian power which pids
fair 10 hurry them with all their ofnces and
emoluments under the debris Of disestablishment
The advent of Saul is hailed with delight. The
Cnician enthusiast rushes to the rescue. He is
an ideal inquisitor. With the vigor of youth
he unites the erudition and dialeetieal skill OF
a patriarch. The 'heyday OF his young man.
hood" supplies the physical force, while COM
pletest knowledge of the history and dogma OF
Israel provides the mental furnishing. saul
departs for Damascus with the benedictions OF
those who get their living by priestcraft. Many
sincere souls. who consider Christianity a dan
gerous innovation. also follow the prosecutor
with their prayers.
II is a Journey extraordinary! The sailing OF
the three little ships from Palos. l,4OO years
later. was not so significant. The outcome of
that voy age was the discovery Of a hemisphere.
The issue of the expedition to the capital OF
SYRIA affects two hemispheres to the end OF time.
There is no. more striking comment on the say
ing. Man proposes. but God disposes." than
the ninth chapter Of Acts. The denouement is
exactly opposite to the one expected. Fire OF
persecution is of a sudden quenched. Threats
give place to prayers. He who expects to make
others tremble does his own trembling. He who
thinks he knows everything is TO have an OBJ
scure disciple for a teacher. He who expects
TO lead others bound is glad to find some one
to lead him.
Yet he reads this thrilling incident superb
cialv who imagines that the conversion Of Saul
Is n mechanical anair-a case Of sacred sun
stroke The appearance OF Jesus is a merciful
approach TO a noble soul in desperate straits
one whose heredity and environment are dead
against the dawning conviction OF the truth
Of the system He has set himself to destroy.
In no other sense can the expression. 1T is hard
for thee to kick against the pricks," be under
stood. Saul first felt the pricking point of con-
science. as Augustine suggests, when he wit
messed officially the death Of stephen. A re-
ligion that made a mans face shine like that Of
an angel. helped him to forgive and pray for
his murderers, gave him a vision into the open
heavens, and enabled him to die like one falling
asleep-such a religion has marks OF divinity.
Yet. is not the religion Of Moses divine. too?
And where is IL taught that 1t shall ever be
abrogated? The very fury Of Saulis persecution
against the Christians is an effort to e~xtricate
himself from a ~dilemma-an effort which the
Lord mereifully cuts short by the direct reve-
lation OF himself.
Such is the eagerness OF this young Sanhedrist
to lay his hands upon these perverts from Jewry
that he shows no pity toward either man or beast
in his own cavaIcade. The universal Eastern
custom would have called a long halt during the
noon hours. But on he speeds.
with lips Arm closed and fixed eye.
Like warrior when the fight IL nigh,
Nor talk nor landscape heeds."
A half mile, and the goal Of this ever-mem-
orable journey will be reached. The city's east
ern gate is in sight. on an instant 1t is as II
the troop struck an invisible but impenetrable
barrier. Brave riders are endorsed. and dumb
brutes give sign Of recognizing the preternatur-
alness of the event.
what sudden blaze is round him poured,
As though all heavens refulgent hoard
In one rich glory shoneF
No wonder that the high road has been de-
Elected from the spot where this scene is thought
TO have transpired. in order that careless feet
may not profane II. A deep excavation has been
made in the original roadbed by the carrying
away OF pebbles by myriads Of pilgrims. The
conversion OF ST. Paul is next 10 Pentecost In
Importance in the history OF Christianity. Aside.
too. from it's sacred claims. on purely historic
grounds. the spot is one OF transcendent interest.
There the complexion OF Europe was changed.
and our current Occident civilization made pos
sible.
Grace. even in Pauls case. was not irresistible.
when he says he was not disobedient TO the
heavenly vision. the inference is plain that he
might have been. II he had so chosen. Mighty