The Saint Paul globe., 1903-04-04
IN THE HOUR OFPARTINGS
International Sunday School Lesson
for April 5. - "PauIs Farewell to
Ephesus." Acts Xxx, 1873.

He is an extraordinary man who
| looks upon the sailing of an ocean
| passenger steamer without having his
| tender feelings stirred by the sad spec
tacles Of the parting Of friends and
| kindred. Here is an aged mother leav-
| ing sons and daughters to return to
the old country to end her days on
| the sod for which she had been pining;
here it is brother and sister, sweet
| hearts and friends, between whom the
ocean will soon roll. Similar scenes
may be witnessed by anyone taking
| long journey by rail. Even to the
thoughtless it is apparent that part
| lngs are among the great sorrows and
! tragedies of earth.
The man whose life the Sunday
schools have been following for many
! weeks had come to such time. He
| had left Ephesus for brief itinerating
| trip, and was now en- route to Jeru-
| saIem His ship tarried for a few
| days at Miletus, and as Ephesus was
| but thirty miles distant, he sent for
the elders of the church there, to bid
| them farewell. The scene that result
ed is, perhaps, the most affecting in
the history Of the Apostolic Church.
| 1t IS the first direct evidence of the
| special and personal love that was
borne toward Paul by his converts.
We have seen the great apostle in the
| glow of battle and strife, and he shone
|
contemplate him in the soft and ten
der light of love.
Breaking Tender Ties.
We have become familiar with the
external life of Paul while in Ephe-
sus and with the broad sweep of his
| activities; now we have a glimpse
into his heart life and we are able to
| perceive measure of the significance
| OF those three years to individuals.
HOW many lives he must have touched
| during this sojourn in Ephesus. and
| now many heart-to heart conversa-
tons he must have held on the most
! vital themes! Doubtless men and
women carried their most personal
problems to him for light; and he was
| with them in their rejoicings and in
their times Of sorrow. He shared the
| wedding Joys; he never forgot the
| warm words of greeting when children
came to brighten the home and his
We're the words of comfort by the
sound of which they laid their dear
| ones away to await the coming of
! their expected Lord. Many and varied
| were the tender ties that were being
| severed. The farewell interview was
as that of friend with friend. of pas
Tor with people, of teacher with pupils.
| OF father with children Since PAM
| was no longer a young man, these
! personal relations were doubly dear to
! MIN, Tor as we advance in life we find
| our greatest pleasure in our friends.
| ana not in material things
Face Front to Foes.
| Tragic significance was impaired to
| the occasion by the fact that the old
! nero was going on a journey from
Wmch he would never return. His face
! was liked toward Jerusalem, where, he
knew, bonds and Imprisonment await
! ed him. The man or woman who
| walks in the shadow Of an inevitable
| pam or grief, and yet keeps a heart Of
cheer, is brave with the highest type
| OF bravery. On every hand there are
persons in whose bodies is written
the doom of death and who vet move
! among their fellows with smiling
faces. Paul was of this noble COM
| pany. He, like his Master. went
straight forward to his fate fearlessly.
lie never tried to turn back or to es-
cape his destiny; instead, he could
| sublimely say, Il hold not my life of
any account as dear unto myself. so
that L may accomplish my course. and
the ministry which received from the
Lord Jesus" The words recall the
saying of Jesus ''The good shepherd
g1veth his life for the sheep" AS Paul
had turned back to the stones at I,ys-
ira, so now he goes straight on to all
| that hate could do to him at Jerusa-
lem. All honor to him, and the men
ike him, who meet their fate with
open eyes and unf1inching face. They
walk the way the Saviour trod.
PauPs Appeal to His Past.
There are many bitter draughts in
the cup Of life; happy is he who es-
| capes the bitterest of them all. which
is remorse. Paul, in this sad hour,
had no remorse. Now, if ever. the
black demons of neglected duty and
self-seeking would rise up to torment
him; but he was free from them. He
had done his duty. His conscience
was void of offense. He was free from
the blood of all men, for he had not
shrunk from declaring unto them the
| whole counsel of God. He had told
them the truth, with pleading and
tears, and theirs was the responsible
| lty Tor any failure to heed it. More
over, he had coveted no mans gold Or
silver or apparel He could hold up
| his to1l-Worn hands as evidence that
he had not preached for gain, but his
own labor had supported both himself
and the fellow Christians who We're
dependent upon him. Paul, be it re-
| membered, was quite familiar with
the bread and butter question.
| There had been no professionalism
| or perfunctoriness about his ministry.
1t was the love Of Christ that con-
| strained him to love men even unto
weeping. Like Jesus, Paul had toiled
with tears, so heavy lay the burden of
| mems needs on his great heart. Tears
test. The man or woman who loves
his fellows so greatly that the tears
| sprlng1ng from solicitude for their
fare are ever in his heart, and some
times In his eyes, may know that he is
following in the train Of the best
| Lover of mankind.
| Giving Up the Leadership.
Well might Paul say to the elders,
as he resigned to them his tasks and
responsibilities Remember me-"
| Still it could not have been easy for
| Paul to give up his direct oversight Of
this Ephesian church, which was so
| dear to him. He knew, as they did
! not, the dangers that were ahead of
them. He felt very much as a parent
does in sending a son out into the.
world to make his own way. The or
deal was severe for both, but it was
necessary. Especially did he warn
them of the wolves to be feared in
the flock. He knew somewhat of the
heresies to which the early church
| was subjected, heresies both of doc
trine and Of conduct. The church has
never been wholly free from these.
Today the most prevalent and dan
| gerous is the heresy of worldliness.
which is doing more harm to the flock
Of Christ than all the higher critics.
| living.
The Shepherds and the Sheep.
These men whom Paul was address
ing were to be the shepherds of the
Ephesian flock; their office was a sa-
cred one, for it had been given to
them by the Holy Spirit. They were
in and not "over" the flock; it was
| to service, and not from service that
/ theN had been SET anart The old Sar-