The Palatka news and advertiser., 1903-03-06
COPYRIGHT, DAVIS W. CLARKE
PLEASANT FIELDS OF HOLY WRIT
save for my daily range
Among the pleasant fields OF Holy Writ,
might despair. --TennySon.
The International Sunday School

Among the pleasant fields OF Holy Writ,
might despair. --TennySon.
The international Sunday School
Lesson.
First Quarter. Lesson X. Acts
xix, 1920. March s, 1903.
PAUL AND EPHEsUs.
Three months WIS the limit of en-
durance of the message and person
of Paul on the part of the Jews OF
Ephesus. By that time they Were
hardened" "belieVed not and
''spake evil" Separation w&s forced.
and from the Jewish Size. The
school room supplanted the syna-
gogue. So continuous was the
preaching for two years, such streams
of people from all parts OF proconsu-
lar Asia coming on commercial and
religbus journeys to Ephesus, and
not returning until they had heard
the already widely famed preacher,
that it was hardly eXtravagant to
say all Asia heard him.
So great We're Paul's gains that the
opposition felt that something mus
| be DONE" and, as usual in such
cases, exactly the wrong thing was
done. Attempt was made to initiate
Paul by using his formula. Result
was that the eXorcists were put to
open shame. The consequence Of
his conspicuous defeat of sOrcery
was that the spell which it still held
over many protesting Christians was
broken.
This class of defective Christians
il Ephesus seems to have been nu-
mtrous. They had sincerely pro-
tessed faith, but were yet unable TO
free themselves from the subtle
charm of the magic arts and incanta-
tions so much in vogue in that day.
and especially in that city. They
still priced their amulets, and KEEP
secretly consulting their books on
curious arts.
The complete emancipation of
these immature Christians from
their degrading thralldom was be-
gun in Il singular way. Magic was
outmagiced, somewhat after the
manner of Moses contest with thr
nagicians of PharaOh's court.
Were bits of parchment, imprinte"
with talismanic and cabalistic letters
from the image of Diana, etfectllal III
the prevention and cure of disease,
then handkerchiefs saturated by
The sweat of toll from Paul's brow
and the mechanics apron. married
and sOiled by actual service, should
produce still greater results; could
meaningless and cabalistic allitera.
tions produce apparently salutary
effects, then direaSe and devils, re-
buked in the name of Jesus, should
suffer real banishlnent.
AS a result of the competitive eN-
hibition, the impotence of magic art
was displayed in comparison to the
sovereign power of the name Of Je'
sus. But the finishing touch to this
emancipation seems to have been
given in the singular incident here
narrated. The spell was broken and
gone forever. Sincerity was proven
by public confession and renuncia-
tion. The significant record is that
many that believed came and con-
fessed and showed their deeds. Sew.
Ell thousand dollars according to
some estimates $25,OO0) worth of cab
alistic books We're voluntarily
brought out of hiding, stacked in the
public square, and burned in full
view of wondering throng.
And now Paul, having about him
a Church-little, indeed, but pure
and 'anointed with the Holy Ghost
proceeds to give battle to heathens
in general, to strike blow at every
AcropOlis of paganism.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Christianity must grapple error
1t is its nature to do so. 1t is not
enough for it to affirm what is true
1t must expose, deny, DESTROY the
false.
The error of some expOnents OF
Christianity has been that the de
Struction of the false by physical
means was thought justifiable by
them. 1t will be remembered that
Professionalism has had its inquisi-
ton as well as Catholicism. And
that, too, in plain contradiction to
the express injunction of the Found
er of Christianity.
Unhappily, the black art did not
die, in Ephesus, the death it de-
served to. Like the chameleon, ii
changes color according to environ
ment, and like the poor, it is ever
with us. Under various names, and
posing in various ways, it still plies
its trade among the credulous and
gullible.
The element of truth which all
should be willing to concede is this
A morally determined will, infused
with a holy pupOse, can effect much
to-day in the way of cure, especially
in cases of nervous arrangement.
1t is evidence of immaturity to
crave and secretly indulge in the
modern phases of black art. Such a
course is deadly to Cristian faith in
the fatherly goodness and care of
God.
Confessed and showed their deeds.
There is Il confessional to which the
evangelical Christian of to-day may
still resort. Luther attlrms that the
privilege of confession is admirable,
precious, and comforting.
A fine example of the overruling of
evil for good is here afforded. The
very barrier put in the way of Paul
to arrest his progress proved step
ping-stOne to still greater publicity
and power.
Demonology is confessedly diff
cult subject. The possibility and
reality of demOniacal possession was
currently believed. Gases difficult of
diagnosis on any other hypothesis
were occurring then, as occasionally
they now come to the attention of
the regular practitioner. 1t is not
necessary to affirm that the writers
of the New Testament believed IN
demonolOgy. They may have been
merely using Technology current in
their day, just as we do in our day.
However, they may have shared the