The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-17
A PREACHERS
STRENUOUS LIFE
The international Sunday School Les
son for Jan. 10 - Paul at Thes-
1-12

Everybody who read the dispatches
concerning Miss Stone, the captured
missionary, frequently ran across the
word SaIonica. This was the city
nearest the scene Of her captivity, and
the one to which she repaired when
released. Not all who know Of this
modern city, SaIoniea, are aware that
it IS Identical with the New Testament
city, -TheSSalOnica, about which we
study in this Sunday school lesson,
and from which two of the books of
the New Testament, the EpistIes to the
ThessalOnians, take their name. It
was more important city then than
now, and the great missionary apostle
spent considerable time in it while on
his second tour. His habit was to go
into the synagogue, where, like a
Quaker meeting, anybody with a mes
sage could speak, and, reasoning from
the Old Testament scriptures, preach
that Jesus was the long expected Mes
Sfah. In ThesSalOnica, as elsewhere,
many were convinced, but others, big
oted, were aroused to fury. They
leagued themselves with the riff-raff
Of the city, and attacked the house
where Paul sojourned. Not finding
him, they hailed his host, Jason, and
other friends, before the magistrates
on trumped-up charges. Paul was
where he continued his usual method
of procedure, finding the Boreans more
open minded. They searched the scrip
lures to see whether his words were so.
Thus many Of them became Chris
tians. But here also trouble was
stirred up by Jews from ThessaIonica.
Indeed, every one of the lessons from
the Book of the Acts during the pres
ent six months is a lesson in Christian
strenuosity, telling Of danger faced and
overcome and of hardships endured.
The most eXcitement-loving American
could ask for no more thrilling expert
ences than befeH Paul.
Turning the World Upside Down.
Mr.. Moody was fond of the phrase
from this lesson, These that have
turned the world upside down are come
hither also" He, like Paul, believed
in a gospel that made itself felt, and
that changed the old order. These
striking words from the lips of the in
cenSed Jews were a. great tribute to
the power Of the message preached by
Paul and his companions. The good
news they proclaimed was in truth
revolutionary; it meant new state of
things entirely, a transformed city. 1t
is right that religion should make a
stir; 1t was designed to overturn and
transform until it should get the world
the churches of some of our great
American cities that their force is
scarcely felt at all in their communi-
ties. They are not feared by eviIdoers,
and they are not looked up to by the
public as active agencies of philan-
thropy and education and spiritual
power. AS one editor expressed it,
1.-The churches in this city don't count
That is a shame and sin. The most
potent influence in every community,
and the most important factor in al
it's affairs should be the Christian
churches.
The BuIly's Argument.
The argument Of the fist has always
been popular. In boyhood the bully
says, when unable to maintain his DO
sition in any other way, well, 1 can
lick you, anyway" Which is a para
BILE Of all war; for force proves moth
ing concerning point under discus
sion; it simply demonstrates which adj
versary is stronger physically, and
that is entirely apart from the ques-
ton. The Jews of Thessalonica, beat
en- in argument and moved by envy
undertook to mob Paul. IF they
couldn't convince him, they could at
least punish him.
To that end, they hobnobbed with
the rabble, which is always delighted
with row or any sort. Think OF 1t
the proud, fastfdious Jews keeping
company with the -scourings of the
city! WE'LL other motives than poll
tics make strange bedfellows, and
there are few lengths to which hate
will not go. We do not have to travel
back to Pauls day to find instances of
mems smothering their conseiences
and violating their manhood and duty
for the sake Of getting the better of an
enemy. Pride and prejudice viii lead
a man to great lengths.
The Persevering Paul.
Of his experience at ThessaIonica
Paul might have said, None of these
things moved me-" He went straight
ahead In his appointed work, taking
1t up in another city, If driven from
one. He was willing to do or suffer
anything, If by any means Christ
might be preached. The John Brown
spirit, which freely offered life for the
sake of the success of a cause, was
strong within him. He was willing to
be martyred for the truth, but he was
not willing to be turned aside from his
course. Trouble could not sidetrack
him: danger could not deter him. He
had a conquering message, and he was
going on to victory. Nothing could
stand before the Good News he car
rfed. Not many months since cele-