The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-28

Save for my daily range . Among the pleasant fields or HOY wi'' l might despair. -Iehnyeon' First Quarter, Lesson Xiii. Marcn SS'
 19o3-ouarterly Review.
 The lessons of the entire quarter clus- ter around the towering personality or St. Paul. They give new views of this fascinating character at various angles. Aside entirely from religion, and as mere study in biography. the gains are of incalculable value. But the movement is greater than the man. The entrance of Christianity into Europe makes an historical epoch of first importance. IT if had not occurred, Western history would have to be rewritten, for the Flu ropean civilization now current began with PauPs obedience to the vision seen at Troas. Cities too. like pearls, are strung on the thread of this narrative: Philippi. Thessalonica, Berea, Athens. Cornth, Ephesus. We are given glimpses of the urban life of two thousand years ago. By a most happy and skillful com bination, a paragraph from the Epistle Is put next to the narrative of Paufs expe- riences in the respective cities as taken from the Acts of the Apostles. Thus ht- elature Is added to history and biogra- phy. The selections are from Philippians, First Thessalonians, First Corinthians and Ephesians.
 I. Paul and SiIas at Philippi-For set ting a poor slave-girl free from her dis tressdng malady the apostles were beaten and jailed This was the Philipptan mag istrate's way of appeasing the mob and avoiding a tumult, the dreaded scandal of a Roman provincial ofiicer. The nun and vile company of an Oriental prison, the physical suffering of the scourge and stocks was temptation to distrust But this was offset by prayer and praise. Gods seal to such steadfastness was a prison opening earthquake The conver- sion of the jailer and the founding of the first Church in Europe followed
 January {. 19O3 Acts xvi:22-34.
 II. Christian nving.-One of the very strongest of the apostolic churches sprang into existence on the very scene of Paul s suffering, a church to which ten years later he poured out his very soul in what has been aptIy called his love letter. Joy is the keyword to the Epistle. Par adoxical that a joyous letter should ba written on the eve of martyrdom! The secret is the completeness Of Paufs devo- ton to the cause and person of Jesus. The example of Jesus and the prospect Of the crowning- day were also sources Of inspiration. The EplSllS ID thS hSS O''" summary of Paurs Christology.
 January il. l9O3, Phil iv:1-1S.
 III. Paul at Thessalonica and Berea.- Some thousands know of Thessalonica be- cause of It's general historical associa- lions. hut millions know of 1t because Paul visited 1t. Ills coming was unoh- served: hut he represented moral ideas and forces destined to conquer larger world than Alexander dreamed of' ana to conquer it for all time.
 January IS. 1893. Acts xvil-l2.
 ". Paurs counsel to the Thessalon- ians.-This writing Is the initial contriou- ton to unique form of literature-the Epistles of the New Testament. Ihis Letter contains the order in which the custom of reading the Epistle in the con preaation originated. This Epistle is in- terestinf on it's own account as well as for these incidents The letter was sent in the place of a personal visit then i'm nossibIe. II was intended to fortify and indoctrinate his converts in Thessalonica' from whom he had been separated by persecution. The paragraph suggested Tor study is the heart of the Epistle
 January 25, 1893. I Thess. v:l4-S.
 V Paul at Athens.-As a mere work Of art tho sermon in the midst of the Areo- raeus Is worthy of It's peerless setting. An altar seen in the city serves as an ex- ordi,,n PauI compliments the religious nass which erects altars to unknown gods in anticipation of their disclosure, He