The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-06

for man to abandon religious views held
REPRoVED- There is limit to a min
listers obligation. He is not required TO
labor among people who will not re-
ceive his message. Jesus instructed his dis
ciples on this point. (Matt. x. IA Hav-
Ing devoted day to Jewish officials seek
ing TO convert them to Christianity, Paul
resolved thereafter to turn his efforts to
the Gentiles. But before the unbelievers
departed he administered a severe reproof
oversees %, e6. 20. applying to them pas
sage from Isaiah. once quoted by our Lord
himself Matt xii. II, l92 He eharged that
they could not see nor hear because they
would not: that their blindness and deaf
ness Were the consequence of the grossness
plant. uttered by the prophets again and
nation. Gzek. xii. - Intellectual and dull.
ness through moral obliquity and spiritual
apathy have fallen upon millions of men.
rendering them incapable of perceiving
heavenly truth. q Cor. ii. 40
informed the Jews that the salvation OF
God was sent to the Gentles. and that they
would listen to its gracious offer verse %.
a repetition of the savior's words CsIatt.
xxi. 49,. a teaching frequently given by the
apostles. Rom ri. IL So ended the ad-
/ dress. and the audience. dispersed. But
10 dismiss Immediately the great themes
that had been presented to them by this
stranger. the prisoner from Judea- The
forceful argument for Jesus as their Mes
siah although rejected. and this last state
ment that the Gentiles were to be gathered
In, contained material for prolonged consid-
eraticn. because they involved the hopes,
the destiny and the welfare of their ren.
gion. They knew too much of the letter or
Judaism. OF its high aspirations and of Its
proud boast Gen. xviii; 1S. TO reject as ut
terly vain and worthless what had been
said to them. And they departed reasoning
among themselves. Verse 30
MINISTERED-For two whole years
Paul remained fettered prisoner in Rome.
Verse 30) Living in his own hired house.
he was not denied the society OF friends.
Among those who were with him he men
tons Timothy. his son in the ministry
rapter and physician tCol. iv. -: Aristar-
chus. his fellow-prisoner. so-ca1led because
OF his intimacy tCol. iy. 1o: Tychicus for
.ditus. who brought contributions from Phi
llppi (Phil. IL. %: Epaphras. a representa-
tive of churches in Asia Col. !, %; Mark.
the cousin of Banabas Col w lW;
throughout the entire period he continued
to proclaim the kingdom of God. teaching
with all holiness the things pertaining 20
the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse BIZ During
the time he wrote the four episties; PnInp-
CONCLUSION-From the meager history
In the book of Acts We are unable 10 learn
what was the fruit of Paufs ministry IN
Rome But from his epistles It is evident
that he gained many converts. some OF
whom were in positions of influence. Many
of the soldiers chained to him. embraced
the religion of Jesus and carried his name
guards But the time gave schooling 70 the
apostle He must have seen something OF
the appalling contrast between the osten,
tatious luxury of inexhaustible wealth and
the painful srIualor of chronic paupefism.
The dangers that heset the densely crowded
masses of human beings must have nade
him anxious to publish the gospers power
70 elevate and save. All his surroundings
tended to strengthen his faith and prepare
for his larger usefulness.