The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-03

= -IfT-1 H-FI1
GOLDEN TEX 4, 6 r ememl
how he said, It's more blessed
xx: IS. sl$
BY Rev. j. e. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary Of !
>~~~~
sCoNTExT--After.tw two lessons, one in an !
epistle and the other for lreview we res
turn ito the historic narrative; The ex-}
,cltement at I1phesls having subsidized
l(Acts, XIX :2l-3), Paul went fort h accord
Ing to his purpose to Macedonia Eand to-
Greece. Oversees i and ~ HIS stay In
those regions. however, was brief Un-s
der the prompting Of the spirit. his heart
was set on going to Rome. Sailing with
several companions, he proceeded ". |
Trogylllum to Mletus. In each Of these
cities he preached land rendered valuable
service ITO the church, Being In some
haste, he did not so up to Ephesus, BUT
sent for the elders OF that city. who
came down to Miletus to see him. The.
that followed was extremely
interesting. These men. charged Wilt AL
tho affairs OF tho congrega ton, i were
greatly attached to Paul as their spirit.
ual father, delighted to see him. after
his separation, and he delivered to them
an ddrcss, part OF which we shall study
to-day. i@
Il UNAfovED Verse ;24.) Why was Paul r y
unmoyed by the prospect OF personal mis-
fortune ? Why did he 60 forward when
he Knew that imprisonment awaited him?
Why should he even teopardize MS !ieY
{(Rom., Will $50 He gives the secret IN
his letter TO the Romans. Verse - q ~
course OF action, \ mission was before
him, which he was determined to accom-
pllsh. and TO come to its end with 10Y.
S1s,oa
istry " hfct he had received from the Lord
Jesus (Titus. i:3), which he had accepted
as his life work. from which he dare not
turn. Il Cor, ix:1B) His only business
among men was to testify the gospel
OF the grace Of God. It filled his heart
and hands (Rom., t:,5), and dominated ll'e all
every other pursuit and calling, he de-
voted himself untirlngly and absolutely
to this. He was the servant Of Christ.
5(Phll \, Fly Ito go and be and do, and even
to SUI ffer5 and to die, when, where ana how
the Master might direct. ,, #
Verses % to 20 inc IN
apostle not only affirmed his loyalty to
Christ. but he challenged the approval OF
his brethren, desiring them 70. COMES MS
.faithfulness as minister He had De-
iclared all tho counsel Of God. (Verse 20
Withholding nothing through rear or "a
yor, he had Instructed them IN the essen,
tialS truths Of Christianity. Oversee ~
accordingly, he must be fee from blame
II any In the church at Ephesus came
short OF d consistent life or failed OF the
favor OF God. (Ycrse o6.) There IS uIi-
doubted reference here to the res ponsllplll-
-ty Of the prophet or public teacner, IN IN
der the old dispensatlon. (EzeK. li,'lo-ls.)
He had good reason for desiring TINS ap-
proval OF the elders-he was gong IRON =,
them not to return; i was me eng O.
their earthly relations, the close OF ms!
work among them. Verse 36,) He right e
~ esteemed their favor ns an YincentlVe,E
and he sought by means OF that taVor 70
7preparo them for the advice which he was
about to deliver. He would Leave ms 1ast
words enforced by his faltnl u!le 's al
Verse ISL TWAS thus Jus an an
easy matter for Paul to turn from ehls
own conduct 10 that OF the elders. Verse
2S.) ..Thereiore,''.lle says, because Of ms
example he charged them to DO shelrt
duty. That duty had reference primarily
to themse Ives. Il Tim, iv:10.) servant
Of the church must be cody, The elders e
must make the apostle IN q sense pa g
tern, "a Thes,,l iiI:9.) BY the memorySotf
his excellent ministry they. were TO TX. %bes
induced to care for the schurch, 70 Ieed
1t as q flock, like unto stepil eros IW 70
other considerations are here glven&to-
.incite their fidelity. That church had been
lDurCHuSGll WllI& ltl1 YUASSSA 49, 'S
tix:1D, and was therefore exceedingly
dear to Him, (lph.. v;25) Moreover by
the Holy Ghost they had been made
overseers or superintondents Cor bishops
as the word might .be rendered. OF That
church. Here, then, were three powerful
motlves-the words and influence Of the
apostle.athe value and glory 81 tlle churcn
and the nature OF the superintendent
uniting to move. the Ephesian1 elders %
the discharge Of duty tSf 8
& WARNED, -(V Verses 20 to BID To render
ali this tho more timely and emphatic,
Paul dlsoloses something Of the future
Of the chucch, a dreary outlook, calcl-
lated to nwekan his fears, Verses ~ ana
30,l He docs not tell how he obtained the
informal ion-whether by Srevelat ton or In (
formation from conditions then existing
but he declares that he knew the church \
would be In trouble after his departure.
SOME would enter from without, whom
he likens to wolves, false prophets. (Matt,,s
yii;l6), described moro fully elsewhere.
e Pet, ll;1) Still worse, some OF the
Dphesians Il Tim, 800 would rise llp to
become false teachers, perhaps int uenced
by those who came from abroad, or per-
haps led astray by their own Ignorance
and conceit, and drawing disciples after
them, SO that the body would he divided,
Hence, these elders must watch constant,
ly Verse sD. remembering that they had
been forewarned On this subject. THIS IS
In full accord both in spirit and N SUBJ
stance, with what Jesus had said to His
disciples as Tie was about to be taken
from them, Matt xXIV;42)
q COMM ESDED-tYe a2.) Having
warned them against trouble, the apostle
shows how to escape II, He offered no.
thing new or Startling but that which
has ever been, and must forever be- the
guidance and help 81 God (verse s2), He
specially commended them to the word
OF Divine grace, the sacred Scriptures
undoubtedly, the writings OF the prophets.
and those Of tho apostles then or. to be
produced, He Declared that this word