The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-21
Prisoners of the Lord.

Paul often calls himself "the slave OF
Jesus Christ" And if any man ever be-
longed to another, body, soul and spirit,
Paul belonged to Jesus Christ. For Him
Paul lived and loved, wrought and wrote,
suffered and died. If those mute lips OF
his moved at all after his bleeding head
dropped from the block it must have been
in last endeavor to utter the name of his
beloved Lord.
Once Paul calls himself "the prisoner Of
the Lord" And that was a true title, for
the testimony of the gospel? Nor did be
ever boast q prouder title than just this
the prisoner of the Lord. Decorations for
which others strove he absolutely dis
dained. This was his badge Of honor, this
his insignia of distinction. He gloried
ever in the cross of Christ and id the cross
be bore for Christ.
Paul was in good company when he was
In prison for the Lord. Count over the
names of those who have been banished
from home, sold into captivity, immured
n tdupgeons and otherwise deprived of lib.
rrty for conscience's sake, and you nave an
llustrious band.
There is Joseph, in Jail, because of his
firm resolve to do nc sin. There is Daniel.
cast into a wild beasts den, because he
would not dishonor God by deifying man.
There is John the Baptist in Herod's dun"
keon because he reb4ked w%ickedness in
high places. There is Peter, victim of Her.
DDS cruelty, languishing in gloom. There
b John, to whom the island of Patmos waa
! rockbound, sea-girt prison. These are
al prisoners of the Lord. They share with
Paul the splendid fame of counting not
liberty dear unto them for the sake OF
their LOYALTY to God.
John Bunyan was a prisoner of the Lord
when he wrote his immortal Pilgrim
Dream" Nine. Guyon was a prisoner OF
the Lord when she sang:
"A little bird I am,
Shut from the fields of air,
And in my cage'I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there;
Well pleased a prisoner to be
Because, my God, it pleaseth Thee"
But not alone those who have worn lit
eral chains and suffered literal bondage,
Tor conscience's sake or duty's, are prison.
ers of the Lord. Many an invalid, patient
and trustbal, in spite of long helplessnesa
and pain; many q mother weary with the
care of household and children, yet brave
Ind hopeful withal; many a man limited
TO a narrow sphere by poverty, yet think
ing great thoughts and bearing his share
Of the burdens Of the kingdom OF God;
many a self-exiled pioneer of progress, mis-
sionary or explorer, who prepares the way
for the gospel in heather lands or in dis.
tant parts of our own; many an humble
worker, who voluntarily limits his freedom
md restricts his leisure that he may edo
something for somebody" is as surely a
prisoner Of the Lord as vas the great apes'
lie.
And this is the comfort of every such
,oul: The Lord is with His people in
prison. He gives their souls sweet liberty
he rests them when they are weary, lifts
Them up when they are faint and whispers
pain: Fear not, for I am with thee;
neither be thou dismayed, for l am thy
God; I will strengthen thee; yea, / will
help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the
right hand of My righteousness ."-Phila'
aelphia Ledger.