The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-07-27
THE PULPIT.
4 BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
TIE REV. ROBERT H. CARSON.
Subject: Paul the Preacher

Brooklyn. n. Y.-Surday in Grace
Presbyterian Church, the pastor, the
Rev. Robert H. Carsos. took for bis
subject paul the Preacher" His
text was Acts XXiv:25: '"And as he
reasoned of Righteousness, temperance
and Judgment to come. Felix trembied
and answered, Go thy way for this
time; when 1 have convenient sea-
son 7 will call for thee" Mr.. Carson
said:
This book of apostolic labors gives
US a glimpse of Paul in many atti-
tudes. We have him pictured before
his conversion and after, and whether
we see him at his manual occupation
of tent-making. Or i'll his frequent per
lis by land and sea, or addressing cul-
tured audiences in splendid cities, or
individuals in palaces OF in prisons
everywhere We see 4 man whom we
instinctively know to be one of earth's S
choicest and noblest souls.
Just now he is standing before a
wicked king and his no less wicked
wife: and there is that in his demeanor
and his action which makes us proud
of Christianity and its power.
Too frequently weakness, with
false gentleness and charity, are con-
sidered the proper attendants of a
Christian spirit. and ofttimeS Chris
tan is slow of speech. or altogether
silent in the presence of evil lest he
should show boldness unbecoming in
one who proposes himself to be fol-
lower Of Him who was meek and low
". But there is no warrant for any
such conduct in the example of Christ,
or in the teaching of His apostles. In
deed. what strikes a reader most in
this book Of apostolic acts is the bold
Hess Of spirit which the first preachers
of the gospel exhibited. We see Peter
standing in the presence of his own
enemies as we'll as in the presence of
the enemies of the Christ, and boldly
accusing them of the murder of the
Lord. And what said Christ Himself:
81 came not to send peace on earth,
but sword" He was Christianity's
founder. and what He was, so should
His followers be. The Christian is to
speak the truth in love, but in the pres
ence of evil he must never be silent
through fear. nor mince his words to
suit mems ears, nor pander to their
ikings, nor dread their criticism.
Apostolic boldness. then. is the first
point that we would note in the words
which we have chosen as our text.
Paul is in the presence of a man who
is master of his life. He speaks to
ruler whose word is law, whose nod is
enough to sea, his doom. and yet he
speaks so as to make that monarch
tremble. All, friends, man who
knows his cause to be right can al
ways afford to be courageous and bold.
Truth at all times is wendrous fearless
and breads no sacrifice, whether of
ease or fame or even of life itself, if
only God be honored and righteous
ness crowned. Look back on that sa-
cred line of fearless witnesses for God
and see how strongly this element of
courage predominated. Of such was
Moses in the presence of Pharaoh, of
such was Nathan in the presence of
David, of such was Elijah before
Ahab, of such was John the Baptist
before Herod, of such were the apos-
ties and martyrs and glorious company
OF the reformers. Luther would so to
the Diet of Worms and vinGicate his
faith. though as many devils hindeTed
him as there were states or the house
tops Of Erfurt. When they laid John
Knox, the man who made Scotland.
in his grave they said: There lies one
who never feared the face of man."
And this fe2rlessness. this coura &c,
need not be confined to the leaders
alone. The humblest Christian may
share. and should share, in this Drec-
ious heritage. To this line of chosen
souis-the very chivalry of the saints
belong every man and woman who. like
Nehemiah, dares to say: $50 will rot
I, because of the fear of the Lord: who
is willing in obedience to the dictates
of an enlightened conscience to brave
public opinion and even the loss OF
friendship in standing by what they
consider right. Such are the salt OF
vet going to leaven the whole mass.
Such are the men whom God and man
can trust, ard such men ara the hope
of the world. Herein. i.ieo;. is the
bol6ness of Christianity s2a2. and,
thank God. in all the ages oH Christen-
dom and in all the ranks Of lie men
and women with their fearless co1r-
age have been found.
It is comparatively easy to bear wit
ness to truth when large public SYM
path;zes with You. When on all sides
you are surrounded by these who en-
courage you with cheering words:
when YOU have nothing to lose and
everything to gain; when the "ohensc
Of the crcss." as Paul puts it. has
ceased" But when the public is un-
sympathetic. when friends are lacking.
when thsre IS everything to lose and
nothing earthly to Gain, then = is 2
very different matter.
On. beloved, by our own strength
and relying on Our own arm We can
not stand. 1t is easy to say resist
and stand fast. but We can do neither
the one no: the other unless we are
steaGfast in the faith. In the midst
of this wicked and untoward genera
ton. when evils, both social and poll
teal, are eating out tie very life OF
our nation, how shall we be courageous
and bold. how shall we do our part