The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-07-28
THE PULPIT.
A BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
TIE REV ROBERT X. CARSON.
Subject Paul the Preacher.


subject Paul the Preacher" His
text was Acts xxiv.25: And as he
reasoned OF Righteousness, temperance
and judgment 20 come. Felix trembled
and answered, Go thy way for this
time; when ] have a convenient sea-
son / viii call for thee" Mr.. Carson
said:
This book of apostolic .ators gives
US a glimpse OF Paul in many atti.
tuGes. We have him pictured before
his conversion and after, and whether
We see him at his manual occupation
OF tent-ma king, or in his frequent per-
lis by land and sea, or addressing cul-
tured audiences in splendid cities. or
individuals in palaces or III prisons
everywhere We see man whom we
ins,inctively know 10 be one OF ear,h's
choicest and noblest souls.
Just now he is standing before a
wicked king and his 10 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 n
false Sentleness and charity, are con
sldered the proper attendants OF q
Christian spirit. and ofttimes Chris
tian Is slow Of speech. or altogether
silent ia the presence OF eyi! lest he
should show boldness unbecoming in
one who proposes himself 10 be n fol-
lower of Him who was meek and low
ly. But there is no warrant for any
Slch conduct in the example OF Christ,
or in the teaching OF His apostles. In
deed, what strikes n reader most in
this book of apostolic acts is the bold
ness OF spirit which the first preachers
OF the gospel exhibited. We see Peter
standing in the presence of his own
enemies as well 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
i came not 10 send peace on earth.
but sword He was Christanity'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 inince his words 10
SUIT mems ears, nor pander 10 their
lkings, nor Dir, ad- 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 man who
is master OF his life. He speaks to a
ruler whose word is law, whose nod is
enough 10 seal his doom. and yet he
speaks so as to make that monarch
tremble. An friends, n man who
knows his cause to he right can al
ways afford 10 be courageous and bold.
Truth at all times is wondrous fearless
ana breads no sacrifice. whether OF
fn mn 90 q. a
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 Bcrod, OF such were the apOs-
Ties ana martyrs and glorious company
or the reformers. Luther would 20 10
the Diet of Worms and vindicate his
faith, though ms many devils hipdered
MIN as there were Slates on the house
tops of Erfurt. When they laid John
Knox, the man who made Scotland,
III his grave they said There lies one
who never feared the face Of man"
And this fearlessness, this courac &c.
need not be confined 10 the leaders
alone. The humblest Christian NAV
snare, and should share. in this prec-
ious heritage. To this line of chosen
souls-the very chivalry OF the saints
Delong every man and woman who, like
Ne@emiah, dares 10 say: 80 will not
j, because Of the fear of the Lord. who
rs willing IN obedience TO the dictates
or an enlightened conscience 10 brave
pubiic opinion and even tho loss OF
friendship IN standing by what they
consider right. Such are the ealt OF
the earth. Such is the lcaYcn that is
yet going 10 leaven the whole mass.
Such are the men whom God ana man
can trust, and such men are the hone
or the world. Herein. indeed, is the
boldness Of Christianity seen, and.
thank God ia all the ages of Christen-
dom and in all the ranks of life men
and women with their fearless cour-
age have been found.
IL is comparatively easy 10 bear wit
ness 10 truth when large public sym
pathizes with you. When on all sides
you are surrounded by those who en-
courage you with cheering words:
when you have nothing To- lose and
everything TO gain, when the "ofYense
of the cross" as Paul puts IL, has
ceased But when the public Is un.
sympathetic, when friends are lacking.
when there is everything 10 lose and
nothing earthly TO gain, then II is a
very different matter
Oh, beloved, by our own strength
and relying on our own arm we can
not stand II is easy to say resist
and stand fast. but we can do neither
the one nor the other unless we are
steadfast in the faith. In the midst
or this wicked and untoward genera.
tion. when evils, both social and DOLL
teal, are eating out the very life OF
our nation, how shall we be courageous
and bold, how shall we do our part
To stem the torrent2 Surrounded by
sin bOth IN high places and in low.
how shall we as followers OF Jesus
Christ get strength 10 do our duty ?
Confronted by temptation at every
turn In tho pathway of life, where
shall we get courage 70 face the tempt
or and to say with boldness and with
majesty, get thee behind me, Satan -
In our own strength we cannot do n.
To be power for good, 20 bc a factor
In the Upbuilding Of righteousness, 10
overcome i'm the conflict with tempta-
tion, We must know God and trust God
and love God as he is revealed In the
face Of Jesus Christ, and then we will
be able 20 stand fast In the evil day.
Such knowledge ~ the knowledge that
we want. and il alone will make us
bold and courageous as this poor pris.
oner who makes the monarch tremble.
So, IN the words OF our text we
have, in the first place. sample Of