The Penn's Grove record., 1905-07-28
THE PULPIT.
a BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. ROBERT H. CARSON.
Subject: Paul the Preacher.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-Sunday in Grace
Presbyterian Church, the pastor, the
Rev. Robert H. Carson, took for his
subject paul the Preacher" His
text was Acts xxiv:25: "And as he
reasoned of righteousness, temperance
and Judgment to come, Felix trembled
and answered, Go thy way for this
time; when l have a convenient sea-
son l 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 in his frequent per-
lis by land and sea, or addressing Gull
tured audiences in splendid cities. or
individuals in palaces or in prisons
everywhere we see a man whom we
instinctively know to be one of earth'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 it's power.
TOO frequently weakness, with a
false gentleness and charity, are con-
sidered the proper attendants of a
Christian spirit, and Ofttimes a Chris
tan is slow of speech, or altogether
silent in the presence of evil lest he
should show a boldness %unbecoming in
one who proposes himself to be a 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
ness 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,
Il came not to send peace on earth,
but a sword" He was Christianitv's
Dunder, 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
u mems ears, nor pander to their
Sog AOA NASoo AAI1l NllllClSlua
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 nan who
is master of his life. He speaks to a
ruler whose word is law, whose nod is
enough to seal his doom. and yet be
speaks so as to make that monarch
tremble. All, friends, a man who
knows his cause to be right can al
ways afford to be courageous and bold
Truth at all times is wondrous fearless
and breads no sacrifice, whether OF
ease or fame or even of life itself. il
only God be honored and righteous
ness crowned. Look back on that sa
cred II 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 n martyrs and glorious company
or the reformers. Luther would go tC
the Diet of Worms and vindicate his
faith, though as many devils hindered
him as there were states on the house.
tops of Erfurt. When they laid Johr
Knox, the man who made Scotland
in his grave they said: "'There lies one
who never feared the face of man."
And this fearlessness, this courage
need not be confined to the leaders
alone. The humblest Christian ma
share, and should share. in this prec
lOuS heritage. To this line of chosen
souls-the very chivalry of the saints
belong every mar and woman who, likt
Nehemiah, dares to say: $50 will no
|, because of the fear of the Lord; whC
is willing in obedience to the dictate.
of an enlightened conscience to BRAY,
public opinion and even the loss o.
friendship in standing by what the,
consider right. Such are the salt O
the earth. Such is the leaven that i
yet going to leaven the whole mass
Such are the men whom God and mai
can trust, and such men are the hop,
OF the world. Herein, indeed, is tn,
boldness of Christianity seen, and
thank God, in all the ages Of Christen
don and in all the ranks of life mel
and women with their fearless cour
age have been found.
1t is comparatively easy to bear wit
ness to truth when a large public sym
pathiZes with you. When on all side
you are surrounded by those who en-
courage You with cheering words
when you have nothing to lose an,
everything to gain; when the 'offens
OF the cross" as Paul puts it, cha
ceased" But when the public is un
sympathetic, when friends are lacking
when there is everything to lose an,
nothing earthly to gain, then it is
very different matter.
Oh, beloved, by our w strength
and relying on our own arm we can
not stand. 1t is easy ito say resis
and stand fast, but we can do neithe
the one nor the other unless we ar,
steadfast in the faith. In the mids
of this wicked and untoward genera
ton. when evils, both social and poll
teal, r eating out the very life o
u nation, how shall we be couragecu
and bold, how shall we do our par
to stem the torrent? Surrounded b,
sin both in high places and in low
how shall we as followers of Jesu.
Christ get strength to do our duty
Confronted by temptation at ever,
turn in the pathway of life, wher
shall we get courage to face the tempt
er and to say with boldness and witt
majesty, get thee behind me, Satan?
In our W strength we cannot do il
To be a power for good, to be a facto
in the upbuilding of righteousness, t
overcome in the conflict with tempta
ton, we must know God and trust CO.
and love God as He is revealed in tn.
face of Jesus Christ, and then we will
be able to stand fast in the evil day
Such knowledge is the knowledge tina
we want, and it alone will make u
bold and courageous as this poor pris
~ner who makes the monarch tremble
So, in the words OF our text W,
have, in the first place, a sample o
apostolic boldness, and in the seeonj
place we have a sample of apostolic
preaching.
The wife OF Felix was a Jewes
whom he had persuaded TO leave he
lawful husband. She, doubtless, wa
anxious to learn of this Jesus VIII
had caused such a connection amonI
the people of her nation, and hereil
mag have been the cause of the apps
ties first invitation to the palace.
1t is said that the greatest wonder OIL
earth is man himself, and indeed
believe this to be true. Take, for in
eko.ao 4hfe man ITnI;- o,,I h1 - H.,