The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-22
PAUL IS CONCEPTION
OF TRUE NOBILITY
Theme of the Rev. Sterling J,
Fosters Sermon
BELIEF OF JOHN KNOX
Love of Truth and Obedience to 1t
Are Essential Characteristics
of Every Real
Nobleman.

The Rev. DR. Sterling j. Feste. pastor
of the South Highlands Presbyterian
church, occupied his pulpit yesterday,
preaching on the Apostolic Conception
of Nobility lie chose as his text:
Now these were more noble than those
in Thessa1onica in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, examin-
ing the scriptures daily, whether these
things were so."-Acts 17:11.
Dr. Foster said:
The Apostle Paul was goo. Judge Of
nobility, in both the narrow and broad
definition of the term.
Reared in the city of Tarsus, he had
enjoyed all the advantages which his age
afforded, and when only young man sue
ceeded in winning a place In the Jewish
Sanhedrin place of honor among
those enjoying the highest position in the
nation,
With these he had associated on terms
of intimacy, and knew full well the value
attaching to such position. He had been
ambitious to attain the highest place ever
is so distinguished a circle, and with his
gifts and advantages doubtless could have
succeeded
Change in Paul's Life.
But with the great revolution In hi.
life, when on his way to Damascus h,
experienced that mighty change of heart
all of these ambitions fell away from hin
like WORKOUT autumn leaves when tn,
sap rises in the spring time, flooding tn,
tree and the branches with newness o.
life.
From that time forward his STANDARD
of values changed, end nobility acquired
a new significance In his eyes. The tex
though recorded by Luke, sets fortl
clearly the elements required, In the apps
ties view, to constitute nobleman
These We're more noble In that they
received the word with readiness of mind
and searched the scriptures daily whether
they were SO"
There entered then, first. the absence Of
a blind prejudice. 1t required an oper
mind to listen to the preaching of thes,
apostles. It's novelty made a barrier diff
ficut indeed, for men bred In the ancient
schools of the prophets, al with tn,
bigotry and craftsmanship of centuries
stood up in their minds.
And added to this the startling natur,
of the truth they proclaimed, made Il
peculiarly liable to the marking it after
ward received in others.
But rising superior TO all these consid
erations, these men listened with a pa.
tence and respect worthy OF all praise.
Second, and again added to this was .
persistence in testing the truth they re-
ceived, searching the scriptures daily Il
they were so. all of which proved them tc
be men who loved the truth and were will
ing to "buy It and sell 1t not" As tn,
natural result many of them believed
of the Greek women, and of men not q
few"
Love of Truth.
This then was necessary to constitute
a nobeman i'm the mind Of the apostle
and there has never been any reyela tiou
that superseded it, and the sane part OF
mankind has long since learned that a
nobleman can be constituted after no other
fashion than through love of truth and
obedience to II.
These thoughts seem peculiarly appro-
pirate today, when throughout Scotland
and portions of our own country many
are celebrating the four hundredth ami
versary of the birth OF John Knox. Twas
the same problem that he faced fifteen
hundred years later. that these Berean
Jews and Greeks had faced before Rear
ed under the, influence " an ecclesiastical
system thu had obtained these centuries
he was willing to receive the truth that
first dawned after the long night of the
dark ages, and searched the scriptures
to learn whether it was so.
With him began a new nobility In
Scotland, for having come to knowl-
edge Of the truth. he could never be
severed from 1t by all the prosecutions
of that somi-barbaric age,
He brayed the anger of the Queen and
only ceased his warfare on the abuses
that had grown up when the hand Of
death was laid ON him at last.
Then he became the patron saint of a
great nation. and for these hundred
years. the pilgrim has wendell his way to
the spot that marks his grave. where
lies him Of whom 1t was said. "He never
feared the face of man."
Burns Conception.
Two hundred years later Robert Burns
in the "Cotters Saturday Night gives
a picture of the humble Scottish home
and the influence of John Knox Is writ
ten large over the whole household and
even himself though he refused to obey
the truth he knew. could never escape
that influence which has penetrated the
corners of the nation.
He protested against much OF the
teaching, or rather the abuse OF the
teaching Of the church which Knox
but never was ne a truer son
of Knox and then him of the Apostle
Paul than when he sang:
"You see yon birkie. cad Lord
VIVA struts and stares and a that
Though hundreds worship at his word
He's but coof for a that.
For a that and that.
His riband star and a that.
The man of independent mind