Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-15
CLEAN CONSCIENCE
SIMPLE IN SPEECH
Rev. Robert J. 6urdette breaches on
the Subject "A Passion for
Souls" Citing Paul as
an Example

At the Temple Baptist church yes
terday morning Pastor Robert j. Bur-
dette preached on "a Passion for
Souls" taking for his text Acts 1928,
II would to God that not only thou,
but also all that hear me this day,
were both almost and altogether such
as / am, except these bonds"
He said:
ut was the apostles reply to King
Agrippa's sarcastic Almost thou per-
suadest me to be a Christian 1t was
a noble. tactful answer.
"'I would to God 1t was a beau
tiful reply. 1t was in exquisite taste.
1t combined the courtesy of gentle
mana Christian gentleman, with the
firmness of a Christian soldier. When
Jesus was confronted by his enemies
on his trial, he was silent. The Sac
rlflce must be dumb as the lamb at
the altar or in the hand of the shear
ers. Paul was on trial for his liberty,
nay, for his life. But he was wit
ness. He must speak. He speaks with
gentleness; but 1t is the mighty gem
tleness of Jesus Christ.
when a man is defending false
hood he may call upon heaven and
earth to vouch for his lies. He may
call down the wrath of all the gods he
knows If he speak falsely. But when
he declares the truth he can afford to
be gentle. Yea, yea and Nay, nay
These simple affirmations and mega
tions answer volumes and volumes of
argument. Nothing in all the world is
so brave and simple in speech as
clean conscience.
Paurs Sacrifices
Paul had made worldly sacrifice of
his llfe-his prospects,, his hopes of
preferment, authority, wealth. He had
refuse. Stood before the world and
made confession that all his previous
ideals had been false, selfish, mislead-
ing, narrow. Entered upon a life that
promised him absolutely nothing in
this world but hardships, poverty,
poorly requited toll, imprisonments and
violent death at the last. Why did he
90 this? What was his motive? What
was the inducement? The little church
was despised by scholarship, and he
was a learned man.
"It was communicated by the
church and Paul was orthodox
brought up at the feet of Gamaliel,
taught according to the perfect man
ner of the law of the fathers, of the
tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew Of the
Hebrews, as touching the law phari-
see after the straitest sect of their
Why did he leave all this?
He was a scholar with scholars love
of books and learned men, of the as
semblies of the wise, and he went back
to his trade of tent making and la
bored at that earning his own support,
that he might have liberty to preach
the gospel of the crucified Nazarene.
He associated with the poor and the
unlearned; was in terms of most in
innate friendship with them. Not
only poor Jews, but despised Gentiles.
Barbarians; hated Romans; savages of
the islands; ate and slept with them;
told them he loved them better than
his own life. Why did he do this?
What was the motive?
"Oh, it was this new love born in
his soul. The strange, incomprehensible,
ever-brooding love that brought the
Son of God down from the glories and
beauty of heaven into this world of
storm and poverty and hate An over
powering passion for souls. Once he
was satisfied with life as he found it;
he rejoiced in it's hopes and plans and
ambitions; it's purposes contented him;
it's aspirations lifted him to heights of
human endeavor and achievements.
Until one day, face to face, he met
the Lord Jesus.
"Ie caught one glimpse of his face
of glory shining above the brightness
of the monday sun-a face of light
that blinded his human eyes to look
upon-he sank to the earth at that
glance from heaven, crying, Lord!
Lord!' and he arose the glad, happy,
willing bond slave of Jesus Christ for
ever, crying to the world of men for
whom henceforth he lived and labored
and preached-The love of Christ con-
straineth me- That's why he0 did this.
He loved the souls of men,"