CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1907-05-23
sDIOTREPHEs.-
CONTINUED from page one.)


rectly this one man. Diotrephes.
A man" has furnished a theme for
many far more eloquent address
than 1 shall be able to make for you
tonight. Our orators have talked Of
Moses. OF David, OF Abraham and Saul,
of Joseph and Jonathan, Of the gentle
man OF Gallilee, or the giant of Tar
sus, OF Washington, Lincoln. McKin-
ley and Roosevelt, and have nightly
moved men to great and noble achieve
ments These are men about whom We
know much and whose lives are syno-
nyms OF truth and courage; but of
Diotrephes we know almost nothing.
want to resurrect this man Diotre-
phes from the grave OF oblivion to
which he has been consigned by all for
these many generations. "Diotrephes
loveth to have pre-eminence among
you." but he never received it; died
and was forgotten.
"Loveth pre-eminence." These words
give to US an index of his character. a
history of his life. They are all that
could be said of him. This man lived
too, II would seem. at a peculiarly op-
perfume time. The early history OF
Christianity was just being written.
Churches were being founded on every
side, tyrannical rulers were persecut-
\ ing the Christians. martyrs were aris-
ing, men were showing a noble cour-
age that still staggers the world.
Many opportunities were presented for
winning an undying fame and immor-
tai honor And this was evactly what
Diotrephes wanted; he coveted the
praise OF men SO earnestly that for II
he was willing 10 sell his sour. His
was no disposition to serve. he had no
intention of helping humanity. HUI
manity was useful only as 1t could
help him, and then 1t was the duty Of
the people to praise him because he
allowed them the privilege.
What n contrast the life and char
acter Of St Paul presents. Let us read
his family history. II Is one OF which
any man might be proud. For IL any
man has any reason to be proud OF his
the stock OF Israel. the tribe of Ben
jamin. a Hebrew OF the Hebrews. as
touching the law "A Pharisee: as touch
ing zeal prosecuting the church. as
touching the righteousness which is in
the law. found blameless. Howbeit |
count all these things but loss. they
are as nothing TO the noble Paul"
Then again. Il am the least OF all the
apostles. unworthy OF being called an
apostle. Jesus Christ came into the
world 20 cave sinners OF whom am
chief" What was PAul's aim in life!
I He says. Il am become a fool for
Christ's sake: will be all things to
all men II by some means | might win
some BY ANY MEANS" He lived and
sacrificed self. forgot self that he
might help the world and give TO the
world new ideas and ideals. ! think
the most magnificent example In all
literature of firmness of purpose and
OF an exalted courage. WAS shown by
this same Paul. Let us read these
words, And the multitude rose up
And when they had laid many stripes
upon them they cast them into prison.
charging the jailer to keep them safe
ly. who, having received such a charge
cast them into the inner prison and
made their feet fast In stocks. But
about midnight Paul and Siias were
praying and singing hymns and the
prisoners were listening" What a
scene! What a man he was' What
a type OF heroism he presents. He
had only one aim In life. ITO help"
In the dungeon he preached Christ:
on the ship he proclaimed the gospel:
shipwrecked on the Isle of Miletis he
told of Jesus: in Rome while bound
to the soldier he converted his guard.
May | ask again, What was Paul
seeking? He was seeking to serve the
world. What did he win? Pre-emi-
nence, Fame. Adulation. Love and
Honor for all time to come. In every
city we have churches dedicated to St.
Paul. In every age he has been su-
preme example OF courage and devo-
ton.
What did Diotrephes seek? Pre-
emlnence. Praise OF Men. Fame. What
did he win? Shame and ignomy. rtdi-
cule and oblivion. He Is only remem-
bered by what he failed to do and by
the selfish spirit which he manifested.
Did any one ever dedicate church to
DIotrephes? He that would gain his
life shall loose IL. but he that would
lose his life for my sake shall gain 1t. !"
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