Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08


adopted to escape persecution. They
comforted themselves and one another
not only by their songs and their
counsels and prayers, but by the in
scriptions still to be read upon the
walls. Perhaps the commonest of all
the catacomb pictures is Of the Shep-
herd caring for the feeble sheep. The
simple faith of these early disciples
was mistaken in the shepherdly over
sight OF Jesus. SO, when necessary,
they could go to death with smile
upon their faces and song upon their
lips.
A Prisoner In Chains.
Peter was caught by his enemies.
Night and day he was chained on both
sides to soldiers, and other soldiers
guarded his prison cell. The church,
which felt her oneness in way that
made for spiritual power, continued in
prayer for her imprisoned leader. AS
for Peter himself, he was content in
his prison cell. God does not always
deliver his people from their trials,
but he does give peace in all the per-
secutions which they are called to I'M
dergc Peter was more comparable
In his prison cell than Herod was in
his palace. AS Rutherford, when thus
separated from men, rose to such
heights of spiritual experience that
his thoughts of Jesus made every
stone in his cell to glow" 80 Peter
had vital communion with his risen
Lord which was abundant compensa-
ton for all the suffering he was call
ed upon to endure. The two friends
OF Jesus were in new and close fellow
ship with him-Peter in Jail and James
In glory. Poets and prophets and
pioneers Of truth sound one clear note
upon this point.
High walls and huge body may
confine,
| And iron CRATES obstruct the prison
| er's gaze;
| The massive bolts may BATTLE his de-
sign,
And vigilant keepers watch his de-
devious ways:
Yet scorns the immortal mind this
base control,
No chains can bind it, and no cell
enclose;
Swifter than light it flies from pole
| to pole,
And in flash from earth to heaven
ii goes"
An oId-fashioned Faith.
Peter believed in the words of the
Psalmist which are the golden text of
this lesson: "The angel of the Lord
encampeth around about them that
fear him and delivereth them" That
is the old and simple faith which the
great body of friends of Jesus would
not willingly relinquish. We are talk
ing great deal in these days about
| the psychology of prayer" and we
are attributing the miracles to psyche
therapy or to condolences, or to the
subconscious ego. But
IF our faith were but more simple
We should take Him at His word,
And our lives would all sunshine be
In the presence of the Lord"
God does exercise the right Of a
sovereign to care for his own people.
1t 1s true that he works by law. But
ne made the laws. This universe Is
not democracy, where the will Of the
creatures rules, but it Is an absolute
monarchy, and the Lord God of Hosts
Is King. He can supplement or even
abrogate his own enactments as NAV
suit his purposes and pleasure. He can
bend all things to his will No theory
of the universe can satisfy the Chris
tan which does not put the sovereign
will Of Jehovah on the throne.
Once that truth is accepted, then all
| the considerations that make for a
simple, childlike faith flow from 1t nat
urally. God can and God will care for
his own. His sovereign power "a at
the service Of his father heart. To
him tue peace and welfare of his chill.
dren is OF more concern than all the
cares Of inanimate nature. He has
angles unguessed by science TO work
his will for the deliverance of his
his children from any Of the chains
and prison houses Of earth.
The Wonder Wrought.
In this history the king whose
| throne was in Jerusalem and the King
Of kings whose throne is in the high
est Heaven ARE represented In com
bat. Herod, by attacking those to
whose preservation God had pledged
his word, put himself i'll array against
Jehovah. He took all possible pre-
cautions to guard his prisoner Peter.
for he was mindful Of the strange de-
liverances which had been wrought in
the case of others of these Christians.
But his utmost care was futile.
unfretted by his lot, unfearing in
heart Peter had lain down to sleep the
sleep of little child-for HE giveth
his beloved Sleep" even though they
be chained to cruel jailers-and then
there came to him, in a vision. he
thought, a messenger from God. who
broke the shackles, opened the prison
doors, and led him forth free man
Even Peters faith could scarcely
credit the wonder. Yet he was free
and instead Of the noisome atmosphere
of the dungeon, he was In Gods clear
air. Straight to the presence of the
brethren, as homing pigeon to his
nest, went the liberated apostle, and
there he came upon his fellow Chris.
tians praying for him, and all un.
known to themselves, having verified
for them that promise: While thew
are yet calling | will hear and