The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-10

..4.. churches than all
the apostolic col
lege combined, the leader to whom
converted Jew and Gentle looked for
counsel and direction, the man who
was considered indispensable,-that
he, of all others, should be compelled
to lay his head upon the block and
give up his life with his work all un-
finished was a calamity that shook the
infant church to its foundations.
No Complaints.
But the seasoned old warrior Paul,
did not look at 1t in that light. When
he enlisted in the service of the
Prince Of Peace. he calmly counted
the cost He enrolled himself in the
army of the Lord with his eyes wide
open. He knew perfectly we'll what
he was doing and what it meant. He
expected to suffer affiiction and en-
dure hardness as good soldier Of
Jesus Christ. He fully realized what
he was going up against for he had
come from the ranks of the enemy
himself, and he had the blood of bi-
gotry in his own veins. He never an
ticipated ease and a comfortable posi-
ton; the moment he laid down the
weapons Of his rebellion and was ac-
cepted as a raw recruit for the side
he had prosecuted he knew that the
battle was on. And he knew also that
that was an irrepressible conflict, a
lifelong warfare, and could only end
in one way. Hence, he never muir
INJURED at the long marches, the weary
sieges, the hand to hand conflicts, the
bonds and imprisonments, the sacri-
fees, the garments rolled in blood.
kniehted on the Field.
And after all, what more appropri-
ate thing than for a soldier to die
upon the field of honor. Paul fell, as
brave soldier should, in the thick of
the fight, with his face to the foe.
And he was content. When Christ
upon the cross knew that His hour
had come, He bowed His head and
said, at is finished" And when, the
greatest of His apostles, years after
wards. in far off Rome, under the very
shaved of caesars palace was lead
out to execution, he, too, knew that
he had accomplished his mission, and
uttered his dying testimony, 81 have
fought a good fight, l have finished
my course, have kept the faith"
There was not tremor in his voice.
there was not pang in his heart,
there was not fear in his soul. He
knew that he was only about to be
knighted upon the field of battle.
Fearless Soldier.
Yes, Paul had been a fighter. He
had not been much of dress parade
soldier, but as Phil Sheridan said, he
had found lovely fighting all along
the line" His conversion at Damas-
Gus was a bombshell dropped right in
the heart of the camp, his several ap-
pearances in Jerusalem always turned
the city upside down. He had been
compelled to lick his own soldiers into
shape at the first council of the church,
again and again he had cut loose from
his base of supplies and like Sher-
man hewed a path for himself clear
through to the sea, foraging on the
enemy on the way. Men misunder-
stood him, criticised him, always got
|
to improve on his plans, but they
were compelled to admit that he was
q peerless soldier. He knew not what
fear was. He faced kings as calmly as
he did bowling mobs. And he was
never defeated. When he entered q
city, no matter what the opposition,
he held his ground long enough to
overthrow the powers Of darkness
AS he moved on his conquering way
he established forts of Righteousness
all over Asia and Europe from Anti
och to Rome. What are Antioch and
Laodicea, and Philadelphia, and Sar
dis, and Thyatira, and Pergamos, and
Smyrna, and Ephesus-the seven
churches of Asia spoken of In Revela
tion-together with Corinth and Thes
salonica and Philippi. and Colosse. and
Rome, but a matchless line of forts
garrisoned, armed and provisioned, tc
hold the ground where many of his
greatest campaigns were waged and
mightiest victories won.
Conquerer Always.
Oh, Papls life was not failure. HC
was immortal till his work was done
He was a greater soldier than Alexan
der or Caesar, for while they are dead
and turned to dust. and the mighty
empires they established have falleT
and crumbled into dust. until not
trace remains, the kingdom Paul wal
instrumental in introducing has over
turned all others and is more wide
spread and powerful this minute thar
1t was when Paul cried out Il have
fought a good fight, have finished m,
course" and went in to the presenct