The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-10-15

with in these
days, who will
undertake any dirty job for a fee, and
who are as conscienceless in their
cases as they are glib of tongue.
Prisoners Testimony.
But in spite Of all the unfavorable
surroundings, Paul evinces not the
slightest perturbation. He Is the
same calm, courteous, courageous,
digniied Christian gentleman that We
have always found him. He has been
grossly maltreated, but he betrays no
anger. He employs no lawyer to res
cue him from his predicament by over
mastering or sharpsighted technical
ity. He has nothing to fear Of ex-
posure. He is consciously innocent,
and he knows that his accusers are
liars. He boldly takes up each charge
that has been made against him, and
refutes 1t completely. He triumphant
ly vindicates himself Of the threefold
indictment of sedition, heresy and
sacrilege.
And this is the way he does it. He
had been charged with sedition; he
since he passed through the very city
where he was then on trial, on his
way to visit Jerusalem for the first
time for years, and that he was inno-
cent of any such attempt. He had
been charged with heresy; he shows
that he believes all things which are
in the prophets" worshipping the
same God, believing the same scrip
lures, holding the same doctrines as
the Jews. He was accused of sacrl-
lege; he proves that the object Of his
visit to Jerusalem was to worship,
and that when arrested he was fulfill
ing a special VOW to the God of that
place. Thus he shows that what was
criminal in the charge against him
was not true, and what was true was
not criminal.
But now, right here appears the cor.
rupt character of Governor Felix.
Satisfied that the charge was false he
yet adjourned the court without rem
dering a decision, hoping for bribe.
He knew that Paul was a man Of
great Importance to the church, and
his greedy, avaricious SOUL itching
for a price, for two whole years, kept
the apostle in military custody.
The Sermon.
A short time after this Paul is once
more brought before Felix. This time
the governor wishes to have a speci-
men Of what he can do as a preacher.
He wants to amuse himself with the
eloquence of the apostle. He thinks
that he has only to command this
Jewish orator, and he will stand up
like puppet and reel off sermon
for his edification. And SO he seats
the harlot with whom he is living by
his side, and brings Paul in to preach
a sermon.
Paul at the bar, and Paul in the pull
pit are different men. The pleader
and the preacher are quite unlike.
Facing that licentious pair, as in their
marble palace they put him on exhibi-
ton, he proceeds to hand out to them
most straightforward message. Just
what he said we are not informed.
We only have the three points of the
sermon; righteousness, temperance,
and Judgment, He preached Of righte-
BUSINESS to man who was unrighte-
Gus; of temperance, to = man who was
Incorporate; and of judgment, to a
man who was not ready for it, Fear
lessly eloquently, pointedly, he hurled
the truth straight at the heads of his
auditors. And before Felix realized
1t he was struck under conviction.
His cheek blanched his frame trem-
bled, his knees knocked together He
was frightened, overwhelmed, con-
science smitten, and he cried out,
stop! Stop! l have heard enough!
Go thy way this time. When l have
a convenient season l will send for
thee!" And he broke up the meeting.
Felix was scared, but not saved |;
frightened, but not penitent; trem-
bling, but not converted; wounded,
but not healed. And he lodges the
truth, silences the preacher, plunges
deeper into the sins he loves, and
turns away from hope. All, weak,
cowardly, vaccilating Felix! There
are many like him to-day. On one
side of them a wall of righteousness
that their unrighteousness cannot
scale. On the other side of them a
wall Of purity, that their impurity
cannot surmount. And before them
along that track to which they are
walled in, the judgment is swiftly ap.
preaching. 1t is not surprising that
such people tremble. The wonder ia
that is all they do. The surprising
thing IL that such people will idiotical
ly talk about a convenient season IL
which TO repent
The only convenient season men
will ever have is Gods ever blessed
Nowl .......,.. A..