The Washington herald., 1909-05-08

and I,5ztrz.~ Acts. xiT:-2
Whenever a traveller returns from heroic
deeds in far countries great multitudes
tllrn out 10 acclaim him Lieut. Shackie-
ton. who has been -farthest south.
viii find himself the lion Of the
day when he gets back 10 London HUI
nanity instinctively pays tribute to the
hero. PauTs heroisms have done more 10
popularize him than his theology There
was man." Is the spontaneous tribute
which springs TO the lips Of every careful
reader Of these early narratives Of PauFs s
journeyings Hardships were accepted as
a part OF the days work The traveller
preachers equaninity could not be seri-
ously disturbed. whether he was hailed as
a god OF stoned as hereto Incidentally
Il may be remarked, he was stoned
oftener than he was apotheOsized
Driven from Antioch in Pisidis, the dis
eiples. not one whit discouraged, but, as
the narrative pointedly remarks. filled
with joy," went on their way 70 Iconium-
There again they created a sensetion-
The cItv'was turned upside down A great
multitude Of Jews and Of Greeks entered
upon the Way. Here again blind bigotry
and sectarianism set 10 work. Boldly the
disciples spoke and wondrously they
wrought. But the Jewish ecclesiastical
party soon found itself in command Of a
sufficient mob. and the Christians were
stoned out Of the city
Now. history judges IcOniGm chiefly by
its attitude toward the prophets whom it
stoned. Well does Carlyle say: The most
significant feature In the history Of an
epoch IS the manner II has in welcoming
great man. whether they shall take him
70 be a god 70 be a prophet, OF what they
shall take him 10 be- by their way OF
answering that we shall see before Us
little window into the very heart OF these
mems spiritual condition
THE RELIGION THAT MAKES MEN
STRAIGHT.
Moving on 10 LyStra. when driven from
Iconium. the disciples continued the same
sort Of work that they had been doing
previously. in spite Of the opposition In
connection with this visit characteristic
incident IS related by the historian In
Iystra there was q weTl-known beggar
congenitally lame. He was a town char
acter- Yet he seems unlike some modern
mendicants. 70 have desired relief from
his affection PauTs alert eye singled hin
out. Perceiving the mans eagerness and
responsiveness, and that he had the faith
70 be healed, Paul said with loud voice
stand upright on thy feet" and he
Ieaped Up and walked.
The Gospel had been doing this sort OF
thing right along for mems minds as vel
as for their legs. The cripples who's
homes are abnormal are not half so seri-
Gus a burden upon society as those whose
spirits are twisted, bent, and weak VeTy
much more than IL neecs a gospel for the
sick and the lame and the blind and tht
deaf. the world needs a gospel that vii
take the spiritual cripple and make hin
to stand erect and walk. There are ulanl
surgeons who can straighten out th'
kinks in backs and limbs; but only tn
Great Physician can make men straigh
IN their souls That Is the miracle o
larger meaning which may be seen dali,
IL almost every community in the land
sPURNING HIGH HONoRS
The healing Of the lame man proved tn
sensation Of the hour IN Lystra- Tit
tickle crowd was caught IN its imagina
ton By this spectacular performance
Moved by the excitement Of the occasion
and reverting to their native mothet
tongue, the populace shouted, THE god
are come down TO Us IN the likeness o
men" Barnabas they named Jupiter, anC
Paul Mercury.
II these evangelists had been as modern
and progressive as some later ones. they
would have sent a special messenger bacl
10 Antioch with the story concerning th'
high honOTs that had come 10 them Thei
press agents would have been busy re
counting their greatness. inasmuch g.
they had been even hailed as the ancien
gods reincarnated-
For the tribute was an extraordinary
one Possibly the incident OF the healing
Of the lame man occurred al the gate o
the temple The priest OF Jupiter, cage
70 take advantage OF everything tha
would favor his temple and his trade
brought oxen and garIands to the apos
ties, and would have done sacrifices, th'
multitude heartily approving.
The real distress Of Barnabas and Pau
at this proceeding Is an unmistakabl
tribute 70 their geruiReness Of character
They did not want ho1ors for themselves
They would not accept any false rating
They we're not ambassadors Of religion
which. ike Buddhism, is keen to consoli
hold They preached what they believe,
70 be the one Gospel for all men. and
was in direct opposition TO all such idol
atrous practices as the worship OF Jupite
and Mercury
Their ruling purpose strong In all oondi
tons. Paul and Barnabas we're quick q
seize even this opportunity to preacl
their Gospel. They had a great passion
Their Intense convictions 30 absorbe,
them that they did not hesitate TO 4,
counter to popular tides. They were no
afraid OF thwarting public opinion The
had no desire to be popular preachers
They seemed more distressed when the,
were acclaimed as gods than when the.
we're stoned as criminals
SOME LIBERAL" PREACHING.
Taking the immediate occasion for If
text-Paul knew how 20 use the highes
matter Of public interest: what sermon
he would have preached upon our com
plex and neanful modern civilizetion.-th
apostle began to present the truth {
these idclaters- First Of all, he subord
mated himself and his companions. H
put himself on a direct equality with hi
hearers: We also are men Of like pas
sions with you The only distinction IN
disciples claimed was as bearers Of goo
tidings- While Paul made no cOmpromls
with idOlatry, II is 10 be remembered tha
he did not altagonize needlessly his hear
ers- He started on common ground an
travelled as far as ne could with then
Christianity has some things in conmo
with ali religions The wise preacher /