The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-10

Is SWlItef IMAM all the waters that
girdle the earth. Instead they took
him aside and ~expounded to him fully
the way of life. Would that our
churches were full of Aquilas and
Priscillas! Then the preacher who is
now criticized for his crudities and
n and blunders and shortcom-
ings would be helped. in quiet, broth
erly fashion,, to fulfill a larger mis-
sion. Who knows but that even this
preacher, whose message is so far be-
low the truth you yourself know, may
yet be a veritable Apollos?
Religions Best for All.
Ephesus was the great commercial
metropolis of Asia Minor. 1t was a
city of divine peoples and multitude
tory it became known as the home of
the Apostle John, and the church at
Ephesus grew to be a Christian strong
hold. When Paul arrived there he
found a of believers who
had been taught by Apollos. When
he asked them if they had received
the Holy Spirit they displayed la
mentable ignorance concerning the
truths of the Christian religion. Now
Paul was g to perfect those who
were headed right as we'll as to turn
those who were headed wrong. SO he
set abou. along with Aquilla and Pris--.
ella, to illumine the minds and direct
the faith of these stumbling saints.
The EphesianS were prototypes OF
hat multitude who get only part way
into the Christian religion. Mr.. Moody
described them as having Just
enough religion to make them miser-
able The fullness of JOY and peace
and power, which are Christs prom
Used heritage to his own, are unknown
mysteries to them.
Undoubtedly, too, there were richer
spiritual manifestations given to the
Apostolic Church than are given now.
Possibly these gifts of tongues and
prophecies and healing were necessa-
ry for<the pioneering stage Of the COS
pei. In any case, it must remain true
hat these gifts were not an end, but
a means. They were not to be sought
for themselves, but for what they
could bring to pass in the proclama-
ton Of Christ. Herein is the blunder
of the sects who are still arising in
our own time, exalting to a supreme
place what they call the gift Of
tongues. There is a tragic side to the
spiritual e%lation, not to say hysteria,
of those who consider themselves SO
gifted.
On the mission fields / heard many
stories of companies who had gone
out to the foreign field expecting TO
receive the gift Of tongues. but not in
a single instance were their expecta-
tions fulfilled. Only a short time ago
q "a So -
Toxic. They thought they were able
to speak the japanese. Arrived there.
they had to be helped home by the
missionaries and other benevolent
Americans; and the great tent which
they had taken with them for the hold
ing of meetings probably is still in
storage at the Yokohama customs.
When Colombo Did Not Fall.
1t is well to be modest and self
n g fr,,cff,,1 onnocr1i in o. CnaciS1 Sniritll9t
abilities. Is it not almost incredible
that one should be proud and BOAST
full of gifts that are possessed only
by the mercy Of the Lord, if possessed
at all? Some time ago an i~ndepend-
ent American missionary in CeylOn,
who had run after various special
cults, believed that he had a revelation
destroyed by an earthquake and a
tidal wave, on a certain day. Be
fore the day came he repaired with
his friends up to the hills Of Handy
and there he awaited the great catas-
trophe. When evening came, and
there had been nc sign Of the dis
aster, he telegraphed down to Colon
DO to know if the city was still there!
Unable to hold up his head in Ceylon
after his fiasco, he went to South
India, still without his confidence in
special revelations at all humbled.
He said to a yOung woman missionary
that he had been told by the Lord
that he was to marry her on a GER
tain day. The young woman thought
that she had had a cOnfirmatOry mes
sage. All preparations were made
for the wedding, but just before the
ceremony this young seer reported
that he had had another revelation,
to the effect that he should not get
married. The young woman n her
friends have a their trust in special
messages seriously shaken.
The Debate in School.
Driven by opposition out of the
Jewish synagogue. Paul carried his
teaching and discussions out into the
school of TyrannuS. There he de-
bated daily with all corners. Paul