The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-09

others have done. '"This ruin was 3
building when Paul passed here. Tho
apostle saw this Just as
see it today" So the imagination runs
to a vision Of the little companv Of
Christians that journeyed from the
city out to the market of Appius. and
to the Three Taverns, to welcome the
great teacher, who was coming to
them a prisoner. Then we see those
other legions of Christians, wearing
no armor save of the spirit, whose
tread grows louder on the road to
Rome, as the tramp Of the legiOns
grows fainter. Paul saw the vanguard
Of this army of conquest, and he
thanked God and took courage"
Rome at Last.
Rome was a long time in being at
tanned, but at last Paul found it, and
his hearts desire. He had a peculiar
ambition to see Rome, and a joy in its
prison. He seems to roll the word I'M
der his tongue, as it were, Paul. a
prisoner of Jesus Christ" He wears it
as a nobleman wears a royal decora-
ton. He comes near to Boosting over
it. Whether he ever appeared before
Caesar or not we do not know: that
matters little: the more imperial
honor, to Paul's way of thinking. was
that he was t prisoner of Christ
Jesus"
ddyS were lIlOSe III jail, even
though his Jail was his own hired
house. True, a soldier was ever chain
de to his wrist: but that was Gods
way Of bringing the whole world to
PauIs side. Each new soldier was a
new opportunity. Doubtless he won
tradition ays that it vas one of these
that first carried the Gospel to
Britain. Assuredly by tina route the
Good News fOund its way into the
Praetorian Guard. Then there were
the sweet condolences with fellow Chris
t1ans, the arguments with the Jews,
and the outbreak through the written
word. 1t was in his Roman Jail at this
inn that Paul wrote four of his let
ters-to Philemon, Ephesians, Colos-
slams and Philippians.
A PrisOner-Preacher.
A first qualification for any great
and enduring service Of the world is q
keen sense of justice. Paul was q
protagOnlSt of Christianity, but he was
first of all a champion of the truth.
He cared more for honor and right
than for any cause Many representa-
tives of organized interests look out
for these first, even though justice
be sacrificed. There is a tonic value
in a study of Pau1's course as a wit
ness to the truth. Note this in his in
terviews with the Jews in his hired
house in Rome.
h last record we have of this
dauntless soul portrays him teaching
the things concerning the Lord Jesus
Christ with all holiness" He seems
to have had a solicitude less aught
should interfere with his free utter
ance': he entreated his friends at
Ephesus to pray hat he might speak
boldly to the end. That prayer was
granted. We know that, although the
Book Of the Acts ends here. Paul was
delivered out Of the mouth Of the
lion for this time; that he resume
his missionary labors, and that in 4
fresh outbreak against the Christians
under Nero he was imprisoned again,
and suffered martyrdom. The dungeon
in which he was confined is shown to
this day. His own thought, as the end
drew near, is recorded in his last writ
ing, the second letter to his young
friend Timothy, For I am already be-
ing poured out as a drink Offering
and the time Of my departure is come
I have fought the good fight, [ have
finished the course, 1 have kept the
faith"