The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-04-29
Saturday Digit
SnHkc By Rev. r. E. DAWSON
u /UahAS Rutland, W.
REGIONS BEYOND
International Bible Lesson for
May 2, 'oo-(Acts I3: I-12).

getting ready to obey its marching
orders: Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature.
The command was given to disciples
nearly aN Of whom were Jews, and
the inertia Of their national character
habits OF thought and history acted
as a brake upon every wheel OF Their
new conceptions. Here and there
some feeble efforts were made to adj
vance but for many years all their or
forts were confined to Jewish people
and the narrow limits OF Palestine.
But when Paul. the apostle. got into
the saddle he revolutionized all that
and turned his attention almost ex-
clusively to the regions beyond. He
broke away from the base OF supplies,
foraged on the enemy, turned his cap
tives into loyal soldiers OF the cross,
and with the indomitable courage and
tireless energy and masterful grasp or
the situation OF a Napoleon, developed
into the hero of the ages, and set an
example TO the militant church for all
coming time.
Reservoir Of Truth.
Paul acted on the principle that, as
mucn is given. much will be required.
as we'll as another great truth that the
condition Of increase is diffusion. For
centuries Judaism had been great
dam receiving the waters of a thou
sand streams and restraining them
within ever-rising banks. Their Snug
and self-righteous testimony was.
"The people of God, the people OF
God are we." They drank of the crys-
tai water of life which had been COM
mitted to their care, and recked not
OF the millions out on the great, bar
ren deserts of life, perishing for one
drop of that sparkling water Let
them come to us" they said Eve will
not refuse them salvation's drausht,
when they have become the children
of Abraham, by sacerdotal rites
Paul took different view of the
situation. He believed that that
mighty reservoir of water of life had
been stored up to quench the thirst OF
humanity in all the world. Instead
OF being Dead Sea which receives
but never gives, he would make that
waters, spring ever flowing, an ex-
haustless source OF blessing to the
world.
Bursting Of the Dam.
Therefore, in spite OF prayers cad
tears, mobs and imprecations, thoo-
logical arguments and personal rea-
sons, he blew UP those mighty bull
warks, bombarded those hindering
gates until the mighty volume OF wa
ter OF life started and poured out in
river of salvation that has flowed
through the continents and the cen
turtles the Amazon of grace. Whcn
Sc. Paul left the city of Corinth with
Barrabas and Mark for the island Of
Cyrus to preach the gospel to the
regions beyond, the walls OF Judaism
crashed into the dust. It was years
before the fact was accepted in all It's
consequences, but the doom Of bigotry
was sealed right then and there.
The church in cll ages, when cour,-
ing up her missionary heroes, puts
Paul at the head OF the list. In hcr
hall of fame he dominates all others.
As commander OF the militant host
OF christian soldiers, no other man ap-
proaches him. Popes and potentatss
uncover in his presence. AS preach
er, as an organizer, as a strategist,
as an author, as logician, as a
peace maker, as a traveller, as an eX-
ponent of christian character, as a
martyr. st. Paul is the topmost per-
sonality in the church, and stands
second only to his Master, whose he
was, and whom he served.
Carrying Water of Life.
And what an army Of consecrated
men and women have followed this
soldier OF the cross. The story of
missions Is the most thrilling page OF
human history. There is nothing to
equal It in the annals of the race. The
missionary, instead of being the dregs
has been the cream of the church. The
brightest minds, the keenest intellects
the purest souls have been the pIo-
neers of christianity. No dangc
too great no difficulties too in5uT.
mountable no supersttions too hoary,
no distances too vast, no privations
too severe, no sacrifices too heart
breaking to hinder their enlistment
They press to the polling places and
beg to be allowed to go. They depart
singing hymns Of joy and without ona
backward glance of regret. Love to
an unseen Christ, love for the souls
of the debased and besotted, the saw
age and the superstitious Keeps them
carrying the water of life and press
ing 1t to the lips of dying multitudes
Among the redeemed and ransomed
gathered at length around the throne
those who have preached the gospel
to the regions beyond will stand in tha
front rank. When brilliant young
man or a sweet young woman in a
Christian family hears the mission
airy call and responds to it, 1t ought to