The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-04-08

Peter Delivered from Prison.
The powers of heaven and hell
are in battle array over a sleep
ing prisoner. The odds seem in
hell's favor. The captive has
been committed by the cruel and
powerful Herod, the emperor's
favorite. The prison is the
strongest possible, the Tower
Antonio. Both guards and chains
are doubled. The expectation of
the Jews will soon be gratified.
Peter, who was with James on
Tabor and in Gethsemane, will
not be far behind him in martyr
dom.
Opposed to all this is a mere
conventicle, a prayer-meeting in
the home of Mary, the mother of
John Mark. Some common folk
are there, including the servant
girl Rose. How preposterous
this array against the implacable
malice of chief-priests and San
hedrin, sustained by the power
of the Herodian prince, and he
in turn backed by the invincible
might of the worldwide empire!
AS we'll dash themselves against
the Pillars of Hercules. 1nfidel-
ity of today would have told them
that cursing would do them as
much good as praying in such an
emergency.
But none Of these refined SUBJ
tleties daunted their ardor. They
had too lately heard from the
lips of their assembled Lord,
ask" seek" knock" and
their correlates, receive, "
find" ''have opened" So in.
slant and earnest prayer contin-
ues. 1t does not flag, though
day after day of the truce which
the festival week affords is lost,
though even the last watch Of
the last night wears away, anc
the day of doom approaches. Al
length the kingdom of HEAVIER
suffers violence. The praying
!: band" has not captured the pris
on, fortress Antonio, but, bet
ter still, it has stormed heaven
The violent have taken it b.
force. Prayer has moved the
Hand that moves the world.
That instant an angel, glad O.
his errand, appears upon thu
scene, He needs no torch. TIL
effulgence of his own person ir
: radiates the prison corridor. TIL
!. prisoner, loosened. is directed t.
r gather up the articles of his tot
s. let, that while so employed h
may gather up his wits as well
He shall leave none of his effect
behind so that his departur
would resemble the flight of
It criminal. Herod and his sold
u iers could not retain even
r. thread that belonged to Peter.
v A triumphal march begins, ur
O. O. seen by mortal eyes. An angs
10 leads liberated captive follows
" The might of Jehovah goes be
fore. He breaks in pieces til
gates of brass and cuts in sunde
the bars of iron. But the supe
natural goes not a step beyor
the line of necessity. The
n the delivered captive is throw
upon his own resources. Mr.
Sigourney, with poetic instinc
pictures the simultaneousness
the angels departure al
the apostles recovery of Sc.
- consciousness:
''The seraph's wing
n Outspead in parting flight, with sno
II grace
! Awhile it lowered; then, like radi;
I've From its orbit loosed, went soaring
It High DER the arch of night. II
~ Peter knew"
Die The greatness of his deliv
ance daWns upon his mind. 7
n Jews were like holiday Roma
U seated upon the marble tiers
the amphitheater, waiting W
heartless zest the sanguin;
scenes in the arena. The bl,
of James had only whetted tt
doos appetite. How utterly was tt
expectation to be disappoint
and Peters coming to himself;
on momentary reflection; his Diet
ton at the door by the joyous
erlal advertence of the servant;
ten surprise of the praying band,
49, so much at the fact of deli1
'' ance as at the time and mann
y in Peters account to the wont
70 If ing assembly; his direction
the circumstance be narrated
stra- James, the Lords brother,
,ly as superintendent of the Church
Jerusalem, and his own judic:
retirement-all make this one
the most wildly realistic ma
tives upon the sacred page.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
,, Herod is a type of the moo
'uar politician. His income
hears $4,000, 900 per annum. It W.
r. matter of revenue only" E7
proposed action was tested b
probable effect upon his tel