The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-14
lPaulvs Third Missionary
 Journey This Time to Ephesus
What Is Said of Old New Work Undertaken
 Pauls Pride Was That He Was A ssi Hebre

fulfill larger mission. Who knows
 but that even this preacher, whose
 message is so far bslow the truth you
 yourself know, may yet be a veritable Apollos2
 Rehgson's Best For All.
 Ephesus was the great commercial
 metropolis of Asia Minor. It was a city of diverse peoples and multitu- dtnous interests. Later in Christian
 history 1t 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 company of believers who had
 been taught by Apollos. When he
 asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. they displayed lamentable ignorance concerning the truths of the Christian religion. Now Paul was | eager to perfect those who were head | ed right, as well as to turn those who were headed wrong. So he set about,
 along with Aquila and Priscilla, to | illumine the minds and direct the faith of these stumbling saints. The Ephesians were prototypes of that multitude who get only part way into the Christian religion. Mir. Moody de- scribed them as having just enough l religion to make them miserable". The fullness of joy and peace and power. which are Christs promised 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 necces- sary for the pioneering stage of the gospel. In any case it must remain true that these gifts were not an end. htNA & ha sought for themselves. but for what | they could bring to pass in the pro- | clamation of Christ. Herein is the blunder of the sects who are still arising in our own time. exalting to O supreme place what they call the gift of tongues. There Is a tragic
 side of the spiritual elation not to | say hysteria, of those who consider themselves so gifted.
 On the mission fields I 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 ex- pectations fulfilled. Only a short time ago a large company went from Seattle to Tokio. They thought they were able to speak in Japanese Ar rived 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 holding of meetings probably is still in storage at the Yokohama customs.
 When Colombo Did Not Fall. It is we'll to be modest and self distrustful concerning special spirit ual abilities. Is 1t not almost incred- ible that one should be proud and boastful of gifts that are possessed only by the mercy of the Lord, if possessed at all? Some time ago an Independent American missionary in Ceylon. who had run after various special cults. believed that he had revelation that the city of Colombo was to be destroyed by an earthquake and a tidal wave, on a certain day. Before the day came he repaired with his friends up to the hills of Kandy and there he awaited the great catas- trophe. When evening came. and there had been no sign of the disaster, he telegraphed down to Colombo to know if the city was still there!
 Unable to hold up his head in Cey- Ion after this hasco. he went to South India. still without his conf dence in special revelations at all humbled. He said to a young woman missionary that he had been toll by the Lord that he was to marry her on a certain day. The young woman
 
 tory message. 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 mar ried. The young woman and her friends have had their trust in special messages seriously shaken.
 The Debate fin School.
 Driven by opposition out of the Jewish synagogue Paul carried his | teaching and discussions out into the school of Tyrannus. There he debated daily with all comers Paul was nev-
 CT greatly disturbed by being put out of the church. He was no example for the modern preacher who. when for one reason or another he loses his pulpit, begins to squabble and fight | and create friction, ever thereafter
 cherishing @ grievance and making
 himself nuisance to his friends IT l men cared more for the gospel than
 for their own jobs they would simply
 go out and preach. There Is no need to quarrel over pulpits. There are all | ways plenty of people eager to hear Ereal preaching. In every large com munity a man can build up congre-
 gation of the utterly unchurched. The
 marvel is why more young ministers instead of candidating around for
 calls. do not go out into virgin soil
 and build up their own churches.
 There is no joy quite like that of hav- ing your own work.
 Two years in Ephesus made Paul
 and his teaching town talk. Not only
 were many converts gathered to him.
 but the whole great community was aware that a new messenger and a
 new message had came to the city.
 A living gospel cannot be hid I was | in3arAafed 10 inquire one time of a
 company of Japanese gentlemen in the
 city of Okayama how many of the
 people In that city had heard of the 1 ..Y A s,l, Way Without hesitation they