The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-14
A CONQUEROR LN CHAINS
The International Sunday School Lesson for November IA Paul
 A Prisoner in Rome. Acts xviii: 11-31.

we see Pompeii. in all its Roman luxur- iousness. idlfng away in voluptuous wickedness the beautiful days, unwarn- cd or the disaster which was to over take 1t within ten years, burying be- meath the ashes of vesuvius a record of its iife that should lie hidden for sev- enteen centuries. Even Luke's state ment of the presence of Christians in the vicinity Is confirmed by inscriptions dug up here. Seven days of sweet fel- lowship with the disciples at Puteoli were spent by Paul before proceeding to Rome by land.
 The Legion without Uniforms.
 The present-day traveller along the Appian Way will have his imagination tremendously stirred. Everywhere are relies of a glorious past. Centuries long dead rise up 10 whisper in his ear their romantic messages. With the eye of his quickened mind he will see the ancient highway once more filled with swinging Roman legions. Here they come. bronzed with many suns, with the confident. stride of victors, from conquests over the whole known world. Triumphal processions. too with chained captives at the conquer ors' car furnishing the contrast to the splendor of the legions, come rolling along admist the huzzas of the holiday making popu1ace. An, what a pageant is this which the very name "Apptan Way" conjures upi
 Chiefly though, your present-day traveller will muse upon the greatest leader that ever traversed this fam our road--and he wore chain. found myself saying, as myriads of others have done. This ruin was a building when Paul passed here. The apostle saw this monument just as I see 1t today. ESQ the imagination runs to vision of the little company of Christians that journyed 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 ar nor save of the spirit, whose tread grows louder on the road to Rome as the tramp of the legions grows ainter. Paul saw the vanuard of this army of conquest. and he thank ed God and took courage"
 Rome at Last.
 Rome was long time in being at- tained. but at last Paul found 1t, and his hearts desire. He had a peculiar ambition to see Rome. and joy In it's prison. He seems to roll the world under his tongue. as 1t were Paul, prisoner of Jesus Christ" He wears 1t as a nobleman wears royal jecora- tions. He comes near to boasting over 1t. Whether he ever appeared before Caesar or not we do not know; that matters little: the more Imperial hon. or, to Paufs way of thinking, was that he was "the prisoner of Christ Jesus"
 Great days were those in jail. even though his fail was his own hired house. True, soldier was ever chain ed to his wrist: but that was Gods way of bringing the whole world to Paurs side. Each new soldier was a new opportunity. Doubtless he won most ot them for his Master. and tradition says that 1t was one of these that first carried the Gospel to Britain. As- suredIy by that route the Good News found its way into the Practorian Guard. Then there was the sweet | confidence with fellow Christians, the | arguments with the Jews. and the out break through the written word. It was in the Roman jail at this time | that Paul wrote four of his letters to Philemon. Ephesians. Colossians and Philippians. l