The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-11-17
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils.
By CHAs. K. MEYERS

Nov. 21st Paul's Story of His
Life. Cor. II :22-2s; 12:l-l0.
Those who have noted the history
of Paul on his second missionary jour
ney, when he visited Philippi and
made his wonderful address at Athens,
will remember that he stopped for
over year and half at the great I
city of Corinth in Greece. 1t will be
remembered that here he took up his
occupation as tent-maker, earning
his own living, SO that he might be
able to say that he was in NO way a |
charge upon the church which he
founded in that city. 1t was at Cor
inth that he had one of his recorded |
visions from God, in which he was
told to fear not but preach boldly for
there would be many converts made |
there. In due time Paul established
one of the strongest Of the early chris
tian churches at Corinth. 1t would
seem that after his departure both the
religion which he preached and he
himself were vigorously attacked by
unbelievers. The vital doctrine of
the resurrection of the dead was ridi-
culed. This called forth that magniti-
cent. soul assuring chapter to the
church at Corinth, in which it is ex-
planned how the body is laid away q
mortal corruptible body and is raised
to Immortality. In this chapter ap-
pears the triumphant thought of the
conquest over death through belief in
Jesus Christ. In the eleventh chap
ter of the second epistle to the Cor
inthians the great apostle makes a de-
Tense of his career against those who
would belittle him in the eyes of the
Corinthian christians. He calls at
tention to the fact that he can trace
his lineage back to the tribe of Ben
jamin; that as an observer of the
. Jewish law none could exceed him );
r that as an apostle he was not one whit
n behind the others: and that as a
preacher and missionary he was the
: leader. He then recounts the hard
s ships which ne had endured, beatings,
imprisonments, shipwrecks. as show
y ing that he was especially favored he
r tells how he had had vision, in
which he was not at liberty to make
J. known. He relates that he was kept
y humble by having what he terms. ''a
i. thorn in the fesh.'' Whatever this
n thorn may have been he asked God tt
j. take it away. This request Paul says
was refused. but he was given the
3 comforting assurance that Gods grac,
was sufficient for him to bear thi
in burden, and therefore he gloried in hi
infirmity instead of being cast dow
'e by it.
ID When christians of today call t,
I'd mind the sufferipgs and hardships O
.e Paul. the early christians and thos,
?. who held to the faith through tn,
r, dark ages, and until the days whel
!. freedom of religious belief was grant
r, ed by the leading governments Of tn,
: world, they can we'll be ashamed i
they complain of difficulties besettins
n them as followers of Jesus. In GU
e day christianity is popular and re
2, spected and the true christian il
looked up to in every community
N The lesson of this date can we'll i'm
'e press all with admiration for tn,
l. great apostle Paul. who suffered an,
worked go hard in spreading the new
IL of the death and resurrection of Jesus
81 1t should make them cease from be
l. wailing their difficulties in the chris
er tian life. 1t further teachers US tina
IS while God may not in answer to ou
prayers take our burdens away, yet h,
will give US sire n 9Th and grace to bea