Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-09
PAUL'S LAST
WORDS
Sssday Seksel Lssssa f~ Dee. II, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN TExT.-"For to me to live
Ii Christ, and to die Is gain."-Phil. 1:21.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Paul's battlefields, victories and
crown.
I. A Picture Of One Of Paul's Battle.
delds-Vs. Is. The advice which Paul
urges upon the younger Timothy wal
counsel he himself had often acted
upon. He knew 1t was good. for he
had tried 1t. So that in the evils and
dif1clties which Paul knew were con.
fronting Timothy, we may see enc
miles which Paul had been compelled
to meet. And in the weapons and
methods Of warfare Paul charged Tim.
othy to use, we see the means by
which Paul gained the victory.
The Three Kinds Of Enemies. 1.
Paul. like other men, had to fight enc.
niles within himself. When we see O
good man we are apt to think that he
has natural qualities Of goodness, or
favoring circumstances that make It
easy for him to be good.
.. Paul had many outward enemies
and difficulties with which to contend.
Many Of them were brought before us
In Lesson VIII. where we studied his
account Of his life. His wrestling"
was against the principalities, against
the powers, against the world rulers
Of his darkness, against the spiritual
hosts Of wickedness."
3. In the lesson today we find a
series of dangers and enemies within
the company Of disciples which must
be overcome.
8. For the time will come when
they will not endure the sound,
healthful, saving doctrine" teaching
which Paul had preached, and all the
apostles.
4. They shall turn away their ears
from the truth" They are we'll pic.
tured in southey's poem, THE Inch.
cape Rock" The holy abbot Of Aber.
brothock" had placed a bell over this
rock. in such a way that 1t was rung
by the motion Of the waves.
II. How Paul Overcame These Enc
mics to the Truth-Vs. /, 2, s. Paul
gave to Timothy the most solemn
charge. using the motives which had
Influenced his own life.
/. Before God, that is, I'm the sight
Of God" r. ", who was always with
him and watching to see II he did his
duty" watching. not to find fault. but
to encourage and help.
And the Lord Jesus Christ. His Mas
ter and Teacher and Friend. Who
shall Judge the quick, the living and
the dead. This was more than the
consciousness that he himself must be
Judged according to what he was and
what he did; but It added the even
stronger motive that the fate of those
to whom he preached depended on his
faithfulness.
The coming again Of Christ. At his
appearing and his kingdom. Christ's
glorious second coming, possible at
any time, should spur Timothy to be a
faithful steward, aud he should do his
work we'll because 1t would help to
kingdom of peace and righteousness.
Preach, proclaim like a herald, the
word, the gospel message, the Word OF
God. embodied In the life and teach.
ings Of the Word who was made flesh.
Be instant, urgent, importunate,
pressing Of against all obstacles. In
season, In the regular course of work.
w1en the opportunity is favorable,
and people wish to hear the gospel.
III. Paul's Victory in the Conflict
We & q sENnr I -, rnuy ra,Ix, -
be offered" r. VS. margin, Il am
already being poured out as a drink
Offering" His life was wearing away
In a foul dungeon. the infirmities Of
age after a life Of great toll and ex-
posture were upon him. and at any
time the sword Of Nero might end
his life by a martyrs death. But this
was merely death; his dying was a
libation in honor Of God, q willing
sacrifice Of sweet SAVIOR, holy and &C.
ceptable. 1t q the giving to God
the choicest and most precious of all
his possession. It vas the fitting
close Of a life which had been for
years a living sacrifice. Paul's very
death was a victory.
Nv. Paul's Crown.-V. 8. Hence.
forth" Paal's life struggles were
over: there remained only to receive
the reward. There is laid I'D for
me-" Deposited. reserved. put by in
store out Of the reach Of all enemies
and sorrows."-Bishop Wilson. A
R. v. the crown of righteousness"
The leaf garland Of the Greeian games,
taken by Paul az q symbol OF his
eternal reward in heaven. OF right.
eousness 10 the name of the ace for
which the crown is awarded. Just as