The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-03

put q new song
into my mouth,
even praise unto our Gcd." This may
be your experience ere you close this
day, and it may be your privilege to
sing
o happy day that fixed my choice.
On thee. my Savior and my God.
Well may this glowing heart rejoice.
And tell its raptures all abroad.
This story tells the secret of thet
eunuch's happiness and refreshes the
soul as we read.
The Servant.
Philip, the evangelist. is one Of the
chief actors in this dramatic incl
dent. He was one of the deacons who
had been converted In the early days
Of the apostolic church, and having
found Jesus he was busy In making
him known. He is associated In our
minds with Peter as we read the Acts
of the Apostles. But he Is SO differ.
emit In his temperament and methods,
and this illustrates how Christ chooses
the man for the task. Philip was ag-
gressive, many-sided, flexible. capable
of adapting himself to divers tempera-
ments. lie had just been preaching
In Samaria, and perhaps the incident
Of Simon Magus may have disturbed
him. II SO the message from the an
gel to leave Samaria would be some
encouragement. God Is behind all our
movements; let us be quiet in our
souls and quick to hear when he
speaks, follow where he leads or go
where he sends US. In that direction
lie Joy, power and victory. The
paths may be as diverse as those of
Peter and Philip and the places may
be rs strangely different as Samaria
and Cara The word of the Lord came
to Philip to leave the populous city.
preaching OF the divine truth and re-
spending thereto. and to go to GAIA,
desolate and desert place. and preach
the gospel to one man. But there God
met them; And he blessed him
there" Cara was the gateway to Pal
estine from the south, and Ethiopia
was now 70 stretch out her hands TO
God. Your prompt and joyous obedi-
ence may open a new kingdom for
your Lord No doubt that was a
strange journey to Philip, and he must
have wondered why he was leaving
the city and going down to GAIA; but
at the end OF the day his soul re-
ioiced in what had been done. It Is
blessed thing to have so infallible q
guide, so wise a teacher, SO safe q
master, and to know that in following
him we are safe.
The Seeker.
AS Philip waits on the lonely road
he sees chariot approaching and he
may have wondered whether the man
in it would be the object of his own
Journey. Ths chariot contains not an
Israelite. but a man from Ethiopia
and probably a descendant of Ham.
The eunuch was q man Of Importance,
i treasurer In the court OF Queen
Candace. No doubt he had wealth,
high position. great influence and fame.
but evidently the spirit Of God made
him dissatisfied with all these He
| had occasion to go to Jerusalem; may
| It not have been part of Gods plan
to bring him to the clear realization
OF his need. in fact, to have some
promise and encouragement to 90 mp
| to the temple OF Jerusalem.
But even there he did not find peace,
| and hc was returning to his own coun-
try still longing for God, when the
Spirit said to Philip: 60 join thyself
| 10 this chariot" Undoubtedly the eu-
much was distracted and anxious, but
ia his hand he had the message OF
God. At last Gods messenger. Gods
word, and the seeking soul have met
| md the result is glorious and crafty
ing. The seeking soul always will
fnd.
The Saviour.
In the hands Of the eunuch was =
COPY CT the Prophet Isaiah, which was
being read aloud possibly that the
charioteer might also hear the word
OF God. Mark the humility as Philip
says: "Understandest thou what thou
readestr With loving tenderness
God had directed this inquiring soul
| to the very chapter in the Old Tesla
| ment which. with the greatest clear
1 ness and brightness. sets forth the
word OF light-the fifty-third chapter
Of Isaiah. How many souls have
4 found the Saviour here. for this Is
really the gospel of the Old Testa-
ment. Christ offered for our offenses.
j and raised for our justification. The
Lamb of God that taketh away the
! sin of the world. O love OF God!-L-
beyond comprehension. but not beyond
acceptance and belief.
If thou belieyest. thou mayesf~
-Belieye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
and thou shalt be saved" God has de-
clared II: nothing hinders its fulfill
ment except your own belief. Come.
let the spirit Of God through the word
reveal Jesus to you as the Saviour
from your sins apd as the keeper Of
your life: claim what he promises 20
freely, accept what he offers. and en-
Joy what he imparts and reign In life
through One. even Jesus Christ. And
he went on his way rejoicing"
SUFFERING. shame and scoff1pg rude.
In my place condemned he stood;
i Eeaied my pardon with his bio1A-