Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-11-09


even praise unto our God" This may
be your experience ere you close this
day. and II 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 It's raptures all abroad.
This story tells the secret OF the
eunuch's happiness and refreshes the
soul as we read.
The Servant.
Philip. the evangelist. is one OF tho
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 az.
gressive. many-sided. flexible. capable
OF adapting himself to divers temperar
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 as strangely different as Samaria
and GAIA. 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, a
desolate and desert place. and preach
the gospel TO one man. But there God
met them: And he blessed him
there" GAIA was the gateway to Pal
estine from the south. and Ethiopia
was now 10 stretch out her hands to
God Your prompt and joyous obedl'
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-
joiced In what had been done. II is
a blessed thing TO have SO lnfallible
guide. so wise n teacher, so safe a
master, and 10 know that In following
him we are safe.
The Seeker.
As Philip waits on the lonely road
he sees a chariot approaching and no
may have wondered whether the man
IN It would be the object OF his own
Journey The chariot contains not an
Israelite. but man from Ethiopia,
and probably descendant OF Ham.
The eunuch was a man OF Importance.
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 10 go to jerusalem; may
II not have been part OF Gods plan
to bring him 10 the clear realization
OF his need. In fact. to have some
promise and encouragement 10 go w
TO the temple OF Jerusalem.
But even there he did not find peace.
and he 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 Ell.
much was distracted and anxious. but
I'm his hand he had the message OF
God. AZ last Gods messenger, God s
word. and the seeking soul have met
and the result is glorious and crafty.
Ing. The seeking soul always viii
find DO not be lazy or Indifferent
about your own eternal welfare Have
some real concern about yourself. Fol
low God as far as he leads New
light viii fall upon the path Just
ahead OF your present step.
III thou helievost. thou mayest"
Relieve ON the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved" God has de.
clared IL; nothing binders 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 and as the keeper OF
your life. claim what he promises SO
freely. accept what he offers. and en-.
10y what he imparis and reign In life
through One, even Jesus Christ. And
ne went on his way rejoicing"
Suffering shame and soothing rude.
In my place condemned he stood:
Sealed my pardon with his blood.