The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-10-04

INV Va llSeha'
ever praise unto our Gcd" This MAJ
be your experience ere you close thi,
day. and 1t may be your privilege tC
sing
o happy day I'm Fixed my chmce.
On thee, my Savior and my God.
Well may nils glowing heart pejolCs.
And tell It's rapturas all abr6ad.
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 the
chief actors In this dramatic Incl,
dent. He was one OF the deacons who
lHd been converted In the early days
II the apostolic church, and having
'Ound Jesus he was busy In making
aim known. He is associated in our
minds with Peter as we read the Acts
Of the Apostles. But he is SO differ
ent 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 tempera-
ments. Vie 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 10 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
10 Philip to leave the populous city,
preaching OF the divine truth and re-
spending thereto, and to go to GAIA, q
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 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 hts soul re-
ioiced in what had been done. It Is
a blessed thing to have so infallible O
guide, so wise a teacher, 50 safe a
master, and to know that In following
him we are safe.
The Seeker.
As Philip waits on the lonely road
ne sees a chariot approaching and he
may have wondered whether the man
In It would be the object Of his own
Journey. The chariot contains not an
Israelite, but a man from Ethiopia.
and probably a descendant of Ham.
The eunuch was a man Of Importance,
a 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
II not have been a part of Gods plan
to bring him to the clear realization
OF his need, In fact. to have some
promise and encouragement to go up
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: Go join thyselr
to this chariot" Undoubtedly the Gu.
much was distracted and anxious. but
in his hand he had the message OF
God, At last Gods messenger, Gods
word, and the seeking soul have met
and the result Is glorious and crafty.
ing. The seeking soul always will
find.
The Saviour.
In the hands Of the eunuch was n
copy Of the Prophet Isaiah. which was
being read aloud possibly that the
c%harIoteer might also hear the word
of God. Mark the humility as Philip
says: "Understandest thou what thou
readest?" With loving tenderness
God had directed this inQuiring soul
to the very chapter in the Old Tesla.
ment which, with the greatest clear
ness and brightness, sets to-th the
word OF llght-the fftty.third chapter
OF Isaiah. How many souls aAye
found the Saviour here, for this Is
really the gospel of this Old TeSta.
ment. Christ offered for our ~ofrenses,
and raised for cur justification. The
Lamb Of God that taketh away the
sin OF the world. o love Of Cod
heyoad comprehension, but not beyond
acceptance and belief.
If thou believest, thou mayest."
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
and thou shalt be saved" God has de.
clared 1t; nothing binders Its fulHli.
ment except your 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
YOU life; claim what he promises 40
freely. accept what he csers, and en-.
,oy what he imparts and reign in life
through One, ever Jesus Christ. And
he went on his way rejoicing"
sufrerinr. shame and pcofnpg rude.
+, NV place condemned he stood;
sealed my pardon with his blood.
rfatiaiutah what n SaVi0rl IN