The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-11-20
DEEPENED SPIRITUALITY, TIL
HOPE OF THE CHURCH.
Benson Howard Roberts.
preacher IA Beres Collese.)

assurance, anu ye Decanie lolioWeiS
Of us and the Lord, having received
the word in much afIliction, with
Joy Of the Holy Ghost" Thess. $50.
A few months ago the world heard
much Of the beautiful city Of Salo-
nika, situated at the head Of the
Aegean Sea, thriving seaport,
picturesque in its location, its
streets thronged, alike by Greeks.
Jews. Turks, and the people from
the various Balkan States. The
armies Of the Balkans were fully
intent on wrestling il from the
Turks, who had held il for many
centuries under the sway Of the
Moslem. No city of eastern Europe
is more picturesque or more cos
mopolitan. Salonika Of the Balkan
contest was the Thessalonica Of
Apostolic days.
To this city. Paul came on his
Macedonian journey and here he
reasoned in the synagogue three
Sabbath days out Of the Scriptures,
explaining that Christ must needs
have suffered and risen from the
dead and that the Jesus, whom he
preached is indeed the Christ. Some
Of the Thessalonians believed and
kept company with Paul and Silas;
amongst these were large number
Of devout Greeks. and not few of
the chief women. But the great
missionary found in Thessalonica
opposition. determined and fierce,
even to the point Of an attack upon
the house where he was supposed
to be. with riot ensuing, which
disturbed the whole city. Paul and
Slas fled during The night under
the cover of darkness. aided by the
brethren.
OF the Thessalonian Church he
says that the Gospel came to them
not in word only, but in power. in
the Holy Ghost, with much assur-
ance, in much affection, with joy"
This Church. established with the
attendants Of public riot, of afllic-
ton. was So permeated with the
power Of the Holy Ghost that il
became an example to all that re-
glon.
Spread of Early Church.
A study Of the Apostolic Church
reveals the fact that in the growth
of the Church. poverty was not a
barrier. The spread of the early
Church was dependent neither upon
wealth nor upon wealthy contribu-
tors. Neither Joseph Of Arimathea
nor other financial men ofJerusalem
Antioch. or Athens, financed the
great apostle as he went out on his
missionary journeys. Pentecost op-
ened the pOcket-books, uncovered
boards and made bank accounts sub
jcct to the demands of love. The
problem of poverty met the only
possible solution in the feeling of
brotherlinesS that sprang up in the
hearts of believers, together with
the incoming of the Spirit Of God.
Has. not the apostle written that
every one that lovcth is born of
| God?"
We find further that opposition
was not barrier to the growth of
the early Church. The experiences
of the early apostle are rarely en-
countered by the modern evangelist.
He was not often met by digniiled
committees and escorted To the best
hotels. The pullman car, the auto
mobile or other resources of modern
/ travel we're not his. Nor was he
frequently presented with a munif-
lcent Offering in token of appreci-
alton of his services To our city" as
he left the scene of his labors. From
Antioch in pisidia Paul was expell-
ed. At philippi, whittier he went
IN obedience to the Macedonian call,
he soon found his way into the Jail
and with Silas sang midnight praises
with such effect that the founda-
tions of the prison were shaken.
From Iconium he fled; at Lystra he
was stoned and dragged out and left
for dead From Thessalonica he es-
capped under the cover of night, be-
lieving that his work was not yet
done. He says that the Holy Ghost
witnessed that in every city bonds
and Imprisonment awaited him"
Yet he persisted in preaching and
the Church grew in face of all Of the
oppositi0ns that mallgnity could
bring TO bear against il.
Strange to say, that even persecu-
ton of the Church and the martyr
dom Of its followers did not avail to
prevent the acceptance Of this new
Gospel of life eternal through Jesus
Christ; this Gospel of Gods marvel
Gus love; this Gospel of salvation
through Christ from the power and
penalty of sin. Then, as today, the
blood of the martyrs was the seed OF
the Church. Prosecuted at Jerusa-
lem, they scattered abroad and car