Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-07

there was, as a result of their trip, a
real church with all the marks of
Christian growth and permanence.
Would that all sensational. preaching,
such as Paul did, and all revival cam
paigns left behind them great and
growing church.
The active and imaginative mind of
Paul loved to play around a theme.
Thus 1fe remarks tSlat the Church was
not only in Thessalonica, but that it
was also "in God" 1t had a habi-
tation that was spiritual as well as a
local physical identity. Come to think
of 1t, that is the greatest fact of all
about a church. 1t is more than a
thing of brick and mortar, or boards
and stones, or a body of men and
women. 1t is a spiritual organism
rooted in the character of God him
self. Some churches remember their
local obligations and forget their
spiritual ones; others conceive of
themselves as a spiritual body, but
have too little effect upon the neigh
borhood in which they are placed.
Every church has business with two
habitations; it is on earth and it is in
God; it is forced to prayer, and it is
also forced to publicity. The Thessa-
lonian Christians were in fellowship
were making tremendous impression
upon the old heather city of Thessa-
lonica.
Somebody to Love
The personal and tender greetings
in the letter are suggestive. Paul had
been through great times at Thessa-
lonica. He had a stake in that city.
| Therefore his heart turned back to
the Thessalonian Christians. Every
man who was in the Civil War looks
back upon those years as the greatest
experience of his life. Not single
veteran is sorry for the ordeals of
those times that tried mems souls. The
war made it's participants great. They
achieved life in it's depth and in its
grandeur. The interest of the old SOL
dier in his comrades and in the places
of his war experiences is like that of
Paurs interest in the Thessalonians.
So it is with mothers solicitude
for the children who have caused her
such suffering. Paul's heart is mir
rored in the words I'VE give thanks to
/ God always for you all. making men,
! ing without ceaSing your work of faith,
and labour of love, and patience of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the
sight of God and our Father"
Nobody can be as interested in any
persons or cause as Paul was in those
Thessalonian Christians and their
work without giving himself to prayer
]
| son p
Pray for my soul.
More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams off,
The mobs of Thessalonica were
worth while to Paul. He had suffered
| for cause and thencetorth that cause
] had his souls devotion. This is the
| peculiar Joy of work accomplished
The pleasures remembered do not sat
isfy; work remembered does. It is
great to stay ones soul with the
thought that the service we have rem
dered abides though we pass; the
building stands though the builder
dies; life transmitted into service re-
mains. What a comfort it was to Paul
in his dreary orison days.
Sublime Egotfsm
There is a pride that is petty and
mean and ignob1e; there is also a pride
that is great and honorable Paul
points to his work and life in Thessa-
lonica and to himself with real pride
He even reminds them, "Ye became
followers of US" In another place he
exhorts his converts to follow his
example.
That is the privilege or penalty OF
service. man must be an example
of his message. A Sunday school
teacher has to illustrate his lesson by
his life. preacher must practice;
he offers himself as Exhibit A" of his
sermons
So every church serves by being and
by doing. Every Christian and every
congregation is an advertisem nt OF