The Detroit times., 1916-09-26
The International Sunday School
Lesson for Oct. I 10, "A Plot That
Faited."--Aots %.
(eY WILLIAM 7. ElLls1

(BY WILLIAM Y. ELIlS.)
A courtroom fracas; an uncowed
prisoner; a riot In the courtroom
with a rescue BY troops; n vision IN
the night; an iron-clad conspiracy
TO murder; the plot foiied by a boy
q night march by Roman troops with
the prisoner In their midst-such arr
the dramatic high lights OF one OF
the most stirring Sunday school les
sons studied for many years.
A stormy petrol was Paul. Things
happened wherever he went, In the
present story he IL still In the clutch
90 OF the consequences OF the ~
tsmpt Of the Jews TO mob him in the
temple He had been taken before
the high court OF the church. the
Sanhedr1n. where his trial had been
"a UNFAIR % that OF his Master
When the high priest ordered him
struck In the mouth, the fiery spirit
a this doughty lover OF justice fam
"a forth In q bitter arraignment OF
the man VINO. while sitting as a
Judge, had commanded this violation
q the law.
Quick 10 resent injustice as he
was. Paul nevertheless apologized
when he found that the offender was
the high priest. He had the com
bined Jewish and Roman respect
for the man In authority HIS defer
ence TO the Official head OF his ma
ton. even though be disapproved OF
him. is timely point TO stress at
the present time.
Policy and piety were commingled
In Paul's conduct when he took ad
vantage OF the presence OF two par
ties IN the Sanhedrin. the Sadducees
and the Pharisees. and threw the ap-
pie OF discord among them. so that
all possibility OF united action was
lost. A great uproar followed, for
Paul had divided the house against
itself Sill We somehow fail 10
admire Paul In this role OF the
shrewd politician. II was not becom'
ing TO him. He stepped down de-
gree from his high level In order 10
take advantage Of ecclesiastical par.
tisanship. The church fares best
when she stands on her own ground
and uses her spiritual weapons.
A Through Ticket To Rome.
The trick that Paul played on the
Jewish High Court raised ssch a
commotlon that IL nearly cost him
his life. for he was 30 nearly tom "a
pieces that the Roman troops had 70
enter the Judgment hall and rescue
him from the frenxied ecclesiastics
HIS worldly wisdom had gained him
nothing He had tried 10 be "prac
teal" but without benefit 10 his
message
No wonder no went 10 bed that
right in the castle feeling depressed
and DISCOURAGED. so downcast and
disconforted was he that IL took a
vision IN the night TO comfort him
As he lay on his pallet In the prison
II have seen the horrible inner
dungeon In the old Castle OF Antonis
in which tradition says the Apostle
was lodged-the Lord Jesus Himself
appeared by hts side. No prison cell
is too small 70 hold both the believer
and his Master. There are no sttua'
tons 80 straitened that there Is not
room for the Christ 10 stand by the
side or His faithful witness.
The message OF cheer and courage
that the blessed lips spoke 10 the
pensive prisoner we're few put sum
cient: BE OF good courage: for as
you have borne faithful witness
about Me in Jerusalem so you must
also bear witness in Rome"
Every man is immortal until his
work IL done" Paul had thru
ticket TO Rome. and he could not
quit the train until II reached the
terminal Sweet was the consolation
that the Master brought 20 His scr
want In his cell. Often va do not
get 10 know Christ until lie shuts us
apart from the crowded ways OF life
and from the busy career AZ Scot.
lands sweet saint and singer. Sam.
uel Rutherford. cried from his tower
In Aberdeen.
And in my sea girt prison,
My Lord and held tryst
The Consplrstors Appear.
The deeper one goes into life, the
more complicated II becomes. Po-
tent personalities know the reality
OF enemies and plots and other din.
oulties undresmed by simpler souls.
All great living brings fardshlps In
its train. Yet who would ask for
easier lives? Struggle strengthens