The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-19

gazing seal upon Jerusalem. They
took The Initiation and won the bat
tie for q spiritual over q ceremonial
religion. They LAUGHED the vast foreign
mission enterprise. which compasses
all continents. Moved by Holy Spirit,
they chose Paul and Barnabas and let
them go. The gates of hell could not
stand before these men of God. Ely
mas, the sorcerer. was stricken blind
at Paphos: John Mark. the faint
hearted. was left behind at Perga;
Gentiles listened with delight and ex-
tolled the Lords message at Pisidian,
Antioch: large numbers. both of Jews
and Greeks, believed at Iconium: a
man lame from his birth was healed at
Lystra. and the Lycaonians exclaimed.
The gods have assumed human form
and come down to u.s. and with great
difficulty they prevented the thronging
crowd from offering sacrifices to them.
Stoned and dragged out of the city
by Infatuated Jews, Paul regained con-
seriousness and boldly and fearlessly
went back into the town and thence to
Derbe. where a large number Of con-
verts were gained. That first mis-
sionary attack launched from Antioch
reads like a romance. 1t abounds in
thrilling experiences and remarkable
triumphs Of a militant Christianity.
"Once again, Ephesus was a dem
onstration Of the power of Christianity
to prevail over the gates of hell. A
philosophers school became a Chris
tan pulpit: seven wandering exorcists
were exposed and overthrown; seven
thousand Ave hundred dollars worth
OF books on sorcery were burned in the
streets; the temple Of Diana that held
fifty-six thousand heather worship
pers was deserted, and Demetrius and
his craftsmen. who grew rich by man
ufacturing miniature silver sanctuaries
of Diana. were bereft OF their gain.
These signal victories were won.
not In rural sections, but in great
cities. Ephesus was as bad. and worse,
than Norfolk. Christianity attacked
the city problem. 1t began as n city
religion and went through Philippi
Athens. Corinth, to the seat of the
Caesars. The problem lies not with
Christianity versus the city. but with
the professors OF Christianity. The
Gospel demonstrated in those early
years Its power to counterfeit the
evils. purify the morals. and save the
soul of the city. The fault Ia in our
selves, IL we are underlings. that We
temporlZe with social vice, speak in
soft tones of political corruption, and
salve our consciences with the fatal
philosophy that We are no worse than
others. Jesus meant for His Gospel
to conquer the city, and when the cur
tain is raised on the last scene of the
drama of the race. 1t will reveal a re-
deemed city. And / saw the Holy
City. new Jerusalem. coming down out
of heaven from God. made ready as
bride adorned for her husband
In the life Of Paul.
Paul was at once the greatest
triumph and the finest fruit of Chris
t.anity He was the Gospels clear
est expounder and Christ's ablest rep
resentative. He got more out OF
Christ than anyone else and con-
tributed more to Christ Study Paul
TO understand Jesus, Study his meth
DDS to promote Kingdom interest AS
a church builder. he built where 9TH
ers had not gone. As q writer, he is
the safest guide in systematic the
ology, church government and pas
torial duties. Both in founding
churches and writing episties. his
aim was to propagate Christianity.
Churches constituted were quickly