Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-02-12

several cases with which they were familiar, and reminded the people that those would-be great ones were really self-defeatcd. Concerning the apos- ties he said, "Now 1 say unto you, Refrain from these mon, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work
 be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God ye cannot over
 throw it." The wisdom of that say
 ing could not be questioned and the
 apostles were permitted to depart. | Notwithstanding the opposition en- countered by Peter and John, they continued to preach the gospel and heal the sick. A case of palsy, which l had kept the afflicted one confined to. l his bed for eight years, was healed | by Peter. Shortly after this, porcas,
 woman who had been greatly loved because of her good works, was re-
 stored to life. Multitudes came out of
 the cities round about, bringing sick 1 folks, and them which were vexed
 with unclean spirits: and they were
 healed every one"
 The members of the church realized 1 the very great importance of these healing works and they prayed. | Grant unto thy servants. that with all boldness they may speak thy word. | by stretching forth thine hand to heal" This shows that they consid- cred tho preaching of the gospel was
 most successfully accomplished by do- | ing the good works that were possible when the gospel was understood. PAUL'S PREACHING AND WORKS. grt.x ngC Cc,, derful testimony of the transforming | power of Truth. and the cause of Christianity received into it's ranks
 most faithful and loyal defender. Saul | was d persecuter of the followers of
 Christ, but not knowing what he did. he verify believed he was doing God service. But Paul. as he was now called, was even more zealous in his
 efforts to further the cause than he had been in his attempts to over l throw it.
 It is not known that Paul had ever seen Jesus, much less had he had the advantage of the Masters personal instruction. Pauls conversion was more than a decade after Jesus had completed his earthly mission, so it cannot be said that the power to heal
 was due to any association with the personal Jesus. He was none the less successful in preaching and healing than were the twelve or the seventy. A lifelong cripple was healed at Lystra; Eutycus was restored to life, having been killed in an accident;
 the father of Publius. who ministered to the needs of Paul and the other survivors of shipwreck, was healed
 of fever and other serious ailments.
 Many others on the island were healed
 of various diseases and afflictlons, and Paul suffered no ill effects from the poisonous sting of viper.
 CHRISTIAN HEALING LOST. The method of healing which Jesus taught and demonstrated. was lost l about the close of the third century. | It is worthy of consideration that it 1 did not at once cease to be regarded
 as an essential element of the Christ
 ian religion as doubtless would have
 been the case if this work was in
 tended only for the purpose of estab- fishing the truth of Christianity. as
 some believe.
 | The argument that the overcoming | of sin is more important than the
 healing of sickness, is of no practical benefit to the one who is Ill need os physical healing. To the invalid. there | is little satisfaction in the belief that | the Christ method of healing was only ! for the purpose of establishing the truth of the teachings which were in
 tended to make plain the way Of sal
 vation from sin.
 ! The question very naturally arises. Was there any connection between the | teachings and the works of him who 1 is accepted as the worlds highest
 authority on spiritual things? If it
 be said there was no vital connection
 between what he taught and what he
 did. then it may be asked, How did
 his works prove tine truth of his
 worlds If, on the other hand. it is accepted that there was connection
 between his teachings and the healing of disease. then it must be acknowl- edged that such is the case today. ! for his teachings are none the less true than when they first fell on hu- man ears.
 l PRESENT POSSIBILITIES. l Christianity is more than a confess
 sion of faith: it is vital principle which remains forever the same. If the good results are not manifest. either the fundamental teachings have
 not been rightly interpreted or the student has failed in his application. The one thing which differentiates | Christian Science from other religious I teachings and appeals most strongly ! to those struggling with doubt and lear. is that it demonstrates the pres
 ent possibility of healing disease in
 the same manner as it was healed by Jesus and his disciples. The healing
 of disease and the alleviation of bodily | suffering is very desirable and inn portant undertaking. but is by no means the whole of Christian Science. { It is but the beginning of the great ! work which the understanding of Truth is able to accomplish for hu-
 manity.
 That the sick were healed by Jesus. his disciples, and other members of the early church. is matter of his