The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-20


saying nothing except what the
Prophet and Moses predicted as soon
to happen, since the Christ was TO De
a suffering Christ, and by coming
back from the dead was then to be
the first to proclaim a message OF
light both to the Jewish people and to
the Gentiles.'
AS Paul thus made his defense,
Festus exclaimed in a loud voice,
You are raving mad, Paul, your
great learning is driving you mad.
II am not mad, most noble Festus.
replied Paul; 81 am speaking words
of sober truth. For the King, to
whom 1 speak freely, knows about
these matters. 1 am not to be per-
suaded that any detail of them has
escaped his notice; for these things
have not been done in a corner King
Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets?
know that you believe them"
Agrippa answered,
I'm brief, you are doing your best
to persuade me to become a Chris
tian."
MY prayer to God, whether briefly
or at length replied Paul. would
be that not only you but all who are
my hearers today might become such
as 1 am-except these chains.
Crazy Moody"
Needless of self forgetful that his life
Is now to be defended by his words,
He only thinks of doing good to them
That seek lis life.
AS he pressed home his message
for PauPs defense of himself was but
proclamation of Christ-the syco-
phantic governor, FeStus, fearing that
the message was crowding too close to
home to the royal hearers, interrupt
ed with the cry of madness. That is
favorite charge against the most
earnest preachers. When Dwight L.
Moody began to do Christian work in
Chicago they nicknamed the young
man Cray Moody" 1t is not good
form to make religion personal; yet
all about us people are hungering for
the direct presentation of Christ.
When Baron Shibasawa, the fore
most Japanese business man, was in
this country he told a reporter of the
New York Herald that when he at
tended Mr.. John Wanamaker's Sun
day school in Philadelphia Mr.. Wanna
maker not only presented him with a
Bible, but he also urged his distin-
guished guest to become a Christian.
The incident greatly impressed the
famous Japanese.
That's business-Christian business
No man is too high to be directly ap-
preached with a personal appeal that
he yield his own life to Christ. Paul
made direct address to King Agrippa
He saw him as a possible convert
I
inflated notable since, supposed that
he was above the claims of religion
He might give his august approval to
! Christianity, but as for discipleship-
| faugh! Did Paul think that he could
! become one of the despised sect"
With amused disdain he interrupted
| the address. not confessing that he
was almost persuaded" as the ole
version has it. but, as the American
Revision translates it. with but little
persuasion. thou wouldest fain make
me a Christian The idea is prepos
ferrous! The fellow thinks that, witt
a few words, he could induce a IIerot
to follow the Nazareue. There was
rebuke in the royal answer Did i
abash Paul?
If Places Were Changed.
Not for an instant. That ready ora
tor made instant and eloquent reply
Il would to God, that whether will
little or much, not only thou. hut ais,
all that hear me this day, might he
come such as 1 am, except thes,
bonds" What an admiXture of sub
lime passion with exquisite courtesy
Paul wished his best for even hi
enemy-but not his bonds The seen,
recalls his own words to Timothy
But the word of God is not bound
The disciple might be- fettered. but hi
message had free course.
Come to think of it, that was an ex
tAaOA OlAidAJ WISH OF PauIS FOR tn
king. The unaffected audacity of i
is staggering. 1t implied the prison
ers moral superiority to the monarch
The Christians state is more thai
royal All the attributes of worIdl
wisdom and power and position ar
less desirable than the qualities of
Christian. Stupendous as was III
proposition made by Paul, history ha
vindicated it fully
An acid test was this which tn
prisoner applied. Dare we wish 70
our friends no better boon than tha
they become as we are? Wor1d /
solve the worlds problems if all me
, were to become like unto us?
: What Kind of church would my church
, If al of its members were just like me
The implication of Pauls statemer
! is that every witness to the Gosnt
should testify first of all by his lif,
, Paul lived, and SO he was qualified t
stand before kings and preach.
When n Mans Man.
I Terse Comments on the Unifor,
Z Prayer Meeting Topic of til
/ Young Peoples Societies-Christia
D EndeaNor, etc.-for October 2:
!. ''Manliness and Womanliness"-
d Neh. Glib; Esther 4:6-16
There have been unmanly kins
Y and unwomanly queens, Just as theI
). have been manly and woman
: slaves. For it is character that make
n the real man and the real wonaal
e What we are when in the dark or
I the desert is what We really are ever,
where. Soul qualifications are our re-
{ strength or weakness. They alor
O make manliness or unmanliness.
a Honor and shame from no condition ris
ACS VIGIL lily part. there all the
les."-Anon.
- There are two things that ms
should never weary of, goodness ar
humility; we get none too much
them in the rough world and amor
J. cold, proud people.=Stevenson.