Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-01
Paul's Defense
Before Agrippa
Sermon b.,
HEN. FLOYD W. TOMi>INS.
Feat: Acts AVN.

ms Was the prandcst address o;
ours iii". Doubtless uc was KEYED
~ - ~ 10y In" circumstances leading
~ '" us delivery. Ills long iiuprtsoI-
49, W" persistent persecution Of iii"
'"S' IN" hanghtincSs of the officials
- consciousness of his dignity as a
''o"i"h citizen and III" humility OF his
so"' ~ Icing counted worthy 10 suffer
-" %ai" Of Christ. besides the
'i"E"lnihg strength %. his love for
- "''H,"r-ail Ties" things served "a
aspirations. Iiut there Was als,, the
rang" character Of his audience It
= "'ii TO read in some history tho
..o'E OF ASrippa aud Bernie. and Of
>'us. ~ ~ 81 Sad story and one
Nhlch is not altogether ancient in its
fl'tuilhE "f wealth. luxury and de-
''Ni'N facing tn" trnth in the person
~ 4 man dcspiscd aud scorned yc, full
- ir" and godly enthusiasm /, was
= novel experience for these p.oplc
N'Hih"a by sin and wcary of tho old
ronnh OF dissipation. 10 SIT and hear a
man 81 intense faith and strong sin
,rl'E toll Of his conversion ana Of
Christianity. Truly the message was
q great one. and the hearers were
aroused from their dreary incense
'aehc" OF If" 10 a realization OF their
h'ScFabl" condition. OH when the
''oshcl is preached by "a true ainbassa-
- Jesus christ. whether in Kings
courts or IN tho sluns. there the IIoiy
Ghost picrc"s the hearts and LAYS open
me m" The Word Of God is autcIs
ana powerful and sharper than any
t%o- edged sword,
row PAUL TELLS STORY
-, OF HIS own LIFE
Notice how 81. Paul tells the story
81 rs own life. lie told 1t more than
an" IN his preaching. lie was not
ff 4, ,.y, Il
;Vppcned 10 him when Christ stopped
MN IN his mad career and called him
- be MS own messenger | mink We
SSh pest preach the Gospel by telling
nc sior" Of our own conversion. II
is me 10 hear. IN a rcscu. mission the
converted men tell what chris; has
gone for them. and IL would help us in
many OF our churches II we had now
anu then real "cXpcricnce meetings =
But above all else wc must hav. had
an experience before VIC can preach TO
others. No man can make men he
love In tho forgiveness of sin no mat
Ter how eloquent he may hc. Unless he
knows tn" joy or having his own gins
forgiven. No man can convince Others
: ~ the love OF God whose own heart Is
not throhhiuG with gra,i'ud" h."
sings, My Jesus. ] love Thee We
speak that We do know" said Christ
70 Incidents.
Notice again how Paul preached the
truth OF the Resurrection lie had
been accused of declaring that one
Jesus, VII" MAS dead had risen again
rand was alive, ard lravcly u. answers
the accusation tn affirming the fact.
Wonder II $50 rc.,liz. - clearly as st
luui did m" truth at ChrISt's Icsur-
r'ciioN hni ~ our consequent rcSur-
r"rtiOu- Christ ut"u for me- Nh. that
IS :: sweet aud joyous fat Bnt II is
nooWplel" unl"-> also know that Iic
f,.+ FFtE .1...s mas I...
''chn IS It jas, but TO I've for Christ is
NI:Ii 10 go HACK
ND RENEW ntH FAITH
IN these days when all the old her
rsi"S ~ hundred years ago ar, being
SeNis.d aud When men az" daring to
deny the fact ~ TIA" resurrection at
christ and of the resurrection "f our
bodies through Him, 4, is well Ia 20
fack To ST. Paul and renew our faith
Read that remarkable book, When II
Was Dark" and see how tn. whole
World would lapse into harbariSm and
t'inrchy IL the resurrection was proved
'to t." Il myth. II Is like the sinking
81 the sun. never TO rise again and
leaving US IN 4 perpetual night, to
doubt the final resurrection OF our
bodies.
. Paul was divincly enthusiastic. Even
FcStus noticed il and accused him Of
madness Religious enthusiasm is
strongly akin u madness in the iudu.
ment OF those who cannot understand
fhc spiritual life. The early Chris
tians were accused Of drunkenness
Christ Himself was thought nv Ills
own family to he beside Himself and
'hcy even sought Ia rcntinc Him. Let
rs 'rsrer be afraid Of Christian cnthu-
slasm. u has truth as its support
and that truth. being the only truth.
mo foundation truth from which all
other truths are derived and mon
which they are founded. should set us
on fire.
We need more zeal In life and lam
cuag" we need more fire of enthu-
sias!n to make our words and deeds
burn into the conscicnccs of men We
arc too cold. too measured in our re-
liGion and lncn think wc hardly be-
ltcve what We profess. not only be.
cause our lives do not bear ont ouI
expressed convictions. but because we
are so casual 50 half-dead in our work
and worship. We need not give way
ia mere physical crnotionalism. hu,
also We need not he afraid Of divine
emotion. Can il he said OF us that
liosannas anguish on our tongues
And our devotion dies"
And then faui's appeal 10 the iusin
ocre AGrippa' In his warmth OF heart
feeling sure that what was so dear
10 him. even his Very lifc must con-
Nlcl o'heTS, ne burst out: Il know that
thou bel1cvcst,' IL the King had nos
scssod any hear, h. must have been
touched. but alas. il was q casting Of
pearls before swine, You speak as
II YOU could easily make me a Chris
;ian. WAS the naughty rcpl! Of the
wr"tcArd monarch. What a dash OF
cold watcr upon the earnest apostle.
His zeal had consumed hi:u. 1t was all
over Apparently his appeal was in
vain. Vet who can say?
MUST DO our BEST AND
LEAVE REST 10 GOD
i'crchancc l'aufs great cry rang II,
his ears when lie came to die God
suffers nothing which is spoken or done
ln7 Christs name 20 come to nalph;
S usands have been turned to re-
L ance by the great hymn. Almost
H. rnadcd And many u discoura ccd
. "a .aat has taken new hope from the
: cioancncc Of this wonderful servant Of
God who was not ashamed Of the Cos