Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-15
Paul Before Felix
Sermon by
KEW. fLOhD w. TOMItINS.
Text: Acts. xiv.

'''+''hHt VI ~ tflal IN Il roman province
before Roman Governor. with Jewish
N"ccnsers. including the high priest. and
with n Roman lawyer and advocate.
~ certainly was IA curious combina-
tion. but ii reveals to us certain char
acteristics OF the Jurisprudence OF the
Roman empire and also Of The splendid
way I'm which the accused was allowed
10 defend himself. Tne nattery with
which Tcrtulus begins his address.
anu the way in which st. Paul follows
MN With equal laudation. bring us
quite to the present time. when in
court the batteries of the picaders
often become ludicrous. cannot but
peheHc that Paul. although sincere.
nevertheless had little touch OF the
sardonic in his address as though TO
initiate the Roman lawyer and per-
haps bring out the insncerity OF his
ierFent fattery. for Felix was far from
belhC either noble or good Our text
naturally divides itself into three parts
first. the charge OF the accusing law
yer; secondly. ST. Paurs defense, and
thirdly. the result.
In the accusation we find. knowing
tho history OF the work or Iii. apostle.
an appeal to prejudice and series OF
raise declarations. They certainly
never found Paul to be Il pestilent fell
low, nor did he create any sedition,
nor was he a ringlcader Of a sect call
cd the Nazarenes. IT is n pity that
when We make accusations we cannot
conflnc ourselves 10 the truth. Both
IN Jurisprudence and i'll practical life
the spoken truth will I'm the end hive
more Influence than an? ruinber OF
unworthy and false charges. 1t is a
little amusing to find this Roman ora
tor associating himself with the Jews.
whom the Romans hated. Just as
Plate and Iicrod became friends
/ through their common hatred Of Jesus
christ, so to-day, alas. those who arc
absolutely opposed TO each other often
times form an alliance against an i'm
agined common enemy
SUCH ALLIANCES Ain:
BOUND TO BE HARMFUL
All such alliances are bound TO be
harmful We have ZONE examples jus,
nov In the wofld-war Of such uu-
worthy alliances. How can ii DC pos
sibie. For example. for am civilized
nation to unite itself with Turkey. no
matter what the object OF the con-
test may be? Turkeys long history
and her treatment OF tho Armcnians
ought TO be enough to make any .c-
cent nation spurn her help. even
though II were offered Alas how
ever. we do the same thing in our per
sonal life. Arc We not tempted some
times 10 make friends of those who
arc quite unworthy O: our friendship.
I'm order that We may have thcifshelp
In the accomplishments OF some desire?
IL il well for us 10 look 10 ourselves,
as we'll as 10 our modern political
rmethods, lest perchance We fall into
the same error and work ultimate mis-
cry for ourselves.
st. rauls address IS manly. clear and
strong. love TO think of him stand
ing there with his head upIif.ed. with
out any fear. defending himself indeed.
hut Still more stronri: defending tho
Gospel. which was dea-er to HIN, than
life. This confess unto thee" So
he made public his confession o! Jesus
Christ. II is n splendid thing to use
Our very troubles as means whereby
we may express loyalty to the
King. Some times this expression may
BE-. in words. and sometimes in acts.
and sometimes, again. III scif-control.
Silence iii the face Of unworthy accu-
sations not only proves innocence Of
ten. but defeats the miserable charges
which IL is 3imos, beneath "A mans
dignity 10 rcpcl. Bin; y strong Gcclara-
ton for the principles which are dear
Ell 10 us than lie can often be made.
and made more forcib!y than under
ordinary circumstances when We are
accused OF error IN regard 10 those very
principles.
NOBLE CONFESSIONS
FORWARD WORK OF GOD
The young man who not only re
fuses to drink social glass bar when
he is ridiculed speaks out clearly.
saying: II never drink. and ] 90 not
believe in drinking: the young woman
who ndheres to those things which
have to do with courtesy and modesty
when scorned by her so-ca He'd friends:
the man who is doing Il splendid work
and seizes the opportunity when he is
attacked 10 declare his faith in the
supreme value OF the work he is doing
for God--thesc are noble confessions
|. and they not only bring to confessors
splendid character, but ihey forward
the work Of God in the world No
matter how cruel and bitter the nc
cuser may be. though all men seem
to be against us. yet IL we stand nr,nl;.
by what We believe to be the right
humbly looking 10 God for gu.da nc0.
we may be sure that God VIII accept
our plea and in due time bring n vindi-
cation which Will not only bless Ms
but make His Divine cause glorious.
That was a splendid declaration o. st.
Paul. Therein do ! exercise myself.
X TO have always n conscience void OF
onensc toward God and toward men
There was no boasting IN that decla-
ration. He did not say that his con-
science never troubled him, but he de-
clnred that it was the purpose of his
life TO keep lis conscience clean. In
other words. he strove always TO live
in such n way that he might look right
MP into His Masters face and ask His
Dressing.
PROCRASTINATION SLAMS
MORE THAN WE CAN NUMBER
The resnl, OF the two addresses be-
fore Felix was not what might have
been expected. He knew the easy
way In which the Jews We're accus-
toned to excite themselves against
any one who opposed them. He knew
also their bitterness against a Roman
citizen; and perhaps he knew, at least
by hearSay. something OF the lie and
teaching OF Jesus Christ. lie was of
course. between two fires--that Of the
Roman empire and that OF the Jews
over whom he WAS Governor. I feel a
little sorry for Felix. There is n sad
page Of history attached 10 the life
Of Felix and his wife. Drusilla. and we
lmust he lenient in our Judgment. But
Slwhen he and his wife had IL private
audience With Paul and heard him con
corning the faith in Christ. II Was nm
worthy Of him 10 postpone his decision.