The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-04-13

/ ~ - 1832e&E ESe&sz4i new Dlrtn re-
mains as mys-
terious 40 ever. The Holy Spirit ope-
rates In the region Of the subconscious-
ness and while we hear "the sound
thereof" In the effects produced. his
work Is as mysterious as the wind.
Mystery Of the Newborn.
But while the text sets forth the
mystery of the new birth, 1t suggests,
also, the mystery Of the newborn. We
| are told that like the wind blowing
where II llsteth. whose sound is heard
but whose origin and course we can
not trace, $50 is everyone that is born
Of the Spirit" Newborn men are un-
accountable to men Of the world. They
belong TO another kingdom which
wOrldlings cannot even "see." Their
motives, their talk, their behavior.
greatly puzzle the unregenerate, be-
tween whom and them there is "a
great gulf"
We are reminded here of story
concerning Sir Isaac Newton. 1t Is
said that when he was studying the
laws OF light, he had a tub of water
placed In front OF his house and would
sit for hours blowing soap bubbles
and making observations on reflection
and refraction. His simple neighbOrs,
who knew nothing of the great
thoughts passing through his brain,
could not understand his behavior, but
would sigh and shake their heads sad
lv and saw. tpnnr man ~
Bunyan's Experience.
John Bunyan has set forth the
strangeness of the newborn in the eyes
of men in his picture Of Vanity Fair.
When the pilgrims entered the fair
there was great hubbub about them
and that for three reasons. First, "The
pilgrims were clothed with such kind
of raiment as was diverse from the
raiment of any that traded at that fair.
The people of the fair, therefore, made
great gazing upon them; some said
~sthey were fools, some they were bed
lams, and some they are outlandish
men," U Cor. 2:7, 81 Secondly, "But as
they wondered at their apparel, so they
did likewise at their speech; for few
could understand what they said; they
naturally spoke the language of Ca
naan, but they that kept the fair were
the men of this world; so that, from
one end of the fair to the other, they
seemed barbarians each to the other"
Thirdly, But that which did not a little
amuse the merchants was that these
pilgrims set very light by all their
wares"
Since newborn men are unaccount-
able to the men of Vanity Fair, 1t fol-
lows that during this present evil age
''the offense of the cross" will not
cease. Our friends will marvel at our
talk of heavenly things. They cannot
understand our enthusiasm over fields
of service which seem dreary to them
why young man should give up a
career or young woman give up So
cial prospects TO become missionary
Is TO them an insoluble mystery. $50
Is everyone that Is born of the Spirit"
But to none are the newborn so mys-
terious as to those who themselves are
seeking TO enter the kingdom of God.
John Bunyan tells how he heard -four
poor women sitting at door in the
sun" talking of the new birth they had
experienced, and declares "they were
to me as IL they had found new
world"
The Struggle.
A little later he writes: "The state
and happiness Of these poor people ut
Bedford was thus, in kind of vision,
presented to me. saw as IL they were
on the sunny side OF some high noun
tain, while l was shivering in the
cold, afflicted with frost, snow and
dark clouds. Methought also betwixt
me and them l saw n wall that did
compass about this mountain, and
through this wall my soul did greatly
desire to pass. About this wall l
hought myself TO 60 again and again,
still playing as / went, TO see IL 1 could
find some passage, but none could l
find for some time. At the last l saw
as IL were n narrow gap, through
which l attempted TO pass, but the
passage being very straight I made
many offers. but all in vain. At last,
with great striving. l at first did get
in my head, and after that. by side
long striving. my shoulders and my
whole body. Then was I exceeding
glad. and went and sat down in the
midst OF them. and so was comforted
with the light and heat of their SUM-"
Reader. do you wish to become one
OF Gods mysterious men7 Your part
Is simple, viz, TO receive Christ. Read
enc reread John, 1 ID, 13.