The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-11-26
SINGING IN PRISON
WAS SUBJECT OF
PASTOR ON SUNDAY
DIR. Barbour Delivers Strong Sermon
On Christians Praislng God In
Untoward circumstances.

DR.. Barbour preached Sunday morn
ing from ActssXvI:25, AT midnight
Paul and Silas prayed and sang
praises unto God, and the prisoners
heard them"
He said: These men remind us that
Christian will find something to
praise God for in the most untoward
circumstances. They were smarting
under injustice, arrested ana pun
ished for rescuing a poor girl from
designing men. They were ready TO
help the very. people who maltreated
them, and 1t was pretty hard for this
to be landed In the stocks.
Now II they had been like some OF
us they would have repined. They
would have blamed each other. Silas
| would have said 81 knew you were
going too far" and Paul would have
retorted, "You are Just as much to
blame as l am" And they would both
have said, Its very strange that God
does not protect His workers or these
| people are not worth suffering for.
| This kind of work is not appreciated
| in this town or they would have sat
sullen and DISCOURAGED and we would
not have blamed them. but, listen,
they are singing, and praising God.
What had they to praise Him for?
They had life and health and oppor-
tunity to preach. They had saved a
poor afflicted girl. They were able
to serve as their Master had done,
They were walking in His footsteps.
There is never a, time when we have
not something to praise God for. ii
we reject Emerson's doctrine of Com
pensation, which is but kind or TIT
| for-tat philosophy there is measure
of truth in it. If YOU have had trou-
lble you have had your health to strug-
gle through: or If health has failed
what friends you have had. If you
are young and on your back in SICK
room you are being fitted for higher
service. II you are old ana sick you
are very near the borders OF the good
land where troubles never come.
There is always something If you
will look for it. Haydn said he could
set a Dutch newspaper to music. IL
was because the fountains of song
were in himself. There Is much In
lhappy temperament but there Is more
in Christian principles. Any man that
really believes in God knows that all
Is ordered for good and Will come OUT
for the best in the end.
Think Of the good we can do by a
happy cheerful spirit. The 1ailers
could have understood little of PauPs
preaching but when he fell to singing
they knew there was something there
they had not. The very jailer was
converted by the evidence or God with
them.
There is no better proof of religion
than a strong and cheerful spirit. Cecil
said that he was converted by his
mothers cheerfulness. He was young
and contented; she was old and SICK
but always bearing up with brave
and trusting heart. Then the good
Ito yourself. Health requires 1t. The
lspirit is sustained by 1t. The prison
ers during the Civil War fell to sing
ing. Chaplain McCabe found his
power in Libby prison. He was In
training for his remarkable career
as singing evangelist and Bishop
Oh, but says one. Paul would moi
have sung IL he had known OF the
earthquake coming. Well, maybe not
but the earthquake was used to arouse
the taller and to bring them all Il
repentance. God Is master OF al
circumstances. Sometimes he becomes
as to Elijah, with a chariot OF fire
sometimes, by an angel as when HI
delivered Peter. Sometimes, as herr
by an earthquake or other summons.
Oh, but the real sorrows. That los
one. That terrible family trouble!
, Well, you'll have to leave thes'
things to God. He holds the key
; Some time we'll understand.
= We should sing more. Take dow
. the good old hymns of the Church. an,
. read and sing them. They are ful
; of comfort and help. We have all darl
: days ahead. as we'll as bright days
. Let us trust in God and do our dut
. and all will be we'll.