Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-10

this he was heartily sorry.
Felix knew enough about the way
to see that Paul was innocent. The
Roman law required that there be
no delay in trying prisoner, but
it was weak in that there might be
endless delay in passing sentence.
So Felix exercised this privilege on
the ground that he would like to
know what Lysias would say, as
he was material witness. He al
ready knew what Yysias had to
say, though, for he had the cap
tain's letter before him. To have
set Paul at liberty would have been
the right thing to do and the easy
thing; but a bride was the easiest
way Felix knew. Felix had been a
slave, and through his brother Pal
las influence at Rome, had been
promoted to the governorship. He
was not only cruel, but very cor
rupt, and why should not he get
large sum, he thought, from this
prisoner who had brought such a
fabulous sum to Jerusalem? It was
to his interests, therefore, to keep
him, and to give him all the lib
erty he could, with free access for
his friends; and this he did. He
sent for Paul to come to his private
apartments and talk with him and
his wife, Drusilla-a Jewess, the
daughter OF Herod, who had been
induced by Simon Magus to leave
her own husband and come to live
adulterously with this old former
Roman slave.
Personal Evangelism
Paul used his opportunities we'll.
IL g. f,,I L., 10
a congregation. of two as to a
crowded throng. He knew what they
needed was conviction of sin, so he
reasoned of personal righteousness,
Of self-control and of judgment to
come. He said nothing of the Cos
pei to them. They were not ready
for that. 1t seems not to have
reached Drusilla at all. She was too
hard-boiled. But Felix trembled.
His wicked past doomed up before
him and his conscience made a cow
ard Of him. He made the fatal mis-
take of procrastination-h was not
willing to pay the price then. Paul
spoke to him often after that, but
the convenient season never came.
Finally a riot between the Jews
and Greeks occurred, and Felix or
dered the Jews killed like dogs. So
great was the stir raised by this
that even the great influence of his
brother, Pallas, at Romeo could not
protect him, and he was recalled
to Rome to answer for it. He need
ed all the good favor of the Jews
he could command just then, so to
buy their favor he left Paul bound.
The Compliment to Conscience
Paul's conscience and Felix's con-
science varied greatly. Paul eXer-
cised himself that he might have
conscience void of offense toward
God and men. His was an antece-
dent conscience. Felix's was a Sc
quent conscience. Pauls conscience
told him before hand that certain
course was right or wrong and he
shaped his life accordingly. Felix
conscience, when aroused by Paul
reasoning, showed him that what
he had done was wrong and he
trembled at the thought of the pun
ishment that was to follow as the
result of his former conduct.
Conscience is a wonderful rae
ulty-sitting as jury and as judge;
and being the eXecutiOner; acting
as guide and bringing the greatest
peace when the right course has
been pursued. But conscience can
not serve alone. The very word,
meaning knowledge along with
| someone else, implies the necessity
for something else to supplement
it. A man may for a while stifle
his conscience, as Felix did. A man
may be perfectly conscientious at all
times, as Paul was; and yet both be
wrong. OF course Felix was wrong
| toll H.
knowledge is God. He speaking
through His word, gives us the com,
plement to conscience. Gods spirit
illumines His word and His word is
the medium through which His spir-
it speaks. The spirit without the
word is fanaticism; the word with
out the spirit is modernism. But
when we take the spirit and the
our consciences can be sure guides
Shall we not follow Paul in this
that we shall henceforth, in the
light of the resurrection life that is
possible for us now and certain to
all hereafter, exercise ourselves tC
have cOnSciences over which nei.
Their God nor man can find any oc
casion for stumbling?
And if we do, there is many q
quiet conversation in store for you
when you and some soul who needs
Jesus Christ meet in the every day
affairs of life. And the results will
be different from what PauPs and
Felix's were il you don't make the
mistake that Paul made in disc.
beying the Spirits direct commands
Paul was faithful in presenting the
truth to Felix, but he paid the price
Of his disobedience in coming to Je'
rusalem by not being able to land
him.