The Republican., 1925-12-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially For The Repub-
LEANS Readers by Rev. U. S.
Wright, DID.

]
II Timothy 3:10, II; 4:6-1S. Road
both Letters.
/ have fought the good fight, ! have finished
the course, | have kept the faith.--II Tim
4:7.
LETTERS AND LIFE.
Just now there are headlines over
the discovery Of one of the manu-
scripts of the Emperor Constantine,
an undoubted treasure But we are
reading from a letter still older CON
tanning the last message from the pen
of Paul. Yellow with years, stained
with tears, marked by prison mould,
it holds no whines and sends its ring
ing summons to Timothy to endure
hardness as d good soldier, to be
faithful + the ministry that was his
in the c. Grch of Jesus. It's story Is
one of the classics of the adventurous
spirit.
Probably Paul was released by linn
itation of time, Jerusalem default
ing on its witnesses because of dis
tance, cost and distrust of their own
case. But the Jews in Rome were
sufficiently bitter and sufficiently un-
popular to induce the court to order
him to leave the city in the interests
of its peace. Early in 62 he left for
the East where he would keep the
promises made in his letters to visit
Philemon and Philippi. He would be
in some OF his other churches and it
may have been from that hospitable
home in Colosse that he wrote his
first Letter to Timothy who was at
Ephesus. His purpose had been fixed
for journey into Spain and tradition
trails him to France also. Crete he
certainly evangelical and left Titus
in charge of its continuance, writing
to him to come to him in Nicopolis.
where he would winter, possibly near
his old boyhood home in Celicia, for
there were seven cities of that name
which gives that many guesses as to
the actual place, but the heart Of age
seeks the haunts Of its youth. In the
spring of 81 he grew restless
again and he felt that he was needed
in Rome as he had felt the necessity
Of daring Jerusalem, so he entered
once more the imperial city. Arrested
soon after, he faced his first hearing
from which he emerged unacquitted,
but remanded for further trial. One
SiphOrous came to Rome and gave
him much comfort by his visit, being
mot ashamed Of my bonds" as others
evidently were. Hearing Of conditions
in Ephesus he penned his last letter
under the full consciousness that his
final hearing would bring the close of
his career. For Nero is reported as
being incensed against him because
he had brought to purity one of the
kings mistresses which would send
justice to the winds. Late in the year
November perhaps,-he was march
ed out to the place of execution where
three fountains are still seeking to
wash away the stain of blood. So
Paul died, but the cause for which he
gave his life lives more abundantly
than ever because Of him and his
heroism.
THE LAST TESTIMONY.
In the damp of that old prison, Paul
was thinking of the years during
which he had striven for his Lord.
He summed it up in the clear fashion
with which he was accustomed to re-
gard matters upon which he was pass
ing judgment. The verdict of history
confirms the truth of his estimate
Il have had a part in the great con-
test; | have run the race; l have pre-
served the faith" (Goodspeed) is his
phrasing for the experiences that lay
behind him. He is back in the stadium
of his boyhood and sees himself again
in one glorious race struggling des-
perately in the foremost group sprint
ing "agonizedly" at the tape. He had
had part in that. The Christiani-
zation of his world had been shared
by him. He knew he had place. No
wonder he was thrilled even in the
dungeon. AS he looked at the sweat
ing, straining group determinedly
digging their cleated sandals into the
sanded course with one dropping ex-
hausted from the press, he saw him
self again and cried exultantly, Il fin
ished my course" To the last ounce
of strength, to the last inch of space,
he had given himself to the glorious
struggle against heathenism and the
powers of that old age. No wonder
his soul sang in its prison. Il have
kept the faith" NJ. S. Rice has d
forceful sermon whose twin texts are
the Masters query, when the Son of
Man cometh, shall He find faith on
the earth?" and II have kept the
faith" If Jesus had come with His
question in that old, dark, dank dun
geon, Paul was ready to reply, "It is
safe yet, | have kept it." No wonder
his worn face was aIight with high
/ low After the race the cTOwnirp