Year: 1879

clustered about it. the group containing every
nobling excellence. In marked instances so many
rare qualities have met in the person that they
remind of the Bible figure which lkens
them to a string Of jewels about the neck.
each challenging equal admiration. making it difficult
to decide which sheds the greatest lustre Such q
character developed in the apostle Paul. and in
instance it brilliantly set forth than in
the text and context few words suffice to rehearse
the story which has enchained the learned and the


terae the sage and the child the disciple and the
sceptic for all have been and must be delighted
with this picture drawn by the hand of Luke, the
physician. in words of eloquent simplicity, pure
affection and sublime piety The simple facts are
hese:-Paul, the intrepid apostle. was put upon
trial for his life before Agrippa the native King of
ing artless narrative of his life, his conversion
his method OF preaching and his proofs from the
Jewish Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ, Festus
became excited under the power of his plea and in
terrupted the prisoner. crying Paul thou art mad;
much learning has turned thy BRAIN. With calm def
erence the apostle appealed to the knowledge of
Agrippa concerning his faith in the authority Of the
Jewish prophets. Fairness on the part of the King
would have owned the verify of his faith In those
prophets; but forgetting the serenity and clemency
prince toward helpless prisoner he began to de-
ride him with words OF irony and contempt, saying,
with little pains thou persuadest me to become
Christian, not almost thou persuadest NO. as If
he were waverng and leaning toward Christianity.
but the reverse of that. Resentng Pauls appeal to
his faith in the prophets he derides him to this ef
fect:"What, wilt thou quickly persuade me to be
Christian and with little effort? Is this thy short
method to take with me? Thy means are con-
temptibly feeble for the conversion of a Jewish
king" What the effect which his jeering words
produced upon Paul? With holy love for the man
who treated him so contemptuousy, his soul is all
pray God that, with little or much effort.
not only thou but also all that hear me
this day, may become such rs am" Instead Of
resenting this sarcasm in burst of honest ndigna-
ton, not one harsh word escaped his lips At that
the words Of the text come S n and as If by
reveal character of the most gigantic stature. It
seems as if he were raising his hands in gesture.
and for the first time his eye caught the chain on his
arm which linked him to his soldier guard Its
clanking sounded harshly on his ear that he
called his prayer adding to it this modification that
they might be exactly such he was. except these
bonds" He was willing to keep his bonds. but he
he thirsted that they might become the free Of
Jesus Christ. therefore seize upon this half
tence from the apostolic lips, as furnishing one Of
the most remarkable examples OF Christian magma
nmity to be found in all history, profane sacred
and such it affords marvellous illustration Of
power in the Gospel to mould human character upon
the highest possible model.


NATURE CHRISTIAN MAGNANINIITY.


In order properly to appreciate and to point out
the path Of its attainment, must anayze the
source from which it sprang in the noble apostle.
BY magnanmity is meant the very opposite of all
that is mean-spired and dcraven-oftness of thought
and feeling, they embodied in truly great
mind 1t seems in its very nature to call for the
ercse of distinct and active comprehensiveness Of
spirit, especially in oil that concerns right and
wrong. You at the very mention of the word
that it morally impossible any man to be mag
unanimous in doing wrong or in upholding wrong |
True magnanimity must always side with the right
1t quick the right. That perception arouses
all that is generous in the soul. and then it |
arms itself with lofty moral courage which dares
to defend it come what may. Personal suffering and
self-denia 1t accounts as Of moment. because it
is controlled by the operations OF pure benevo- |
lence. Now apply this elemental definition to the |
soul of the great apostle, and it explains mmedi-
ately his power to rise above all injuries. SO far
from being insensible to injury, he was most sensi
tive on that point. But he could yield to temp
tation against sef-sacrfce, he could indulge no
retaliation for wrongs inflicted himself, for tho
spirit of forgiveness triumphed all minor i'm
pulses, that he deprecated every injury to his
enemies and prayed for all good, saying "Lord, make
them as am, except these bonds"