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HEBREWS.
If you want the book of Hebrews
to have a meaning and an entirely
new interest read the first eleven
chapters at a sitting with this expla
nation of the book before your mind:
Paul is striving to show Jewish read
ers that Christianity is a real religion
and worthy to take the place of
Judaism and thereby to restrain
them from going back to their old
customs and faith,
Step by step he points out tho
facts ©f the religion of Jesus and
shows that each one is superior to
the corresponding fact in Judaism.
Every vital element of Jewish his
tory, law and worship is compared
with the Lord Jesus Christ and
shown to be inferior.
In the first chapter he begins by
pointing out the superiority of the
Son over the prophets and angels.
The Prophets were men, the Angels
were created beings but Jesus was
the brightness of the Father’s glory
and the express image of His person.
Now God revealed Judaism by the
prophets through the mediation of
Angels but Christianity was revealed
in the person of his only begotten
Son. Then the second chapter is an
explanation of this wonderful reve
lation and an exhortation to stead
fastness in this new and far superior
revelation.
In the third the comparison is in
stituted between Christ and the Jew
ish Law Giver in which the writer
shows how much greater Christ the
builder of the house must be than
Moses the servant in tho house how
ever faithful a servant he may have
beeu. Then he exhorts to steadfast
ness by the fearful consideration of
the possibility of failing of tho rest
that rcmaineth to the people of God.
Showing that Moaes and Joshua
themselves looked forwaad to a de
liverance of which their own was
but the type and shodow.
Immediately the priesthood of the
old is compared with tho priesthood
of the new in which ho gives all dis
tance to Christ showing that their
order of priests payed tythes to
Christ’s|priesthood before any of them
were born when Abraham represent
ed the one and Melchizedec the oth
er. At the close of this comparison
in the fifth chapter the Apostles re
premands their fearful lack of spiri
tual apprehenion and then devotes
the sixth chapter to Warning and
entreaty against an abuse of spiri
tual privileges. Illustrating by con
trasting fruitful land with unfruitful
land both having enjoyed the same
advantages.
In the ninth chapter tho old cov
enant of works is compared with the
covenant of grace in which Christ
himself is the mediator and is able to
save to the uttermost (all tho way to
heaven) all who come unto God by
him.
In the tenth chapter the atone
ment of the old is contrasted with
the atonement of tho new. Here
the great argument reaches its sub
lime climax. The apostle shows
the substitution of Jesus for sinners
and the open bold approach each
trusting child may have to a throne
of grace without the intervention of
offering or Priest.
The eleventh chapter is a history
of the triumphs of faith. That in
visible power by which the posses
sors were enabled to endure all things
jopfully that they might be found in
Him, not having their own rightous
ncss which is by faith.
The twelveth chapter and indeed
the remainder of the Epistle is a
wonderful exhortation to holiness of
life and fixedness of purpose.
With these few pointers the book
of Hebrews has an entirely new in
terest. It was not written like Ro
mans to Gentiles who needed only
to learn that Jesus of Nazareth was
tho promised Messiah and that his
teachings were w orthy of their faith
ful adherence. The Epistle does
not teach doctrine in the abstract.
It teaches the relations of tho Gos
pel to Judaism.
There is no book in the Bible
more interesting when you enter the
secret of the Apostle’s purpose and
follow the argument step by step out
of the types and shadows into the
blaze of the Saviour s noonday glory.
F. 0. MuConnkll.
The total membership of the Bap
tist churches in New Hamshire is
9,282, a gain of 70 over last year,
and the largest number reported
since 1840. Sixty-seven churches
have regular pastors. The whole
number of baptisms is 275. The be
nevolent contributions were 118,499.
The Convention Board during tho
pastyear aided thirty churches to
the amount of about >3,000. The
invested funds of the Convention
amount to >21,020.19.
SHORT OR LONG PASTORATES.
SHOULD PASTORS HASTILY RESIGM BE-
CAUSE OF A MINORITY OP-
POSITION ?
[A paper prepared by Rev. A. W.
Lamar for the Pastor’s Conference
of Nebraska Baptist State Conven
tion, Oct. 27th 1891].
There was a time when I thought
I knew all about this subject. But,
a few years since, I began to have
some sneaking misgivings that per
haps there were some things about
it that I did not quite understand-
Within the past year I discovered
that I knew far less tlnfn I thought
I did. Within recent months my
understanding of it has grown beau
tifully less. And, since I have been
put upon the programme for a paper
on this subject, I have almost reach
ed the conclusion that I know noth
ing about It. Nevertheless, as it is
true that “even a fool may give a
wise man good advice;” and as it is
possible that, within the chaos of my
mind there may be some thoughts
worthy of bringing into order, and
thoughts that may be helpful to
some perplexed pastor and church I
shall utter myself as best I can.
It must be manifest to the readers
of our religious journals that there
is a prevalence of short pastorates-
Every paper that reaches our hemes,
and every breeze that blows, bears
sad tidings .of recognitions and pas
toral changes. The number and the
prominence, both of churches and
pastors suffering from frequent
changes is appalling indeed. They
indicate that we are approaching a
state of things which will greatly
militate against the growth of min
isters, and the spirituality and the
material prosperity of the churches.
To thoughtful and devout Christians
this aspect of things is cause for
great alarm. It seems there should
bo such a general awakening as shall
lead us to inquire into the cause,
tho evil and the remedy for short
pastorates.
Now, as to tho cause, or causes of
those frequent changes. Truth com
pels mo to declare that the cause of
these changes is not infrequent with
the pastors themselves. They have
not a sufficiently exalted view of
tho sacredness of tho pastoral rela
tionship and of tho permanency that
should characterize it. They regard
each pastotato as tho stepping-stone
to something better, and they work
with an eye On some more prominent
and conspicuous field. Hence they
do not give to the place which they
occupy the best of heart, mind and
strength of which they are capable.
They show ambitions that are not
lawful, egotisms that are offensive,
criticisms that are not promotive of
peace, and a laziness that is unpar
donable in a Christian minister. So
soon as discouragements in a hard
field cross their path and they find
they cannot have everything their
own way, they develop a careless
ness and indifference that becomes
manifest to their best supporters. Or,
if a little unusual success attends
their work, in contrast to tho seem,
ing failure of their predecessor, they
take undue credit to themselves, and
fancy they could fill any place in tho
gift of the churches and that they
are not duly appreciated. And so a
spirit of restlessness and morbid am
bition for change begins to sway
them. As another has said, “It is a
sad misfortune that such men do not
see that a big toad in a little puddle
is far more sightly than a little toad
in a big puddle.” If such brethren
would open their eyes wide and get
a healthy view of themselves they
would abide more contented and
useful in the field to which God's
providence had assigned them, and
endeavor to work out the best pos
sible results for him where they are.
This portraiture is not overdrawn.
U e can all think of some men whom
it faithfully describes, and we do
not Wonder that such men cannot
tarry long with a church that is
worthy of a faithful minister of Jesus
Christ. But, while wo think of this
as applicable to some others, let us
be critically honest concerning onr
own heart and life, and see if tho
man described herein does not live
in intimate and daily association with
ourselves.
I think it can bo fairly assorted
that the causes of these short pasto
rates do not lie mainly with the
pastor. They as a rule are not the
culpable party. In a wide observa
tion during twenty years with hun
dreds of churches and pastors, I can
truly say, that, usually it is not the
pastors who desire or aro the cause
of these frequent changes. From
whence then come the influences
that disrupt the pastorate? Truth
and sicerity impel me to say that
the source of these disturbances that
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 24. 1892.
break up pastorates, is a disobedi
ent, captious and factious minority.
They infest nearly all our churches.
They dominate the faithful and de
feat the success and prevent the
continuance of the pastorate. Any
one who takes the pains to go into
an extended investigation will be
thoroughly convinced that it is rare
ly a majority who desire change in
the pastorate. This disobodient mi
nority demand it, and though the
majority outnumber them ten, or
fifty to one, they yield for peace
sake and suffer a good and faithful
pastor to be driven off. This is to
day one of file great crimes of tho
Christian churches. They harbor,
condone and retain in their midst “a
clique of gaunt gourmands and
grieved delinquents who organize
around ambitions and enmities to
unsettle the pastor and hinder the
church.” It does not matter that
the pastor is faithful, that
he is consecrated, that he is
patient, that he is considerate,
that he is eloquent, studious, learned
and commands the respect of the
community. It does not matter
that he has built up the congrega
tion and increased the membership.
This faction have determined that
he shall go if they can bring it about.
They have determined to take off
his pastoral head, and so with pious
tone and in the name of religion and
in the interest of the church, they
begin and prosecute the work of de
capitation. They undermine, back
bite, slander and obstruct the pastor
till by and by in disheartment he
hands in his resignation.
Thus after we have analyzed all
other causes we must come back to
this and say that a disobedient and
factious minority is the chief cause
of short pastorates. Indeed, one of
tho most hopeless and discouraging
things connected with church life is
the widespread extent with which
the churches are afflicted by this mi
nority disease. The church in
which there can be found no minor
ity, opposing, undermining and
working against the pastor’s influ
ence, is one in many. It seems use
less for the average pastor to leave
one church because of such minori
ty with any hope of being delivered
from it in tho next church to which
he shall go. He will almost certain
ly, sooner or later, discover a simi
lar state of things in his next charge.
The unwisdom, the wrong, the guilt
and the wickedness of this thing
cannot be too severely condemned
and we must believe that the divine
Lord will hold the churches account
able for the mischief they are per
mitting to be wrought out by this
process.
As another has said: “Look at
the diluted, discouraged and impov
erished ministry that comes from
this process. Look at the distracted
weak and hindered churches; look
at the divided Christian households
look at tho world of non-Christians
who distrust tho honesty and the
sincerety of those who profess to be
guided by the Holy Spirit in thoir
conduct.” Ono does not wonder
that they, not having a personal ex
perience of saving grace should lose
faith in tho churches. And more
than this not a few of God’s loving
and faithful and gifted ministers
have by reason of the suffering they
have experienced at the hands of the
churches been taken from the minis
try in hopeless despair. Some have
been driven to the insane asylum,
and some have died of broken
hearts.
Doe* the resignation and retire
ment of the pastor heal this disease
and pronounce harmony and pros
perity in the church? Manisestly
not. In nine cases out of ten, veri
ly not. It is almost tho unanimous
experience of the majority in a
church that, when for peace
sake, they have allowed the
factious minority to drive out
tho faithful pastor, the peace pur
chased thereby is only temporary.
Only a symptom of tho disease has
been reached by tho pastor's resig
nation, while tho disease itself has
deepened in violence and multiplied
symptoms. Tho hasty resignation
of the pastor because as tho factious
minority and tho. consent of the
church thereto is not the way God
would have it be, and for manifest
reasons.
First, the settlement of a pastor,
over a Baptist clfurch at least,has al
ways been regarded as an event that
has been consummated in answer to
prayer. Our churches believe, and
our ministers believe in divine prov
idence in the case ; hence the chief
Shepherd was consulted and it was
expected that he would direct in
the settlement of the under-shepherd.
Yet, judging from the history of
some pastoral settlements and un-
settlements it seems as though Ce
cil was right when he said, “The
Christian often thinks, and schemes
and talks like a practical atheist.” If
there has been this attitude of re
liance on divine Providence, how
dare the church, after she has asked
God in faith to send a man after His
own heart—how dare she go to work
and size him up after her own heart?
Upon what principle has she a right
to sum up his points, add up his
graces and subtract his blemishes,”
instead of tying to supplement by
extra prayer and co-operation and
love his weak points, and thus ena
ble him to succeed with God’s work.
They begin to decide that God made
a mistake, and they asSume that now
they understand the situation better
than He who created it, and there,
fore without really and seriously
consulting God they determine that
a change is necessary, and they let
the minority hastily bring it about.
It is my earnest conviction, and
one that is confirmed with each
year’s observation, that, in nine
cases out of ten. neither the church
nor the pastor has any right to allow
a factious minority to dissolve the re
lationship that was begun and con
summated in prayer, and that had
the approval of God upon it. But
it will be asked, “Has the minority
no rights in such matters?” I answer
yes; they have the right to retire
and leave the church in peace to
work out the will of God with the
church and pastor, or they have
a right to acquiesce in God’s plan
for themselves and for the church,
and to abide in peace. But there
is a minority which the church and
pastor alike are bound to respect,
and are bound to listen to concerning
the severauce of the pastoral rela
tion, namely: the spiritual, praying
co-operating, faithful, prayer-meet
ing minority. In every church
there is this minority. If they come
to feel the conviction that God will
be honored, and His cause promoted
in the pastoral relations—pastor and
church had better listen to them.
Now and then, as we see that, both
on account of the divine providence
in the case, and because of the fact
that hasty changes on account of the
factious minority do not promote the
welfare and peace of the church,
what is the remedy? I answer:
First, If'th church and pastor
should cit*" deeper insight into,
and a better understanding of, the
pastoral relation. The design for
their union should be more clearly
comprehended. It should be xvell
understood that it is not merely to
attract a congregation, but to teach
the word, to win souls to Christ, to
build them up in Christ’s own char
acter and lead them into His service.
There must be real acceptance on
the part of the church of the fact
that God's ministers are earthen ves
sels, and that God has never had any
I perfect men to do His work. Hence,
instead of dismissing tho pastor on
account of defects in his personality,
they should by loving efforts seek to
improve him.
Second, the church should look
well after the disobedient and fac
tious minority and take position
solidly against them and their doings.
It will be fouift that the very heart
of their opposition is in the spirit of
disobedience to pastoral and church
authority. They seem to think that
when the church has decided upon
a thing, or the pastor has set in op
eration his plans for the welfare of
the church, they are at liberty to
kick, to thwart, to complain, to criti
cise at pleasure and obstruct. A
firm, loving, courageous and prompt
dealing with such would often dissi
pate the minority entirely, or would
so disarm them, and so alarm them
that they would be brought to
respectful obedience. An illustra
tion of this in point: A church
recently called a pastor. There was
one family which very decidedly
opposed the call. They said if you
call him we will leave tho church.
But tho spiritual, working people of
tho church believed God approved
the call, so they extended it, and by
a unanimous vote. They sought to
make tho vote unanimous, but this
family refused to acquiesce in tho
decision of tho church. This church
solidly, lovingly' and promptly said,
“Very well, we shall count you out.’*
This discipline was healthy. It
brought this family to serious th ought
and to reconciliation. However, in
stead of this it is common for chu reli
es to allow a factious minority to do
their dirty work unmolested. It is
commonly the samii that the deacons
and pastor, and some influential
members know that such faction is
working harm to the welfare of the
church and pastor. But they arc
all so lacking in gift and grace that
for the sake of a false peace they
left this minority work unhindered.
The time has come for the church to
insist that a pastor shall do his duty
as a Christian and as a minister to a
minority opposition. And when he
has so done, if they fail to accept
his loving service in obedience to
the law of God, they should speak
in terms to that factious minority
that they cannot fail to understand-
This, and not hasty resignations,
seem to me to be the only remedy
for the destruction of these minori
ties that infest our churches with
their blighting influence.
May God give our churches and
pastors xvisdom to see this truth, and
grit and grace to put it into execu
tion.
guntlaix-scltuul
WORK AMONG THE GENTILES.
Lesson for Sunday Dec. 4th, 1892.
Scripture Lesson: Acts 14: 8-22.
Motto Text :—“ln his name
shall the Gentiles trust.” Matt. 12 :
21.
introduction.
Paul and Barnabas are now com
ing to the end of the first missiona.
ry journey. Some of the places they
have visited will be visited again
on their return that the work begun
may be more firmly established-
This first journey occupies about
two years. The apostles have labor
ed with earnest diligence. They
have met opposition at almost every
turn, opposition, too, of the most bit
ter and relentless kind. According
to human standards their success
might be accounted as meagre. Yet
there is report of disciples being won
in almost every place where they
preached. The faithfulness and
steadfastness of Paul and Barnabas,
in the face of so much opposition,
are worthy of the highest honor.
But that which is to be prized even
above the faithful service of these
men is the wonderful adaptation of
the Gospel to all the varying needs
of a lost, sinful race. The opportu
nity was given, the test was applied,
and the power of the Gospel was
made manifest to overthrow whatev
er was vain and evil, and give in the
place thereof that which was true
and good and abiding.
At Lystra, the place of our pres
ent lesson, there are three principal
foes to be encountered, physical in
firmity, heathen superstition, and
Jewish prejudice.
EXPOSITION.
I. Miracle of Healing
Wrought.—Vs. 8-10. There were
perhaps but few Jews at Lystra as
no mention is made of any syna
gogue there. We may conclude that
Paul preached in some market place
or thoroughfare of the city where
the people would most naturally be
gathered together. The condition
of the man who was healed is de.
scribed somewhat minutely. He
was impopent in his feet, a crip
ple, HAD NEVER WALKED. This
would show the helplessness of bis
case as other remedies had doubt
less been exhausted. It would show
the reality of the affliction as no pre
tense could so long have been sus
tained. That his case was well
known, too, cannot be questioned.
He heard Paul preach, more than
once perhaps. Faith was kindled
within his heart, and this was the
only condition necessary to his heal,
ing. The theme of Paul’s preach
ing had doubtless been, as at all
times, the death and resurrection of
Christ. In response to divinely
given perception and impulse he
commands the lame man to walk.
The command of the one and the
faith of the other *re alike honored
of the Lord. In the strength that
comes through faith and the Spirit
of obedience the man is enabled to
leap and walk. The infirmity hav
ing been of such long standing and
so well known, the reality of the
miracle must at once have become
manifest to all the city.
11. Heathen Superstition Ar
rayed Against the Gospel.—Vs.
11-18. The Gospel has marked pow
er to disclose the worst that is in
man. The people of Lystra are
worshippers of strange gods, and the
miracle wrought by Paul brings
forth a painful manifestation of this
superstition. Jupiter was to them
the highest and mightiest of the
Olympian gods, reputed as the pow
erful ruler of tho world, tho father of
gods and men. Mercurius was
regarded as the God of eloquence.
A mythical tradition was current
among those people that these two
gods had once visited that region.
So Jupiter was held as the guardian
deity of the city, and his image or
temple was before the gates of the
city. So tho excited crowds con-
1893
The Baptist Teacher.
It is confidently believed that Volume XXIV. of The Baptist Teach
er will be far ahead.of any of its predecessors in all that is required to furnish
A Complete Help to Sunday-school workers. The best writers that can
be secured have been engaged as contributors to its several departments.
Attention is therefore directed with pleasure to the features of value in the
BAPTIST TEACHER FOR 1893.
I. Enlargement. In order to make room for the new department
upon Inductive Teaching, to run parallel with the new Inductive Quar<
terly, the Rev. W. G. Fennell will have at command an additional foul
pages each month, which will make each issue fifty-two pages, instead ol
forty-eight, as heretofore. •
11. Colored maps and several diagrams in preparation, will form
frontispieces of great value.
HL The editorial articles will discuss live topics of the day in the
same style that has made The Baptist Teacher noted for its brightness
and pungency.
IV. The Lesson Expositions will be by two of the best writers in
Baptist ranks; Prof. B. C. Taylor. D. D., of Crozer Theological Seminary,
and Prof. 11. 11. Harris, D. D., LL.D., of Richmond College. This depart
ment is enriched by other writers, as follows: Rev. P. S. Henson, D. D.,
gives Lesson Topics ; Mr. W. Taylor Smith, 8.A., of Manchester, England,
treats of Orientalisms in each lesson; Mrs. M. G. Remedy gives sugges
tions for teaching the lesson to intermediate, and also to Primary classes;
Drs. Taylor and Harris add hints to teachers of advanced classes, and tho
Rev. W. G. Fennell gives notes applying to the Inductive studies. The
Analyses, the Questions, the Bible Dictionary, and the Review
Hints complete the means of help to the teacher, so far as one publication
can do this.
V. A summary of doctrines in the lessons of each quarter will ba
furnishhd by Pres. Chas. Manly, D. D., of Furman University’; Pres. H. G.
We ston,D. D., LL. D., of Crozer Theological Seminary; Prof. Howard
Osgood, D. D., of Rochester Theological Seminary; Pres. John A. Broadus 1
D. D., LL. D., of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’.
VI. Character sketches of persons named in the lessons will includei
Cyrus, by Prof. A. E. Waffle, D. D,
Mordecai, by John Humpstone,!). D.
The man of Uz, by W. Taylor Smith,
B. A.
Job and his three friends, by Lansing
Burrows, D. D.
Saul of Tarsus, by the Rev. C. A.
Steeves.
VII. Sketches of authors and their books occuring in the course of
the lessons:
Haggai and his book, by Prof. G. B.
Moore, D. 1).
Zachariah and his book, by Prof. H.
IL Harris. LL. D.
Ezra and Ezra, by the Rev. H. O.
Rowlands.
VIII. General Survey of book'
The book of Esther, by Prof. E. Hul
bert, D. D.
The Book of Job, by 11. F. Colbv,
D. D.
The book of Proverbs, 11. A. Tupper,
Jr., D. D.
The Book of Ecclesiastes, by W. T.
Chase, D. D.
The Book of Romans, by W. S.
Apsey, D. D.
IX. Other sidelights npon the lessons
Condition of the Jews During Cap
tivity, by A. K. Parker, D. I).
Significance of the Sabbath, by Prof.
B. C. Taylor, 1). D.
The Duty of Christians as to Tem
perance, by Edward Judson, D. D.
The Period of Silence, by Pres. J.
A. Broadus, D. D., LL. D.
The View from Mars Hill, by Prof.
H. IL Harris, LL. D.
X. A short series of doctrinal studies, including Faith, Repentance
and Regeneration, by Prof. F. 11. Kerfoot, D. D.
XL Practical articles upon various phases of Sunday-shool manage
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C ' The production of The Baptist Teacher for 1893 will require
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elude that they are again honored by
a visit of these gods in the persons
of Paul and Barnabas, and prefer to
offer unto them sacrifice. The faith
ful apostles are horrified at such
demonstration. They were prompt
in rejecting the proffered worship
jpid in showing their thorough dis
approbation of it. They reason with
the crowds. Why do these
things ? They declare their own
infirmities. They plead with the
people to turn away from such vani
ties unto the living God. Note the
basis of Paul’s argument here as
differing from that of his speeches
to the Jews and Jewish proselytes.
An acceptance and a knowledge of
the Scriptures is assured when he
speaks to Jews, and so he reasons
from the Scripture that Jesus is the
Christ. But an appeal to the Script
ures before these Gentiles would be
in vain, as they are without a knowl
edge of them. So by lessons from
natural theology he would teach
of Goa.
111, Jewish Prejudice Makes
renewed Assault.—Vs. 19-22.
With what intense bitterness do the
Jews hate Paul. But it is to be ex
pected in a measure, for his work
assails their very foundation. They
follow him from place to place.
They are entirely overcome by their
own passions. They seek not to an
swer Paul’s arguments with counter
arguments, but to do him personal
injury by pelting him with stones.
The frustration of the Lystrians in
their purpase to do sacrifice seems to
have put them in a mood to be stirr
ed up by malicious Jews, and they
join together in a murderous assault.
They left him as dead. They were
some faithful disciples about him,
and the Lord forsook him not. On
the morrow he goes forward in Ins
Paul, the Christian, by L. A. Cran
dall, D. D.
Paul, the Roman citizen, by J. T.
Christian, D. D.
Agrippa and Festus, by Prof. P. A.
Nordell, D. D.
Nehemiah and his record, by J. W
Bozeman. D. D.
Malachi and his book, by the Rev.
Charles 11. Hobart.
S included in the course of the lessons.
Epistles to the Corinthians, by tha
Rev. W. 11. Geistweit.
Epistle to the Ephesians, by Prof. A.
F. Fleet, LL. D.
Epistle to the Colossians, by the Rev.
1). D. McLaurin.
Epistles of Peter, by Prof. Otis T.
Mason.
Epistle of James, by R. S. MacAr
thur, D. D.
Rome, the Imperial City, by Prof.
W. L. Poteet.
. The Hope of Israel, by the Rev.
Charles Winbigler.
The Law and Siu, by W. Pope Yea
man, D. D.
, The Law and Grace, by the Rev.
Leighton Williams.
The Star in the East,by George Dana
Boardman, D. D., LL. D.
work somewhat as though nothing
had happened, and soon when the
occasion comes for him to re-visit
Lystra he is nothing daunted by tho
ill treatment formerly accorded him
there. That he returned byway of
Lystra when his work was that o|
confirming shows that some disci,
pies wore won there. They were
about him when the Jews had left
him for dead. His work there had
not been in vain. We may well be
lieve that Timothy was among the
number of his first converts at Lys
tra. See Acts 16 :1 and 2 Tim. 8 |
11. Had there been nothin# more
accomplished there than the finding
of Timothy this of itself would be a
liberal measure of success.
Paul regarded tribulation as a neo.
essary part of what he had, to endure
to the accomplishment of "his work.
It took him not by surprise whenev*
er it came. He counted it not an
evil. He accepted it as of God’s ap
pointment, and patiently endured it
for God’s glory.
SUGGESTIONS.
1. A subject of unfailing interest
and importance is the relation which
work for the bodies of men is to sus
tain to that which concerns their
souls’ welfare. The religion that
neglects to care for the physical
needs of suffering can have strong
hold upon the heart.)
2. Honor and sacrifice were offer
ed to Paul and Barnabas as though
they were gods. There is but little
danger that we shall many of us be
permitted to enter this temptation.
Not ns gods, but as men wo receive
honors however which are not ours.
To God, should be all the glory.
8. Ihe contrast as presented be
tween v. 13 and v. 19 is an interest
mg one as showing the fickleness of
the world. To-day they bring gar
ands, tomorrow they cast stones.