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The BiblicaRecorder; 4' Hie Biblical KecofderP PUBLISHED: EVERY WEDNE8D AY EDWARDS, BROUGHTON & CO., RALEIOH.K.C. 0 He: Cor. Hargett and Salisbury Sts. 1KRM3 OF SUBSCBIPllOIf : One copy, one rear,:. . . '. $3 00 One copy, six months, 1 00 CInbe of fire,... 10 00 Q ubs of ten, ............... . . . .20 00 Remittance mast be sent by. Registered Letter, Poet office Order, Express or Draft, payable to the order of the Publishers. mteraatioiial Simftay Sctoiil lessoBci SECOND QUARTER, 183. . Lesson X. June 3. AT ANTIOCH. I Acta ISi 13-18, 43-53. 13. Now when Paul sad his company loosed from Piphos, i hey came to Peres is Pamphylia: and John departing from tbem returned to Jeru salem. 14. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the sj aagof ae on the Sabbath-day and sat down. lb. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers t( the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word ot exhortation for the people, y on. 16. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his band said: Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 43. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious prose 1 tea follow ed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44. And the next Sabbath-day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God 45. But when the Jews taw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 4ft. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourssrres unworthy of everlasting life, to, we turn to the Gentiles. 47. For so hath the Lord commanded Xis, say ing, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for a salvation unto the ends of the earth. 43. And when the Genti es heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordain-d to eternal life believed. 49. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region 50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and hon orable women, and the chief men of the city and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51. But they shook oS the dust of their feet against them, and came into Iconium. 52. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. GOLDEN TEXT. "And the word of the Lord was publish ed throughout all the region.' HOME STUDIES. The Lesson,. Acts 13: 13-16. 43-52. Paul's Sermon Acta 13: 17 31. M T. W. T. F. S. 8. Paul's Sermon, .Acts 23: 32 42. Jews First, Turning to Gentiles . . Election, Purpose and Promise. . .. Rom. 9:1-16. . ...Isa. ch. 42. ..Eph. 1:114. . .John 6: 3547. (From theBaptist Teacher.) THE LESSON. BY EDWARD & TAYLOR, D. D. ANALYSIS. First Sabbath m Antioch. 13 16, 43. I, 1. We note the progress of this first mis sionary journey from fapnos to rerga; John's defection and return; Paul and Bar nabas go to Antioch. 2. Their modest entrance into the syna- eozue: the courteous invitation to speak; Paul responds Mark the facilities afford ed by the prevalence of synagogues, for the spread of the gospel. 3. The effects of Paul's sermon; invited to sneak aeain next Sabbath: "many" de si rice further instruction; these exhorted to continue in the grace of God.' 41. Thk Secokd Sabbath. 44-52. 1. A srreat crowd "to bear the word of God"; this excites the envy of the Jews; and opposition to the Word. 2. The response of the apostles; the gos oel offered first to the. Jew; the rejecter of Christ condemns himself; turning to the Gentiles: this, in obedience to the com mand of God in the Old Testament; the e oe Del meant for "the ends of the earth. 3. The Gentiles glad; sovereign and elect ing grace; the joyful converts spreaaing the Word throughout all that region. 4. Persecution through the great ones of the citv : the missionaries expelled; the converts rejoicing in the midst of persecu tion, being filled witn tne uoiy unosi NOTES. V. 13. Paul and hie company. Formerly it wsa Barnabas and Saul; but henceforth Paul is the leader. Perga of j omphilia. Paraphilia was one of tbe soutnern pro vinces of Asia Minor, on the o-ast of the Mediterranean; and Perga was at thia t'me iu capital, situated on the river Ceatrus, about seven miles inland - iremtne sea. From Papboe. in Cyprus, to this point, the missionary ship sailed Northwest. Here the apostles landed, ' but . apparently made no stay. It is noticed that here John Mark (see v. 5 of last lesson) left them, returning to Jerusalem. The reasons are not given; but whatever tbey were, they were deemed insufficient bv Paul, who, in consequence. afterwards refused to accept him as a com- nanion in the work (xv. 38) It has been su nested that Mark may. have been leal ous for his kinsmaa, Barnabas, who started leader, but w'aajooo overshadowed O. . - In . after times Markvregained out as bv PauL Paul's favor. See Col 4: 10; IX Tim. 4:11. Vs. 14 16. Lesving-Perga, Paul and Bar nahaa came to Antioch in Puidio. The rea son for not tarrying at Perga is thought to be that the summer neats naa oegun, ana that tbe people were leaving tbe plains for the cooler highlands. Pisidia was the pro- Tince directly north of Pamphylia, and An ticch at its extreme northren point; so that their loiirnev was some eighty or one nun -dred miles, and through a region of rug&ed -mountain passer, wnere rivers swouen.oy melting snows, often swept tbe roads, and where highwaymen lurked." The "perils of waters" (livers), and 4 perils of robber1 of IL Cor. 11; 28, may refer to this Jour ney. . This Antioch of Pisidia, so called to distinguish it from tbe ereater Antoch from which, they started, was a city of consider able importance, and a Roman colony. On v. Rahhaih rlnv folUwine- their arrival ther attended the one synagogue of the city, and quietly took their seats, not among tne ran t or elders, but among the people. .But aomethinr In their appearance attracted the ' attention of the rultrt of the tynagogue; and ftp aeWtinnar or lessons were read from the law (the Pentateuch), and the prophet including the rest of ; the Old Testament Hrrintnres.1 thev invited Paul and Kama 1 ha if thev had anv word of exhortation to ' speak. To this invitation- Paul, rising la ; bis place and-waving his hand lor attention, at once responded. . This irst recorded ser i mnn of hiaia not included hf the Lesson. ' But we notice his conciliatory opening iu addressing the two i classes present the men ofltrad (Jews), and ye that fear God i (proselytes from among the Gentiles). I The latter bad been converted from heathenism to Jehovah worshio. Following tbe ex ample of Stephen, Paul gave a brief sketch , of early Jewish history down to the time of David.: Then he told them of ''great Da id's greater Son"; how be for' whom they : looked had-come a a Saviour: bad -been rejected and slain, according to prophecy j - vas risen from the dead; and through mm alone there was forgiveness of sins; closing 'with a solemn warning to such as rejected sum. The Organ of Volume 47. ; V. 43. So great was the impression made, that the apostles were Invited to f peak again the next Sabbath; and when the con gregation was dismissed, many of th Jew and , reUgiouM protlytet foiltmed (Am de siring farther instruction. These, the apos tles persuaded to confuMte in (As grae$ of God. Not trusting to their obedience of the law, bat solely in the righteousness ef Christ . Vs. 44, 45: Paul's sermon becomes the town talk; and, no doubt, during the week the aiiosUes taught the Word as they had opportunity. Hence, the next Sabbath day the whole cit? turned out to bear tbem. Envy Jealousy. The old spirit of exclu fiTistn took ' alarm, as the Jews saw the Gentiles coming to bear the good : news. Contradicting and biatpheming The? em ployed denounciation and sneers, and slan derous words for arguments. V 46. Waxed bold.- Spoke out boldly.: And it required great boldness to utter such a hated and revolutionising sentiment an that which follows, and to do it in the face of the self-righteous company if was neeemary, etc; To the Jew first (Rom. U 16). So Christ commanded (Luke 24:47). JHtt it (thrust ityfrom you. Dimlaintng to be, saved through the righteousness f auother, and scornine a salvation which others may share. Judge ytmrtelve - worthy of eterlatting It. By reject! tig the only way or life. 1 be sinner s act . to re jecting Christ, is his self pronounced con demnation; for "there is none other name." We turn to f GeiUUet The fitst formal declaration of salvation as banded over to the heathen. So hath the Lord commanded. This turning away from the Jew to the Gentile was net from an impulse of anger. bqt was in obedience to prophecy (lsa 49e6). They be re a world-wide gospel. which must go to (As end of the earth. Vs. 48, 4V. There was ley among the Gentiles, though not all of them received the truth. A many at were ordained to eternal life believed. So, also. New Version. aqd the Version of the Bible Unien. it cannot be construed to mean ttlf-appointed as those that marshaled thetnteloe to go m the way of life. It refers to Him who moves the besrt and mind to faith accord ing to his own purpose and electing grace. Wat puotuhea (spread), liy the new con verts. Vs. 50-62. Dttout. Called so because they were Jewish proselytes. Honorable. Referring to tneir sccial rana, ss, pernnps. wives of the chief men of the city, who join ed with them in the perucution agnintt Paul and Barnabat. Shook off the duet as Christ commanded (Matt. x. 14). The diedplee. At Antioch, wno shared in the persecution, ruled mta joy. in tne miaai of their suffering for Christ's sake; the cause being that they were jUi;d with the Holy Qhoet. SUGGESTED LESSONS. 1. There is hope for the backslider, as before seen in Peter's case, and now in John Mark's. Though he ran away from duty at Perga, he lived to write a Gospel, and to be "profitable for the ministry." (LL Tim. 4:11.) 2. Yet it is dangerous to make one mis step in the Christian course; and we should heed Paul's exhortation to "continue In the grace of God." 3. We have, in mis wesson, anomer il lustration of the truth that "envy is the rottenness of tbe bones. (Prov. 14:30) 4. To speak plain and unpleasant truth to a congregation, sometimes requires as much boldness now as in Paul's day. 5. Everv unbeliever passes tbe judgment of condemnation upon himself. Tbe judg ment of the last day will but confirm it. 6. Let us bless Uod lor a salvation meant for "the ends of tbe earth"; and let us do our best to send it there; for our religion is of such a nature that "tbe more we export, th mnn v have at heme. 7. The "honorable women." and "cbiel men of the city," were not among tbe con verts. '"Not many wise men. not many mtirii v not manv noble are called, oee l- B J ' 8. A rehf ion which can fill the heart witn joy even in tbe midst or persecutions, is oe yond all price. ON THE HOLT SPIRIT. BY FRED W. BASON. As fully, aa epacc permitted,; snoke. in mv last article, on tbe per Bonahty of the Holy Spirit and made mmA nfonnce to His work. lie ; it was who brooded over cbaos who moved a Don the face of the waters, and ont of confusion brought order, r ut of darkness brought Hgkt; and He. with the Father and the bon, made man in the Divine image to be at once a priest and a servant in the temple of natare. i Bat this was not all, nor has He rAf( from his working. Unto Him has been committed all tbe aSairs or. Providence, and he is now the active of this world. ! We are informed in the Holy Bible I that God has given onto Jesus Christ I tne management of this world "The Father has committed all thines unto, the , Son." Bat Jesus does not rovern in his : own person He has ascended to tne rignt nana ui the ' -Father where he ef er liveth to make intercession for.: his saints; and ia rtn lonirer on the earth. And He has entrusted all the management of th world to the HolV Spirit, who is his equaUnll things t - TIevartheless I tell you the truth t It is vrwirllnt for vou that I go away: for if eo not away ma vniiusr w unto you; out if I depart, I will send him inii nfn ne IB come, ub wm icuivtv the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment Jno.-16:7, a '3 ,' wfe i ! ! All this has come to; pass. Christ haa returned to heaTen and amid the inlendors of eternity is sitting on hia "mediatorial throne; and this earth Is under the charge of the Holy spirit, his representative, is under his gov ernment,: hit : management; and not only is it kept in iu movement safe amid the order of a "peopled hnif ersej". but all of the events in it de pend upon him. He influences men's hearts- and a guides their steps. : He controls' men's thonghts and turiis them1 aahewillsHe' keeps the wickedness of v the i s wicked i,within bounds, just as he keeps :the proud, waves of tho sea within their bounds, Mod; as it is written, canses the wrath 9f trianHBTtri that-to; praise, tG6d and & tbe'xemaindervof that wratb restrains. I do. not know what would become of our, world if it were 'not for bim-t. Nihilism, that horri-. ble enemy to all that is good, threat 1 die North Carolina Baptists, Devoted to Bible j Religionj5. Education Literature Agriculture, and General Intelligence. ens the demolition of one great con tinent.' Heathenism, that monstrous device of Satan blights and curses another, and communism, wth a hundred other forms of evil, is spreading far and near all over oar land: and sometimes one trembles as he sees ve prevalence of these things. Bat really there is no occasion for alarm. Blessed be His name, the Holy Ghost is here, ruling and over ruling. He baa come from heaven to watch over human affairs, ai.d he la a sleepless, ever vigilant, omnipotent sentinel. All the multitudinous cir cumstances which make up human existence are controlled by Him, and the de-times of Christ s people are in b is al in igh ty hand s. Th is is th e d is- pensAtion of tht Holy Spirit. What lse r Why as it was in cre ation, hs it u in providencf, so is it il the kingdom ot grace. Everything in this kit gd m aept-nns on mm. No dihii tan say 'hat Jean is the L .id. but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Cor. 12:3). "It any man nave not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.' Rom. 8:9). The Father decrees re demption; the S n procures it; the lioly Spirit applies it. Me is tne in fallible physician who takes the peci us b.tlm of Gilead and applies it to our souls and without bis applica tion of that balm there is no hope. PRAY FOR THE SPIRIT. Standing upon an eminence on which he had been stationed the prophet gazed down the lonely val ley which stretched before him. It was as silent almost as the grave and not a living being could be seen. Yet, a very saddening spectacle was there presented. The valley was full of human bones, U pon the ground, as tar as Ezekiel's eyes could reach, human bones were scattered and piled neaps upon heaps bone scattered, pell, mell, in every direction and bleached and withered and dry and sapless thingc. Once that valley had been the theatre ot a tremedous connict, and armed men had .thronged its grass grown plain. Once those crags had echoed with the clash of swords and battle axes, and had resounded with the shout of battle, and tne wail- ings of the wounded and the agonized screams of the dying as they fell. Life and death had met there in dreadful collision and death bad won the nelvi. but long since had the struggle ended, and all was motionless and still. Summer had succeeded summer since that bloody time, and winter had followed winter with drencning rains, and many a year bad passed, and the unburied dead bad moulded away naught remained but bleached and withered and marrowless bones. Mournful sight ! " The brands still rested in their bony hands." With unspeakable emotions the prophet gazed upon them. And presently there.came a question startling and amazing to him: " Son of man, can these dry boues live ?" And then there came a com man I still more startling: "Sav unto thee bones O ve drv boneu. hear the Word of the Lord. Behold I will cau-e breath to come unto you, and ye shall live; and 1 wih lay sinews upon you, and will bring flesh upon yoa, and cover vou wnh . tkiu." Obedient tbe prophet spoke, and lo 1 at once there was a strange and awiui movement in that vallev ot death. Bone came to its fellow bone with miraculous motion; bone creeping to its fellow bone. And then the fl-sh began to appuar and bulge and form, arid the red sinews began to assume shap--; and soon over every form the skin spread itself, and human beings covered the ground. But they were . all dead men mute motionless- cold. Shuddering the prophet looked and as he looked another mandate sounded: "Prophesy unto the wind Son of man and say; thus saitn tne Lord: Come from the four winds O breath and breathe upon these slain and they shall' live." And scarcely had the echoes of the prophet's voice subsided, - when down the valley tbe quickening agent spread unseen, but swifter than the light ening flash, He fanned those oold and pallid faces and immediately they became glowing and warm. He kissed those icy lips and breathed Into those nostrils the breutn oi life, ana every corpse sprang up full of health and life That vision symbolized the Spirit's work. See Ezekiet 37: 11, 12. 13. 14. ' - ' " - Yes, yes. Born"of the. Spirit is every One who has an interest in Je suChrisl as much1 so 'born as the living child is born of bis mother. " Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot see tbe kingdom of God.". I am well , enough 1 aware of the saying that is written;;. Of His owo will be- aa.1 be "nawith the word of truth." There are some 'people in the world who wrest that Scripture and make it mean that the.trutb is the jole actor or ageut in a man's conversion and they fly off into a tremendous passion if anybody denies their declaration.,' e neea not oe ingntenea ioc witn all their abuse, they cannot hurt any body. ' Nor must we suffer ourselves to be misled. It ie not the word be gat, bnt HE begat with-it. . God'i word is not the efficient cause n re generation by any means. If it is, ;why are not all who read it regener a ted T . Nay, Nay, not' cause .but in- btrument os-u by the Spirit, aud at together without ir,flueuce unless so H-ed.;'A man might as well bold that tbat the axe used, is tbe actor, in the butting, down of the.tiee and not the woodman in whose itiands that - axe la htld, and whose strength does the work, - Be not deceived readey.; The whole powir of the Gospel,' as wi are . - i t . '.. j- 4 j"? : - AX d . ::r. .lt- RALEIGH,: K C, WEDNESDAY, MAT 23, repeatedly . informed in the ..Holy Book itself, lies in the demonstration of the Holy Spirit Without Mm to apply the truth; to open the eyes ot our minds, and to enable, us savingly" o understand the things that are therein, the Bible is a dead letter. ' . t - v. PRAT FOR THE SPIRIT. .i ' I repeat, t Every one in the king-- dom is born of the Spirit1 More. 2very one converted is quickened- J e. made alive from nis' dtrath in trespasses and LBins by tno power of this same Spirit; as much so as the, dead Lazarus was when he came out of the tomb in obedience to the omnipotent summons of the Son of r .1 ...... JTr i r jt-m. AaopuoD into tuo uitiue xatu- ilv and reconciliation unto reconciliation unto Uod be life of faith and fellowship with he Father justification and all that flows from the atonement of Jesus even the "nal glorification of the saint, and his entrance into heaven, comes through the operation of the Divineand Eternal Spirit. How solemnly emphatic are the declarations of the Biolt on this sub ject. We are all of ignorant as well as erring creatures, and like rnuip not knowing the way heavenward, we need to be instructed. It is tbe Spirit who instructs. (Jno. 16:13, 14). We need to be led. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:14). We de sire to please our lather who is in heaven. " Tbey that are in the flesh cannot please God, but they that are in the eptnt." (liom. 8:8). we come sometimes with a great sense of want but being unable to frame oar peti tions "we know not what we should pray for as we ought." Notwithstand ing we do ask, and although it is in broken utterances, and with a stam mering, faltering tongue, tne bless ing comes; because "the Spirit him self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Bom. 8:26). j Why, the distinguishing badge or the faithful followers of Jesus, that by which they are known in heaven and recognized on earth as the sons of God and heirs of promise is the possession of the Sp;rit, from whom spring all their strength, all their graces, all their accomplishments, all their beauty, all their joys. Without Him they would be poor and miser able and blind ' and naked, groping in the darkness and finding no light. He is to tbem what refreshing show ers are to the thirsty earth, causing them to be fruitful in every good word and work! and he gives tbem beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. All the rejoicing which they experience in prospect ot the blessedness at the Father's right hand proceeds from Him for he alene gives th. m earnests, refreshing foretastes of the glory which is to come. He dwells in them as a counsellor and guide, pnrifying them by his sanctifying grace and making them meet for the inheritance above. He is the Comforter as Jesus said he would be. He strengthens and helps those who are cast down, and even faith itself depends upon him as it is written: " No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost." Even this is not all. Some may wonder what more there can be. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost more yet re mains. We have laid away Borne of our loved to moulder in the ground; ant sometimes, as we think about them, a crushing sense of loss presses on our hearts. They were precious, very precious to us but that availed not. They loved Christ also and were lovod by him. Yet the arrow of the last enemy laid them low and now their bodies are covered over with the sod of i the grave; and may 'hap we have gone there many a time and mourned and longed that they might speak to us again. Then the thought comes frequently to us that we also must lie down in the ground and the dusty seal of death be on us. All this cannot but make us sad; and looked at by itself it is as dark as a starless night. I We need not so look at it. The work of the Holy Spirit rtaches even the dismal grave and de spoils even it of ; its power. ' ' ' But if the Spirit of him, that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in ydu.' Rom. "8:11. " . ! Part of His work is the resurrec tion. " To not only our souls does He apply the salvation which Christ pro cured, but1 to bur- bodies also,' and through. ' his agency shall death . be robbed of every trophy.' ', . , " ' Glorious Spirit How grand, how gracious, how comprehensive is his work it covers all the.way and meth od of salvation; n Woe be to that one who ignores, or 'disparages him; of ai Kri kiYftlf a atfan 'iThiof1 oKtva fcfr.'1 v -y u v yws ws v y VUSia Huyio -,iA ; 4 : ; Header have you. received the .Holy Spirit ? It is madness to put . aside the question as a thing Unimportant.. OtritleavettiOrlbell depends, As one has aa ; truly as: soemnly'. said: Soon; every other distinction' will fade away but that which is created by the possession of the Holy Spirit In "the great day which awaits Wall wnen uod snail arise to shake terribly the . earth, and Uhe destinies of all the race shall be ; sealed forever; ; our rig&t to life wm depend exclusively on tne .witness ox tne :Uoiy .tihost. IX one can bus am their' title as' Sous but those wbdnr! He has sealed nnto the day of redemption. ; To" aDnear without His signet on our' foreheads and bis impress on our hearts is to , awako to tbe resurrection, of damna- ton, to be doomed, to eyeriasting s lame and contempt.. The complex ion .of eternity .must depend' upon the: answer to the awful cquestion: ; Have ye received the Holy Ghost ?' If we have never known himif we have .despised religion: under - the name of fanaticism arid laughed at His work as the effervescence of on thusiasm unlimited duration will be the period assigned to lament our folly and bewaifthe consequences of our terrible delusion, "r Without the Spirit of the living God, we are dead --irrevocably dead dead for, tinie and dead for eternity, , , ; ;l . . .i i ri ..kumU OFF A pastob. -r - - i I have read P's article on this sub ject, in which he evidently intends to blame the churches for the brief stay of such pastors. My advice to tee churches is, by all means let such pastors go and don't grieve after them. What could the churches do in this matter I should like to know? Take a church of 600 members and city churches with brilliant preachers win average more than that and if 550 of that number are wise enough to know that the pastor needs to study nam ana must have unbroken time to study in, it is as much as can be expected of average people'. And the people are exceptional if 550 are con siderate enough not to think they can go to him whenever they have clmrch business on hand, though of course it won't do for every body to do it. .now what are tbe 550 wise and thoughtful ones to do with the fifty unwise and selfish ones? Who think it is the preacher's business to see them whenever it pleases them fco? Suppose it had been my pastor. whom the sisier went to about the Temper ance meeting in his study hours, in stead of his office hour as she ought to have done of course. What could I Jo about it? Ought I to leave my business and go stand at the door of the church below with a club, and brain t,hose who wish to go up to the studv? Shall I secure a ferocious dosr and turn him loose in the chnrch yard. chaining him up during office hours? T.iere are bound to be at least fifty in everv church whotan't be taught senao when sense contravenes their wishes. Suppose I give up my busi ness and stand on guard fr the preacher, does any body think I could stop one of that fifty by simple reas oning? The answer would be, "The pastor doesn t belong to you, so long aa he sees me if I go to his study, you've get no business to interfere." And so long as the preacher does see them if thy go what answer can I make? Can't P. -see the absurdity of talking as if the churches were to blame for the interruptions or could in any way prevent them? But the poster himself can prevent tbem very easily. All he needs is a little restraint on his curiosity, a lit tle bravery not to care if he gives of fence when doing his duty, and a lit tle feeling of responsibility to bis Master, to make the best use of the talents entrusted to his care.. Give him those three things and he ; can easily put a stop to the interruptions He will simply put the announcement of his office hour at the out side door of the chuich, lock that door after him lock his study door also and study in peace. There may ; be a knocking all day long down stairs for a few days, but up in his' study be won't bear it, and when the fifty find he is resolute in this thing, they'll quit going except in the hour he de signs for visitors. Dr. Albert Barnes used to lock the gate of the tall iron fence in front of his church in Phila delphia, lie maintained himself as pastor there for wasn't it fifty years? and found time to do an immense amount of writing besides." Let other pastors follow, his example the remedy is in their dwn hands. - The trouble with some men is they have too5 much curiosity.' "If they bear a knock they wonder who it. is ana, what be wants they , want, to know you know. Such men should lock the gate or a door so far off they can't hear the, knocking; '.Bat; the chief trouble is want of courage It is amazing the number of . moral cowards there are in this world it is amazing too, the number of pious names men can give moral cowardice to commend it to their consciences. A pastor who goes without one thought of his danger into the midst of pesti lence, or, who can face a pistol with out cnaoge or. coior or quiver or . eye lash will shrink in cowardice from the anger of ; one' whom be does no respect even, ana neglect bis duty lor fear of giving offense, -fle won't lock his doors and be resolutely deaf for rear some one' will ! be angry.'-' And vet he will acknowledge that n!s duty to his Master, .to himself, and to the 550 sensible members, require him to work at his studying but this sister with si complaint or that good brother witn a suggestion, win oe angry at being-shut .i-outjind KwUabu8e2 the, pastor to others and make a disturb ance. Therefore he'll allow his pree ions' ti me to .be wasted,1 preach his bi d tne course oXttwo or tuiee years.a somewhere: elselilf.he-ru ebritirant' and eloquent he knows there'll be o trouble about getting another church afany me;,bei wishes' W&ff if Bjess yon the pastqrj dn'.caiii it' cowardice don't even admit to .him-, self that; he shrinks from an gr' -and that his self esteem' is wounded. if all men tio'jiot ipeakwe;fhim,rHe calls it tender jregardif or the weak brother's f eehogs-rsnd in these gushy. -K. i i..:ri 4 . 'lUuf-U' Ji M ii vyP V; ... ...... . i ..... . ,,. . ... .7" W. . . , 1 - v - :i - . - ni , r 3T 1883; . ; 4ays when criminals are beings to be pitied and condoled with, such a name for his motive 1s supposed to more than make up' for neglected duty. It is unpleasant to be disliked and talked About, especially to those whose self esteem has been nourished by much adulation; Popularity is dear to any man's heart, but to make the tnoBt of bis time for the Master's service is none "the ; less imperative duty; But the probability is that after a few weeks of tearful tolling every body how the pastor wouldn't see vm when I had something; so: important o say,", the fifty will subside and for get their grevances. If tbey don't, what is a little anger and abuse to a. man who is "bidden to endure hard ness and to carry his cross after Jesus to be crucified, upon?. Hi very Southern boy is taught from his cradle that cowardice is shame ful in a man; let our boys be taught also that moral cowardice that Shrinking from doing what is right and best for fear of anger or abus? is more shameful still; and let this be especially emphasized in our Theo logical Seminaries. That is begin ning to cure the evil at the bottom. But there is another trouble with some of the ablest and most eloquent of our pastors. They are too anxious to make every sermon a model of thought and rhetor io as well as of Gospel ; truth. They bestow mora labor, on one sermon than they can afford. It is impossible for them to prepare two such sermons a week for years in succession. One of the finest things 1 ever heard in the pulpit was from quite a young man it was gospel-full and thought-full and every word of it as polished aaiiray s JSIegy. He told a friend of mine that he was three months preparing that sermon. Now he had no right to do that he ought to have put no more time than be could afford and , yet prepare two sermons a week. Jt isn't love for souls nor Jesus which makes a man work in that way a horse whioh ha fifty miles to go a day must not be urged to his highest speed the first hve. But in their ambition to be eloquent and draw large congrega tions men who scorn clap trap and are in earnest in preaching Christ crucified, will yet sometimes be too anxious to preach big sermons and give one effort more time that can bo afforded. Such a man won't stay more than three or four years in "a church no matter how much good he may be doing, nor how devoted that church is to him. Our church has learned a lesson which will last for some years I think and do it good. We had a pastor very pious, very studious, very faith ful as a pastor, with wonderful tact and executive ability. He was en tirely sound in doctrine and many souls were converted under his minis try. The congregation built up but slowly; however tbe growth was per manent, tbey came to stay. For our pastor was not eloquent and . no one came to be entertained. Those who came were diawn simply by tbe at tractive power of the Gospel of Christ earnestly preached, and that held such as came, thus to hear jt. As I said our pastor wasn't eloquent, nor did be ever preach big sermons, nor was the house crowded to hear him. And 'when we heard, of the crowds and the eloquence in other churches which pail no larger salaries than we did I admit wo coveted our neighbors' pastors. What was worse, some of ns allowed our pastor to see it and he left. Then we called one of the most eloquent men iu the denomination. Don't think thatone of us would sacrifice Gospel truth to any amount of attractiveness '. Our; new pastor was as simple and. godly, as earnest and faithful, as orthodox and as noble in every respect as the old one. His ministry was as muoh blessed and he discharged all his pastoral duties with as much tact and as great executive ability. With all that his sormons were marvels of fresh thought and hf illiaut eloquence. Our largo church was crowded night and morning and w were in a state of beatifio dcli?ht. There wasn't a single point in which we could imagine a possible improve meni in our pastor ana we were en- thusiastio in . our,. -devotion. One brother alone opposed our calling him in the first place because 'be never stayed more than three or four, years in a church and ' although 'a young man still had already , been pastor in a dozen cities, and : that brother still shook his head. He was as delighted as the rest but he said, ' "The pastor won't stick: .No m or tat man not even Spurgeon, could : prepare' two such masterly seruions in one week." He was right5 'in four years our pastor made some excuse and went on to anothercity. able, 'godly man, was inot so eloquent., The; congregation , dwindled, We christians ourselves bad got too much iq the habit of expecting to be enter-" tained instead 'of thinking ; solely, of. worshipping God and we showed the feeling the:ne w pastor feeling tbe .influences against him only. stayed a jear. The recond is gloomy a 'd dis cdurage.'and .wfewill leaye. If. heeRiwe;fnebVl9'fwHtto Bojoe to send ui one of his graduates assoon asbogradd ttes. We wish him teryjons, very energetic? tvery ; sf ur; tiou tirave eoodgh to lock his stndv 4oorj B ut .-not bt i I lian t nor el q aen t o ig iiicu vv tun fioqueub uusi- ness 4ts too v much .. like theatrkj'al 1'itarsw;lotbe) secured for one season; Better Hi little with rightebus-i veBBvTjthan gfeat'iTeveuueawithput ir--ssf; i Nxthbeu 46. PESTITUTI0N IN EASTERN CAS0- ,. UNA. Bro. Bailey. While there are live. hard working Baptists m almost ev ery section of the State, there is still room for, many more. .There is u pressing demand not only for a host of lay workers, but for preachers also. I Want to say just a few words abour the destitution in rEsstern Carolina, ind what I think are some of the rea sons why it has so long continued, and why there is so little being, done to build up the interest of our cause where it is so weak. The sections. I refer to are more especially portions of Martin, Edgecombe, Pitt,Beaufort, Washington, Hyde.and Pamlico conn ties. It has been but a Ehort while since I first' learned how weak the Baptists are in these places. Although I do not know all about these places, I know that church influence there is so weak that it is distressing to think of. Not only is the Baptist cause weak, but in some .sections referred to there is little, religious influence of any kind. But it is especially pun ful to note how little the Baptists are doing down there. In Martin county there are only 4 Baptist churches; in Pitt 3; in Beaufort 2; in Washington 2; in Edgecombe 1; in Green 1; in Hyde none; in Pamlico none. Dr. Huffham said: "There is not a Baptist church between Paatego and Liverpool." This much about the real condition of these sections. Now 4 few words as to why the destitution continues. Of course it takes preach ers to bnild up such places. The first reason, then, for our limited influence theie is a want of preachers. The second reason is, the Baptists in the more fortunate portions of the State do not know the real state of affairs n the East. The third reason is, those who do know about it, both laymen and ministers, ministers (spe cially, are too little concerned about laboring in these hard places. These places are bard indeed. But they m iy be possessed by earnest, faithful work. There is evidently a disposi tion on the part of many of the min isters to look for the easy places, an i leave the hard ones to be worked up jby some one else or not worked np it all. Some from the mountains and the middlo section of the State will say.perbaps, that it is not healthful in ,the East, and they might get sick and die down there. The people in some of these sections who have never at tended Sunday School and who eel- dom hear the gospel die too. I don't mean to complaiu at the ministers, but I think some of them could do more good in some of these lower counties than where they are. I no tice that Rev. C. W. Scarborough has had a call to Elizabeth City but has declined. Brother Scarborough is preaching near Wake Forest, where the atmosphere is already holy as compared with some , sections he might have a chance to work in if hi were down East We ueed good, able toon to build up destitute sections It is often the case that illiterate preachers are sent to build up desti lute places. This is a mistake some times, especially when the most in telligent influence is against us in these places. How many young preachers at Wake Forest now? There are about 30 1 suppose. Many of them spend their vacation in having good times and holding revivals with churches that are doing well and have jgtod pastors. Can't some of these brethren be induced to go down in these sections and work during next vacation? I think they would rejoice in it afterwards. I was present at the Roanoke Union held at Pactolns. an account of which E expected to have seen in the Recobdeb before. now. There was no church organized there Until the 5th 8anday in April. The ttoanoke Union has built a perfect little gem of a bouse there. . Dr. Huf bam organized the church and then preaehed the Dedicatory Sermon. Bro. Carrick of Greenville has it in Charge, and the outlook there is en couraging. j Cannot something be done to send more Baptist preaohers into Eastern uaroiina. lfl Jfl. Milliard Scotland Neck, May 14. 1883. . m a HOW CAN MINISTERIAL STUDENTS SPEND I II EI K VACATIONS TO ' . : THE BEST ADVANTAGE! J There are forty 'of these at Wake Forest. I wonder if they all have Work for the next vacation ? " The only way to learn to preach is . to pTeacn." xnen, thes'S youeg men ought to preach some during each vacation., , Tbey ar willing yes, anxious to do so. 'Phe.r work is ceeded. iu many places in our Sute Whose business is it to brim? UiWp wiflinglaborers into the needy fit! Is ? eee Acts 11:22 6. The pastor! -uec every pastor who can give work ana pecuniary neip either directly or indirectlypr write at once to'Profi lioyall and f secure hu r man. Tliii will help the young men. iThey wiil grow aa preacoers, gam practical ex penence in pastoral work and rako some money , (a; thing which Breach jerSi;eepeeiaHyswh!hi students, fiud it necessary. to naveLfi'hi8,too,will help tue,voege ?tl At , wiu oe more deeply pmoeuuea in tne autCtiODS ot the peo P,0Mthen';knowrng and loving tht jounff' men; who are :, trvtne;br;iti help to fit tbetnselves.to do the Lord'e wdrk. t Bro.' W.; B. Morton is ' to tpeud 'his1 vacation with me In 'the yay I have indicated and we are look-' ing forward to bis coming with bach pleasure. 2 t-:iiii I x 1 am sorry to aee-Ahat Bro. ii. M. Potest will not spend bis vacation in the.? QldU North Btate. : The State SfACS, ltlme. 1 m. 1 1 ml. ra. lis in,:': 1 Inch,. $ 1 00 $ SO $7 50 tit 00 fsToO 3 do 00 5 00 14 00 25 00 40 00 8 do 8 00 750 8000 8000 SOW 4 do 4 00 10 00 85 00 40 00 60 00 Colm 6 00 14 00 88 00 50 00 75 00, do 10 00 85 00 50 00 80 00 130 00 1 do 15 00 40 00 SO 00 ITS 00 350 00, j Special notices charred 20 cents per line, ! I ' No contracts made for everrother-week advertisements, aor for special position la paper. . .., ,,-. Obituaries sixty words long, are Inserted free of charge. When they exceed thi ' length one cent for each word must be pais In advance, . - Mission Board of S. C, . gives work land good pay to all the.; Seminary., students who will accept it, and as a , Satural result, manyof these young , ten locate there. Kentucky, I has taken the hint. So muoh the better for Kentucky and South Carolina.' So 4 touch the worse for us. Let ua keeps every good man in North Carolina ' , jwe possibly can and bring in every gopa one from abroad. - 5 ' i Fraternally," W. w Weight. j Hillsboro, K. C May, 16, 1883. J IXMOBTAUTT. And the Lord God formed mas of the dual or . . the ground, and breathed into hla nostril th breath of lire, and man beoame a living oul. . -Oen. 11: 7. ' - In well nigh every heart there Is an ach ing void and an earnest, ceaseless yearn losc for an indescribable aometbinir. to complete our cup of happiness, that no condition in life can sunnlv. insrersol's eulogy at the grave of a friend, whilst re plete witn human eloquence and learning, is but 'as soundlnir brass or tinkllnar sym bol," because of th absence of one sweet note, and a golden link, which binds heart to heart, even though death may intervene. When roM-tlnt lips shall fade. And voloea sweet are hnah'd. Beneath the solemn shade Hope's Utile bud Is crasa'd The guiding star that stione so bright, Imparting life and bliss. Is blotted out in hopeless night, And naaght Is left save th' Impress of The last fond, holy kiss. wbo?e ineffable sweetness sttll llneers nron our lips. Oh, when we looked for the last time Into the lovelit eyes of our darllntr. and bowed low, eager to catch the heav enly eadence of the tender volc, whose boou-by wiiispertngs seemed but the soft, -sweet euphony of supernal music, And o er the stream of sighs and tears " That mark tbe long and weary years. Each sweet refrain oomes buck again, To soothe and heal the parting pain, we felt that there is a nameless some thine t. . . wuuin us wnicn reaencs out oeyoiia this mortsl habitation; a mysterious power which dulls thi' keen elge of bereaverueut, bln'ls up and heal the wounded heart; Impart a new and brighter radiance to the lamp ot hope; dlffuet a tratigpietidaut : halo around the col I chnntbor of the toib, and even rob death of Ps tempora ry victory t What is it, aad from whence does it come ? Men have striven for hun dreds and even thousands of years to And " among themselves, and all the extraneous natural phenomena by which they were environed, a satisfactory cauee. and all their efforts have utterly failed. Perhaps . nsrersol would call it Instinct. Then, if it be but the insailablx yearnings ot In stinct, why Is it that the troubled waters never become tranquil, but In dull, tortur ing monotony, are forever beating against ' the everlasting rocks of discontent f and why are loving laces and halcyon scenes of happier days forever beaming forth from memory's mirror t Is it to mock onr mit-ery? Whence came the universal earning for the mlpslnc link? or whv t.ha hud. If there thull be bloom 1 Why thU oathlng, shrinking from, annihilation. coupled with a constant, pertenaclous grasping into futurity hiving all that earth ran give of luxury and case, and yet tins dinned ? Ah, finite have sought of and among the finite to solve the infinite prob lem, and failing, have denied the fact be cause, unaided by a higher light than rea- . Bon, they could not understand the man ner and. tho how of ft. Sapient minds, 1 presiding over sinful natures, have ever and are still Ignoring and denying divine, truth, because here and there something seems mysterious, or does not seem in coo-; gonance with the frivolities and baneful ap petites and passions of the uoregenerate hu man heart. Hence, they have rejected the only true light Divine Truth and . are groping in the dark wilderness of fiction, ' mythology, superstition and blinded finite reason, to find the inestimable jewel, the panacea for all the wounds of sin the Im mortality and future happiness of the soul , which alone cau satisfy the demands of our higher, 1 spiritual natures.' "God breathed lute the nostrils of man." Then it is the warm life-giving breath of the Great Elohlm. All that was human, or rather mortal, about man was created be fore the Instillation of tbe D'.viuo Breath, which qualified man for absolute tem poral dominion over all the perishable ob- jecti by whiuh he was surrounded. - It was tbe Infusing of a super-human principle maUty a new, hgber nature, co-existent witn tne eternal Fatner. Ana here lies tbe Indelible line of dcmarkatlon between the man and the brute. Where this God-like attribute Is eschewed, the eulogium of an xngenot wouia oe as appropriate at the grave of a faithful dog as at that of a man, for even dogs have natural traits that make them useful and even lovable. But in ref erence to the law of mortality, through which we witness the decay ot all natural forces, "as the one dietb so dleth the other " As God never breathed Into the nostrils ' of brutes, nor made them ,(in bis likeness," there is, therefore, an absence of this vital principle which survives the dissolution of nature. ( The spirit of the beast" natur al, or physical vitality "goeth downward to the earth," while 4 the spirit of man'' , the btgtwr breath, or spiritual life goth ' upward," to Him who breathed it. (Eccl. 111:41. ' ' - t ' : Despite the giddy and pernicious vaga ries of skeptlci-m and infidelity, which serve but to tickle the vanity and t-xteBU-ate the evil Inclinations and lascivious do- i ires of our depraved hearts, it Is this iui- -perishable truth, permeated by divine love, arid illustrated at tho grave by which ' the bereaved and weeping. Afary tooJ, whioh makes us believe and vees t hat we r hall t'neet again, as one by one our loved ones tall asleep In the blesed arm ot Js- 8CS. We know that the little ouea who so clung to us in shall again entwine their tluy arm about our necks, and bold v np pure, angelic lips for us to kUs, juetas' they ued to, ionly-with tlie-' sweet con- elousuess that there shall be no more: parting. Thus assured, we can be happy ven amid sorrow, and we cart sing the r sweet songs of redeeming love even whilst .' th poor, wounded heart Is i bleeding 1 Without this sure, Immuuble anchor ot ' hope, there would be a deleterious note in i ' the euphony of every song r a grim, hydra- headed skeleton in every temple of hope,' blighting the soul with the upas f ever- ; lading anniliilatlon, and the profound blackness of Despair would envelop the - loftiest ambition aod blot, out all the holy ,- aanlrationa that now cl'mtr tn th hart tnil '' make life tolerable. It Is the holy manna 1 Upon which the aoul. feeds when; thls, , earthly house of our tabernacle " is dis solved. VX It is the blessed fire that warms 1 tne soui wueu we nean grows coui 'Death -the icy fingers of. death. It la tbe sacred mirror wirhln th heart of Kvorr uhltt nt . God, reflecting the Incarnation, Cruciflc- tion, Resurrection and Transnguration, ' around which the love - of Jesus grows brighter and deeper, and sweeter, to the . ransomed as they step down into the chUlr waters ana enter into tne ' messeaness or the Xew Jerusalem. SL T. P,
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 23, 1883, edition 1
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