Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1916 — THE GOOD RESULTS OF PERSECUTION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE GOOD RESULTS OF PERSECUTION

Aeta 5:12 —C.-6— February tl. Methods Used of God—Divine Approval of the Gospel—Opposition by Sadducees and Chief Priests —Multitudes Believed In Jerusalem —Church Communism Began to Fail. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6.1. CHE manifestations of love and sympathy amongst the early Christians had a salutary effect in backing up the Apostles’ teachings. The principle is as true today as it was then. The world are apt to read the Gospel influence in the lives of professors before they give heed or venture to believe it. Alas, that we can see so many evidences of the fulfilment of St Paul’s words respecting our day!—that at this time many Would have a form of godliness without its power, and be “lovers

of pleasure more than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5.) The difficulty seems to be that Sectarianism has lost the essence of the Gospel Message which Jesus and the Apostles taught. That loss has made room for various substitutes favored by the

great Adversary; but they are not the Gospel, and do not have the proper power upon the hearts and lives of those who even desire to dp right. The Gospel Message which Jesus and the Apostles taught was expressed in our Lord’s prayer, .“Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, even as it is in Heaven.” Opposition of Selfishness. Today’s Study shows how the living of the true, simple life of faith, trust, obedience and love had its effect—how many were added to the Church, including “a great multitude of priests.” It shows us, too, how angered were the Sadducees and the official class at that time. Thej' were grieved that the people were taught; for the teachings of the followers of Jesus were so contrary to what they had taught and what they had hoped for. Not believing Prophets, they had been using religion largely as a cloak—“a form of godliness.” Their real hopes were aldtfg the lines of Gentile hopes—of becoming more intimately associated with the Roman Empire and thus obtaining special favor. These religionists feared lest the teaching of Messiah as the coming King of the world would reach the ears of the Roman rulers, and bring upon the Jews ridicule and disfavor, and perhaps take from them some of their liberties and crush all their aspirations respecting the future. Their opposition to the Gospel was, therefore, a selfish one. They had the Apostles arrested and put into prison. But the Lord sent His angel and delivered them; and with good courage they appeared again next day in the Temple, preaching as before. Again the Apostles were arrested, brought before the officials, and commanded to preach no more in Jesus' name. The point of resentment is noted in the words, “Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrines [teachings], and are liable to bring this man’s blood upon us.” That is to say. It looks as though you might really convince the people that we have committed a great crime in putting to death that fanatical leader of yours, called Jesus. We see this same principle illustrated at the Reformation, when God’s time had come to bring back the Bible to the people after it had been turned

aside for twelve hundred and sixty years. When the Bishops began to claim ’that they also were apostles, and when, using this Apostolic authority, they gave the people the Nicene Creed in A. D. 325, an end was put to all Bible study; for the peo-

pie swere taught that this creed, and other subsequent creeds, contained al) that was proper to be believed, and that whoever believed anything else would be doomed to eternal torture. When, under Divine guidance, Wiclif and Tyndale brought the New Testament to the attention of the people in the English language, it marked the start of return to an individual faith and a new beginning of Bible study It has required the centuries since to help Us out of the gross darkness of those twelve hundred years when we were without the Bible and poisoned by the various creeds. No wonder it is still difficult for us to use our common sense in Bible study! Communism a Failure. Recurring to our lesson, we note some of the difficulties of Communism. Favoritism was claimed in the distribution of the necessities. Realizing that they could not undertake to manage a community along earth!}’ lines, the Apostles concluded that they should, as the Master had directed, give themselves entirely to the Gospel work. They appointed seven Deacons to attend to the charities; but evidently these arrangements also by and by failed, and we hear no more of the early Communism. The experience taught us the impossibility of such a practise under our imperfect conditions.

Tyndale Translating.

God’s Angel Delivered Them.