4
designations. The word “ pagan ” than were the Jews of Palestine»
is from the Latin jiaz/us, which was the first martyr of Gentile
means a village. Christianity first Christianity. It was not, however,
triumphed in the great centers, designed that an Alexandrian Jew
leaving the villages with their old should lie the champion of Chris
superstitions. They were, there tianity among the Gentiles; but
fore, called pagans. This gives us God preferred to select the most
hint mr- n r tt w wfey;
evangelization. The word “heathen” Pharisees. Rente, Saul of Tarsus
Abraham teaches. One result of them, not”
These two cases God has given had an origin very similar to that was chosen. A careful study of the
his faith, scarcely second to any,
and which placed him very high to instruct and warn Christian of pagan. When Christianity was life and work of the apostle Paul
in the estimation of God—even to parents. Abraham’s example shows first introduced into Germany, the should convince the most skeptical
, companionship with him—remains that it is possible to raise an in wild dwellers of the heaths longest of the divine origin of the Christian
to Ire brought forward; and as telligent, Godfearing, righteous, resisted the truth. From this fact religion. It is not surprising that
learners of the lessons God has TionorahTe family. But to do this the word " heathen ” took its Lord Lyttleton selected Paul as the
placed on record for us, that we w’e must ourselves fear God and origin.
Scriptural character from which to
Some modern infidel lecturers in argue the supernatural claims of
may pattern and be approved, we w’ork righteousness, and love the
dare not pass this by. After God souls of our family more than we sist that Christianity was a super- Christianity. Although Paul was
jltitj^L«jdack-fiiaL.spread. among brought-up at the feet of <4aTnafiel;
the plains, he said : " Shall I hide godless world. “ Ye cannot serve the ignorant, and in that way it the most learned and liberal of
from Abraham that thing which I God and mammon.” Jesus said to finally triumphed in the Roman Jewish doctors, he was zealous for
do; seeing that Abraham shall the Jews who were putting up the Empire. Philology is against that the law as interpreted by the
surely become a great and mighty claim that they were- Abraham’s supposition, and it teaches two im Pharisees ; he was a fiery persecutor
nation and all the nations of the children, “ If you were Abraham’s portant facts : first, that the Church of Christians, yet all at once he
earth shall be blessed in him ? For children, you would do as Abra- of Christ did plant itself in the changed his life, and became the
who are in Christy very haunts oMearning and tritelli- boldest of the defender*-of th e
— Lluunv hiu>, that he will-command, haimlid.”
his children and his household after claim from this, to be children of gence; second, that it shunned not divinity of Christ. He was the i
him, and they shall keep the way Abraham. This saying of the discussion, that it did not fear to most efficient agent in the dissemi
of the Lord, to do justice and judg- Master, “If you were Abraham’s grapple with the wit and wisdom nation of Christianity among the'
I< 1 T * I . W r~>TT r. rMi i lAOy
hp
rurv
ment;that the Lor «4 4»ay bring ehihlre n, you would do as Abra h am Or lillF4 OT* t ***
Gentiles, In his secOTitTunrheYir-
had
its
claims
first
recognized
by
did,
”
is
just
as
applicable
to
us
as
upon Abraham that he hath spoken
troduced the gospel into Europe;
them,
and
completely
triumphed
to
his
fleshly
descendants.
Chris
of hire.”
*
at Athens he stood on Mars’ Hill,
O that I could impress the lesson tian parents are required to bring over all opposing powers in the and preached Christ to the Epi
of this example as its importance up their children in the nurture .great cities of-the world.
curean and Stoical philosophers. At
demands ! Please read this quota and admonition of ihe Lord ; or the •!The idea of a universal religion last the great apostle visited Rome,
tion again, and think soberly of correction and instruction of the originated with Jesus of Nazareth, in chains, and inade converts even
and it was so^iew that it was diffi
what is implied in it. Abraham Lord. If we are not so doing, are
of members of Cmsar’s household.
cult
for
even
the
disciples
to
com
we
not
forfeiting
all
claim
to
being
raised eight children (though he
In the conflict between Chris
prehend
it,
and
it
so
differed
from
children
of
Abraham
?
This
ques
c
only kept 4shmael about eighteen
tianity and paganism, the church
years), and his household was great, tion should be pondered with all ¡he belief of mankind that Jesus had much with which to contend.
probably about a thousand indi ¡he seriousness we are woht to feel was executed on account of it. All Antioch was called the mother of
viduals, as he had three hundred in reference to standing before the ¡he ancient religions were State Gentile Christianity, as Jerusalem
and eighteen trained soldiers, bom judgment seat of Christ when the religions, and it w’as never sup tfas of Jewish. The Christian
and instructed in his own house. eternal destiny of all will be sealed. posed that any one of them could messengers to Gentiles had much
All these Abraham, with great Are we teaching our children the pecome the universal religion. Jewish prejudice with which to
pains and perseverance, instructed knowledge and fear of the Lord ? Sven the great conquerors of Asia contend. In Paul’s epistles we find
in the knowledge and fear of the • Are we teaching them the Scrip generally left the subdued nations frequent reference to the pernicious
Lord, and exercised such authority tures diligently which are able to ¡o the enjoyment of their own re- influence of Judaizing teachers. I
over them (expressed in the word make wise unto salvation? If so" igions. Not even the Jewish re- met in Pennsylvania a man called
commanded), that they kept the we may hope to be blessed w’ith igion was an exception to the intelligent, who insisted that the
way of the Lord, arid practiced faithful Abraham, and our children national character of all ancient New Testament teaches that all
The influence of a Gentiles must become Jews before
justice and judgment, to be enabled will be a joy to us, as they too will religions.
to do which required a good degree lay hold on the hope set before us, Jewish education upon the dis they can become Christians. Poly
of wisdom and such mental train and swell the number that are ciples was such, that notwithstand theism was a great impediment to
ing as enabled them to discern traveling with their faces Zion ing the fact that the universality the progress of the gospel. With
right from wrong, and good from ward, where we and they may of the Christian religion was clearly the higher classes it became associ
evil. I say, all this Abraham did, again meet and greet and be for expressed in the great commission, ated with a pantheistic philosophy,
had he not, Gori would not have ever with thé Lord. The LorcTfielp they understood it to mean that which made great pretensions to
the Gentiles must become Jews be high culture. With the lower
conferred upon him the promised us to be wise while we may.
fore they could become Christians. classes it became very degrading
blessings, as the promises were Hebron, O.
It required a miracle to convince
made upon these conditions. In
TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANI Peter that it was his duty to preach idolatry. The gods themselves had
fearful contrast with Abraham’s
infirmities which very much de
TY OVER PAGANISM.
the gospel to the Gentiles.
success in training his family,
graded
their worshipers. Jupiter
BY JAH. W. LCWBEB.
The
Snn
of
Righteousness
did
arise,
stands Eli, the priest. Re too
shook his locks in anger, and mad»
lika the glorious sun of day,
At the introduction of Christiani lie And,
raised a family, but not in the fear
Venus bleli
brought light from beyond the skies, Olympus tremble.
His beams upon the earth to display. from a wound on her finger, and
of the Lord. Instead of exercising ty neither the name pagan nor
authority over them, and thus caus heathen had an existence. While
Stephen, who had been brought Mars was injured with a stone from
ing them to do right, he indulged the words were not there, the up in Alexandria, in Egypt, and Diomedes. Neptuno and Apollo
them in iniquity, and provoked the reality w’as there, with other was more favorable to the Gentiles were hired out and cheated. The
Lord to swear that the iniquity o ’
the house of Eli should not be
BIBLE TALKS
purged w’ith sacrifice nor offering
for ever. “ I have told him, saith
BY M. R. LF.MFBT.
the Lord, that I w’ill judge his
NUMBER X.
house for the iniquity which he
We have not yet learned all of knoweth; because his sons made
Original Contributions.
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• 1
1
X
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1
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P
nu
I
ttltAVU
tl
TJ)
X