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THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Azizus, the Esmean king, through the black a rt Of the sorcerer Simon? . W hat did he know concerning justice, whose adm inis tratio n had- been perverted by bribes and - who finally remanded P aul to prison, hop ing his friends would buy him out w ith gold? Compare the courage of the saint w ith the Cowardice of the "sinner! Con science doth make cowards of us all. In 1649 th a t holy man of God, George Pox, having been cast into prison for speaking in ehure'h, was summoned before Justice B ennett of Derby/ Nothing daunted, he boldly bade the Justice repent and tremble a t the Word of God. On th is account he and-his followers were called Quakers not because they trembled themselves but be cause they made sinners tremble. Paul was the first Quaker. FRIDAY, NOV 11. Rom. 2:14-29. The Function of Conscience. Conscience is the inborn sense of right and wrong, the moral law w ritten on our hearts, which judges of the m oral' char a cte r, of our motives and actions, approv-' mg or censuring, ju stify in g or condemning us accordingly. I t is an infallible tribunal m the breast of everyone, even the heathen. Rom. 2:15. I t may be wounded and weakened. I Cor. 8:12. I t may be seared and defiled. I Tim. 4:2; Tit. 1:15. I t may become a witness for us or against us. Rom. 9:1; John 8:9. I t is an un speakable blessing to have a conscience void of offense. Acts 24:16. P aul kept his conscience in training. I t has been said th a t a man ’s first duty is never to trifle w ith his own conscience, and his second duty is never to trifle w ith the conscience of another. Irreparable and lasting injury may be inflieted upon the moral nature by a violation of this rule. Conscience goes w ith us into the future life and contributes much to our happiness or misery there. I John 3:20-21. SATURDAY, NOV. 12. I I Cor. 6:1-10. The P eril of Procrastination. “ When I have a convenient season, I will call for th e e ,” Many convicted sin ners are saying this. They hear the tru th and feel its power bu t postpone the nec essary action. Felix was false to his own best interests. Under th e searchlight of the Holy S p irit making use of P a u l’s in dictment, he clearly saw the evil in his life. He saw also the day of judgm ent . as the preacher drew the veil aside. He knew w hat he ought to do and y et he put the m atter off. He cherished no doubt concerning w hat Paul said, he did not
deliberately reject the Saviour. He merely refused to accept Him and to lay hold of eternal life. The result is the same as a positive rejection. He was lost. A more convenient season never comes th a n the passing moment presents. Tomorrow never comes, or when it comes, it is today. Every moral act must be' in the present tense, “ Now is the accepted tim e .” SUNDAY, NOV. 13. Phil. 1:12-21. Good Out of Evil. Paul remained in prison for two years. God brought great good out of it, how ever, not only for- Paul himself but for others and fo r the cause of Christ. He enjoyed considerable liberty. H is friends were allowed to see him and m inister to him. The rigors of prison life were softened. He was worn and broken from the hardships of his missionary journeys and from persecution. I Cor. 4:11. He must have greatly needed rest. Besides g etting relaxation and recuperation, he doubtless got g reat spiritual blessing and learned many spiritual lessons in these quiet, uneventful months as did Bunyan in Bedford jail. Moreover, his prison be came a m issionary centre to which people brought th eir burdens, trials and sorrows, to go away in peace w ith every need sup plied. MONDAY, NOV. 14. A cts 25:1-12. P a u l’s Appeal to Caesar. Festus came into- power as th e successor of Felix. He was a b etter man than Felix bu t P au l fared no better. Paul has to go through the weary round of trial and defense again. The Jew ish leaders renew th eir prosecution. Festus wanted to please them and he proposed to Paul th a t he go to Jerusalem fo r tria l before the Jews. Paul knew th a t this would mean his death. *He has bu t one resource left. He appeals to Caesar. The hatred of the Jew s and the injustice of two Roman governors made it necessary. Festus is in a dilemma. He refused to release an innocent man and th a t man has appealed to Caesar. The cry ** I ap p e a l” was all-powerful in the Roman Em pire. The governor has no alternative. W hat w ill Caesar say? Paul stands upon his rights as a Roman citizen. The gov ernor is obliged to yield and say, “ Unto Caesar thou shalt go .” The God who saved P eter from the sword of Herod by a miracle can also create an empire to save P au l by its system of law. TUESDAY, NOV. 15. A cts 25:13-27. The Conference of Festus and Agrippa. Festus and Agrippa were friends. The
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