Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 231
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224 LIFE OF PAUL . The futureseemed envelopedin darkness. He fearedthathiscoursemight nothave beenpleasing to God . Could it be thathe had made a mistake after all in this visit to Jerusalem ? Had his greatdesireto be in union with hisbrethren led to this disastrous result ? The positionwhich the Jews as God's professed peopleoccupied beforean unbelievingworld, causedtheapostleintenseanguishofspirit. How would thoseheathenofficerslookupon theirconduct, claimingto be worshipersof Jehovah, and assumingsacredoffice,yetgivingthemselves up to the controlof blind,unreasoningpassion, seekingtodestroyeven theirbrethrenwho dared to differfrom them in religiousfaith,and turning theirmost solemn deliberativecouncilintoa scene of strife and wild confusion such as Roman senatorsormagistrateswouldnotstooptoengage in. The causeof hisGod had been reproached, hisnationalreligionbroughtintodisrepute. And now he was in prison,and hisenemies, in theirdesperatemalice, would resortto any means to put him to death. Could itbe that his work forthe churcheswas closed,and thatravening wolves were to enterin,not sparingtheflock? The causeofChristwas nearhisheart,and with deep anxietyhe contemplatedthe perilsof the scatteredchurches,exposedtothepersecutionsof justsuchmen ashe had encounteredintheSanhedrim council. In distressand discouragement he wept and prayed. The Lord was not unmindfulof his servant. He had guarded him from the murderous throng in the templecourts,he had been with him beforethe Sanhedrim council, he was withhim inthefortress,and was pleased to reveal himself to his faithful witness . As on