Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 288

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SOJOURN AT ROME . 281 In the providenceof God, all thisdelay resultedin thefurtheranceof thegospel. Paul was not condemned to a lifeof inactivity. He was allowed free intercoursewith his friends, and was permitted to dwell in a commodious house, where he daily presentedthe truthto those who flocked to listen to his words . Thus fortwo yearshe continued,"preachingthekingdom of God , and teachingthosethingswhich concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence,no man forbiddinghim." And hislabors werenotconfinedtothepreachingof thegospel. The "careof allthechurches" stillrestedupon him. He deeplyfeltthedangerthatthreatened those for whom he had laboredso earnestly, and he soughtasfaras possibletosupplyby written communicationsthe place of his personalinstruction. He alsosent out authorizeddelegates to labor among the churches he had raisedup , and also in fields which he had not visited. Thesemessengersrenderedhim faithfulservice, and being in communicationwiththem,he was informedconcerningthe conditionand dangers of the churches , and was enabled to exercise a constantsupervisionover them . Thus while apparentlycut offfrom active labor,Paul exerteda wider and more lastinginfluence than he could have exerted had he been freeto travelamong thechurchesas in former years. As a prisoneroftheLord,he had a firmer holdupon the affectionsof hisbrethrenin the faith,and hiswords commanded even greaterattentionand respectthan when he was personally with them . When they firstlearnedthat their belovedteacherhad been made a prisoner,they mourned and would not be comforted . Not un-