The Photo-Drama of Creation - The Herald
The Photo-Drama of Creation - The Herald
The Photo-Drama of Creation - The Herald
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God's Chosen Vessel<br />
Of St. Paul, Jesus said, "He is a chosen vessel unto Me<br />
to bear My Name to the Gentiles." (Acts 9:15.)<br />
He is first brought to our attention as one <strong>of</strong> those who<br />
consented to the death <strong>of</strong> St. Stephen. Subsequently,<br />
he went about "breathing out threatenings and slaughter<br />
against the disciples <strong>of</strong> the Lord."--Acts 9:1.<br />
When we see the power <strong>of</strong> the Truth in its transforming<br />
influence upon the human mind, we are amazed. Yet we<br />
should remember that God never coerces the free will. In St.<br />
Paul's "conversion," Jesus merely showed an honest man<br />
wherein he was wrong, and what privileges he would have in<br />
connection with a Divinely-directed course.<br />
St. Paul became the successor <strong>of</strong> Judas. <strong>The</strong>re were to be<br />
twelve Apostles <strong>of</strong> the Lamb--a crown <strong>of</strong> twelve stars on the<br />
Church's brow--and twelve foundations to the New Jerusalem,<br />
and in them were the names <strong>of</strong> the twelve Apostles <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Lamb. We are sure St. Paul's name is amongst them. This<br />
is in accord with the testimony that he was not one whit<br />
behind the very chiefest <strong>of</strong> the Apostles, and was more abundant<br />
in visions and revelations than they all. Matthias was<br />
chosen before Pentecost and was never recognized by God.<br />
St. Paul is the most prominent amongst the Apostles, all <strong>of</strong><br />
whom were glorious characters, especially chosen <strong>of</strong> God for<br />
His special service. Like the other Apostles, St. Paul had<br />
nothing to say respecting an eternity <strong>of</strong> torture for anybody.<br />
He declared that those ultimately found unworthy should "be<br />
punished with everlasting destruction." It is St. Paul who<br />
especially set forth that Jesus must come a second time, and<br />
then must reign until He shall have put all enemies under His<br />
feet. Through this noble mouthpiece Jesus sent us particulars<br />
<strong>of</strong> the resurrection <strong>of</strong> the just and the unjust, the "change"<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Church at Christ's Second Coming, the character <strong>of</strong><br />
Antichrist, etc. If St. Paul's Epistles were omitted, how<br />
great would be our ignorance on many subjects!<br />
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