Lydia,theFirstEuropeanConvert
ASermon
(No.2222)
IntendedforReadingonLord'sday,September20th,1891,
Deliveredby
[Link],
Atthe
MetropolitanTabernacle,
Newington
"AndacertainwomannamedLydia,asellerofpurple,ofthecityofThyatira,whichworshipped
God,heardus:whoseheartstheLordopened,thatsheattendeduntothethingswhichwere
spokenofPaul."Acts16:14.
EMAYLAUDABLYEXERCISECURIOSITYwithregardtothefirstproclamation
[Link],
bythepenofLuke,whenfirstthegospelwaspreachedinEurope,andbywhom,andwhowas
thefirstconvertbroughtbythatpreachingtotheSavior'[Link]
betheleaderoftheEuropeanbandyetIfeelrightgladthatawomanledthevan,andthather
householdfollowedsocloselyintherear.
Godhasmadegreatuseofwomen,andgreatlyhonoredtheminthekingdomofourLord
[Link],and
[Link]
[Link],itwasawomanwhowasfirst
commissionedtocarrythegladtidingsoftherisenChristandinEurope,wherewomanwasin
futuredaystobesetfreefrommanyofthetrammelsoftheEast,itseemsfittingthatawoman
[Link],however,wasLydiaasortoffirstfruitforEurope,butshe
probablyalsobecameawitnessinherowncityofThyatira,[Link]
gospelwasintroducedintothatcitybutweareinformedoftheexistenceofachurchthereby
themessageoftheascendedChrist,throughhisservantJohn,to"theangelofthechurchin
Thyatira."[Link]
whoknowthetruthproclaimitforwhyshouldtheirinfluencebelost?"TheLordgiveththeword
thewomenthatpublishthetidingsareagreathost."Womancanbeaspowerfulforevilasfor
good:weseeitinthisverychurchofThyatira,wherethewomanJezebel,whocalledherselfa
prophetess,[Link],then,thatthedevilemployswomen
inhisservice,letthosewomenwhomGodhascalledbyhisgracebedoublyearnestinseeking
[Link]
service,allhavethehomespherewhereintheycanshedforththearomaofagodlylifeand
testimony.
Ifthegospeldoesnotinfluenceourhomes,itislittlelikelytomakeheadwayamongstthe
[Link],asitwere,asortoftrademarkonreligionin
[Link],and
[Link],thoughIdonotmeantosaythatitisnotthe
sameanywhereelse,thattruegodlinesshasalwaysflourishedinproportionasfamilyreligion
[Link],andtheytellusthatitisourdutytogoevery
morningandeveryeveningintothesteeplehousetheretojoininprayerbutwereplythatour
ownhouseisbetterformanyreasonsatanyrate,itwillnotengendersuperstitionforustopray
[Link],andofferprayerandsupplicationtoGodinyourownroom.
"Butthereisnopriest."[Link]
householdand,intheabsenceofagodlyfather,[Link]
houseshouldbethehouseofGod,andthereshouldbeachurchineveryhouseandwhenthis
isthecase,itwillbethegreatestbarrieragainstpriestcraft,andtheidolatryofholyplaces.
[Link],whenfamily
pietygoesdown,[Link],atanyrate,seeingthat
theChristianfaithbeganwithaconvertedhousehold,weoughttoseekaftertheconversionof
allourfamilies,andtomaintainwithinourhousesthegoodandholypracticeoffamilyworship.
Lydia,then,isthefirstEuropeanconvert,andwewillreviewherhistorysofaraswehave
[Link],uponwhichwewillspeak
[Link],
theworkingofprovidence
secondly,
theworkingofLydiaherself
thirdly,
the
workingofPaul
andfourthly,
theworkingoftheHolySpirit.
[Link],[Link],Ivisitedthe
worksofadiamondcutter,whereIsawmanylargewheelsandmuchpowerfulmachineryat
workandImustconfessthatitseemedveryoddthatallthatgreatarrayofapparatusshouldbe
broughttobearuponatinybitofcrystal,[Link]
diamondworthsomuchthatawholefactoryshouldbesettoworktocutitsfacets,andcauseit
tosparkle?[Link]
[Link]
fingerorbrowofroyalty!Now,whenIlookabroaduponprovidence,itseemspreposterousto
believethatkingdoms,dynasties,andgreateventsshouldallbecooperatingandworking
togetherfortheaccomplishmentofthedivingpurposeinthesalvationofGod'[Link]
[Link],butitwasnotso,thatthesegreatwheels
shouldallbeworkingforthecuttingofasinglediamondanditisnotpreposterous,howeverit
mayseemso,tosaythatalltheeventsofprovidencearebeingorderedbyGodtoeffectthe
salvationofhisownpeople,theperfectingofthepreciousjewelswhicharetoadornthecrown
ofChristforeverandever.
Inthecasebeforeus,theworkingofGod'sprovidenceisseen,firstofall,
inbringingPaul
toPhilippi.
[Link],norexactlywhatbrought
hertherebuttheresheis,sellingherpurple,[Link],too,
buthedoesnotwanttocomehehasnot,indeed,[Link]
ofprejudicehangingabouthimstill,sothat,thoughheiswillingtopreachtotheGentiles,he
[Link]
[Link],theSpiritsuffershimnot,andheseemstohavea
[Link].
"ThenIwillgointoBithynia,"hesaysbutwhenhestartsonthejourney,heisdistinctlytoldthat
[Link],atleastnot
yet:"theSpiritsufferedhimnot."[Link]?He
getsdowntoTroasonthevergeofthesea,andtherecomestohimthevisionofamanof
Macedonia,whoprayedhim,saying,"ComeoverintoMacedonia,andhelpus."Heinfersthat
[Link],afavorable
passage,[Link],inthis
strangeandsingularmanner.
Buttheworkingofprovidencewasquiteasmuchmanifested
inbringingLydiathere
for
[Link],[Link]
[Link],whichwasmuchprizedbytheRomans.
[Link],orperhapshadhadno
husband,[Link]
[Link],thatshe
[Link]
justatthisseason?WhydoesshecomejustwhenPauliscoming?Whydoesshecometo
Philippi?WhynottoNeapolis?WhynotpressontoAthens?Whynotsellherclothoverat
Corinth?Whateverreasonshemighthavegivenforherchoice,therewasonecause,ofwhich
shewasignorant,whichshapedheraction,[Link]
[Link]
willsshallbesomovedandactuatedbytheprovidenceofGodthattheyshallcrosseachother's
path,[Link]'sheart,when
sheleftThyatirawithherpurplebales,thatshewasgoingtofindJesusChristoveratPhilippi
neitherdidPaulguess,whenhesaw,inavision,amanofMacedonia,andheardhimsay,
"ComeoverintoMacedonia,andhelpus,"thatthefirstpersonhewouldhavetohelpwouldnot
beamanofMacedoniaatall,butawomanofThyatiraandthatthecongregationheshould
preachtowouldbejustahandfulofwomengatheredbythesideofthelittlestreamthatruns
[Link]
understandstheendfromthebeginning,andtimeshisactsofprovidencetomeetourdeepest
needsinthewisestway.
"Hiswisdomissublime,
Hisheartprofoundlykind
Godneverisbeforehistime,
Andneverisbehind."
WhatanoddthingitseemedthatthiswomanshouldbeawomanofThyatirainAsia,and
PaulmustnotgoandpreachinAsiaandyet,whenhecomestoMacedonia,thefirstperson
whohearshimisawomanofAsia!Why,youandIwouldhavesaid,"Ifthewomanbelongsto
Thyatira,letherstopathome,andletPaulgotherethatistheshortestcut."[Link]
womanofThyatiramustgotoPhilippi,[Link]'splanand
ifweknewallthecircumstancesasGodknowsthem,weshoulddoubtlessadmirethewisdom
[Link]
opportunityatPhilippithanhewouldhavebeenhadhegoneontoThyatiraperhapsthe
[Link]
[Link]
town,anditwasafterwardsdiscoveredthathe,andthepreacherwholedhimtoChrist,resided
[Link],
whereneighborsarestrangerstoeachothernorwasitlikelythattheyoverwouldhavebeen
broughtintocontactwithoneanotherherefortheman,whowasacommercialtraveler,was
[Link]
Ireland,where,also,wenttheevangelisttopreachthegospelandbeingsomewhatatalossto
knowwhattodowithhistime,henosoonersawthenameofapreacherfromLondon
announced,thanhedeterminedtoattendtheservice,[Link]
hownaturalthiswasinthecaseofwhichweknowalltheparticulars,anditwasdoubtlessas
wellarrangedinthecaseofLydiaandPaul.
Now,Ishouldnotwondertonightifthereareanumberofprovidencesthathaveworked
[Link]
you
toLondon,
friend?[Link],whatbroughtyoutothis
partofit?Whatledyoutobeatthisservice?Andwhywasitthatyoudidnotcomeononeof
theSundayswhenthepreacherwouldhavebeenhereifhecould,butcouldnotbehereby
reasonofhisweakness?Because,itmaybe,thatonlyfromtheselipscanthewordcometo
you,andonlytonight,[Link]
preachesthegospelmuchbetterinthetownwhereyouliveor,peradventure,youhavehad
opportunitiesofhearingthesamepreachernearyouronndoor,andyoudidnotavailyourself
[Link]."Whosois
wise,andwillobservethesethings,eventheyshallunderstandthelovingkindnessoftheLord."
IftheLordshouldmeetwithyou,andconvertyoutonight,Iwillwarrantyouthatyouwillbea
believerinprovidence,andsay,"Yes,[Link],andhe
broughtmetothespotwhereJesusmetwithme,andopenedmyheartthatImightreceivethe
gospelofhisgrace."Beofgoodcourage,youministersofthegospel!Providenceisalways
[Link],
wheninthebattleofOhodhesaidtohisfollowers,pointingtotheirfoes,"Chargethem!Ican
hearthewingsoftheangelsastheyhastentoourhelp."Thatwasadelusiononhispart,forhe
[Link]
can
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]?ThestarsintheircoursesfightfortheservantsofGodand
allthings,greatandsmall,shallbowbeforethefeetofhimwhotrodthewavesoftheSeaof
Galilee,andstillisMasterofallthings,andrulethallthingstotheaccomplishmentofhisdiving
purposes.
Somuch,then,fortheworkingofprovidence.
[Link],[Link]'sintentionisthatLydiashallbe
[Link],youknow,[Link]
dayofhispower,anditisthewayofhisgracenottoviolatethewill,butsweetlytoovercomeit.
Neverwilltherebeanybodydraggedtoheavenbytheears:[Link]
[Link],then,wasLydiadoing?
HavingbyGod'sgracebeenmadewilling,thefirstthingwasthat
shekepttheSabbath.
Shewasaproselyte,[Link],andnobody
wouldknowwhatshewoulddo,yetsheobservedtheLord'[Link]
whenshewasatPhilippi,[Link]
people,whentheyoncereachedtheContinent,gorattlingalong,Sundaysandweekdays,asif
GoddidnotliveontheContinent,andasifathometheyonlyobservedtheSabbathbecause
theyhappenedtobeinEngland,[Link]
getawaytheysay,"WhenyouareatRome,youmustdoasRomedoes"andsotheytaketheir
pleasureonGod'[Link]
[Link],IwouldtoGodthateveryonewouldregardtheSabbath!MayGod
grantthatitmayneverbetakenawayfromus!Thereisaplotnowtomakesomeofyouworkall
thesevendaysoftheweek,andyouwillnotgetanymorepayforsevendaysthanyougetfor
[Link],andpreserveyourrighttorestuponGod'[Link]
dayinsevenasadayofrestmateriallyhelpstowardstheconversionofmen,becausethen
[Link],and,iftheychoosetoavail
themselvesofit,theprobabilitiesarethatGodwillblessthehearing,andtheywillbesaved.
Now,noticenextthat,notonlydidLydiaobservetheSabbath,but
shewentuptotheplace
ofworship.
[Link]
beenalittletemporaryoratoryputupbytheriversidebutveryprobablyitwasjustonthebank
[Link],butonlyafew
[Link]:"whereprayerwaswonttobemade."ButLydiadid
[Link],
andthewearyingworkofsettingupanewestablishmentbutherheartwasinthismatter,and
[Link]"Icanreada
sermonathome,"or,"IcanreadintheBookoftheLawindoors."ShewishedtobewhereGod's
peoplewere,howeverfew,[Link]
heathentempleatPhilippi,butshesoughtoutthefewfaithfulonesthatmettoworshipthetrue
[Link],dearfriends,[Link],stillattendthemeansof
grace,anddonotgotoaplacesimplybecauseitisafinebuilding,andbecausethereisa
crowd,[Link]
tobeveryfewandverypoor,yetgowiththem,forinsodoingyouareinthewayofblessing.I
thinkyouwillyethavetosay,"Beingintheway,Godmetwithme."Ifitiswhatsomecall"onlya
prayermeeting",[Link]
[Link],letusseekhimdiligently,
"notforsakingtheassemblingofourselvestogether,asthemannerofsomeis."Thoughyou
cannotsaveyourself,oropenyourownheart,youcanatleastdowhatLydiadid:observethe
Sabbath,andgathertogetherwithGod'speople.
Lydiabeingtherewiththeassembly,whenPaulbegantospeak,wefindthat
sheattended
tothethingsthatwerespoken,
[Link]
comeuptothehouseofGod,[Link]
attendinginthishousesincethedayIfirstpreachedinitbutIhavebeeninplacesofworship
[Link]
blessingwhenthepewbecomesaplacetoslumberin,orwhenthemindisactiveoverthefarm,
orinthekitchen,orintheshop,forgettingaltogetherthegospelwhichisbeingpreachedtothe
outwardear?Ifyouwantablessing,attendwithallyourmighttothewordthatispreachedbut
ofthatwewillspeakmorebyandby.
SofarwehavespokenupontheworkingofprovidenceandtheworkingofLydia.
[Link],next,[Link]
conversionofmen,itisnecessarythatthepersonwhoaimsattheirconversionshouldworkas
ifitalldependeduponhim,[Link]
seektowinsoulswithasmuchearnestness,andprudence,andzeal,asifeverythingdepended
uponourselvesandthenwearetoleaveallwithGod,knowingthatnonebuttheLordcansave
asinglesoul.
Now,notice,Paul,wishingforconverts,is
judiciousinthechoiceoftheplace
wherehewill
[Link]
wherepeoplehaveadesiretopray,therehewillfindthekindofpeoplewhowillbereadyto
[Link],devoutworshippersoftheoneGod,thathemaygo
[Link]
housetoptothecarelesscrowdbutIthinkyouwillgenerallyfindthatmoresuccesscomes
whenthose,onwhoseheartstheSpiritofGodhasalreadybeguntowork,aresoughtoutand
[Link],hetoldthem,whenthey
enteredatown,to"Enquirewhoinitisworthyandthereabidetillyegothence"evidently
showingthat,evenamongstthosewhodonotknowthetruth,therearesomewhoseheartsare
preparedtoreceiveit,whoareofadevoutspirit,[Link]
[Link],towhom
Peterwassent,[Link]
toGodforweread,"Thyprayerisheard,andthinealmsarehadinremembranceinthesightof
God."Wemustnot,ofcourse,thinkthatthesethingsgiveanyclaimtosalvationbutratherthat
theyaretheexpressionofheartspreparedtoreceivethemessageofsalvation,seekingthe
Lord,"ifhaplytheymightfeelafterhim,andfindhim."Oneofourgreatestdifficultiesinthese
daysis,thatsomanyhavelostallreverenceforauthorityofanykind,evenGod's:havingrisen
againsthumandespotism,theyalsofoolishlytrytobreakGod'[Link]
backontheinfinitepowerofGodwhenwecometodealwithsuchpeoplebutwhenwemeet
withotherswhoarewillingtolistenandpray,weknowthatGodhasalreadybeguntowork.
Now,dearworker,choosethepersonwhoisevidentlypointedouttoyoubyGod'sgracious
[Link],andtrytospeakwiththosewithwhomyoumayhopefully
speak,andtrustthatGodwillblesstheword.
WhenPaulgoesdowntotheriver,younoticethatheisvery
judiciousastohismanner
of
[Link]
andpreachtothem,ashedidtothecrowdsatCorinth,oratAthens,mighthaveseemed
absurdbutwereadthis:"Wesatdown,andspakeuntothewomenwhichresortedthither."He
tookhisseatontheriver'sbank,wheretheywereallsittingstill,andatprayer,andhebegan
[Link].
[Link],becarefulofthewayinwhichyougotoworkwith
[Link]
fromChristforthemomentyoubegintopreachtheysay,"Oh,thankyou,Idonotwantanyof
yoursermon!"Perhapsyoucouldslipawordinedgewisejustdropaseedinacrackorleavea
wordwiththem,[Link],"Ifyoudonotwantanypreaching,Idonotwantto
preachtoyou:IamnotsofondofpreachingasallthatbutIreadaverycuriousstoryinthe
newspaperstheotherday!"Andthentellthestory,[Link]
wantpills,[Link],andwhen
theygotit,[Link],becausewemaymissopportunitiesofdoing
goodthroughnotbeingwideawake."Beyewiseasserpents,andharmlessasdoves."Paul
thereforejustsitdown,andhasafriendlytalkwiththewomenwhoresortedthither.
ButwhetherPaulpreached,orwhetherPaultalked,itwasallthesame:hewas
judicious
astothematter
[Link],andthatwasChristtheChristwho
hadmethimonthewaytoDamascus,andchangedhishearttheChristwhowasablestillto
savetheChristwhobleduponthecross,tobringmentoGod,andcleansetheminhisblood
theChristinheaven,[Link]
endhistalkwithoutsaying,"Trusthim:[Link]."
So,whetherhepreachedorwhetherhetalked,itwasthesamestoryofJesusChrist,andhim
[Link]
beenallaflameforJesus,hewouldverylikelynothavespokenatall,orifhehad,itwouldhave
[Link]
bywhichthebeautifulpurpledyewasobtained,andnothaverememberedthatgospel
message,writtenbyIsaiahlongago,whichwouldcomewithspecialforcetotheheartsofhis
hearers:"Thoughyoursinsbeasscarlet,theyshallbeaswhiteassnowthoughtheybered
likecrimson,theyshallbeaswool."Hemighthavebeensointerestedinhisenquiriesabout
[Link]
claimedattention,[Link]
journeys,andevenofhisplans,[Link]
aboutthegospel,asIfearweoftendo,[Link]
whichIhaveheard,thoughfaultlesslyorthodox,havecontainednothingthatcouldconvert
[Link],thoughvery
cleverandprofound,havehadnopossiblebearingontheneedsofthehearersandsoitwas
[Link]'stalkwouldaimstraightatthe
centerofthetarget:itwasevidentlyaddressedtotheheart,forwearetoldthatitwaswiththe
[Link],itisnotourmostorderlydiscourses,norouraptestillustrations,
whichbringpeopletoChristbutsomelittlesentencewhichisslippedinunawares,orsome
burningwordwhichcomesstraightoutofourownheart'[Link]
[Link]
conversations,ifwewouldwinmoreLydiasforthechurch.
[Link],now,fourthlyandhereisthemainpointletusnoticeTHEWORKINGOFTHE
[Link]
observestheSabbath,[Link]
winsouls,and,likehisMaster,[Link]
[Link]:"Whose
hearttheLordopened,thatsheattendeduntothethingswhichwerespokenofPaul."Itisnot
wonderfulthattheLordcanopenahumanheartforhewhomadethelockknowswellwhatkey
[Link],IdonotknowbutIwilltellyouwhat
[Link]'shearthasbeen
[Link],andshehasturnedto
[Link],howmanyababe
hasbeensenthereonpurposetoenticeitsmothertotheskiesalambtakenawaythatthe
sheepmightfollowtheShepherd!Perhapsshehadhadbadtradethepriceofpurplemayhave
[Link]
opensomepeople'[Link]
[Link]'stemporalblessingsthattheyhavebeen
readytothinkofhim,[Link],andIhavenorightto
[Link],withwhichhebreaksup
[Link],atBedford,I
havewonderedatthestrangeclodcrushers,clodbreakers,andploughs,madetherebythe
[Link]
[Link],dearfriend,butIdotrustthatwhatever
hashappenedhasbeenopeningthesoil,[Link]
Godwhodidit,whatevertheinstrumentmayhavebeen,andLydia'sheartwas"opened."
Openedtowhat?Toattend."SheattendeduntothethingswhichwerespokenofPaul."
So,first,herheartwasopened
tolistenveryintently.
[Link]
didassomeofyoudo,putherhandtoherear,forfearsheshouldnothearallthatwasspoken.
[Link],allowingittogoinat
oneearandoutattheotherlikethatwit,who,whenhewasbeingseriouslyspokento,andyet
seemedveryinattentive,atlengthweariedthefriendwhowasdiscoursing."Iamafraiditisnot
doingyoumuchgood,"hesaid."No,"camethereply"butIthinkitwilldothisgentlemansome
good,"pointingtoonewhosatbesidehim,"forasithasgoneinatthissideithasgoneoutat
theother."Oh,howIwishthatyouhadonlyoneear,sothatthetruthyouhearcouldneverget
outagainafterithadoncegotin!WelldidtheLordspeakthroughIsaiahtheprophetuntothe
people,"Hearken
diligently
untome,andeatyethatwhichisgood."Manypeoplecanlistenfor
anhourortwotoascientificlecture,orapoliticalspeech,withoutfeelingintheleastweary
theycanevengotothetheater,andsitthereawholeeveningwithoutdreamingofbeingtired
[Link]
thepreachingasasortofpenance,scarcelyhearingthewords,or,atleast,neverimagining
thatthemessagecanhaveanyapplicationtotheirowncase.
Lydia'sheartwassoopened"thatsheattended",thatis,shelistenedtothewordof
salvationuntilshebegan
todesireit.
Itisalwaysapleasuretoentertainguestswhorelishthe
foodplacedbeforethemanditisagreatjoytopreachtothosewhoareeagerlyhungeringafter
[Link]
tothosewhoknownotitsvalue,nordesireitsbeauty!Danielwasaman"greatlybeloved"the
Hebrewwordthereemployedmeans"amanofdesires."Hewasnotoneofyourconceited,
[Link],and
hencewas"greatlybeloved."Godlovespeopletothirstafterhim,andtodesiretoknowhislove
[Link],ifthereisnodesireintheheart,ourplainest
[Link],aboutsomethinghewishedtomakeclear,"Why,itisasplain
asABC!""Yes,"saidathirdparty,"butthemanyouaretalkingtoisDEF."So,someofour
[Link],"Iwanttofind
salvationIwanttogetChristthisverydayandIamgoingtolistenwiththedeterminationthatI
willfindoutthewayofsalvation"surely,ifthethingsspokenarethesamethingsthatPaul
spokeof,[Link]'sheart
wasopenedtoattendtothegospel,thatis,todesireit.
But,next,herheartwasopened
tounderstandit.
Itiswonderfulhowlittleeven
welleducatedpeoplesometimesunderstandofthegospelwhenitispreachedinthesimplest
[Link]
[Link]."ThanksbetoGod,"shesaid,"Iseeit.
JesusChristsufferedinoursteadandwe,byanactoffaith,accepthimasourSubstitute,and
[Link],andthe
sprinklingoftheblood,andthepassingoverofthehouseswherethebloodwassprinkled.I
[Link],ifthebloodbesprinkleduponme,Godwillpassover
me,accordingtohisword,'WhenIseetheblood,Iwillpassoveryou.'"Sheattendeduntothe
thingswhichwerespokenofPaul,soastounderstandthem.
Butmorethanthatherheartwassoopenedthatsheattendedtothegospelsoas
to
acceptit.
"Ah!"shesaid,"nowIunderstandit,[Link]!Christforme!That
blessedSubstituteforsinners!IsthatallIhavetodo,simplytotrusthim?ThenIwilltrusthim.
Sinkorswim,Iwillcastmyselfuponhimnow."[Link]
[Link],theappointed
propitiationforsin,andthatwhoseeverbelievedonhimshouldthenandtherebejustifiedand
shedidbelieveinhim,andshewasjustifiedasyouwillbe,myfriend,ifyouwillbelieveinhim
[Link],too,shallhaveimmediatesalvation,mydearsistersittingyonder,ifyou
willcome,likethisLydiaofold,andjusttakeChristtobeyours,[Link]
attendeduntothethingswhichwerespokenofPaul,sothatsheacceptedChrist.
Havingdonethat,shewentfurther:herheartwassowon,thatshewas,bytheSpirit,led
toobeytheword,andavowherfaith.
Paultoldherthatthegospelwasthis"Hethatbelieveth
andisbaptizedshallbesaved."Hesaidtoher,"Mycommissionis,'Goyeintoalltheworld,and
[Link].'"Perhaps
shesaid,"ButwhymustIbebaptized?"Hesaid,"AsatestimonyofyourobediencetoChrist,
whomyoutaketobeyourMasterandyourLordandasatypeofyourbeingonewithhiminhis
[Link]
[Link]
typetoyouofyouronenesswithhiminhisdeathandburialandresurrection."WhatdidLydia
say?Didshesay,"Well,IthinkImustwaitalittlewhile:thewateriscold"?Didshesay,"IthinkI
mustaskaboutitImustconsiderit"?No,[Link]'sordinance,
andsheatoncereplies,"HereamI,Paul,letmebebaptized,andmyservants,too,andallthat
belongtomyhousehold,[Link]."
Thereandthen"shewasbaptized,andherhousehold."Shedidatonceobeytheheavenly
message,[Link]
hadnotknownhimlongbutwhatshedidknowofhimwassoblessedandjoyoustohersoul,
thatshewouldhavesaid,ifshehadknownthehymn
"Throughfloodsandflames,ifJesuslead,
I'llfollowwherehegoes
'Hindermenot,'shallbemycry,
Thoughearthandhelloppose."
Youcanimaginehersaying,"DidhegodownintotheJordan,andsay,'Thusitbecomethusto
fulfillallrighteousness'?ThenIwillgowhereheleadstheway,andbeobedienttohim,andsay
toalltheworld,'I,too,amafollowerofthecrucifiedChrist.'"
Now,lastly,afterLydiawasbaptized,
shebecameanenthusiasticChristian.
Shesaidto
Paul,"[Link]
[Link]
makeroomforthefourofyouamongthepurplebales,orsomewherebut,atanyrate,Ihave
houseroomforyoufour,[Link]
thewholechurchofGod."Deargoodwomanthatshewas,shefeltthatshecouldnotdotoo
muchforthemenwhohadbeenmadeablessingtoherforsheregardedwhatshedidtothem
[Link],"No,really,[Link]
[Link].""Yes,"shewouldanswer,"Iknow
[Link].""No,"Paulmighturge,"my
deargoodwoman,Iamgoingtofindoutsometentmakers,[Link]
findalodgingwherewehavebeen.""Ah!"shewouldsay,"[Link]
cometomyhome.""Sheconstrainedus."Shewouldprobablyputitthus:"Now,Ishallnotthink
[Link],youbaptizedme,andby
[Link]
believeit,comeandstayinmyhouseaslongasyoulike,andIwillmakeyouascomfortableas
everIcan."SoatlastPaulyieldstoherconstraint,[Link]
allbe,andwhatpraisetoChristwouldrisefromthathousehold!Ihopethatthegenerousspirit,
whichglowedintheheartofthefirstconvertinEurope,willalwayscontinueamongstthe
[Link]'s
ministers,buttohelpallGod'speopleofeverysort,theymaybereadyandwillingtodoitfor
Christ'ssakeforloveshallfillthemwithaholyhospitality,andanearnestdesiretoblessthe
[Link],brothersandsisters,anddogoodtooneanother,asyou
haveopportunityforsowillyoubeworthyfollowersofLydia,thefirstEuropeanconvert,whose
hearttheLordopened.
TheLordopenyourhearts,forhisname'ssake!Amen.
