Heroes of the early church PDF
Preview Heroes of the early church
. 1 .. ( i LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, N. J. PRESENTED BY PRINCETON UNIVERSITY BR 1705 .N48 1889 Newton, Richard, 1813-1887. Heroes of the early church / (^ JUL : 1 iss-i HEROES V%£22^_^ OF THE EARLY CHURCH. BYTHK Rev. Richard Newton, D.D. AUTHOR OF "Hkroes of the Reformation," "Illustrated Rambles in Bible Lands," "Pearls from the East." etc., etc. PHILADELPHIA : THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 1122 CHESTNUT STREET. 8&10 Bible House, New York. [Copyrightby The American Sunday-School Union, 1888.] PREFATORY NOTE. These graphic sketches of the "Heroes of the Early Church " are the latest series penned by the distinguished author, whom Spurgeon fittingly called " The Prince of Children's Preachers." The sketches are in many respects the best work of the gifted man. As he ripened in saintship for heaven, his literary style became even more rich with the aroma of the gospel, and so more forcible, simple and crisp than in his earlier writings. The articles were originally prepared for The Youth's World, and were issued in that periodical. The revision and preparation of them for publica- tion in this form has been an easy and delightful task. Indeed, so carefully did Dr. Newton prepare his copy for the press that little was required to be done beyond the omission ofsome repetitions ofstate- ment, necessarily incident to serial articles in a peri- odical. • Dr. Newton had planned another series on the " Heroes of the Modern Church," to follow these, but was compelled by ill health to give up writing them. Yet he continued to work so diligently that the last article from his pen was written for the num- ber of The Youth's Wo7'ld which appeared the month after his death. He was conscious that the "Mas- : : : vi Prefatory Note. ter's call " might come suddenly to hira. In view of this sudden " translation," he committed to me the work of revising and issuing these sketches in a per- manent form. With great regret he gave up the continuance ofthe series he had intended, as this note shows "Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, "April9, 1887. "Eev. E. W. Eice, D.D.: "MyDearBrother—Ireturn the enclosed papers toyou, andam very- sorrytobe obliged to say thatitwill notbeinmypowertogoon with the new courseof articles on 'The Heroesof the Modern Church.' . . , Iamgreatlyinterested inthis work,andshouldlikenothingbetterthan togo on withitif I could. Butthisisimpossible." A week later came another letter "Yourkind letter of yesterday is received. I never did anythingin mylife morereluctantly than towrite thelettersentyou theotherday aboutdiscontinuingthe articles on 'TheHeroesoftheModern Church.' Ihavealways considereditoneofmyhighestprivilegestobeconnected with the American Sunday-School Union in the noble work it is doing fortheglory of God and for thegood of men. "And nothing but a sense of absolute necessity would ever have in- ducedmetotakethisstep." Two weeks later there came another letter, show- ing the sweet submission and strong hoj)e of the Christian in the deepest sorrow "My Dear Brother Rice: "April30, 1887. "... I havebeen passingthrough deepwaters for the lastfew weeks in thelossof my dear wife, after we had journeyed on togetherin the pilgrimage of life forhalf acentury. Alllife'sothertrialsseemedlight in comparison with this. And yetI never felt thepowerandprecious- nessof thegospel asI havedonein going through this trial." Then came a final note, in his own hand, written from his bed of sickness, from whence he soon after passed to the better land.
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