While Thou leadest me,
As Thy little helper
Faithful may I be.
Seeking others far and wide
Drawing lost ones to Thy side."




XIX

TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN


About eighteen hundred and fifty years ago two missionaries came to a town
in Greece, called Thessalonica, and began to preach. They did nobody any
harm and only talked about the love of Jesus Christ for sinners. A great
number of people believed and attended their meetings. Some of the noble
and wealthy women of the town also became Christians and for about three
weeks the preaching went on unhindered. However, as soon as the enemies of
the gospel saw that Paul and Silas were meeting with success they did
their best to stir up trouble. A mob collected and with a great deal of
noise and shouting pulled some of the new believers through the streets,
crying: _"They that have turned the world upside down are come hither
also!"_ Just as it was in Thessalonica so it has been in every place where
the gospel has been preached. The word of God does turn the world upside
down. The gospel is powerful and its effect is often at first to stir up
the envy and hatred of men who love not God. When the heathen are
worshipping idols and enjoying sinful pleasures they like to be let alone.
A thief does not like the policeman's lantern. Those who do dark things