This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ...witchcraft, sorcery, exorcism, which were inconsistent with Jewish law and Christian conscience. 19. Many also. And not a few of them who practised magical arts. Epliesus was noted for its magicians or wizards, and the "Ephesian spells," small slips of parchment enclosed in silk bags, and covered with mysterious characters, were well known all over the East. The more potent and rare spells or charms were written out in books which passed from one exorcist to another, and were sold for large sums. Fifty thousand pieces, etc. A piece of silver was a drachma, and was the prevalent rate of payment for a day's work of a peasant or common artisan. The books burned were worth about. 6250. 20. So mightily grew, etc. The gospel was diffused abroad and was powerful to produce great effects. The fear and the power and the praise all helped it; and above all the spirit of sacrifice helped it. When men come forward and sacrifice some bit of self in order to be Christ's, the Word of God will grow and prevail. 21. After these things were ended. The spirit of sacrifice had created the Ephesian Church. It could now stand alone, Paul thought, and the care of other Churches pressed him to go elsewhere--to Macedonia, Achaia, and Jerusalem, then Rome. He tells us of the plan he had in 1 Cor. xvi. 1-3, 8, 9. He wished to visit his Gentile Churches, collect contributions for the central organization at Jerusalem, with probably the thought that in this way 22 Rome. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself 23 stayed in Asia for a season. And the same time there arose 24 no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, 25...