The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-12

vision for the needy. This was voluntary
act, and did not include all property, The
sin of Ananias and Sapphire ". l-lO) was
not their cailure to give up all their pro-
perty, but their falsehood.
V. 46. Their public worship was held in
the temple, where the Apostles, like our
Lord himself, gave instructions to the people.
They seem, too, to have continued to attend
upon the ceremonial worship of the temple.
Although the ceremonial diSpensation really
ended with PentecoSt; yet the early Chris
tians did not altogether abandon the cere-
monial services for years, probably not al
together till the destruction of the temple.
This overlapping of the worship of the old
and new dispensationS may have been de
signed to show the identity of their religion.
These early Christians had also their social
meetings at home, from house to house,
these feasts partaking both of social and
religious character.
V. At. "Praising God" indicates not sim
ply their acts of worship, but their whole
lives, as devoted to his praise. The favor
which the Church now had with the Jewish
people was transient. 1t was not long be
fore they were prosecuted. The body Of
believers thus described is here called I" the
Church" This name, the familiar desigpa-
ton of the body of Gods people uuder the
former dispensation is now first applied un-
der the new. The same name is retained to
show that the Church is continued The
company of disciples at Jerusalem, to which
additions were made daily, now constituted
the Church of God on earth. To it, the
Lord, that is Christ, added daily g. such as
should be saved" This in the original is
one word, "the saved" Those who are re-
generated are saved; all others are now lost
Remarks: l. Even the most able preach
ing will not be effective without the power
of the Spirit. Peters grand discourse would
not have convicted soul, had the Spirit not
been poured out,
2. The presentation of the sinners own
guilt in rejecting Christ, is often the means
the Spirit uses to produce conviction. "Of
sin, because they believe not on me"
| g. One who wishes to be saved ought at
once to become an inquirer. Those who
asked, "men and brethren, what shall We
do?" were saved; others, partially convicted,
probably went away and became Indifferent,
and we're finally lost
4. Inquirers should be instructed. Peter
and the other apostles seem to have spent
much of the day of Pentecost in this work .
To answer the question, "What must do
to be saved ?" is most important part of
ministerial work.
5. An inward change, and an outward
profession of Christ, are required in order
to salvation.
6. To every one who is going with the
multitude in the broad way to destruction,
there comes the gospel alarm, "Save your
selves from this untoward generation %
7. Under the new dspensation believing
parents may claim the promises of the cove
uant for their children. The privileges and
blessings of the kingdom are enlarged; they
are not restricted.
8. The unity of the Church, the body of
believers made one in Christ, is prominent
in the description of the condition of the
early Church.
g. The social element is a power for edi-
fcation and extension, that ought not to be
allowed to lie dormant in the Church.
10. A characteristic of Christians when
saved, is their diligent attendance upon the
instructions of those appointed of God to
teach in the Church.