Connecticut western news., 1876-05-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS.
 By Rev. Mason Noble, Jr.
FOR MAY 28TH. 1878.

LYING UNTO GOD-ACTS V, Ill.
 GOLDEN TExT.-Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Acts VA.
 There were but twelve apostles. Ono of them was traitor Judas sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver and betrayed Him with a kiss. We have seen how the little church increased until it was num- bered by thousands. It is no wonder that among them there were some hypocrltes. Our lesson tells of two how they were tempted. and yielded, ard were punished, and of the effect upon others of this sin and It's punishment.
 THE SINNERs.-They wore man named Ananlas, and hls wife named Sapphira. toned in the New Testament. Both are good names; Ananias meaning Jehovah IS gracious and SapphIra meaning 'beautl- full Of these people we only know what is told to us in thls lesson; that they were membe.s of the early church that tbey deslred to be well thought of that they agreed to act he ; and that God punished them for their sin. s- THEIR SIN.-Those who. like Barnabas, gave all that they had to the poor, were well spoken of, aud thls man and hls wife were env1ous. They wished to appear bet | ter than they were, so they were hyp0- crites. They tried to deceive 50 they were false. They talked it over together and agreed together, so their sin was dellber- ate. As they pretepded to be moved by the Holy Spirit to give all that they had to God, they seemed to be expecting that the Holy Spirit would connive at thelr sln. Ihey were prompted to ,helr sln by Satan. Satan IS always near the church. He
 lurked ID Eden Once and is foubd among
 the sons of God.' He is spoken of here as just as real as the Holy Ghost; as real as
 Peter or Ananias (see verse 3). When Sa-
 tan comes If we resist him he fiies from
 us; but If we listen to hlm he soon fills
 our hearts. The Holy Spirit had come. He
 had come at Pentecost. He was te abide
 with the church. He especially filled the
 apostles. He was taking care of the found
 ing of the Christian church. He was 'an
 other Comforter sent, like Jesus te care
 for those who put their trust in God. But
 Ananlas and hls Wife let Satan fill theil
 hearts, and pretending to be led by the
 Spirit. lied to that Spirit. Their sin was
 very grievous one. It was sin after Sa 5an's own heart for he is liar from tn, !, beginning and the father of it. Hypocri cles. falsehoods and lies are the special de , light of Satan.
 THEIR PUNIsHMENT.-It was fully de served, ii ever punishment was. It wa
 needed. Satan had filled the old cl urci of God the Jewish chu1ch) with lies ant
 hypocrisy luke xli, II. Now he had found
 man and woman who would agree to
 gether, under his teachings, to introduce the same thing into the Christian church Their sin was deliberate 1t was not yield
 ing to sudden severe temptation, but wa something carefully planned. Sapphlr, , l was alone Tor three hours after her huS
 band had been punished. but when sh comes she shows no sign that she had fel , the sln of what they had agreed to do. O
 at all repented of it. They were botl stricken dead. They passed away iron tIls world: Find where liars are last spo ken of in the Bible. We must remembe that it was not Peter who slew them, bu ] God Himself He has been more mercifu , to many since then. But by what He dit then He shows us what He thinks of sucl sin as theirs. and what sort of punishmon such sin deserves.
 THE EFFECT.-[5, 2. III This was an aw full sense of the majesty of God, and th danger of offending Hum. The fear tha followed such an awe inspiring event q once arrested any tendency to enter th l church on the part of the worldly and self seekina.' God showed that Hs was presen
 In the church and ID the world, not only t, receive the penitent. but to punish the lm penitent. God so loved these people, An
 anias and Sapohira, that He gave His vel beloved Son to die for them. But whil | they pretepded to be Christians. they re
 jected the teachings of Christ and scornet the commandments of God. and they me the reward of the1r own doinRs. Her sentence against an evil work was execu ted speedily. And the people saw ant learned the lesson. It is a lesson that mel always will need. It has warned and savet
 thousands from such sin, and will yet saw thousands more.