Connecticut western news., 1876-04-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS.
By Rev. Mason Noble, Jr.
FOR APRIL 23RD, 1876.

FOX APRIL %SRD, 1870.
 THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
 ACTS II, 3s 47.
 GOLDEN TExT.-Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom. \, Is.
 CONVICTION OF SIN.- 1871 Peter had closed his sermon or address by repeating the truth. God hath made that same Je- sus, whom ye have crueified. both Lord and Christ. Both King and Saviour. Those who heard felt that it was true. They were prlcked to the heart,' or made pain fully conscious of thelr sin in rejecting Christ and crucifying Him. They sad to the apostles. Men, brethren. what shall expression of a desire to perform some meritorious service, but cry for help. We acknowledge we are sinners, how can we be savedT Many who know and ad- unit that they are sin CTS, are neither ready nor willing to do anything about it. It needed then, and is necessary now, that Gods spirit should act upon the heart to produce conviction of sim (see John xvi, s.. CONVERSION TO CHRIsT.-[3s S9l Peter gave the only answer that can be given to that question Repent turn from this sin of yours. Be baptized,' which would be | an open acknowledgement, every one of you.' though some of them had actual part ln crucIfylng the Saviour. '1u the name of Jesus Christ ackn ow ledging publicly the cruclfed Lord as their Saviour. for ,he re- | mlSslon of slns;' tuere Is no other way in which our sins are atoned for, except through Christ, who was crucified that they might be forgiven. It is not enoaSh to feel that we are sinners, or to be afraid | that God will punish us for our sins or to feel that be would be just; should he pun ish us. Besides that we must accept the Saviour God has given us, ard accept Him with our whole heart, so that we are glad to acknowledge Him before any body, And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Gnost;' the Holy Spirit who alone can make us feel that we are accepted of God, and who will keep us from falling back in to sin again. For the promise.' Gods | promise to save the penitent. is unto you some people read Gods promises as though they dld not mean any body in particular; {; l always remember that they meau YOU ID particular, and to your chIldrsn,' those who come after you, and to all that are afar of. the Gentiles; all the several races aud nations of men in all the earth, as many as the Lord our God shall call, and God calls all who are weary aud heavy la den, all sinners, whosoeVer will, let him come.
 CONFESSION OF FAITH.-[40-41l We have not here the record of the whole of Peter's sermon. Only the gist of 1t is given. He spoke many other words, testlfy,ng of u @ ruth, and exhortlng them to rrpen tance. Save yourselves The was doing all he could | to save them, but in fact everyone mus t l save himself Nobody can repent for you. or believe for you. From tbis untoward generation,' sinful generation, who must be punished for their sia unless they ac. cepted Christ. Then they that gladly re- ceiYed bis word,' the promise of salvation 1 th. ough Christ. Those who feel thelr need of a Saviour are glad when they are taught their penitence aud acceptance of Christ before all, About S0QO iolned the church tthat same day. In Jolniug the church u en. they made themselves subject to per
 4 1NI.a | rlsk of their hves They wouli not have done it unless they had beer terribly Tn earnest There was no need that such per sons should be received 'on probation or 'propound~d..
 GROWTH IN GRACE.-I42 All They con- tinued steadfastly,' as we should expect such persons to do, but as persons do not do unless strengthened by the Spirit of God, in the apostles doctrlne,' Listening to aud guided by the apostles teachings, and fellowship remaining of one mud with the apostles. and holding intercourse with them, and in the breaking of bread, the communion service, which they ob- served every Lords day, and sometlmes during the week. aud prayers for they did not forget thelr need of Gods help. And fear came upon every soul nen no longer scoffed or jeered, or spoke of the apostles as drunken, for these apostles still mad power to work miracles (see Acts iii 7;v, 5, TO- 12, 15. 16: vi, 8: viii, 6. 2. IS; tx,
 
 12; xxx, 10-12; xxvill. 5-S). And ali that believed were together,'npt that the whole ] 5000 could often meet in one place, unless it was occasionally h u 0 temple area, but they renamed stlll as one body in Jerusa- lem. And had all things in commop,' etc. They were not obliged to do thls (see Acts v, 4 but chose to. It did not 2" to the apostles (Acts nj, 6). All Christians then were liable to have theIr property confis- cated aJ any moment. But it showed tneIr sincerity. When we give u3 our property for any object 1t shows we are in earnest They kept up a daily serylce of prayer at the temple, and hayIug no church, met of ten from house to house. They were whole hearted, joyous, earnest Christians. Two results follow, that must follow whom Christians do their whole duty. First, they } had favor wI.h 'al tae people, though not with the rulers, who. though for a short time rest rained, soon began to per secute them again. But the common peo- pie admired them, as they always admire those who do right. Second, many were added to the church 'daily;' it was 8 con. stant revival for the church was dolnp Its duty.