Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-18
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.

BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.
April 9s: Peter Working Miracles-Acts :32-43.
Among the towns along the sea coast of
Judea, visited by Philip, the evangelist,
was LYDIA. This town was situated in
the ancient valley of Sharon, nino miles
from Joppa, on one of the leading roads
from that town to Jerusalem. Peter and
John had been commissioned (Acts S:14)
to visit the believers at Samaria, and
Peter, probably unaccompanied, seems to
have gone on general tour of inspection
among the churches formed by the labors
of the evangelists who went out from
Jerusalem at the death of Stephen. The
design of this visitation was doubtless to
strengthen and encourage the believers,
and bring the infant church into more
perfect unity. The believers at LYDIA are
termed saints. This is about the first use,
in the New Testament, of that word in its
present Specification. 1t means those set
apart from worldly life to the service Of
God. The term indicates no particular
sanctitv in the believers at LYDIA more
than in those of other places, but recog-
nizes the great fact that all true followers
of Christ are sanctiied or set apart for
holy use. Here Peter meets man.
whether of the company of believers or
not we are not told, who has for eight
years been helpless with palsy. Peter
doubtless felt special divine prompting
to become the agent Of his healing; and
SO at once declared him healed by the
person of Christ. The fact of his real
healing was made evident to all when he
at once obcyed Peters command and
oseand folded up the mattress on which
he had lain SO long.
The result of such y miracle was
astounding; the towns people and those
of the adjoining regions came and saw the
restored man and by general assent declar-
ed their belief in Christ. We cannot
understand that each individual among
them turned to the Lord in the true spirit
ual sense, but rather that all became
convinced of the truth that Christ was
divine, and that he was yet present with
his people. The news of such miracle
naturally spread TO surrounding towns
aud became known to the Christians
located there. So when at Joppa, a disci
pie. greatly beloved by all the people,
died of some disease, the suggestion seems
to have been made at once that perhaps
Peter might be instrumental in raising
her to life again If these disciples were
well instructed, they would have good
assurance tina: Peter could perform such a
work. For in the first commission, Jesus
gave the twelve,this power was mentioned,
and again he declared that the works |
which he had done, and greater works, |
should be accomplished by his disciples. |
Again if Peter command power to restore
palsed man, helpless for eight years, he
could as easily raise the dead.
The intense desire of the disciples at
Joppa for the life of Dorcas is a good
comment on the value of that life. In the |
case Of many individuals it would hardly |
be worth the effort Of sending to 0 neigh.
boring town to secure their resusctation. |
The brief account given of the woman is
full of instruction. She is said 10 have
been "full of good works and alms-deeds."
This is indeed a life of real abundance.
Nothing better is said of all the New Tes.
lament worthless, Stephen was full of faith
and the Holy Ghost; but faith without
works is dead, and it were profitess to be
filled with the Spirit, Gf such q thing
could be) unless the world was fed with |
the ripe fruits Of the Spirit. The mourning,
too, that was caused by the death of
Dorcas is powerful testimony to her
unselfish Christ.like life. 1t was more
than the mere conventional, hired mourn
ing Of the east that Peter witnessed when
he had come in haste from LYDIA.
We cannot but think that the mourning
widows were some of the many she had
aided in her life time. We can imagine
one gazing upon the face of the dead and
saying "This mantle have on was one
she gave me after my husband died:' and
another bringing forward childrcn's
clothing, would say "These garments she
had just finished for my fatherless little
ones" The tribute paid to this dead
woman, doubtless o maiden lady of
considerable means, as the description of
her house would indicate, is one that may
well be craved by all. A godly man of
our time says this of himself:
II freely confess to you that would
rather, when l am laid in the grave, some
one in his manhood would stand over me
and say: There lies one who was real
friend to me, and privately warned me of
the dangers of the young; no one knew it,
but he aided me in the time of need. |
owe what am to him. Or would rather
have some widow, with choking uttsrance.
telling her children: There is you friend
and mine He visited Inc in my aftliction,f
and found you, my son, an employer; ar d
you, my daughter, happy home in
virtuous family. l say | would rather
that such persons would stand at my grave
than 10 have erected over it the most
beautiful sculp.ured monument of Parian
or Italian marble. The hearts broken
utterance Of reflections of past kindness,
and the tears of grateful memory shed
upon the grave, are more valuable, in my
estimation, than the most costly cenotaph
ever reared"
Peter entered the chamber of the dead
and put these sincere mourners forth, and
after kneeling moment in prayer, only
spake the word and presented the dead