Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-07
Sunda y School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. ]. o. sHERBURN.


of the last. Peter closed his defence
before the council, and the two apostles
were ord cred from the court for few
moments, and conference was held
among the members of the tribunal. The
case of healing was undoubted. The man
was before them whole, and there was nc
way under their law of bringing punish.
ment upon the men who had wrought the
cure. Hence they determined to do the
best they could for the future to suppress
the doctrines of the apostles by threats and
intimidation. So they gave very strict
charge to Peter and John, when they had
recalled them. The language implies that
they were neither to teacn publicly in the
name of Jesus. nor in private, among their
friends were they to speak Of him as the
Christ.
The command if needed would have
suppressed all the efforts of the early
believers, and il reality restrained them
from meeting together for acts of worship
But they had made mistake when they
supposed that Peter and John were to be
restrained by their threats. These disci-
pies were not in the weak and hating
state that they were few weeks before
when the Master was before the council.
Tbev NV acted under the new and
mighty reign of the Holy Spirit. Hence,
boldly and dpromptly they denied the right Of
the Sanhodrim to put any such restrictions
upon them. They were willing even to
submit the question to the council whether
it would b, right before God for them to
hearken to the command of men rather
than to God.
The plain command Of Christ when he
left them was that they should publish
everywhere the great facts pertaining to
his kingdom. They recognized this as
command of God. Here comes in an
assertion of their belefin Christ's divinity.
Again they could with conf lence appeal
to the higher law before the council of
their own people. Some of the most
heroic pictures in the history of their
people were just Of this nature, Men
refused to obey laws contrary to the laws
of their God. Daniel and the three
worthless, and several of the old prophets
had taken the same position, and God had
honored and delivered them. Doubtless
these examples were in the minds of the
accused and the accusers. The apostles
strengthen their appeal by the declaration
that it was moral imposslbiity for them
not to speak forth the things they had
seen and heard.
This is conscience and duty grandly
asserting their supremacy. When it be
comes impossible and unthinkable for IL
man to disobey God, then he is as nearly
safe as he can be in this evil world. The
rulers finding these men determined
and knowing we'll that there was no case
against them under the law. added further
threats, ifthey should persist in teaching
Jesus, and then dismissed them, simply
because they dare not in view of the
condition of the public mind commit the
Hagrant abuse of Furnishing them when
there was no case against them.
This was very poor showing of honor
on the part of the council. They were only
restrained from the vilest abuse of their
authority by the position of the people
And yet this is better than going on
without any restraint and no doubt
at the present time many of our
tribunals are strengthened and kept in
tone by the same dread of the people. We
need, too, new and more vigorous
application of this corrective force in man
of our courts at present.
The apostles upoG their release went al
once to their own company. They yet had
some common place OF abode, or at leas
of daily congregation.
Here we have an excellent example fol-
any who are in affiiction or persecution.
Seek the company of Gods people in all
such times. Many scene Of anguish
might be avoided, and humliating defeat
turned to complete victory If men would
observe this rule. The conduct of the
apostles upon receiving the report of Peter
and John is worthy of note. They did no
begin by comforting together and tryins
to hit upon some plan to keep conscience
and still avoid the rage of the rulers bu
they at once united in supplications to
God for the courage they needed that they
might be bold and increasingly efficient
in doing his work. There is something
sublime in the nature of their combined
supplication. They stay themselves upor
the thought of Gods almightiness. They
20 back in their thought and language to
the triumphant experiences of those who
had trusted in God before their time. The,
catch the hidden, higher meaning of one
of the triumphant strains of their grea
national poet and prophet. They discover
an application of the language which they
had not probably seen before. They Sc,
rulers and people united against the Lord
anointed, but they see all powerless t
harm or destroy him. The 2Sth vers,
recognizes Gods Generalization in regard
to the mission and sufferngs of Christ
while we have but little while ag
studied Peters charge against bis peopl
of staying Jesus with wicked hands. MAJ
is responsible though he be carrying on
the counsel before determined upon b,
Jehovah. The facts stand side by side il
the word of. God, may say also il ou
consciousness. The Bible seeks no system
which will harmonize the two, and VI
may as well not seek to do what inspiration
has not attempted After the forma
opening Of the petion, we come to the rea
matter of surplication. Grant thy ser
wants boldness that they may speak tn
word" one of the most pertinent an
comprehensive prayers for the Christian
ministry that was ever uttered. God wa,
III ~