Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-06-13
The freemaa,
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.
June 24th: Quarterly Review.

June 24th: Quarterly Review.
Twelve lessons in Wonderful perio,
of church history! A period when tn
first work, so aaspiciously begun at Pente
cost, begins to broaden and give SUR
prophecy of marvellous conquests. 4
period when the exclusiveness of tn,
Jewish church and people is being rudely
iostled and seems ready TO fall before the
power of Christ. During the time covered
by these lessons the gospel comes il
contact with many races and conditions o.
men. Astounding miracles attest the
divinity of the system. The new and
strange teachings that it brings prove a
Joy to thousands. while they are only as
an idle tale to many others, and to a still
larger class they only stir up envy. anger.
nnd the maddcst opposition. In these
lessons We have account Of the different
position that various individuals took
when brought in contact with the truth as
il is in Jesus. Some, as Simeon, looked
upon the wonderful empowering of the
Holy Ghost only as a means of getting
gain. and fame, and power. The Ethio-
plan saw in it what his soul craved and
gladly embraced its teachings, and set at
once about the duties it required, Saul,
though bitter prosecutor of Christians,
is yet overcome and his opposition broken
down when he meets with Christ himself.
Peter is brought, by an experience whose
teachings could not be mistaken, to
embrace in his faith and endeavor the
world of mankind. He does not allow his
intense prejudice to stand before the plain
will of God.
Under the guidance Of the Holy Spirit
Darnabas seeks an associate for his mission
work, and becomes happily associated
with the bold and devoted convert from
Tarsus. We find the two under the
authority of their brethren. and by special
divine prompting, soon setting out on an
extensive missionary tour; thus carrying
the light of the gospel to the remote
nations of tho then known world. This
period is one of marked enlargement in
the infant church.
Let us seek to recall some of the
practical lessons in the work we have
passed over.
Lesson 1. We can never enter into the
real experience of divine grace until our
hearts are right in the sight of God.
That is, we must come to him not for |
self-aggrandizement but that we may be i
fitted to glorify God and do his work.
We are no longer our own, but bought
with price.
lesson II. God provides the light of
truth to all who devoutly seek it. Having
come to the light. we are to begin at once
the duties of the Christian life.
Lesson III. The only kind of religious
life that is worthy of the name. or worthy
of nm energetic man is life service TO
God. Lord what wilt thou have me to
doP" is a central question in Christian
life.
Lesson w. Sound conversion is follow
ed by immediate work in Gods cause;
powers gives himself to God he ought to |
be able Immediately to give powerful
witness for Jesus.
Lesson V. God does not fail to attest
the genuneness of the work honestly
done for him. Signs are sure to follow
wherever such labors are performed.
Such miracles as Peter was able to per-
form are not most needed now, but God
yet stretches out his hand to aid all who
exercise real faith in him. The power
which rescues drunkard from years of
degradation, or the libertine from his
deLauchery is no less wonder full than that
which raised Enoas from his bed where
the palsy had held him eight years.
Lesson vi. If we saw more clearly
what God is doing among other people we
should not be SO narrow in our notions,
or so crcumscribed in our efforts.
When Peter found that God had even
commissioned an angel to instruct the
Roman Cornelius, he was ready to fall in
with the divine plan and preach to a
heather congregation gathered at the
house of this devout officer.
Lesson VII. Where God endorses a
work by special aid In reaching men,
there ought the church to send the largest {
working force at her disposal. The peo- .
pie of Antioch appear to have heard the :
word gladly and it was the highest wis i
dom to put the best working force in that 1
place and keep them there for consider :
able time. .
Lesson VIII. God may suffer his ser. \
wants to be imprisoned or slain. but when I
he can best carry on his work through |.
their agency, he will surely keep them, f
no matter how secure their enemies may a
feel. God has set a stronger guard over !,
his servants than ever Roman officers or =
soldiers could furnish. -
Lesson XT. Those easily led to believe d
in the preacher of the word often turn o
soon against both the word and its preach !,
er. They who believe in Christ and get h