Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-08

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Peter speaks, and is given a respectful
the multitude ut was not a
4 synod OF elders) keeping orderly
and attentive silence. Finally
James OF great repute among the early
disciples and justly so, gives his judg-
ment (krino) not sentence. The ulti-
mate discussion Is reached when at last
lit pleased the APOSTLES and elders with
the whole church, to send chosen men
| to Antit CHI, bearing this instrument as
| the conclusion Of the council, ratified by
| the local church, namely (omitting the
preamble) That ye abstain from meats
offered to idols, and from blood, and
from things strangled and from fornica-
ton: from which, If We keep yourselves.
ye shall do well. Fare We WELL Wise
counsel, just and sensible restrictions.
The motion made by James has carried.
| God has brought his people safely out OF
another threatening Egyptian bondage,
and the kingdom of Christ, like prom
ised land, lies fair and open before
them.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Simeon, or Simon Peter. The He
| brew name is here used, it being jew
ish company or recounted,
narrated, same word as declared in v.
| ~, above.-At the first. Rather, first.
Peter was speaking OF Gods first pre-
| sentation of the gospel to Gentiles in
the household of Cornelius. -Visit.
| Greek, to look upon, or, as we say in ia
miliar conversation, look in upon. a
peop for his name, or, TO his name,
| /. e., planted on his name. The word
| take may be rendered receive.
To this agree the word OF the proph-
cts. The verb is that from which comes
our word symphony Sound tosether),
! literally. symphonize. 10
My sentence is. Not necessarily. My
| Judgment, or personal decision rather.
Greek: (krinol l Judge, / decide. 1t
was not James but the whole assembly,
we gather, who settled this question.
Or, we may say, separate churches on
| their recomInendation.- 10
God. The term frequently translated
converted. Acts 3: 10; John IL: 40.
Abstain. Literally to keep their dis
lance. The best way to abstain.
Then pleased it. Or, it seemed good.
| Probably put to vote.-With the whole
church. The ultimate seat of authority
being the local church.-Chosen. Liter
ally, chosen out. Another sign of dis
tinct church action.
| Build again. One word in the Greek,
rebuild, analogous to return, used with
! it.-Ruins. A strong word, the root
which signifies to strcw.-I will set 1t
up. Following the analogy OF the pre-
ceding verbs all OF them with the prep
osition and) restore, re- establish. The
| quotation from the Old Testament here
Amos 8: IL, 12) is quite free, more
closely following the Septuagint. 1t
was probably given from memory either
| by James or Luke.
| The residue. From the word to be
/ left.-SeeK after. With the added
| sense OF diligence, but not necessarily
| with success, as the use OF the word at
| Heb. IL: ~ indicates whom
my name Is called. See Ps. 2: 8. The
| rendering here is closer than in the Old
| Testament translation, where we find
called by my name; Hebrew my name
| upon them.
| Known unto God. Tischendorf gives
| quite a different reading here, three
words only in fact. known from eter-
nifty. The Revision following this lat
| ter reading translates this verse In con-
nec.!on with the preceding. saith the
| Lord, who maketh these things known
from the beginning OF the world The
| margin is even more accurate, who doth
these thing, which were known. The
meaning seems to be that tho prophecies
| themselves reveal these things.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Then all the multitude kept silent A
brilliant burst of silence, an effective
selah passage in the midst of the con-
troversy. stop and think" When we
are all ready for that we are we'll on
our way toward full unanimity and the
zone accord" of which v. 25 so happily
| speaks. There had been no uproar or
unseemly contention here. But doubt
less there were deep convictions stirred
on either side, and the positions had
| been stated, we may Judge, with
| straightness and strength. But now
| Peter has uttered himself in quiet. ten
| der words. That last reference of his
| to the gentle grace of our Lord Jesus
| Christ" Is enough. Then ensues kind
| of reverent silence. And here occurs
| what perhaps would have been difficult
| before: Paul and Barnabas rise to
speak their mind. The Heavenly Father
| is in the midst.
/ will set it up Christ is in the world
| to set up that which is fallen down.
| Humanity is like a temple in ruins,
| spoiled and dismantled by sin. Jesus
| Christ restores the lost strength and
beauty. We are thinking Just now OF
LndJ poor, lnHTm WOmdn III the byua-
| gogue, all bent and bowed together, n
| broken temple indeed. And he laid his
| hands upon her and Immediately che
was made straight and glorified God"
| Christ is here 10 straighten out that
| which Is crooked. He wants IL to glorify
| God, and 1t can best do that by standing
| up straight. Are you and ready to be
Strengthened out, to be set up? Perhaps
some further bondage and breakage is
needful before the strengthening and
| edifying process can begin. Are we
ready for it9 Lord, make me. But to
that end unmake, break me. In any
event, let God be glorified In these
bodies and spirits which are his.
1t seemed good to the Holy Ghost,
| and to US. A blessed partnership, the
Holy Ghost and the believer Now /
understand the wonderful tactfulness
of the message, and withal It's tender
ness; some other than the human hand
| and mind Is here. God is In 1t. IL is
an inspired communication. OF such
| Is all the Biblical record and revelation.
| II seemed good to the spirit and TO man.
| The two were united In II; It was human
| and divine; humanity divine, divinely
human. And though this may be said
In peculiar and exclusive way OF the
| writer Of the sacred oracles, 1t has also
an application to every humble Christian
| OF to-day who takes those oracles as
lamp and light. Such n guidance OF the
Spirit is granted us in the ordinary
| affairs of life that we may believe that,
| with the prayerful, Bible-taught soul,