The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-10-05
DOrcas Raised tn Life.

Dorcas Raised to Life.
The lesson for Sunday, Oct. 9, may
be found in Acts .: 32-49.
INTRODUCTORY.
Peter is the type OF the Christian
evangelist, and we have here good
object lesson as to what apostolic
evangelization was, what, indeed.
evangelization ought to be to-day. The
State and district missionary come near
to realizing it among us, and the re-
ports of missionary tours ought 10 prove
the most stirring evangelistic records
of the times. 1t was veritable itin-
eracy and In the circuit OF stations WIS.,
listed the weaker fields were especially
| considered. State evangelists is the
proper name for those who go about
among the churches.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
1t came to pass. 1t is time of COM
ardtive tranquility among the early
Christians. See v. 81. As Peter
passed or visited. The reference is TO
leisurely and more or less thorough
canvass OF the field.-Saints, literally,
the holy. Called to be holy; /. e., set
apart. consecrated to God.--Which
dwelt at LYDIA. Or had house at
LYDIA. They did not belong there;
heaven was their home. The root is
habitation, of temporary shelter.
He found. Peter probably found"
what he was looking for. Others would
scarcely have seen the cripple OF LYDIA.
kept his bed. or, as we say, been
confined to his bed. an enforced retire.
ment. One of the shut in. Palsy.
The word paralytic is from the Greek
here.
Fneas. Doubtless one Of the hris-
tians of the place. -Maketh thee
whole. More accurately, healeth thee.
Make thy bed. From the verb to
spread or strew, in token Of recovery.
All saw him. 1t was a comparatively
small place. where all knew each other
Turned. The word is rendered
| converted at Acts %: q.
At Joppa. Near by, V. 38.-Dis-
ciple. The feminine form is used. A
sister, We would say.-Dorcas. Dor
cas- and Tabitha, the one Greek, the
other Hebrew; both mean Gazele. A
pretty name.--Almsdeeds One word
in the Greek, the plural of the word
Signifying compassion, hence acts OF
mercy. Eleemosynary is from this
Greek.
In those days. During Peters timer
acy.-She was sick and died. Liter
ally, having fallen sick she died.
Having washed. Performing the usual
Offices for the dead.-Laid her. Her
work supposedly done.
LYDIA was nigh 10 Joppa. Some ten
miles southeast. 1t still flourishes, and
is on the road to Jerusalem.
ing. Rather, urging, exhorting. Rem
dered exhort at Acts 2: 40; IL: %, etc.
THAT he would not delay 1t is
direct discourse in the original: Do not
delay to como to us.
Then Peter arose. Responding in
stantly to the call.-Widows With
whom she was probably associated in
good works.-Shewing the coats and
garments. A realistic touch.
Put them all forth He cast out the
attendants Of death, and then death it
self. down and prayed. In
stead of treating her as dead, he prayed
for her. That meant she was TO live.
The disciples nowhere pray for the
dead. Turning. Same word as in
v. 35.-Said, Tabitha. He turned to
the body, but spoke to the spirit
Opened her eyes. The account is re-
markably terse and graphic.
When he had called. The word
means TO cry aloud. Imagine the CAD
accents of the summons. Alive.
Greek: living. 4
And 1t came 10 pass. This might bet
ter begin the succeeding chapter, OPEN
ing as it does new narrative. Simon
q tanner. A despised calling among the
Jews. 1t Is in anticipation of the en-
larging Christian mindedness brought
out in the next few verses, regarding
Cornelius and the Gentiles.
And all that dwelt at LYDIA and
Joppa saw him and turned TO the Lord
And now do not say that the days OF
miracles are past. We never get be-
yond the testimony of the miracle; L
mean. the physical miracle. No some
new marvel, so-called, to-day, but the
old, well-authenticated miracle of apos-
tolic days, with its lasting vindication
of the divine origin of Christianity.
do not see it to-day, but they that
dwelt at Joppa saw il and turned to the
Lord. That is enough for me. The
miracle satisfied them as to its ac-
crediting power. They were able to
test it and they were convinced. They
had nothing more to say. Nor have /.
That m racle in Joppa has potency to-
day. / always conceive OF it in this
way. Here is bridge. The t.mbers
and platform are visible and are used
daily. But are not the foundations and
abutments far beneath and partly out
of sight also in daily use? We test and
try them every time we cross. We walk
over by means OF the substructure as
well as of the superstructure. And so
we never get beyond the virtue OF the
miracle. 1t did its work far down to-
ward the basal stones; but those stones
lift as powerfully to-day as ever.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
The saints which dwelt at LYDIA
They were the salt of that portion Of the
earth, distinct and clearly perceptible
element in the lump Of worldliness.
What should we think 10 be designated
as the saints DIV elling at Roberts cor
ners, the saints on High street in the
city Of Richteld? The name is fair
one, and 1t ought TO give us pause with
the sense OF responsibility that is laid
upon us as the called OF the Lord
holy. separate and peculiar peop.e are
we, tarrying here for season. Do We
live az saints? Some one said OF Fene-
Ion that no one could remain long with
him without becoming a Christian. Are
we of that sort?