Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-11-18
MISSIONARY SERMON.
LESSON VII, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TcRNATlONAL SERIES, NOV. 20.

Text of the Lesson, Acts xiii, 26-43.
Memory Verse, 3S-Golden Text, Acts
xiii, 26-Commentary by the Rev. ID.
NJ. Stearns.
&c. Paul and Barnabas on their first
missionary journey having arrived at An
tioch in Pisidia are found in the syna-
gogue on the Sabbath day, and being in
vited to speak Paul begins at the exodus
of Israel from Egypt and briefly reviews
the nations history up to David and then
passes at once to the seed promised to
David, even Jesus, the Saviour of Israeli;
mentioning John the Baptist and his
preaching as the herald of Jesus. Our
lesson opens by his saying that this saliva
ton is specially for Israel.
%. He then testifies that the rulers at
Jerusalem, not believing the prophets,
although read in the synagogue every
Sabbath day, had done just as the proph-
cts had foretold, and condemned their de-
liverer to death. See Ps. xxi, 12-lS; lisa.
lii, 3, :, and compare Acts iv, 81, %.
2S. He confirms the threefold testimony
of plate that there was no fault in Jesus
John xviii, 3S: xix, 4, g.. He knew no sin,
He did no sim He was holy, harmless, I'M
defiled and separate from sinners Oh Cor
v, 81; l Pet. ii, 90; Heb vii, 26). Even
Judas testified that He was an innocent
man (Math. xvii, ~.
30. All things are known to God from
the beginning (Acts XIV, 49,, and the Holy
Spirit had written beforehand in the Old
Testament every detail of the sufferings,
death and resurrection of Christ, all of
1vl oh 11t- f1l 70 = n
casting lots upon His vesture and His
being buried in the tomb of a rich man.
80, But God raised Him from the dead 4"
God has sworn to David concerning his
seed that He would establish the throne of
his kingdom for ever CII Sam vii, 10, 49,.
Isaiah also had said that the Wonderful
Counselor should have His kingdom es-
tablished upon the throne of David for
ever Qsa. tx, 6, =. But this implied an
immortal man; man because he would
be David's seed, immortal because he
would reign forever.
81. The witnesses to His resurrection
were very many, not less than 500, and He
was seen ten times at least during period
of forty days, and was always speaking of
this Kingdom, the kingdom to be restored
to Israel at his coming again in glory q
Cor. XIV, 6; Acts /, 3, 6; iii, 2D.
80. I'VE declare unto you glad tidings"
The Gospel is always glad tidings, whether
it be the GOSPEL of the grace of God or the
/ Gospel of the glory of God acts Xx "a
| | Tim. i, II, r. W, and when received it
| invariably makes glad those who receive
it, 1t is II high honor to be privileged &c
declare these glad tidings, and yet this
! honor Is freely conferred upon every be
/ lever acts viii l, 4; Rev. xxi, 10.
/ 33. The New Testament opens with the
statement that it is about Jesus Christ
| the son Of David the son of Abraham i'm
plying that all that was promised to boil
David and Abraham will be made good t.
and in Jesus Christ. All the promises o.
God in Him are yea, and in Him amen q
Cor i, 20). The resurrection of Christ Il
the pledge of the fulfllment of ever,
promise.
"a. Having quoted Ps H. :, as referrin,
to the resurrection of Christ he nov
quotes Isa. ", 3, as referring to the SAM
great event. If those who make will
could live to see them executed Their
would not be so much breaking of wills
but the one who makes the will must frs
die in order to make the will of force Heh
tx, 1G, ~. Jesus died, but Jesus is aliv
forevcrmOre, having all power, and will
surely see to the full carrying ont of ever,
provision in his will (Rev. i, 1S).
35. Yet another quotation does Pau
make in this sermon, and all to prove tina
Jesus was the one spoken of in the prophet
and in the Psalms. This time the refer
ence is to Ps. xvi, 10. How much NOR
like Bible readings rather than like tn
ordinary sermons of today are the dis
courses of Peter and Paul and Stephen
] N IA fl,o L
s. David could not have written of him
self in Ps. xvi, for his body saw corrur
ton, and although some say that Jesus i
now on Davids throne in heaven, they fai
to tell us where it is written that Davi
ever had "A throne in heaven, and seem /
forget that it is written David is not as
cended into the heavens" (Acts ii, 34).
81 But He, whom God raised again
saw no corruption" His life was no
taken from Him, but He laid it down G
His own accord and by his own power II
took it again (John X, 49,. This is on
Redeemer, the Great Head Of the church
the King of Israel and King of nations
and to us who are in Him will he give in
mortal, incorruptible bodies like His ow
q Cor. XIV, So; Phil. iii, 90, 21).
3s. In order to enjoy this redemption an
share His glory we must first obtain tn
forgiveness of sins. This is true of Jew O
Gentle, individual or nation Sin is tn
great barrier between man and God Elsa
lix, q, but Jesus has stepped in between
and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquit
of us all lisa. lii, g.
80. Fully has He made atonement, an
freely does he offer to every believer all til
benefits of that great redemption. TIL
law cannot save, but Christ is the end G
the law for righteousness to every one tina
believeth (Rom. viii, 3, 4; X, 4; iii, 20 Jus
titled is more than forgiveness; it is such
destroying of the record that was agains
us that there is nothing left of it (Col
ii, IA.
40, Al. These verses are from Isa XIX
l6; Hab i, 8. In connection with statement
to this effect that God is of purer eyes tina
to behold evil and cannot look on iniquity
and that he sees the hearts of those VIII
draw near with their mouth and homo
| hif,NN haf,. inc Al. I