The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-12
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 1G.
Lesson Text: "Peters Vision" Acts
X. 1-2O-Golden Text: Acts
", ,S4-Commentary

and ask the student to read with Bible in
hand.
]. Other leaders of hundreds in the Roman
army are mentioned in Math. viii, 513:
xvii. "a, and elsewhere in the Acts. Jesus
said Of the one mentionedi in Matb. viii. that
He had not seen such faith in Israel as in
| him.
2. Note the goodness of this centurion,
and vet we must conclude from chapter Ii,
Il, that withal he was not a saved man.
He was 6evout, feared God, gave aims and
prayed always. but none of those however
good can give salvation. Prove this from
Rom. iv., 5; Epb. H.. s, 9: ! Cor. xiii. 1.3.
He was however, an earnest seeker and
as we'll as he knew, and God gave him light.
3. God gave dreams and visions to Abim-
eleck. Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and others
who were Gentiles, but there was special
reason for this revelation to this Gentle,
light he had. IF any man will do His will
he shall know of the doctrine'' John vii,
~.
4. He recognized in the angel a superior
person, and with awe and reverence asked,
''What is it, Lord?' He was Immediately as.
sured that God had heard his prayers and
observed his devotion. If this was true Of
Cornelius, how much more Of all who are
saved by Jesuss blood and ask things ac-
COTOluR W VIII. I" udG SOhuOSuSS VIC
should have II John ", IA, 15l.
sc. God knows where to put His hand
upon a man whcm He can use. He knows
the town we live in and the house in which
we dwell or sojourn. He recognizes also our
occupation and the people whom we enter
tain in our house. He notices the location
of our house. In fact, ''An things are
naked and opened to the eyes Of Him with
whom We have to do'' Heb. iv, 1Y.
Z. Observe his nromptness. He delayed
not to do as he was told, but calling two
orders. The soldier also is called devout
man. The example Of such centurion
would tell upon all about him and upon
some with marked effect.
s. They were men whom he could rely up.
on; he told them all that the angel had told
him, and sent them to Joppa. He had per-
feet confidence in the angel. and cheerfully
did as he was told. "Willing and obedient,
will always obtain blessing" lisa j., 19.
fifty miles north Of Jopps, so that if the
servants left the same evening that Cor
neius received the vision they would reach
Joppa some time the next day. Now notice
how God prepares Peter for their coming.
When they are not far from Joppa Peter is
led by the Spirit to go upon the housetops
for prayer. Cornelius was a praying, man,
feCer was praying man, IL Is 10 sucu tnaG
God reveals Himself.
TO- While waiting for food for his body
God lays His hand upon him, he falls into
trance and sees heavenly things and is
taught great lesson. "Man doth not live
by bread only" and Job could say, II have
esteemed Tor laid up, margin) the words OF
His mouth more than my necessary food"
Deur. viii, 8; Job xiii, 12.)
II. This is one Of seven v"ses in the
u % L Tbn
others are Eek. j., /; Math. ILL.,, 16; John /,
ST. Acts viii, So: Rev. iv., !; XIX. II. In
every case it is to reveal something concern
ing Christ or His church.
IL The great variety OF animals seen in
this vision would inciuGe many which were
to Jew unclean. All Gentiles were con-
sidered unclean by the Jews and the
thought Of e Gentle enjoying equal spirit
ual privileges with Jew without being cir
cumcised, ETC., was simply too absurd to be
entertained.
IS. A voice from heaven commands
Peter to rise, kill and eat; but Peter, though
d Jew, is not SO obedient as the Gentle CEN
turion The word Of Mary to the servants
at the marriage in Cana John IL, s. is a
very helpful one, "Whatsoever He saith
unto you do it."
IA. Peter boasts Of his obedience to the
law in that he had never eaten anything
ing of ceremonial cleanliness from one VINO
had denied his Master and forsaken Him.
and on more than one occasion allowet
satan to speak and act thr ough him.
Is. Jesus had taught His disciples that
not what they ate would defile them, but
that which cometh out Of the mouth from
the heart (Math, xv., liz. And even Peter
should have known that it is always safe to
do as God tells us. He did learn his lesson,
haP1r LII rxnt
through with him, for in verse % he says,
"God hath showed me that should not call
any one common or unclean." Some OF us
seem to learn very slowly.
IL. God is very patient with us and sets
us the same lesson again and again till VIZ
learnit. God speaketh once, yea twice, yet
man perceiveth it not Job xxxiii., a.. IL
we were a hundreth part as patient with
each other as God is with us, how much W.
might accomplish for Him.
Il. While Peter wonderedas to the mean
ing of this vision the three men from Gor
nelius stood before the house-three Gen.
tiles, unclean in Jewish eyes, but God is no
respecter Of persons verse 81. How beau
titully God makes events to coincide lis as to
accomplish His pleasurel
IS. While Peter was oniering the three
men were asking for him by name. They
had both Of his names correctly. Had they
simply asked for Simon, the owner OF the
house might have thought that they meant
him; but the inquiry is very plain-it Is for
Simon Peter God can make plain the man
He wants. -,
l9. The Holy Spirit is ever ready tc guide
those who are willing to be guided. With
Father. Son and Spirit for us from. viii,
&c. 81, 34). how can we fail to be led Alright
il we are only willing to be guided? Let
our motto be, Ready to do whatsoever my
Lord the King shall appoint" III Sam. xV.,
49,
90. There is no room for doubt when God
'cllls or speaks. The Father sent Jesus,
Jesus sends Us John xvii, 49,. We must
learn to see God in everything. Having
committed our way unto Him, and being
ready, willing and obedent, we can count
mon HIM to lead US in His way and make
it very plain Lesson Helper.
NOT all the Canadian newspapers
are engaged in Safeguarding the
United States on account Of the re-
taliatory proclamation. The Mon
treal Herald asserts that the Cana
dian Government has exhibited a
monumental incapacity for business
and disregard Of the ordinary cour-
tesies of diplomacy. 1t charges that
instead of taking measures to bring
about a friendly settlement of the
threatened commercial war between
the two nations the ministers were
away fishing or otherwise enjoying
themselves, and such trifiing matters
as the commercial prosperity Of the