Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-12-16


LESSON l.-Saul's Conversion (Acts tx,
l-20) Golden text (John iii, 81, Except
man be born again he cannot see the king
dom of God" Saul had an excellent char
acter and standing in the eyes of his fel
lows and in his own estimation, but sight
of Jesus made him count it all as dross
phil. Iii. 4-lD. Saul was chosen that he
might bear the name of Jesus, manifest
the life of Jesus and suffer great things
for His sake.
LESSON H. Eneas and Dorcas tActs tx.
32-43) Golden text Acts tx, 36), This wo-
man was full of good works and aims
deeds which she did" Saul being perse-
cuted at Damascus came to Jerusalem and
was received by the apostles, who were ut
first afraid of him, through the com
mendation of Barnabas, after which he
went to Tarsus, his birthplace. This les
son speaks of Peter at LYDIA making
Alneas whole instantly after keeping his
bed eight years, and at Joppa raising Dor
cas- from the dead. The result in each case
was that many turned to the Lord and be
lieved in Him oversees 3d. 42).
| LESSON III.-Peters Vision ACTS X
l-20). Golden text (Acts X. 3N, "Of truth
| perceive that God is no respecter of per
sons" The church thus far was gathered
only from thu Jews, but it was the pur
pose of God to gather an elect company
out of all nations See Math. xviii, 10:
Mark xvi, Is. Acts i, so. This lesson tells
how by special vision Peter was led to 90
to the Gentiles. Consider Cornelius-de
vout, prayeSful beneficent-and mark
| how heaven and earth are moved on his
behalf. An angel is sent to him, and Il
vision granted to Peter in connection with
certain earthly matters, all to bring light
to his dark and longing soul (read Rom.
viii, 32)
LESSON IV.-Peter at Cnsarea acts X,
30-4S) Golden text Acts X, 49,, Through
His name whosoever believeth in Him
shall receive remission of sins" Peter
having arrived at the house of Cornelius
is told in the presence of all the story of
the angels visit. and is then informed that
they are all waiting to hear what God has
commanded him to say. He breaches to
them Jesus-His life, death and resurrec-
ton; His amounting by the Spirit and the
power of God manifest in Him, and that
all who receive Him receive in Him the
forgiveness of sins. Those hearing be-
lieved and received the gift of the Holy
Spirit, even although they had never been
circumcised.
Lesson V.-Christians at Antioch Acts
XII, 1890. Golden text (Acts xi, 2D, a
great number believed and turned unto
the Lord" The persecution about the
time of Stephens martyrdom resulted in n
great scattering of the disciples, but not
of the apostles tActs viii, y. Some of these
went as far as Antioch preaching t.
word, but only to the Jews. Although til
preachers were not apostles, God blesse
their preaching, and many received Jesu!
The news reached Jerusalem, and Barnabas
was sent to encourage them He brought
Saul from Tarsus and the good work went
on. Mark the phrases, Turned unto the
Lord, Added unto the Lord" "Cleave
unto the Lord Oversees 81, %, ~.
LESSON VI.-Peter delivered from prison
(Acts xii. l-lT. Golden text Cps. xxxiv.
~ "The angel of the Lord encamp-
eth around about them that fear Him and
delivereth them" We now return to
Jerusalem to find James, the brother of
John, gone to be with Jesus, and Peter in
prison apparently about to follow him,
while the church is given up to earnest
prayer
LESSON VII.-Sent by the Spirit (Acts
xiii, lib Golden text duke xiv, 40
THAT repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in His Name among
all nations" Barnabas and Saul having
carried to Jerusalem the aims of the An
tioch believers return to Antioch taking
John Mark with them, and are now by the
Holy Spirit separated unto special work
in far off portions of the land. In this |, S
son we follow them only through Cyprus
and find the old enemy of the garden OF
Eden already ahead of them, but oul
hearts rejoice to see one soul snatched from
his cruel bondage.
LESSON VILLA missionary sermon
(Acts xiii, 26-43). Golden text (Acts xiii
26), "To you is the word of this salvation
sent" Leaving Cyprus they cross to the
mainland, whence John returns to Jerusa
lem. Paul and Barnabas are next fount
in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia
and being invited to speak Paul preache,
this sermon in which he rehearses tn,
story from Egypt to David, and then en-
larges upon the Son of David, whom Ii,
proves Jesus to have been. And from
Psalms ii arsl xvi shows that David ex
pected an immortal heir, one who should
rise from the dead. He shows that Jesus
. crucified and risen is the promised Son ant
King, ana that He offers forgiveness to al
who will receive Him.
LESSON IX.-Blessing for the Gentle,
ACTS xiii, A to xiv. y. Golden text (Acti
xiii, 40, Il have set thee to be light o
the Gentiles." The work goes on encour
agingly until the Jews begin openly t,
contradict and blaspheme; then the ap
ties turn to the Gentles, and many be
lieved and the word was published through
all the region. Driven from Antioch the,
come to Iconium, and continue preachin,
and also working signs and wonders anC
a great multitude both of Jews and Greek
believed. Notice that everywhere the,
preached the Gospel. the full story 0
Jesus, and that was all.
LESSON X.-Paul stoned (Acts xiv, 1922
Golden text (Math. xii, 2r, "In His nam
shall the Gentiles trust" One of tn
mighty works wrought by the risen Chris
through these His servants was the heal
ing of the man at Lystra who had neve
walked, and part of Paul's wages for tn
same was stoning unto death because h
would not consent to be popular and lie
the people worship him. But Paul had hi
eyes fixed on the glory to be revealed, an,
longed to win men to the Lord of glor
and not to himself.
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