The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-08-24
The First Christian Martyr.

The First Christian Martyr.
The lesson for Sunday, Aug. 2S, may
be found in Acts vii. $50; viii. IA.
| INTRODUCTORY.
| Stephen is one of the most interesting
| characters in the New Testament an
nails. His life was pure and beautiful.
his sermon before the court well-nigh
matchless for both rhetoric and relig-
ious power; he was thoroughly spirit
filled man. 1t is to be hoped that
study of this noble soul in our Sunday
schools to-day may lead some of US to
pattern more largely after his courage
and devotion.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Cut to the heart. strong word.
literally, to saw across the heart. II
| grated on their feelings, making them
not sorrowful, but angry.
Being full of the Holy Ghost, o. keep
ing full, abiding full. He was from first
to last in the power of the Spirit, and
looked up steadfastly. Root, intent or
intense, rendered fastened. Luke A;
20 (the eyes of all were fast
ened on HIM standing or stationed,
from the verb TO put or place.
Opened. Emphatic form, thrown
wide OPEN The Son of man standing
on the right hand of God Nothing
could more enrage the murderers of the
Christ.
Stoned him, or went to stoning. I'M
perfect tense of continuous act
The witnesses. Strangely enough, from
this comes our word martyr; but these
were not the martyrs here.-Young
mans feet. man was counted young
up to forty years Of age.
oil xr1 a.
out.-Lord Jesus. receive my spirit.
Greek: the spirit OF me, as If he had
said: my spirit also for heaven, as well
as thine.
This sin. This particular sin as
against himself especially, and yet also
against God.-Fell asleep. A beauti-
full expression, was lulled to sleep. 1t
] is more than more euphemism.
Conserving. Approving along with
the rest.-Unto his death. Tischen-
dorf closes the seventh chapter here.
SO the Revision. p ersecution. Lit
orally, driving, pursuit, chase.-Ex-
cept the apostles. Who probably on
account of their responsible position
were led to maintain their stand; posi-
bly, the officials were compelled to favor
them because of their popularity with
the people.
DeNOut men. oucn aS cOulu appre-
ciate Stephens greatness with Cod
Lamentation, signifying to strike the
breast, and suggesting the customs Of
| the times.
Havoc, or laid waste, referring to ex-
ceeding violence Of reatment.-En-
tering into every house. Better, going
from house to house.-Haling, /. e.,
dragging. Paul Confesses to the harsh
ness of his conduct at Acts %: 4.
Went everywhere, or abroad. Same
proposition as just used with the word
scattered. -Preaching or gospeling.
the word for good tidings, from which
our word evangel.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Looked up steadfastly into heaven
and saw the glory of God. It is the
steadfast look that sees Gods glory.
We glance occasionally toward the
heavens. Our minds are taken up with
other things. and we see other things
much more often than we see God.
Stephen was looking with intense long
ing toward heaven. 1t was not an ac-,
cidental lifting of the eyes His face,
l apprehend, was always in that direc-
ton. After all, we generally see what
we look most intently and intensely at.
Gods glory is for those that look for it,
hunger and thirst after it.
He fell asleep His was the joy Of
martyrdom. Do we appreciate it to-
day? Underneath were the everlasting
arms, and those cruel stones, under
Gods kind brooding. were but as love-
taps to lull him to rest. Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit, he had just cried. He
saw his crucifed Master in the heavens,
and with my spirit, also, Lord!" he,
as it were, lifted his soul to the rest OF
God.
"Jesus can make dying bed
Soft as downy pillows are"
And now we listen again, and the
word comes Lord, lay not this sin to-
their charge" Surely he is already with
Christ, for this is Christs own spirit.
Peace, let him rest.
They that were scastered abroad went
everywhere preaching the word That
is, scattered abroad, they preached
abroad; or dispersed everywhere, they
preached everywhere. They preached
wherever they went. To scatter them
was to scatter preaching, as one scat
tiers fire in dry field. God has taken
other means to scatter us abroad to-
day. o, that preaching might go
abroad with US. Wherever the Chris
tian goes, there ought Christ to DO
made known by lip and by life. Tho
one word that the present dispersion or
the church speaks loudest of all is the
word missions. We go everywhere.
Let us go everywhere preaching tho
word.
Next Lesson-"Philip Preaching at