Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-09-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Philip Preaching In Sanar.i = Acts 8:
5-25-September 4, 1892.
Especially Arranged from S. S. QUARTERLY

CENTRAL T:tTH.-Ilis our duty and privi-
lege to prea, tho gospel to all the world.
This sect, # history embraces a glance at
the previous -apto rs. as well as the verses OF
the lesson.
T1ME.-Plc ably the early summer of A. D.
81. The we>,s Immediately following the last
lesson.
PLACE.-Tle country Of Samaria; either the
city Samaria, or Sychar, city in Samaria.
HTLPS OVER HARD PLACES. -5 .Then
Philip" the evangelist, one of the seven dea-
cons (65) ~. "Unclean spirits" called unclean
because they defled both body and soul
'Palses:" paralysis. g. Simon" a sorcerer,
or magician. He pretended to be great man.
and to do wonders He probably had a lznowl-
edge Of natural science, and used it as fortune
teller &!d Straightforward performers and spir-
itual RI ,dums do now. "Bewitched:" amazed
Il ''T&cy believed Philip" he brought
good n"ws of salvation, not merely mar
vels, and he confirmed his words with greater
GceGs than Simon dreamed Of '8aptized:" to
r~of.sS ter faith in Jesus as Jesus Himself
ce:-,-22---.-L Is. 'Si-non believed" with
/ tll2I rot rs heart; believed that TIC mir
a@les were real, but did not trust Christ to
yield himself UP TO Him. Il. They seat .
Peter and john" to inGorse the movement, to
help it on, and to sec that the Samaritans were
true converts. This was q great step, for there
was strong prejudice against the Samaritans
Is Receive the Holy Chest" i e.,rot the ordi-
mar Influences, but such as appeared at Pcnte-
cost; sCnae visible power of tongues or healing
or experience to fit them for their work in
spreading the gospel 90 'Thy money perish
with thee" not a curse or wish of evil, but a
statement of fact, that Simon lost if he kept
such heart as he had. THE gift of God, etc."
this was q total misunderstanding of the nature
of Gods gifts % Repent" there is hope for
the worst Of sinners if they repent If per-
haps:' but there is danger that they will not
repent. %. In the gall of bitterness" the bit
terest Of the bitter. The gall"was the seat OF
terness of sin. In the bond of iniquity:" l. e.,
chained and fettered by sin. 81 Then answered
Simon:" Simon was sorry for his danger, not
for his sin.
LESSON NOTES.
Years before this the disciples had
been much amazed that Jesus was
willing to talk to d Samaritan woman,
for the Jews hated the Samaritans and
the Samaritans by no means loved the
Jews In fact, at one time in one of
the villages of Samaria they would not
let Jesus and His disciples stay at all,
and in turn for this treatment John
and James wanted Jesus to permit them
to burn up the town, men, women,
children and all. This Jesus refused to
! let this bloodthirsty couple do. At one
time when the Master was in one of the
4
vival there, and many believed on Him.
| But, SO far as we know, there had not
| been any revival in any city of Samaria
| from that day to this. So the experience
that came to them at this time was
| quite novel one.
The Jew had no dealings with the
! Samaritan. But the spirit of Christian
ity is larger and more full than that of
Judaism, and the disciples soon per-
ceived that, so they went to those whom
f GI2-r days they had dcspiscd, and
| 'c.-.rl.t TO them the glad tidings of sal
V; o. This was right. We may. as
Al ,rlo-SaNcns not like the Chinese or
the ,eSro, but our Christianity, if it is
not counterfeit, will take them in lust
as well as those with white skins Jesus
died for the Chinaman just as much as
FOR the most cultured American, and
when we let our action be governed by
the outcry of those who are filled with
the spirit of this evil world, we are any
thing BIT followers of the blessed Mas
ter. In Christ there is absolutely no
differe- 20. fer He loved the world and
gave himself for the salvation of all.
Notice tlat IL this revival there wera
many mirat les performed 10y Philip.
This was wise in those days, for the
power Of tie truth was not then as full
ly acknowledged as it is to-day But
the real rrOOf of the good work that
was done there lay not in the miracles
of + ~~liCc" but in the conversions that
were 10 be seen on every hand. 1t was
rot the miracles that were the most i'm
a 4 -. e
heart that came to the men and women
of that city. 8 it is to-day. 1t is not
the crowds that make a revival a sue
cess, or the big choir, or the wonderful
sermons, but the fact that there are
real conversions. Without these all the
other things might be present in vast
prominence, and there would not be
! any joy among the angels of God. The
fact is that no preaching is of any use
! to the sinner, unless it causes him to
repent and forsake his sins To merely
attend the meetings may, in fact, mako
a man worse than he was before, be-
| cause he has more light, and yet refuses
to obey what he has. Preaching either
makes us better or worse, according as
we obey its truths or refuse to accept
them.
It seems as 1f'Simon Magus really
thought that he was a converted man.
At all events, he protested to be, and
was baptized. Yet he was no true fol-
lower of the Master, and when the time
of trial came he proved that he was
never really q converted man. SO in
every revival there are those who won
der, and are touched by the powerful
preaching of the Word, and even con-
TESS the Master, and yet are not changed
In heart This is one Of the great dam
gers Of revival meetings.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. 1t is our duty to preach to all the
world, even to enemies.
2. Christ, not civilization, not culture,
not knowledge, alone, but Christ, is the
power that changes the world.
3. The good works of the Gospel must
accompany the good words of the
Gospel
4. Nothing adds so much joy to this
world, and to Heaven, as the turning of
multitudes of sinners to Christ and to
righteousness.
5. The Gospel works and the Gospel
words far outshine all others.
6. Bad men think all others are as
false-hearted as themselves.
T. The false convert still seeks him
self in his religion. The true convert
seeks God and the good of his fellow
men.