Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-09-02

QUARTERLY MISSIONARY LEssoN.]
8. "Then Philip went down to the city
of Samaria, and preach Christ unto them"
By comparing verses 4, IL, 25 with this
verse we obtain considerable light as to
what was preached in those days; the
Word, the Gospel, Christ, the things con
corning the kingdom; and If we compare
chapters ii, %; X, 36, ~, 4S; xvii, IS, so, we
will find that their preaching included re-
pentance, forgiveness, peace, resurrection
and judgment.
6, And the people with one accord gave
heed" Juste eleven times in this book do we
find the phrase with one accord" Il, IA; ii, /,
10; iv, "a; v, IL; vii, 81; viii, o; xii, 20; XIV,
%; xviii, IL; xix, 90; and only once else
where in the New Testament is the word
used (Rom. XIV, 6, r. ". Seven times in
the Acts it is zone accord" for good, and
these seven make a most profitable study.
1t is the manifest power of the Holy Spirit.
T. MANY taken with palsies and that
were lame were healed" These, in addi-
ton to the unclean spirits which were cast
out, are a sample of the miracles wrought
by God through Philip, which constrained
the people to give heed to his words.
s. and there was great joy in hat city"
This is always the result of receiving Je-
SuS. lnOSt WIN DtlltNt-ludb is, TeCtlNc-
Him John i, 12) will be filled with Joy and
peace Rom. XIV, l3), and it is His pleasure
that we should be full of joy John XIV. II:
XVI, 2Q.
9. But there was a certain man called
Simon giving out that himself was some
great one" The adversary is always busy,
and you can always recognize him by the
prominence he gives himself. This is the
spirit of antichrist. See Dan. viii, II, 25;
XII, 80; Luke iv, 6, Z. The spirit of Jesus is
to abase self and honor God John viii, %,
so; xvii, A..
10. ITO whom they all gave heed, from
the least to the greatest, saying, This maj
is the great power of God" A great fol-
lowing is no proof that IA man is right, nor
are few followers necessarily an evidence
that a man is wrong. Consider Noah,
jeremiah and the prophets, and think of
Jesus Himself John vi, Co.
II. He had betwitched them with sor.
%ceries." So it has been, is and will be till
Jesus comes. Jesus speaks of signs by
false teachers in the last days that shall If
possible deceive the elect CMath. xiv, 24),
and we read in Rev. xiii, 3, s, of multitudes
worshiping the beast. and in ii Thess. ii,
9-12 of those who prefer a lie to the truth.
II. But when they believed Philip
preaching the things concerning the king
dom OF God, and the name of Jesus Christ,
they were baptized, both men and omen 1"
The reception of the truth is the cure for
all deception. They not only heard, but
they received the truth, or rather they re-
ceived Jesus, who is the truth John xiv,
6; l John v, II, l2). The entrance of the
word giveth light Ops cxix, 1907.
10. Then Simon himself believed also;
nnI xrhn, hn t-nc hn~t,xol ~
with Philip" The power of God is able to
break the hardest heart. Some doubt
whether this was a real case of true CONVEX
sion or not. We shall meet him again, but
now observe that he believed, was baptized
and continued.
IA, Is. Peter and John prayed for them.
that they might receive the Holy Ghost"
Word having reached Jerusalem of the
great work going on in Samaria. Peter and
John were sent to help, and inasmuch AS
they had received the word, they give
themselves to prayer that they may 10Y
receive the Holy Spirit
10. For as yet He was fallen upon
none of them; only they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus" Having be
lieved and been baptized they were conse-
quently saved Mark xvi, 10: John l., IL:
iii, l6; v, 24). But we are saved to serve
and live unto God q Thess. /. 8; II Cor.
v, l5), and for this life and service we need
the special gift of the Holy Spirit, which
so few care about.
II. '"Then aid they their hands on them.
and they received the Holy Ghost" So
also at Ephesus Paul laid his hands on
twelve men who had believed and they re-
ceived the Holy Ghost and prophesied
(chapter xix, o, y. There is evidently a
| nift nf tho S,ir;t for caua1 ,D,o,io
of which we hear comparatively little;
and yet there is a plain command to BE
filled with the Spirit" (Eph. v, lS). See the
way in Luke xi, IL.
Is, 10, Give me also this power, that on
whomsoever | lay hands he may receive
the Holy Ghost" We now return to Simon.
of whom we read in verse l3 that be be-
lieved, was baptized and continued with
Philip wondering and beholding. And
now he offers money that be may obtain
this power to confer the spirit. He does
not seek power to serve God in humility.
Xxx, lO, but rather seeks to be "A great one
and have power TO give
&c. THY money perish with thee because
thou hast thought that the gift of God
may be purchased with money" He did
not know Isaiah lv, |, nor Luke XII, 10, and
yet he was like "A great many even now
who think that by doing somuch or giving
so much they can obtain gifts from God.
Many members of churches seem not to
understand the grace of God (Rom. iii. 4;
Eph. i, 6, ..
81. Thou hast neither part nor lot in
this matter, for thy heart is not right In
the sight of God" If he had no part in
Christ he was not saved; but if Peter
meant that he had ne part in this gift of
the Holy Spirit, he was Just In the condi-
ton in which most OF our church members
are, and reference to serving God his
heart was not right.
p. Repent therefore of this thy wicked
ness; and pray God, if perhaps the thought
Df thine heart may be forgiven thee"
Praise God for His forgiveness and mercy
and p%lenteous redemption (Ps. cxxx 4, I;
CHI, 81. He also gives repentance (chapter