The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-08-31
QUARTERLY MISSIONARY LESSON.


good news of salvation, not merely mar
vels and he confirmed his words with greater |
deeds than Simon dreamed Of. Baptized" 10 |
profess their faith in Jesus, as Jesus Himself |
commanded 10. "Simon believed" with |
his mind, not his heart; believed that the mir |
acles were real, but did not trust Christ to
yield himself up to Him. IA. "They sent T.. . |
Peter and john" TO indorse the movement, to
help it on, and to see that the Samaritans were
true converts. This was great STEP for there
was a strong prejudice against the Samaritans
Is Receive the Holy Ghost" e.,not the ordi
nary influences, but such as appeared at Pente-
cost; some visible power of tongues or healing
or experience to fit them for their work in
spreading the gospel 60 "Thy money perish
with thee" not curse or wish of evil, but
statement Of fact, that Simon was lost If he kept
such heart as he had. 1.-The gift of God, etc."
this was total misunderstanding of the nature
of Gods gifts. %. Repent" there is hope for
the worst OF sinners II 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
venom in poisonous serpents. Such is the bit
terness Of sin. 'In the bond OF iniquity:" l. e.,
chained and fettered by sin. "a. "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 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
cities OF Samaria there was blessed re-
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
in former days they had despised, and
brought to them the glad tidings of sal
walton. This was right We may, as
Anglo-SaXons, not like the Chinese or
the negro, but our Christianity, if it is
not counterfeit, will take them in Just
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 cutlery of those who are filed with
the spirit of this evil world, we are any
thing but followers of the blessed Mas
ter. In Christ there is absolutely no
difference, for He loved the world, and
gave Himself for the salvation of ALL
Notice that in this revival there were
many miracles performed by Philip.
This was wise in those days, for the
power of the truth was not then as full
ly acknowledged as it is to-day. But
the real proof of the good work that
was done there lay not in the miracles
of healing, but in the conversions that
were to be seen on every hand. 1t was
not the miracles that were the most i'm
portant thing there, but the change of
heart that came to the men and women
of that city. So it is to-day. 1t is not
the crowds that make revival 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, makt
man worse than he was before, be.
cause he has more light, and yet refuse.
to obey what he has. Preaching either
makes us better or worse, according al
we obey it's truths or refuse to accept
them.
1t seems as if Simon Magus really
thought that he was converted man
At all events, he professed to be, an6
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 converted man. So il
every revival there are those who won
der, and are touched by the powerful
preaching of the Word, and even con
fess the Master, and yet are not changed
in heart. This is one of the great dan
: gers of revival meetings.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
l. 1t is our duty to preach to all thu
, world, even to enemies.
2. Christ, not civilization, not culture
not knowledge, alone, but Christ, is tn
e power that changes the world.
| 8. The good works of the Gospel mus
accompany the good words of tn
Gospel.
, 4. Nothing adds so much joy to thi
world, and to Heaven, as the turning o
I multitudes of sinners to Christ and Il
Righteousness.
, 8. The Gospel works and the Gospe
0 words far outshine all others.
: 6. Bad men think all others are a
/, false-hearted as themselves.
| Z. The false convert still seeks him
j Sell III HIS rellSlOu. Inc truc cOHNcI
b seeks God and the good of his fellow
men.
p s. The best things-as love, faith, sal
, walton, truth-cannot be purchased.
: 9. There is an objectionable sin, be
cause there is sin that will not be re
: pented of.
10. False repentance is sorrow for tn
4 sufferings of sin. True repentance
sorrow for The sin.