Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-10-27


be found in Acts IL, 1890.
INTRODUCTORY.
Scattered" Is the word with which
this lessons opens. Seeded is the lit
eral significance of IL. The enemies OF
Christ thought they were destroying
the truth; they were advancing IL, Civ
ing 1t new Judgment In hearts prepared
for its reception. AS well scatter fire.
brands in dry field or grains OF wheat
In plowed ground. as to think to quench
the truth by dispersion. These were
men full OF the Spirit; they could not be
silenced. God give US of such sort to-
day.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Now they. Going back to previous
exents. Acts 8: 1.-Scattered abroad.
First meaning, to SOW seed, to plant a
field. THE wicked work the righteous
will of heaven. "-Persecution Sig
nifying pressure, hence trial or afflic-
ton. So rendered at Matt. "a: g.
Phenice, or Ph9nicia, possibly Phenix,
on the south coast Of the Island OF
Crete. Acts ~: II.
Cyprus. An island south OF Asia
Minor. -Gyrene. On the north coast
of rica.-Antioch in Syria. Unto
the Grecians. Whose language was
doubtless used. - Preaching. The
word for glad tidlngs, Evangel.
With them. A strong expression,
| along with them.-Number From
this comes our English word arithmetic.
(Arithmos.) Turned or were con-
verted.
They sent, |. e., the church, not some
bishop or overseer of the church 1t
looks as though a church meeting had
been called to discuss the tidings.-
That he shall go as far as. One word
in the Greek, the proposition unto or
until.
Were glad. GLAD" and grace" are
from the same root. (Charin -chairo.
He caught the spirit of the blessing
Cleave unto, or remain with. They had
already accepted tho Lord He assured
them that they were in the right path.
Full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.
Hence he was quick to apprehend a
spiritual work. Added unto the Lord.
Interpreting the added" OF Acts 2: Az,
where church does not occur In the
Greek.
To Tarsus. Where Paul had been in
spiritual training of the Lord.-To
seek Saul. The word refers to diligent
search. Thus the Spirit leads.
When he had found him. 1t would be
interesting to know what he was doing
Certainly he was prepared for the mis-
sion. prepared man is generally
| sought out and found.-Were called.
peculiar word. signifying, first, to
transact business with, hence probably
| to get a mark of designation. They
| were set down as Christians. Probably
| the word Christ was the one oftenest
used. (Christianos
Prophets. In the New Testament,
| those gifted in the Interpretation of
Scripture. The gift OF prediction was
| subordinate.
Signifled. OR made signs, the orig
inal meaning OF the word.--Great
dearth. Such famine did occur in A.
ID. A.
According to his ability, or literally,
as any one was in easy circumstances.
Relief, or for relief, |. O., for the
purpose of relief. The word relief is
| from the root whence comes our word
Which also they did Putting their
| good purpose into better execution
Eldess. Greek, Presbyters. Doubtless
no small sum was sent. as Antioch was
| at this time rich city OF 500, eco popu-
lation. Benevolence is apostolic.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
And the hand OF the Lord was with
| them. fear we have been forgetting
about the hand of the Lord" We have
| not been taking God into the account.
Mans hand, how weak it is, how often
are we frustrated But Gods hand
with us-that makes all the difference in
| the world, in two worlds. 1t changed
| the whole aspect of affairs with the
| early disciples. l have just been re-
reading the life OF Robert Moffat, the
South African missionary. His was an
example of faith In God. Over and over
| again he did that which TO the worldly
intelligence was folly. But he was
| obeying Gods command and giving
| heaven a chance te come signally to his
aid. And so God was gloritied. All, If
it were not for foreign missions, fear
sometimes the church would forget what
| faith is like.
Cleave unto the Lord. 1t Is the secret
| of success in the life of heaven on earth.
We must keep very close to God, or ouf
celestial citizenship Is a failure. This
was the spirit of Caleb and Joshua who
| wholly followed the Lord their God.
| How unfortunate for Israel that the
far-following spirit Of the ten spies pre-
vailed! Keep close to God. BE We
followers OF God, as dear children.
|
| luton, Resolved not to do anything
which does not appear at the time to be
well-pleasing to God" He was making
God his best friend, and what friend
God proved TO him. When l read this
motto 1 can understand this life. judi
son was following close after God.
Are we doing so to-day? Are we keep
ing so near to him that we see at once
the doors of opportunity he throws open
20 us? l was reading 1t this morning
from Thomas Kempis: AS iron cast
into fire loseth rust and is made al
together glowing, so the man who turn
eth himself unto God is freed from
slothfulness and changed into a new
man.
The disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch. name perhaps given
in deris,on, but God has made it the
noblest name in earth's vocabulary. ]
wonder when the people who are most
accustomed to peruse these pages, and
also the pages of the Book, were first
called "Baptists." Doubtless it was Q
derisive epithet. "Anabaptistsl" "Bap-
tists!" Is there any one ashamed of II
to-day2 Then let him seek something
better, IL he can find 1t. My friend, the
converted Hebrew has been telling me
that even the blessed word Zion" was
once term of Ieproaeh. It signifies
emptiness. Very we'll, empty that he
may FILL" God takes the things that
are not TO bring to naught the things
that are. Let us make the name Chris
tian mean more and more, as the years
Of grace roll on.
| 49, oa.o,,. spo&o. noff,.o-o5 f,.>.v,