Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VI, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 6.

NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. G.
Text of the Lesson. Acts TX. aa-s5-Mem-
DRY Verses. 81. 3a-CoIden Text, Heb.
xiii. documentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
%. And now, behold. go bound in the
spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the
things that shall befall me there Last
week we left Paul ut Ephesus alone, his
companions having gone to Macedonia.
Then followed the uproar, after which Paul
left for Macedonia, went as far as Greece,
tarried there three months, then returned
through Macedonia, and we now find him
at Miletus on his way to Jerusalem, hasten
ing to be there if possible by Pentecost
Verse I6). Touching at Miletus on their
homeward voyage, he sent to Ephesus tc
have the elders come down to him, and our
lesson today to his farewell to them. He
reminds them of his manner of life among
them and Of his teaching Doing must
precede teaching. See Math. V, 10; Acts l.
|; Mark vi, 80; Josh. !, S; Ez. vii. TO-
80 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth
in every city, saying that bonds and affiic
tons abide me. !" While he did not know
what particular events might befall him,
he had n general knowledge that it would
be as it had been, and even so to the end
1t was in his commission that he should
suffer tActs tx, 10y, and large foretastes had
he already in the stoning at Lystra and the
scourging and Imprisonment at Philippi.
"a. But none of these things move me,
neither count my life dear unto myself,
so that might finish my course with joy"
l.. L.
may he seen in such passages as this in
connection with Cor. ii, 2; III Cor V, 9;
Phil. i, 90; Gal. vi. H. TO make known the
gospel of grace, to make Christ known
through these bodies, to be in all things
| pleasing unto Him and have His service
| accepted of Him, these were His constant
aim, and in these directions He exhorted
| His son Timothy Oh Tim. ii, 3; iv, l5), and
| through His writings exhorts all believers.
| 81. And now, behold, know that ye all,
among whom ] have gone preaching the
kingdom of God, shall see my face no more "
In some way He knew that He would not
meet them again till He should meet them
at the judgment seat of Christ, and there
| fore He would speak to them the more ear
restly and waste no time on vain words. II
when we speak to people. even in ordinary
conversation, we felt that we might not
meet them again in this world, we would
be more apt to say something about Jesus
and things eternal
rs. Wherefore | take you to record this
day that am pure from the blood of all
men," not only in the sense of having
wronged, corrupted or defrauded no man
! Gil Cor. vii, q, but he had cleared himself
of all responsibility in reference to then
.y.,1x
i of God, faithfully declare His messages OF
salvation, then we are clear of the blood OF
those who hear, whether they believe OF
not. See Eek. iii, 10; xxxiii, l7-l9
| p. For | have not Stunned to declare
unto you all the counsel of God" That
which he had received of the Lord he had
made known unto them without diminish
1 ing word q Cor XIV, 3; Jer. XVI, 2l He
had kept back nothing Verse 20) through
fear of man. He believed in his heart that
if his aim was to please men he was not
worthy to be called Il servant of Christ
/ Gal i, l0). So he lived and labored not as
pleasing men, but God, who trieth ouI
/ hearts q Thess. ii, ~ What needful word
this is, He that hath my word, let him
speak my word faithfully" Uer xiii, 2S)
IS. Take heed therefore unto yourselves,
and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church OF God, which lie hath purchased
with His own blood" One of the risen
Christ's last words to Peter was Il threefold
exhort;tion to feed His sheep and lamb.
John xxi, Is, II, and Peter passes it on to
us, saying, Feed the flock of God which il
among you" Il Pet. V, ~ Nothing can feed
Us but the word of God The written word
is full of Him who is the living word, and
He Himself said ''Ec that eateth me. even
he shall live ly me" John vi, 81.
%. For know this, that after my de
parting shall grievous wolves enter in
/ among you, not sparing the flock" 1t was
Paul's delight to maintain himself by his
own labor that he might have to give to the
needy things temporal and spiritual But
there were and there are those who, pro
Tossing to be shepherds, not only do not
feed the flock, but take good care to live
upon the flock-wolves in sleeps clothing
(Math viii Is, X, l6)
30. Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw
away disciples after them" 1t is one thing
for Il man to be accused of drawing people
after him, while his whole aim is to point
them to Jesus q Cor. iii, 4, 81. It is quite
another matter for man to live and labor
for the sake of Il following (Acts v, Sc, 81
81 Therefore watch and remember that
by the space OF three years ! ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears"
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and
scatter the sleep of My pasture, saith the
Lord der xiii, u. See also Eek xxxiv,
2. Prayerfully, tearfully and increasingly
had Paul labored for their souls welfare,
and rs lie foresaw the possibility of false
teachers and souls ruined and lost his heart
was grieved
81. And now, brethren | commend Won
to God and to the word of His grace, which
is able to build you up and to give you an
inheritance among all them which are
sanctifed." lie knew that if they would
only hold fast to the word of God they
would not waver nor be led astray. The
only safety then and now is ITO the law
and to the testimony. If they speak not ac,
cording to this word, surely there is nc
morning for them" Qsa viii, 20, R.v.l
33. II have coveted no mans silver or
gold or apparel" He was not seeking
theirs, but them. He wanted nothing from
them, but he had something to give them
Though he was poor, yet he made many
rich; though he seemed to have nothing,
yet he possessed all things Oh Cor. vi, l0l
When any gave him gifts, he was especially
glad for them, because it was just SO much
added to their account in heaven.
a. Yea, ye yourselves know that these
hands have ministered unto my necessities
and to them that were with me" There
fore, when the false teachers would come.
seeking theirs and not them, only wanting
to make something: out of them, not caring
for their souls they could say: Thus did not
Paul. lie never asked us for anything for
himself" See further instruction upon this
point in II Thess. iii, $40
81. Il have Showed you all things, how
that so laboring ye ought to support the
weak, and to remember the words of the
Lord Jesus, how He said, 1t is more blessed
to give than to receive" 1t is not recorded
that Jesus ever said just these words, so
that possibly Paul has here given US some
of the unrecorded words of Jesus. This
principle, however, was certainly in His
teaching and very prominent luke vi, 90.
xiv, Is, l4).
Worth Knowing.
According to recent investigations of
the Minnesota legislature, pine lands