The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON xl, FIRST QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH "a.

Text of the Lesson, Acts In, 1-12, 1870.
Memory Verses, I7-2O-Goiden Text,
Tim. l. IB-Commentary by the Rev. ID.
M. stsarns.
1. 2. We last heard of Saul making
havoc of the church at Jerusalem after the
martyrdom of Stephen. We still find him
I'm the same spirit of enmity against
Christ and His followers, but now he Is
reaching out to other cities, even to Damas-
Gus, with authority from the high priest
TO arrest and bring to Jerusalem all such
disciples of the Lord as he might find.
They are spoken of as men and women OF
the way (see margin), reminding us OF
Christ's own words, 81 am the way"
John xiv 81. God thus far suffers Saul
to be satan's agent In purifying Ills
church. Not even satan can touch child
of God without Gods permission (Job /,
10; Zech. il, 81, and when the adversary
is allowed to try the people OF God, either
directly or by human instrumentality, we
are to see only the hand OF God ana re-
member Rom. viii, 2S, 20. See Ps. xvii,
IA; lxxvi, 10; Dan. Xxi, 30; xii, 10; Rev.
ii, 10, as very helpful
8, 4. "Saul, Saul why persecutest thou
decree for Saul, and now He who loved
him in all his sin and who had suffered
him thus far in his deviish work arrests
| Him as be is about to enter Damascus. The
| light from heaven smites him to the earth,
| and the voice from heaven enters his soul.
The light was brighter than the sun at
MONDAY, and the voice spake In the he
brew language (chapter XVI, Ii, l4). All
the party saw the light and fell to the
earth in fear, but Saul alone heard the
words which were spoken, for they were
only for him.
& "Who art thou, Lord? l am Jesus,
whom thou persecutest. In one OF Saul
accounts of this he gives the Lord s answer
as 81 am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou
persecutest'' (chapter xii, 81. In all Saul s
life he had never heard anything SO star
thing or upsetting as this. He verify be-
lieved that he was doing right in the sight
of God in prosecuting these followers OF
one whom the highest authorities had put
to death as blasphemer. See his own
testimony in chapters xxi and XVI.
o. Lord, what wilt Thou have me TO
dor" He is full of trembling and astonish-
msnt. but in a moment he sees that he has
been all wrong and the prosecuted ones
, have been right He seems sincerely hum
bled and by the spirit confesses that Jesus
is Lord Il Cor xii, 81. He is told to GO
on to Damascus and await orders The
2 "What wilt Thou2" of this verse and the
"Where wilt Thou?" of Luke xii, 8, when
\ sincerely addressed to the Lord, will not
\ fail to obtain sure guidance.
z. 1t is evident that those with Sau
heard a sound of words, but it Is also evl
. dent, from chapter xii, ., that they heare
L not the words spoken. Something OF th'
In, han z u
IS is sometimes asked if those who are LEI
d when the church is taken shall hear TIN
V Lord 8 voice or see the event. Perhaps tn
"a records concerning Daniel and Saul ma.
" give some light.
[. g. 8. Three days in Damascus, blind an
:. fasting and awaiting n further messag
~ from the Lord What remem brances, VIVA
10 persistence, what screenings OF heart, VIVA
$. humbling before God, what light frof
= heaven must have shone in his soul dui
Is ing those days of outward darknessl Ho'
o. he would think of what Stephen saw an
nc said and of the patience and faith OF OIL
ers who had suffered for Christ throug
him! The Lord was dealing wondrous
:" with him, butt oh, SO lovingly, by Ii
en Spirit and His word.
ut 10. 1.-The Lord knoweth them that a
II. His, and He knoweth them by name I
u il, ~, lSti. Alill, ~. iiO NouAN So
" an angel to do His bidding as He Oft
- has done, for they excel in strength al
- do His commandments, hearkening un
70 the voice of His word They are His mi
,er listers who do His pleasure (Ps Gill, :
ne 2D, but He sees fit to use human instr
n mentality and calls Philip in Samar
ng or an Apanias in Damascus to do HIS bl
OIL ding. If we hold ourselves ready for III
he manner of service wholly at His col
he mandment q Chron. xviii, 2D, He W
ID surely show us His way for us and gun
n' us into the good works prepared befol
hand (Eph. Ii, 10).
IL, IL Ananias is sent to the street a.
!. the house, and the person is named
ch whom he is to go, and his occupation
ia the time is also mentioned. Ananlas
! is also told what Saul sees as he prays. l
II, us not forget nor fail to believe that y
IN is thus intimately acquainted with each
'au u.s. Our ways and words and though
both in the darkness and the light, are
lch known to Him FPS. cxxxix, 1-l2; Ez'
to XII, 81; therefore let our honest prayer
kill Search me, o Cod and know my hea
pe. try mo and know my thoughts.
rd H. 1t must have been another new
,,o, perience for Saul to have disciple
a. Jesus put his hands upon him and addr
'ho him as Brother Saul" but l am sure
did not feel like knocking him down
ere thus addressing him, though l once he
the a minister of the gospel, in good stand
tar. among men, say that he would like
,ats treat man that way who would call l
and brother" True humility is never We
NV nor irritated, but is at rest when mob
- praises, or even when blamed or despis
10. He received sight, he was filled "
ven the Spirit, and confessed Jesus as Lore
ong baptism. He is n new man, new G.
the ton, old things are passed away and
it Is things are become new Oh Cor. V, ID.
any is crucified with Christ and risen v
g i'm Christ to a new life. Although he
tho lives it is no longer Saul of Tarsus,
a. Christ Jesus who now lives in him
'''' Lord (GaL ii, g0). He has become b
to all but Jesus Christ. He knows no OF
master He has heart only for Him
con- body that is henceforth wholly at
con- disposal.
in a 10 He partook of food and was siren
- ened and continued some days with
~ dist,inlps Mt Damascus Every DISC