The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-14
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson oa.Appointed for Jan.
"a, 1897. e.si
-Lx-
taai
Subject: Tile Lame Nah Healed at the Gate
Beautiful. Acts, 8: 1-i6.
Zone reading these noses should first carefully
study the paragraph frtnl She Holy scriptures as
indicated above.t
INTRODUCTION.
We should cultivate an appetite for biblical
literature so that our want for regular supplies
will resemble the hunger of q healthy person.
The Bible is food for the soul, and he is in an
abnormal condition as Christian who does not
miss scriptural study as he would u meal.
When the teacher meets his Sunday school class
on the Lords Day it should be to feed them.
We remember Christ bade his disciples to feed
the lambs, to carry food to the children, to
nourish and strengthen the young. 1t is well
We should give some attention to tho cultiva.
tion of the appetite, to the quickening OF the
spiritual taste, to the stimulation OF desire "a
sort of hankering) after the truths of Gods
Word. The Bible is the Bread of Life, the
Water of Life. Blessed is the man who hungers
ana thirsts for it. The soul needs this food.
As material viands tone the physical system
SO religious truths give strength and wisdom.
The Acts.
It Is noticeable this book which we study is
called The Book of the Acts It is filed with
accounts of practical. helpful. Christian deeds.
1t is not the book of the resolutions, wishes,
or professions. or purposes. or beliefs OF the
Apostles, but of their actual performances; of
their acts, requiring not simple, cheap mental
hat np nd; Cfa Nncti
and sacrifice aud expense OF time and means,
bringing upon the actors in some cases persecu-
tions to the extreme. often even Of death. We
have men who are willing to believe in Chris
tianity, but who backside the moment an act
is demanded of them involving any financial
or other external sacrifice. Nothing will SO
tend to propagate our religion as the otJectl.
ication of its principles into visible acts. show
ing to the world its nature. requirements.
adaptations to the conditions of society. Every
Christian mans life must consist of a narration
of beautiful acts To repose with a lovely creed
in the sight of flag of distress is as great dis.
grace to Christianity as it is an outrage on
humanity.
1t has been said that the Book Of the Acts of
tho Apostles is to tho Gospels what the Book OF
Joshua is to the Pentateuch. DR.. Donald
Fraser noticed this fact Tor analogy. As the
Book of Joshua illustrates the Law, so tho Book
of Acts exemplfes the principles OF the Gospel.
The Pentateuch tells Of the infancy OF Judaism
the Gospel o. the early days of Christianity.
The Book of Joshua exhibits the manhood of
the Law, while the Book of the Acts tells of the
religion of Jesus when developing into stall
wartncss.
The style of the Book of the Acts is simple.
narrative. historic. We find many very inter
esting incidents. Children are snre to enjoy it.
1t partakes Of the story. telling style. At tho
same time, it is suggestive all along OF great
spiritual truths. Wehavctin our study splen-
did opportunity to engage the attention OF the
young. and to create within them love for
further study Of Gods Word.
AS Christians, interested in the Church,
we must feel deep c6iicefn in knowing of lis
history. How did Christianity begin? How
develop? What were its methods? What
lessons can we learn oppraetical use now in fur
Their increase of the Church? All these ques-
tions are answered in ahe Book Of the Acts, and
no Christian can innocenhy or safely be igno-
rant of its contents. Sc i
The LAME MAN HEALED.
Rata.
Acts, 3:1-1O. Onei7shsuld read carefully
the entire chapter. soisse
4iialaess
We do not know how much time intervened
between the Pcntecost aHd this lesson. We may
probably put the 1nc!dest III Inc same year as
the Descent of the HolySpiritat Jerusalem; to-
wit, in the year 30 A. d.
1t was at the ninth hour. v. 4. Reading
the Bible. we find three seasons of daily prayer
specified. David said (Ps.. SIS :17): Evening
and morning, and at noon will pray" Daniel
prayed "three times day" Dan.. 6: 10. The
three seasons of prayer are mentioned in the
Book fthe Acts-morning at o'clock e.: i, 15);
noon 10: 81; 3 p. M. go. The daylight
I'd ltr,;I al In lam ;,,tn
beginning with sunrise and closing with SUM-
set. noon being midway. When days were
long All hour was longer than when days were
short, for an hour meant one-twelfth of the
daylight part. Surprising the incident which
we study occurred soon after Pentecost Day
say, in June-we may reckon the ninth hour
began at about 4:30 p. IN. When day and night
were equal among the Jews, the ninth hour be-
gan at in the afternoon.
Place.
We locate at Jerusalem-on Mt Moriah-in
the temple-near the Gate Beautiful. In some
parts Of our country-but very much more
commonly in Europe-we find that beggars
select the entrances Of churches as places for
soliciting aims 1t is supposed that people,
under the kindly impulses of our religion, will
be more inclined to help the needy when such
poor ones arc met at the very portals Of the
sanctuary. We see here the general impression
that our religion enforccs practical exhibitions
of charity. Prayers and aims are to go together.
It will not do to treat God considerably by
merely presenting to him our devotons, but We
must also treat the images Of God humancly.
We find in many churches boxes for the con.
venience Of worshipcrs, enabling them to help
the poor by putting offerings into said Ghosts. 1t
cannot be pleasant to beg. We do not like to sec
beggars. We are reducing the number of
visible beggars by furnishing homes for such.
We systematic benefccnce. And yet there
may be times now when one would do violence
to sense of duty If he refused a street appeal
for bread or clothing.
The Act.
We study the Acts Of the Apostles. This
lesson is fine example of the practical lives of
the early workers for Christ. It is pleasant to
read an ethical system theoretically set forth.
but far more satisfactory to see an illustration
of genuine religious activity. Christ did not
furnish written system Of religion, but rather
he showed US how to live useful, helpful lives.
The Patient.
The man helped WAS 40 years old. 4:22.
His defect was from birth. We infer he had
never stood erect-had never walked. He had
always been q burden to himself and his
friends. He was probably . Jew. It is much
to the credit of that race that now as q rule we
do not see Jew begging, Jews accumulate
wealth. They inherit the commercial, trade,
spirit Then, as a race the Jews care for their
own needy people. Theresare goodly number
of various kinds of homes, institutions, ETC., in
special for Jewish dependents. and wholly sup
ported by Jews. The man aided by st. Peter