Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-29
international gessuns.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON u, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 10.

LESSON u, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 10.
Text of the Lesson, Acts xxii, 17.30-Mem-
ory Verses, 22-24- Golden Text, Pet. iv,
16 - Commentary by the Rev. d. M.
Stearns.
II, IS. "Make haste and get thee quick
" out of Jerusalem, for they will not re-
reive thy testimony concerning Me-" In
our last lesson Paul was on his way to
Jerusalem in spite of the Spirits warming
that he should not 20 (chaptcr xxi, 4, ii,
12). He had not been many days in Je-
rusalem when the Jews of Asia laid hold of
him In tho temple drew him out and
would have killed him had he not been
rescued by the chief captain with band
of soldiers and carried into the castle. He
asked permission of the captain to speak
to the people, and having obtained 1t he
addressed them in Hebrew from the castle
stairs. He described his former life and
come to the Lords message to him Mt Je-
rusalem. The child of God who Is willing
to be wholly the Lord S.. may be sure of
the Lords s guidance in all things, and If 1t
should be necessary m angel from heaven
or the Lord Himself will see to 1t.
10, 20. "And I said, Lord, they know
that imprisoned and beat in every syna-
gogue them that believed on Thee" 1t Is
all right for us to confess to God all our
sins, but it Is not for us to argue or reason
with Him when He commands US to do
anything or go anywhere. He knows
where and how He can make the most use
Of us. He knows who will receive testi-
mony through this one or through that
one, and it is for us to say, "Here am /,
send me where Thou wilt and when Thou
wilt"
81. "And He said unto me, Depart. for
will send thee far hence unto the gen
tiles" We cannot expect the full blessing
of the Lord unless we are ready for that
work to which He has called us Acts xiii,
o. May it not be that many ministers
who cannot seem to find an open door at
home are being called fur hence to some of
the millions who have never heard of Christ
and cannot hear till some one shall tell
them2 Let each Christian ask, "Am
really willing and obcdient and docs my
heart say honestly, Lord, what wilt thou
have me to dor
20. "Away with such fellow from the
earth, for it is not fit that h. should live "
That the same privileges should be set be-
fore uncircumoised gentilcs as before cir
cumcised Jews was to them intolerablc,
and it was for this same thing that Peter
was called to account (chapter xi, 2, 81.
am not sure but the same spirit In worse
form is seen today when people of one
church or denomination look down upon
and make little of work not done by them
selves The ambition Of churches or bonrds
or societies to excel each other instead OF
all uniting to honor Christ and complete
His church is tainted with the samo spirit.
80, "a. "Thc chief captain commanded
that he should bo examined by scourging,
that he might know wherefore they cried
so against him." Paul had been speaking
in Hebrew (xxii, p, Of which Language
probably neither captain, ccnturions nor
soldiers understood word, and the idea
was that little suffering might bring from
him confession of his wrongdoing. Paul
was certainly having rough time of 1t,
for he had been beaten by the Jews xxi,
32) and was now threatened with scourg'
ing by the gentilos.
25. sis it lawful for you to scourge a
man that is Roman and uncondomnedp"
This he said to tho centurion who stood by
while the soldiers bound him with thongs
preparatory to scourging him. While Paul
was willing to suffer all that was necessary
for Christ's sake, and unjustly, too, here
was something wholly uncalled for, from
which his Roman citizenship might deli scr
him. ain writing this on the north Pa
cif1c ocean on my way to Japan as start
on my tour round the world for Him that
I serve. carry with me u passport from
the secretary of state Of the United States
government asking nll nations not only to
allow me safely and freely to pass, but In
case of need to give me all lawful aid and
protection. AS child of God and citizen
Of heaven feel free to accept and carry
this and use it as occasion may require,
feeling no lack of faith In so doing.
26. "Tako heed what thou { for
this man Is Roman" Thu, the
centurion to the captain. AS far us nruven
Is above the earth, SO far are the privileges
Of heavenly citizenship above all those OF
earth. The devil could not touch Job,
neither could he have Simon Potter with
out asking permission of God Dob /, 10;
Luke xii, 81, Il. W, and he that touch
eth child of God touchoth the apple Of
His eye (Zoch. ii, 81. Let us rojoico in
our heavenly privileges and walk worthy
Of them.
81. "Then tho chief captain camo and
said unto him, Tell me, art thou Roman?
He said, Yea" So believer should be
ready always to give to every one that ask
eth as definite an answer concerning his
standing in Christ. Paul did not think
or hope that he was u Roman citizen.
He knew it and said yes. Any ono who
has truly accepted Christ is accepted in
Him and has redemption, even the for
giveness of sins (Eph. /, &, y, and should
never hesitate to confess it to the glory Of
God. 1t is not honoring to God to think
or hope that we are saved. We should
know it Il John V, 10. 13), and live 1t and
ever gladly acknowledge it.
2S. "And the chief captain answered,
With q groat sum obtained / this freedom.
And Paul said, But was frccborn. The
heavenly citizenship cannot bo bought by
money, or good works. or any merit what
ever on our part. Neither their silver nor
their gold shall be able to deliver them. "
Not by works of righteousness, which wo
have done" (Zcph. 1, 1S; Titus i'll, g. SEQ
also Rom. iy, o: Eph. ii, 8, 8. The only
way to become child of God, an heir of
God and citizen of heaven is by a new
birth, birth from above, even as our
Lord said in John iii, 3, 8, 7, and be-
lieve careful study Of Jas. i, 1S; I Pet.
/, 90; Eph. V, 26, with John vi, 63, will
make it very plain that tho new birth Is
wrought in us by the word of God and the
Spirit of God concerning our Lord Jesus
Christ
80, 80. Paul was saved from scourging
at that time, and we will in some way be