The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-04-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

INe SOWOAV SO0S,OIs
International Lesson for April II,
1s07-Cenversisn 81 Cornelius-Acts
1Os3O-44.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.1
GOLDEN TEXT.-whosoever believeth
in Him shall receive remission Of SINS
Acts 10As
The section includes the whole story
given in this chapter, and the story as
told by Peter In Jerusalem (chap. 11:1-1s).
TIME.-A d. 10. During the "many
days" while Peter was preaching at Joppa,
after the raising Of Dorcas.
THE LESSON.
I. The Vision of Cornelius at Cesaria.
VS.. 3O433 and 1-s.
80. "Four days ago:" Long enough
for his messengers to go to Joppa and
return. 81 was fasting" Expressing
his intense desire for better things.
"Until this hour" The same time of
the day, four days before, as the meet
ing with Peter now. "At the ninth
hour" One of the regular Jewish hours
of prayer, the time of the evening sac
rifice at the temple. 81 prayed" What
for? The answer to the prayer shows
what the heart of the prayer was. (D
He wanted more and clearer light. (2)
He wanted assurance of forgiveness of
sins. (3) He wanted the fullness and
freedom of holy living, which no aims,
no good deeds alone can work within
us. (4) He wanted many doubts and
difficulties solved. (5) He wanted to be
closer to God, with consciousness of
His love and presence and care. (6) He
wanted to know more about the life to
come.
81. Thine aims are had in remem-
brance:" God had not forgotten to an
swer his prayers nor his good works,
which proved his sincerity and earnest
ness. They were only waiting for the
best time for the answer to come.
80. "Send therefore to Joppa and call
Peter:" This was test of Cor
nelius' faith and proof to him, if Peter
should come, that the angel was from
God.
II. The Vision of Peter.-Vs. 9-20.
just before the messengers of Cornelius
arrived, corresponding vision was
sent to Peter, about noon, as he was en-
gagged in prayer upon the housetop,
the most retired place he could find.
Here he fell into a trance, and saw the
heavens opened to reveal to him spir-
itual things; and from it came down
"an extended sheet, the four corners of
which were held up, as it were, by cords
let down from the four extremities of
the opened sky" This sheet was filed
with all kinds of animals, domestic and
wild, clean and unclean, together, and
creeping things, which are unclean to
the jews
Peter was hungry, and he was in
vited to kill and eat. But he refused to
satisfy his hunger by breaking the law
of God But the voice replied: what
God hath cleansed call not thou COM
mon." God, who had made the former
law for q wise purpose, now declared
that its work was done, it's obligation
was removed, as the rules for boy may
not apply to a man, as the staging nec-
essary in building house must be
taken away when the house is done.
The vision was thrice repeated, both
to emphasize the truth as of the utmost
Importance, and to assure Peter be-
yond doubt that the message was from
God. 1t was confirmed by the coming
Of the messengers, and the voice of the
Spirit bidding him go with them,
nothing doubling; for / have sent
them"
Ill. The Meeting at the House Of Cor
nehus. Peters Address.-Vs. 34-43.
When Peter and his friends reached
Cesarea, they found quite company
sembled to hear Gods Word through
Peter.
"a. II perceive that God is no re-
specter of persons:" All must be saved
In the same way, on the same condi-
tions, subject to the same penalties if
they refuse, and open to the same bless
ings If they repent and believe.
35. "But in every nation" Jew or
Gentle. He that feareth Him, and
worketh righteousness" These two
particulars include the observation Of
both tables OF the law. "Is accepted
with him:" If the things done were
good in themselves, they were equally
good, whoever did them.
36. "Preaching:" "Gr. evanQelizine,
preaching the good tidings of peace" |"
i. e., salvation. "By Jesus Christi" The
Divine Saviour. HE Is Lord of all: /"
Jew and Gentle. Not a mere prophet,
but the Lord Himself.
AZ. Judge of quick Qiving) and
dead:" Christ is now the Judge; His
life and character are the standard by
which every man is to judge himself;
He shows what Is the ideal Of humanity,
and SO. how far we have fallen from
1T. He is also to be the ,Jufloe NV an