The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-20


their work by baptism of the Spirit. 1t
is the same Spirit which has always in-
fluenced men to righteous endeavors:
but it's measure, it's fullness, its ravish.
ment, mark this Pentecostal Feast as
the high tide of the Spirit.
Lesson III. A Multitude Con-
verted.-On the same day the church
was born. On the morning of that day
the confessed believers in Christ (Acts
1:15) numbered barely 100. On the even.
ing of that day 3,000 through repentance
and profession of faith, had been bap-
tized into the Church of Christ. The
rapture of the first believers. the char
ity. the exultation. make this the Eden
stage Of the New Creation.
Lesson Nv. The Lame Man
Healed.-The healing of the lame man
is the first testimony the church offers
that it embodies the power of the Heal
err The Name OF Jesus, through faith in
that Name, made cripple, after he had
borne his lameness without hope for
forty years. rise from his condition sound
and whole. Such works were wrought
by the Master when he walked among
men. 1t is manifest now that the apos-
ties. who share his faith and live in his
Name are gifted with the same power to
heal and restore. 1t is manifest, how
ever, that the physical healing, with the
apostles as with the Master, will be sub
ordinate to the spiritual healing which
faith in the Invisible will work in the
souls of men.
Lesson v. BOldness of Peter
and JOhn.-Those who hated the
Personal Jesus. must for the same rea-
sons hate those who follow the Risen
Jesus. Peter, with John, preached to
the multitude in Solomon's Porch; the
Sanhedrim under influence of the Sad
ducees. secured their arrest. Peter tes
titled boldly to the Council. that in the
name of Jesus Christ Of Nazareth,
achom ge crucifed, aUhom God raised
from the dead. even IN him doth this
man stand before you a0hole. The re.
stored lams man stood by the apostles
side. his presence testifying that it was
good work" which had been wrought
upon him. No suggestion of sorcery
was here. Peter is not now the coward
he was when he was before in the pres.
ence of the Sanhedrim. The boldness
of the two apostles astonishes the coun-
cillors. They perceive that they haze been
arith Jesus.
Lesson vi. True and False
Giving.-A trial came to the Church
altogether unlike that which had been
anticipated. The Pentecostal Church.
in its exultant fraternity, shared its
goods among its members,-those who
had possessions selling them and giving
the price to be distributed to meet the
common need. Especially had a gift
that was brought by one Joseph, sur
named Barnabas, from a possession he
had sold, electrified the church. Anani-
as. with Sapphire his wife. conspired to
turn the existing state of things to their
profit. They sold their field, and keep
ing back portion OF the price. brought
the remainder to the apostles. profess
ing by their act to give all their private
possessions to the Church. On being
convicted of this attempt at deceit, by
which lie was enacted against the
Holy Spirit, Ananias fell dead in the
presence OF the Christian assembly.
Three hours afterward Sapphira. her
own sin being shown to her. was like
wise struck with such CONSERVATION as
caused her instant death. So the Church
was sifted of the Spirit within.
Lesson VII. The Prison Open
ed.-The result of the death of Ananias
and Sapphire was an increase of popu
lar confidence in the apostles. and con.
sequent increase Of membership of the
Church. The apostles were emboldened
to preach again in Solomon's Porch.
where Peter and John had been arrest
ed. The priests, perceiving the popu'
lace leaving them, were constrained to
attempt to resist by force the further
progress Of the Gospel. The entire
Twelve were arrested and cast into the
common prison. In the night they were
mysteriously delivered. by messenger
of the Lord, who told them to continue
their preaching at the temple. When
the Sanhedrim assembled in the morn
ing. it was surprised to find it's victims,
not in the poison, but teaching in their
accustomed place. The apostles prompt
ly obeyed the summons of the council.
Lesson VIII. The First Chris
tian Martyr.-Contraryt to the natural
expectation. it was not one of the Twelve
who was first called to the trial of
martyrdom. There being complaint at
the alleged inequality of the distribu-
ton of the goods of the church, seven
deacons were appointed to serve at the
tables. OF these two, Stephen and
Philip are notable characters in the
Immediately succeeding Church history.
Stephen commended for Christian univer
salism in the synagogues of Jerusalem;
and 10 the synagogue of Cllicia he may
have met Saul of Tarsus. Because
Stephen could not be met in argument
he WAS summoned as a seditionist be-
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