Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-02-23

W against the church
which was at Jeru-
saIem: ard they were all scattered
abroad throughout the regions of Judea
and Samaria. except the apostles. = And
devout men carried Stephen to his burial.
and made great iamentation over him.
). AS for Saul. he made havoc of the
church. entering into every house and
mailing men and women committed them
10 prison. T. Therefore they that were scat
tered abroad went everywhere preaching
the word. 5. Then Philip went down TO
the city of Samaria, and preached CHRIST
unto them. g. And the people with one
accord gave heed unto those things which
Phihp spake, hearing and seeing tho
miracles which he did. I. For uncieaH
spirits, crying Will; loud voice came out
or many that were possessed with them
and many taken with palsies and that
were lame. were healed. s. And there was
great JOY in that city. 3. But there was
certain man. called Simon. which be-
foretime in the same city used sorcery
and bewitched the people OF Samarfa
giving out that himself was some great
one: TO- To whom they ali gave heed.
from the least to the greatest. saying,
This man is the great power Of God. ii.
And to him they had regard, because that
OF long time he had bewitched them with
oOi'eIltS. IL but Wnen tHtS ven
Philip preaching the things concerning
the kingdom of God, and the name or
Jesus Christ. they were baptized, both
men and women. IL. Then Simon himself
believed also: and when he was baptized.
ne continued with Philip. and wondered,
behoiding the miracles and signs which
were done. Il. Now when the apostles
which were at Jerusalem heard that Sa-
maria had received the word of God, they
sent unto them Peter and John: Is. Who.
when they We're come down. prayed for
them that they might receive the Holy
Ghost.
HINTS TO THE TEACHER.
The lesson opens with the picture OIL
the Prosecutor. /. He was sincere. Sauts
herce and apparently bloodthirsty con-
duct is set in its true light by such state
ments as Acts 30 /; Acts 70, g. 10; ! Tim.
|. II, L.. Such higots have been seen in
every age. honest. but mistaken. Such
was the spirit of Dominic, of CALVIN
against Servetus, of the Puritans in New
England. ?. He was intense. because II
was his nature To be earnest in every
thing. Saul like Paul. could do nothing
by halves. What aroused the persecution
was the doctrine, launched by Stephen.
that Jews and Gentiles were to become
one i'm the Gospel. 5. He was. neverthe-
less. lighting against conviction. What
were the pricks' against which he was
kicking facts 9. 81 but feeling which he
could not overcome. that Stephen was
right that Jesus was the Christ. and
that the salvation was for all men: The
next picture is that of the Church. The
time to estimate IA church or character
is not when ii is prosperous, but when 1t
Is I'm the midst of trial Notice here the
traits of true Christianity l. 1t ha2
growth-serminative power; it propa-
gates itself. IL is seed which springs
up wherever il is dropped. whether in
Judea, Samaria, or Antioch; in America
or in Japan. .. 1t has breadth. Verses >.
e. IL overcomes the preiudices of race
ana nation. breaks the bonds of sect. and
brings Jews and Samaritans into one fell
lowship. 3. 1t has power. Verse {. The
physical miracles OF the apostolic age
We're pictures of it's spiritual working in
all ages. Even now she Gospel drives out
unclean spirits and gives power to the
impotent. 4. IT brings joy. Verse s. Ev-
cry truly converted soul tastes the Joy of
salvation. and has within a fountain OF
happiness. j. 1t has discipline Verses
l4-i6. The Church was a unit. whether
in Judea or Samaria Ii recognized the
central authority OF the apostles. and sub
mitted to il. The last picture is that OF
Simon the Sorcerer showing the traits
of "A false Christianity. We need not
waste much time In the protitiess inquiry
about Simons powers. which We're not
unlike those of so-calied mediums now
adays l. Even ia the true Church. and
i'll its purest days. there was false dis
ciple. Simon. among the disciples; and
believing after q fashion, he was not al
together Il hypocrite. .. He was a Chris
tiau in form, baptized member. but not
in heart and iife. He carried worldly
aims and methods into the Church 3. He
supposed that other disciples were on his
own plane. aIi offered money to the
apostles to buy the gift of the Holy
Spirit. His spirit was that of selfish am
btion, seeking power over men. rathe
than power with God.