The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for April II,
1s07-COnversion of Cornelius-Acts
1O,3O-44.

GOLDEN TEXT-Whosoeve believeth
In Him shall receive remission Of SINS
Acts l0:43.
The section includes the whole story
given in this chapter. and the story
told by Peter In Jerusalem (chap. IL :1-lS).
TIME.-A. ID. 40. 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.. 1898 and Is.
30. -Four days ago:" Long enough
for his messengers TO go TO Joppa and
return. II 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. Il prayed" What
for? The answer to the prayer shows
what the heart of the prayer was. (D
He wanted more and clearer light. CD
lie 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
relius' faith and proof to him, if Peter
should come, that the angel was from
God.
III. The Vision of Peter.-Vs. o-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 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
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 wise purpose, now declared
that its work was done, its obligation
was removed, as the rules for a boy may
lot apply to a man, as the staging nee
esSary in building n 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,
rothing doubling; for 1 have sent
them"
Ill. The Meeting at the House of Cor
neliuS. Peters Address.-Vs. 34-43.
When Peter and his friends reached
Cesarea, they found quite a company
awaiting them at Cornelius home, as
sembled TO hear Gods Word through
Peter.
81. II perceive that God is no re-
specter of persons" All must be saved
in the same way, on the same condi-
tons, subject to the same penalties if
they refuse, and open TO the same bless
ings if they repent and believe.
So. 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. SIS accepted
with him." If the things done were
good in themselves, they were equally
good, whoever did them.
80. "Peaching:" "Gr. evangelizing,
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 (living) 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
it. He is also TO be the Judge, by an
nouncing the Divine judgments on the
sons of men at the last day, according
to the deeds done in the body.
AZ. ITO Him give all the prophets wit
ness" The prophets as body bore
witness TO Jesus. From the very Begin
ming prophets have foretold the Mes
siah, and ceremonials have set forth
His mission. Both have pictured Him.
before the people. And Jesus is the
one pictured in every particular RE
mission of SINS" The sending away, re-
lease as from debt, or penalty. This is
mans first need. The debt is too great
for him to pay. the burden too heavy
to carry. the penalty too great to bear.
". The Roman Soldier Received Into