Passaic City record., 1897-07-31

from Athens and came to Corinth" He is
still led and controlled by the Spirit, and If
the Spirit had not now wanted him in Cor.
inth He would not have suffered him to go
(chapter xvi, G, D. Thus also we NAV
know His way for us. If we are honestly
living unto Him who has bought US to be
set apart for Himself, then wherever He
would have us to go the door vill be open
and the way plain, and where He does not
want us He will close the door and hinder
US from going.
2. ssAnd found certain Jew named
Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from
Italy, with his wife Priscilla" Then. as
now, the Jews were made to move on
They had chosen Caesar instead of their
Messiah, and instead of rest, which Christ
would have given them, they have been to
this day driven hither and thither and per-
secuted in many lands. 1t is written, 81
will command and l will sift Cor cause to
move) the house of Israel among all ma
tions.'' 1t is also written ssHe that scat
tered Israel will gather him. and. again.
81 will plant them upon their land, and
they shall no more be pulled up out of their
Lord thy God" (Amos ix., 8, Is; Jer. XXI,
10).
8. "And because he was of the same craft
he abode with them and wrought. for by
their occupation they were tentmakers"
Paul loved, when possible, to earn his own
bread, and he often testified that he did so
that he might not be burden to any Of
them q Thess. H., 8; II Thess. iii, 81. He
said to the elders of the church at Ephesus,
fYea, ye yourselves know that these hands
have mtniStered unto my necessities and to
them that we're with me (Acts Xxx, 34).
4. "And he reasoned in the synagogue
every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and
the Greeks He would talk on the same
lines as at Thessalonica, showing from the
Scriptures that Israels Messiah had to
suffer and die and arise from the dead be-
fore He could be the immortal man on
David's throne who had been foretold, and
that Jesus of Nazareth had fulfilled every
prediction concerning the sufferings and
death and resurrection, and would certain
ly in due time fulfill every prediction con-
corning the kingdom and the glory (Acts
xvii, 2, 3; Ill, 2D. The church of to-day
seems to think that many so called attrac-
tions are necessary to hold and win the
people, but it is a fearful mistake. The
gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus
Christ our Lord is enough.
5. ssAnl when silas and Timotheus were
c5ne ffc1 ffcc1 slacedosia Paul vas pressed in
the Spirit CIR. Y. constrained by the worO
and testified to- the Jews that Jesus was
the Christi He had left these two brethren
at Beren when he had gone to Athens
{chapter xviii, 1915. But now they have
joined him, and he must have been some
what comforted by their coming. Paul
knew what sorrows were, and he knew
what real comfort was. and it is from the
heart that he speaks of God as ''the Father
of mercies and the God CT all comfort
(II Cor. t., 81.
6. ''Your blood be upon your own heads.
am clean. From henceforth will go un-
to the gentiles." This he said as they op-
posed him with blasphemy, for our Lord
Jesus had taught that if the message of
His servants was not received the servants
were to wipe the dust off their feet as a
testimony against them and pass on to
those who would hear. When the gospel
is faithfully preached, the messengers are
unto God asweet SAVIOR of Christ in them
that are saved and in them that perish II
Cor. H., 15).
z. ''And he departed thence and entered
into a certain mans house. named Justus
one that worshiped God, whose house
joined hard to the synagogue" SO when
one door is closed another opens, and
whether it be just next door, as in this
case, or across the street, or in some other
city or town, or in some other land, the
Spirit of God will lead His people, and
they have only to follow where He leadeth,
with no desire but to be controlled by Him
and to please Him.
8. "And Crispus the chief ruler of the
synagogue, believed on the Lord with all
his house, and many of the Corinthians,
hearing, believed and were baptized
Crispu3 was one of the very few whom
Paul baptized with his own hand q Cor. t.,
14-16), for he said that preaching the gospel
was his commission rather than baptizing,
not that he in any way made light of ordi-
nances, but he emphasized that salvation
depends wholly upon believing or receiving
Christ and not upon any or all of the ordi-
nances. Neither baptism nor joining the
church nor taking the communion can
save or help to save soul, but salvation is
! ..<.I,41 ax,s- l. Dl-s.x -
without any possible addition.
8. ''Then spake the Lord to Paul in the
night by vision, Be not afraid, but speak
and hold not thy peace" He said to the
Corinthians in his first epistle, II was with
you IN weakness and in fear and in much
trembling" Il Cor. H., -, so that there was
some occasion for this special visit from
his blessed Master and for this encourag-
ing s'Be not afraid The eyes of the Lord
are ever upon His people, for their good
and to show His strength on their behalf
II Chron. xvi, 81. If necessary, He will
send Gabriel or even a host of angels on
! our behalf.
set on thee to hurt thee, for 1 have much
people in this city, 1t would seem that
there were much disturbance and probably
threats OF violence to the person of Paul.
OF these he would not be afraid, for he had
already been scourged and imprisoned and
stoned to death, but as the spirit had re-
Gently been leading him on from city to
city he might naturally think, in the light
of recent leadings, that he was again to
move on; hence the Lords special visit
and message to him. AS parallel passages
for our own strength and encouragement
note Elk. ill.,, ~; w., ~; Joshua l., 5; Judge
vi, Is; Isa. xii, 10, 13; Jer, H., s, 49, Hag.
l., 13; H., 4; Gen. XIV, 1: Math. xviii, 20.
The Lords own II am with you; fear not"
is full of mighty comfort.