The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-20


time about thirty five years old. He had
learned the traditional Pharisaic inter-
probation of the Mosaic law in the school
OF the great Pharisaic teacher, Gamaliel;
but he did not learn the moderation for
which that teacher is renowned. Saul
believed fanatically in the partial God
OF the Pharisees; he believed it to be
religious duty to despise all men who
were not Jews. He had approved Steph-
ems death. He was pleased to see him
stoned; il he had been personal witness
of Stephens heresy he would have been
glad himself to cast the fatal stones; as
it was he allied himself with the witnesses
by guarding their outer garments from
the mob while they cast the deadly mis-
siles. He had gazed upon the radiant
face of the dying martyr; yet he would
not see it. He had heard the words of
forgiveness from the lips of the dying
man; yet he would not hear them. He
closed his heart to everything contrary
to the Phariseeism in which he had been
bred. He knew no better. The light
in him was darkness; great was his
darkness.
Yet questions must have risen within
him. To prove himself sound Pharisee
he coveted the privilege of hunting the
heretice. By insanity of zeal he would
prove that the Christians we're wrong,
In this spirit Saul made havoc in the
church.-invading the privacy of home;
he spared neither man nor woman; wher-
ever he could find confessed Christian
the police who did his bidding would
drag the victim to the public ward. to
await trial before the Sanhedrim; and
before the Sanhedrim Saul would raise
his voice against every arrested Chris
tian.
The church. as a natural result. fed
from Jerusalem. To remain would be
to needlessly make the capital human
slaughter-house. Yet the apostles, the
twelve. could not be driven from the
city. Whether they were temporarily
exempt from arrest, or whether their
fearless courage overawed the persecu-
tors. we are not told; but the fact that
speaks for their moral heroism is that
during this fiery trial they remained at
their post.
Yet the prosecutors unwittingly serve
the Gospel they would destroy, for all
the dispersed believers will be, wherever
they go, preachers of the Saviour's Cos
pei.
z. Philip breaches in Samaria.
Simon the SOrcerer is Converted,
We. 5-13.
When Stephen, the head deacon, was
removed by mariyrdom, the headship of
the board naturally fell to Philip,-an
active Christian, whom we shall, twenty
years later (21:8). find still active as an
evangelist. Philip was not one who
could be content to linger by empty
tables, to which the needy ones might
come in vain. While the twelve did we'll
to stay in the city, he felt his call to be
to go abroad as a missionary.
So he went to the city of Samaria.-
Samaria being the first appointed coun-
try after Judea, to receive the Gospel
Q:S). tits not directly stated, but it is
reasonably inferred, that the city visited
by Philip was Sychar, near Jacobs Well,
ho nj ~, oh haA do
converts. This is the more probable be.
cause the people of the city he visited
were go eager to hear the Gospel.
The usual accompaniment of bodily
and mental restoration among believers
characterized Philips ministry in Sa-
maria. Multitudes believed and public
ly professed their faith in Jesus as their
Lord, the Amounted. The people of the
despised Samaritan city thrilled with
great hope when they found themselves
counted heirs of Israel's salvation.
Ore noteworthy incident of Philips
ministry was the conversion of Simon
the Magician. He was famous coniar,
er who for gain had deceived Tia Bsople
by pretended. seseefy,-that Is. by pro-
Tossing to be Under direction OF invisible
beings, When he saw the faith cures
attending tho preaching of Philip. he
became 1eliever.-th is, he believed
that nilfp was possessed of jugglery
zee eerthan his own. With the multi
sade'of believers he was baptized; there
byconfessing that be believed in Jesus
ss name for coniuring.
Looking forward little beyond
our lesson assignment, we find Simon
trying to buy the gift of the Holy Ghost;
for which he is by Peter scornfully con-
demned,
3. Peter and John go to Sama-
ria, and Sanction Philips Minis
try,-vs. 14-17.
The twelve in Jerusalem, we may be
sure, kept themselves closely in touch
with the dispersed believers. In due
time the results of Philips ministry in
Samaria were reported to them. Peter
and John were, we are told, "sent" to
the Samaritans. they we're chosen and
commissioned by the twelve to visit the
scene of Philips work, and judge wheth-
err his converts were worthy of Christian
RalIomahin