The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-16
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
Oct. II, 1s97--Acts xiv, 1925.


That tripartite scene in Felix's judgment han
well represents the status and spirit Of the pre-
vailing religions of the day. Felix's character
shows how effete heathenisIn spur
science curb to passion. The high priest in
his turn represented a church which had missed
it's noble calling to be the almoner of grace 10
the nations. and had gone into the broadening
of phylacteries and tithing of mint, and while
gagged in these small matters could give way to
rage against those who dared point a more
ceent way. At the third angle stood Paul. in
comparable example of the beauty. power and
divinity of Christianity. Paul is his own
lawyer His manly courtesy toward his judge is
in marked contrast to the fawning language of
the Sanhedrms hired attorney. His straight
forward account of himself his actions and opin-
i0ns carry %5n te aFGe ng o or
want of evidence to convict or a bride to acquit.
to the sumptuous audience chamber to which the
spirit of curiosity next summoned Paul The
its meretricious showiness. He sees a slave
tUne but a slave Still led captive by his greed
and lust. No court preacher was ever more un-
He did not tax Felix with unrighteousness; he
only held before him the mirror Of the righteous
which the law OF God requires. He did not
tax the Herodan PRINCESS with her I ad bsfd T
ber the 70 h awe e ne of that abso d
Thence, even in thought upon which Jesus in
Of the last assizeNthe judgment day. - AS
serinon, and in the Vista the judgment seat of
Christ he was seized with an inward terror But
it frightened its grip upon the poor bondman and
itua life is ruined by like procrastination.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Many years judge: Seven years; more than
the average term.-Peloubet.
Went to worship: And therefore was in a spirit
contrary to tumult He had no quarrel with the
tenple.-Ibid.
Temple. synagogue, city: These acts, disputing
and raising up a popular tumult are denied with
reference to these three places.-Gloag.
Worship God of my fathers: Paul worshps his
ancestral God and is therefore guitless of break
ing the Roman law by deserving his ancestral
Just ana unjust: Speaking in the e prese aa Of
touch the conscience of the procurator.-Lumby.
I exercise myself: WORK over the raw ma
terial into noble forms:mA6bott: T. g a,u,ar.
To have always conscience; 1t Is always ways
ings: The customary Pentecost sacrifices. rnls
was the exact opposite of sacrilege.-Peloubet
irony even ~ his legal defense he seeks to show
the Pharisees how near they are by their belief In
a relaxation of prison rues.-Cambridge Bible.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
1 Paurs appeal from Jerusalem to Caesarea
was an appeal from malice to cupidity. What
could he expect from Felix adulterously united to
an Herodian prncess-Felix who stopped not at
the assassination Of a high priest, whose hand
itched for bribe. and who precipitated the Jew
ish war?
Q 1t is a superficial view which imagines that
the high priest appeared in person against Paul,
because of his pique at being called whited
wall. Ananias cast the weight Of his high Of
ism had come. AS in .,. Paul had honey
combed the foundation -.athenism z, by M, ms
had been. discipled. As in Ephesus the Greeks
ership, and struck a blow at him in hopes of
paralyzing Christianity. SO in Caesarea the Jews
So" s. Xveric 's'' was Felix's dominant passion. He
expected ransom for Paul He had his eye on
the large sum Of money known to nave been
Two years later Paul and Felix are both in Rome:
Felix makes an ignominious exit from human
s. We can almost condone the ruin wrought by
vesuvius in its greatest eruption when we know
the son of Drusia by Felix and Drusilia herself.
g. The only rays across the gloom of Ca1esaIean
dence of Philip. and the gentleness OF Paul,s i'm
brisonment II is one of nature parodes that that
ants the snake. the scorpion and the lizard.
In Disguise.
1 met him to-day In the wintry street,
The Christ on the cross who died died "a s,oo.
Win vi bleeding forehead and hands and feet,
And I blindly thrust him aside.
Had he only come with the crown of thorn.
Or the nail-prints ruby-red; -
Their wounds 1 had not put by in
His piteous plea for bread
Put idly now and all in vain,
gTs nse oT Might gs s he en gone eo n.y. again.
I'd pity his plea, and ease his pain,
And hearken unto his cry.
Nay nay for the blind Distinguished
The king with his robe and crown;
But only the humble eye of faith
Beholdeth Jesus of Nazareth
In the beggar's tattered gown.
/ saw him not in the mendicant,
And | heeded not his cry;
Now Christ in his infinite mercy grant
the l IN my day OF want,
Be not in scorn put by.
British Weekly.