The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-12
Exposition Of the
Sabbath School Lesson
FOR APRIL 20, 1902
Copyright, 1902. by John R. Whitney

Peter and Cornelius-Acts x. 34-4S.
Golden TeGt-God is no respecter of per-
sons Acts X, "a.
There many who say'-and many more
who think. but do not say it oDenly-that 1t
makes no difference what a man believes If
especially if his honesty and sincerity are
based on "a deep sense of obligation to God.
The falsity OF this idea was clearly seen in
the case OF Saul of Tarsus. for no one was
lieved than he. Yet he needed to be changed,
and At required "a great light from heaven"
to change him.
In like manner. there are many who say
and many more who think, but do not say it
openly-that in every man there Is a germ Of
goodness which needs only to be carefully
moral uprightness and brotherly kindness, to
insure acceptance with God and eternal life
This idea is proclaimed by the lecturer on
the platform-nublished by the secular and
often by the religious press-preached in
many pulpit--and believed by multitudes
who 10, make IKE no effort to proclaim it. They
and worldly lusts, live soberly, righteousy
and godly in this present world as the scrip
lures enjoin. CTitus H., 12) Satisfied with
themselves and approved by their fellows.
they assure themselves that they are accepted
by God: The falsity Of this idea is clearly
shown in the story of Cornelius, the centu-
rion.
If any man ever cultivated this germ so
that it brought forth abundant and blessed
fruit, he was the man. The record concerning
him is that he was "a deVout man, and one
that feared God with all his house. which
gave much aims to the people, and prayed to
God Away one whose prayers and aims
! came 'uD for a memorial before Cod w.
! 2, ~ Even his household servants ". y
! said-and testimony from such a source is al
ways strong testimony-that he was "a just
| man, and one that feareth God. and of good
| report among all the nations of the Jews. .
| ". 22)
| But it is evident that notwithstanding all
| this, he was not satisfied with himself, and
| still more evident that in all this he had not
fully come up to Gods requirements. For be
| says that when he was fasting and praying,
"an angel of Cod came to him, and said
| "Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon
whose surname is Peter; he shall tell thee
what thou oughtest to do" ". v. 3-6) He
must have been praying, therefore, to know
what he ought to do. Like the rich young
ruler who same to our Lord with the anxious
| inquiry: 'Good Master, what shall do tt
inherit eternal life? What lack I yct?'
Matt. xix, 1929; he was in doubt as to hi:
there might be something else wanted beyont
all these and he lOnged to know what i
| was.
! Moreover from this answer to his prayer
it is evident that God himself was not satisfied
with him as he was. For he was directed t,
send for Peter that he might "hear all thing
that are commanded Of God" ". 33)
| Now this man was the type Of many othe.
| good men and women. Like him. they maxi
no profession of religion-they are not con
nected with any church-and they do no
subscribe to any special creed. But the,
faithfully cultivate the germ within them