The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-26
Second Quarter; Lesson "; April 27,
 1902; Acts H, 4-I5.
Usntilss Received Into the Church

Usntiles Received Into the Church.
 The world. all unaware of it. was on sne verge of an extraordinary social rev
 olutton: bloodless, indeed but fraugh with greater consequences than the most Uanguinary of conflicts; issues reaching to nations then unborn. continents then undiscovered. The whole human race was concerned, while higher intelligences were doubtiess interested spectators, and one at least subordinate participant. The strong and narrow prejudice of the Jews was not to be wondered at They could not easily tear themselves loose centuries. The law of Moses was of Di- vine and. apparently. of ceaseless obliea- tion. Its chiefest rite, circumcision. was to be perpetuated in successive genera liens, and a dread excommunication awaited those who broke the covenant by it's omission. The Jewish Christians could not rise in day to Paul's altitude and exclaim. with him. Circumcision is nothing" There was no explicit revela- ual. and, in the absence of this they believed 1t still in force. They looked upon the Church as sort of annex to the temple. and believed that the only latter.
 If this error had been persisted in, it would have been an insurmountable ob- stacle to the discipling of all the Gen. tiles according to the Lords command. The Gentiles would never. in large num- bers. submit to the humiliating rite of fnduction. Jesus yoke could never be called easy. if. to His simple and reas- orable terms of discipleship must be add cd the law and ritual of Moses and tra- dition of the elders, an insupportable bur den which born Israelites could scarce endure. Christianity, weighted in such fashion. could never have become a worldwide religion.
 The hour was rina for the aoo-toiio Church to be rid of this impeding error ito De taught that God could accept the Gentile without casting off the Jew: that there was a better circumcision than that Of the flesh: that believers of every race were the spiritual descendants of Abraham; that the Church was not an annex. but an evolution; that the verita- pie substance of that which Judaism pre- ngured was all found in the Church of the New Covenant; that the Mosaic rit- ual, circumcision and all, would, az the Church expanded to universality, fall off like dry, outgrown shell. from its back ential mind of the Church should be i'm structed by an indescribably significant sign. and. in obedience to the heavenly vision. md purely Ge9tile candidate. and admit him at oncs' to full com cision. Then, at length. the middle wall of partition would lie as flat as Jericho's towering battlements.
 While these stirring events were trans bring at Joppa and Caesarea, the Church at Jerusalem was in such a perilous state as to make 1t very sensitive to any added innovations. All that staid continued per secution after the death of Stephen was . probable truce between Christian and Jew. the tacit understanding of which was a practical disavowing of the ad- yanced teaching of he first of deacons. News Of what Peter had done down by the seashore. was enough to alarm tho a Na al had died for preaching, Peter was actu- ally practicing. Prejudice was also mixed with fear, making the deadliest of compounds. Sectarianism was already well-meaning but mistaken folks pinned their faith to an effete ceremony, and were already known as they of the cir eumcision." These contended with Peter. The word has the sense of fervid and dogmatic positiveness, There is an un- becoming contemptuousness in the phras Thou wentest in unto men uncircum- eised."
 Peters growth in character is apparent In his calm. natural. diignified bearing in this confessedly trying ordeal It makes one ready to call him already Saint Peter, His reply was exactly fit-an un- vanished narration of facts, supported by witnesses. The current prejudice was, in large measure, based upon ignorance of the circumstances. Peter. in the most ingenious spirit. took away the pedestal on which prejudice had erected itself It's base gone. it had nothing to de but to fall to earth. The marvellous manner in which the successive incidents of this epcch-making affair were interwoven pro duced conviction that the hand of God was in it. The controversy was at an end when Peter cried out. What was I, that I should withstand God?'
 The account Is true to human nature when it describes the effect of Peters defense. The auditory fell into two parts One remained silent. Convinced against their will. they were of the same opinion the elements to form the Judaic- Chris tan party. destined to rend the Church and hinder the apostles. But, in the other part. the complete reaction from preju- dice found a wholesome expression of joy as they caught a view of Gods gen. ralirranse 4nr.ard tha Gnntilo