Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-04-09

the widows stood by him weeping. and
ShewlnS the coats and garments which
DorcaS made while she was with them.
~. But Peter put them all forth. and
knceied down. and prayed: and turning
nun to the body said: Tabitha. arise.
And she opened her eyes; and when she
saw Peter. she sat up
a. Ana he gave her his hand. and lift
ed her NJ. and when ne had called the
saints and widows presented her alive.
-. And it was known throughout all
I9Ppa; and many believed in the LORD.
q" Ana II came TO pass. that he tar
q tanner
GOLDEN TEXT. Jesus Christ
mniseth thee who1c.-Acts o::}I.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Building Up of the Church.-Under
this head we will notice briefly: On
that the churches had brief respite
from persecution; (2) that they (tlie
membership were being edited: (3)
that they walked in the fear of the
Lord; (l) that they walked i'm the com
iort Of the Holy Ghost, and (5) that
they were multiplied. Prosecutions
can't hurt the church of Christ.
This is the unanimous voice OF
history. In fact, it has always
helped the church. by wedding
out the faint-hearted and those
leaving the true disciples to give to
other strong men notable object les
son in courage and loyalty to truth.
But the time of persecution is not the
time of greatest growth i'm the
church for the reason that the
prosecuted have not the same
opportunity for open preaching. nor
indeed the time for il. as in times Of
peace. This first period Of peace for
the early church probably lasted four
or five years. During this period the
churcn grew in knowledge and grace
were odiiied." TO 'cdify" is literally
to build. Thus the church was built"
mp, not 50 much in the matter of size
or number Of members. but built nm
i'm the virtues and graces that 90 10
make up Christian character. This
was done through the preaching Of the
apostles who told them of the life.
death and resurrection Of Jesus. The
church grew also i'm the fear of the
Lord. This fear" is not the painful
emotion excited Ivy apprehension Of
danger. or apprehension Of Gods
wrath as accordin" to Webster. but
reverence. 1t is the going about the
ordinary duties conscious of the per
ScUal presence OF God. If our course
i right one there is pleasure and
comfort in the thought that God is
ever near. lin the comfort Of the
Holy Ghost" expresses a further
thought. Just before His crucifxion
Jesus had said (John 14:1G. ~: 81
will pray the Father. and He shall give
az e.,
abide with Won forever: even the sDir-
IT OF truth 1t il here that the Chris
tan man has the advantage Of the
man who is not a Christian but is try
ing to live an upright life. The Chris
tan possesses. or rather is possessed
by, that inward Spirit of God. aptIv
named by Jesus the Comforter" II
most naturally follows from the fore
going facts that this was a growing
church. not only i'm the matter Of
grace. but also in numbers. The
church multiplied in numbers. and il
is not improbable that the number Of
churches. even. greatly increased.
Healing Of Ncucas.-Of NcucaS we
know little besides the fact That be
was sick Of the palsy (paralySis). and
had been confined TO his bed for eipht
long years. Peter did not heal this
man. il was the risen and assembled Je-
~u~ who healed him. for Peter said to
him: Jesus Christ makcth thee
whole" Md the man arose from his
bed the first time in eight years Pc
ter must have used this incident as y
text for sermon. for we are told that
all the tovn-folk turned to fhc