The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-12
Second Quarter: Lesson II, April
 13, 1902. Acts, ix, 32-43.
Peter, Eneas and Dorcas.

The ninth chapter of Acts contains lovely photograph of the Church in it's ninth year after Pentecpst This likeness vies with that of Acts il, 41-47, in beauty, and reveals the fact that, while the glo- Ties of Pentecost were receding and per secution coming on apace. yet the Church was ever gaining in grace and useful ness.
 The charming lineaments of this por- trait are such as these: The Church was saintly; Peter came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda; fifty-six times in the New Testament believers are called saints; the Apostolic Church was made up of people set apart, who felt themselves called to be saints.
 Another feature: Not the saints at Lydda only but all those in Judea, Gal flee and Samaria, were edifed. That word is borrowed from the builders art. As he lays the foundation, rears the su- perstructure. and makes a dwelling for man, so these primitive Christians com ing to- Christ as a foundation. build a <, dwelling for the Spirit of God.
 Agatn they walked in the fear of the abstract. impersonal system. unIoved and unlovahle. Back of all doctrine, precept, and ordinance, there was the ineffable person. Jesus Christ. In awe of Him. question constantly on their lips. What would He have me do?''
 Finally, they walked in the comfort of fhe Holy Ghost: He was not to them an
 
 blessed presence. They could say some thing betetr than the Creed. Not "I be- iieve in the Holy Ghost but "I have the Holy Ghost" Do you wonder that R Church with such characteristics was irresistibly attractive. and that 1t null tjplied?
 But all these were subjective traits; our lesson brings us to the objective life of the apostolic Church. That Church sought not only to be good, but to do good. It sought to eradicate the dark pIs ces of want and suffering with prac :. ticsl benefcence. Peter healing palsied Jsnaas. and Dorcas with her good works and alms-deeds-coats and garments-wel represent the Church in her aggressive mission of mercy and helpfulness
 Dorcas was probably. unhampered by a domestic establishment of her own. We have no mention of husband or chill dren. She must have, had competence; for she needed not to toll for herself :. Possibly she had fortune She felt called of God to this ministry. With a rational abandon she threw her time. talent, fortune. self, into the loving ser and heart were permeated with the spirit of philanthrophy. She was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did She had an embyro deaconess society about her. Her eye was that of ga zelle' (as her name signifies). not only benignant in pity for the poor. but alert to detect at once their need. and the means to relieve 1t. At the very mo. the success of her charitable enterprises. it came to pass in those days she was sick and died.
 If death ends all" then such untimely deaths are inexplicable. But If there is future life. then into 1t the spirit en- ters with all the advantage of its dis cipline and experience in the present life, and in nobler spheres, under conditions more favorable. it continues Its benef- tidslt enterprises And locking to the earthward side. the premature departure of such a one as Dorcas stimulates imi- tation among the survivors. The gap is recognized. deplored Effort Is made to .fffIt So in the ultimate analysis. thougt Heaven gains earth is not really the loser.