The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-01

mon fund to be distributed under the apostles
had need (iv., So. '''' ''0''' 0l-s 40 ~
But there was no compulson in this mat
and gladly, in the best way to benefit all and
| to glorify God. Mary, the mother of John.
whose surname was Mark''-a very conspicu-
Gus member of the company some years later
retained full possession of her house
| S Sn;, ~ and used it as place of prayer.
Peter When b rebnSed aa the For
not thine own? and after it was sold, was it
reoared ow se r. e. No one
noted example of this voluntary liberality
Is mentioned q in the person Of man of Cyprus
He was "a ::Levite.' He is characterized as
q good man and full of the Holy Ghost, and
he in I 2 th So r artve and helpful
terlng to the disciples, that his companions
"surnamed', him 'Barnabas-The Son of Con-
ffon q W +S or The Son Of Exhorta
for the need about him, having land he
at once sold 1t and brought the money and
iaid 1t at the apostles feet CIV, 30. BY SO
and free to fulfil his ministry as a disciple Of
Jesus: Probably many others did the same,
| and for similar reasons.
! Now, however, the inspired historian intro
| duces US to another member of this company
of believers, in the person of Ananias. In
the eyes Of men there was not much differ
| ence between him and Barnabas. Both were
! Jews. Both were men of mature years Both
had probably for a long time been residents
| OF Jerusalem. Both were men Of wealth.
| Both had probably often seen and heard
Jesus, Of Nazareth, and perhaps had witt
been deeply impressed by the ''1 Preaching chi Of
Peter. To both the Holy Ghost had revealed
Jesus Christ as their redeemer Both had
confessed their sin in rejecting him. Both
| had been baptized and enrolled among the
| disciples: Both having land, sold it," And
both had laid a goodly sum at the apostles
h a q n r ion To he ,an1
All this men saw, and undoubtedly admired
| the liberality displayed by both, just as they
do now What each did was looked upon as
mark of his zeal and devotion to the cause
| of their common master. If the contribution
of Ananias was larger than that of Barna-
narrative had stopped there, we would never
| have known of any material difference be-
| tween Barnabas and Ananias.
But when Ananias came to lay the proceeds
| Of his sale at the apostles feet, Peter
| inspired to see far down into the depths Of
| with the eyes Of the Holy Ghost. So the
man stood before him as he stood before
| God.
Now it was revealed that the word of Gods
grace had fallen upon him as the seed Of the
was mot much earth Matt. xii, s. .
of tha h zeal al ns
had touched his sympathies and the word
| preached had touched his heart. "Immedi-
| ateIy'' he received 1T with gladness." but he
| "for time" Mark w., 16-17) s.For =
W yhd he ea believed DTt in time Of tempta-
| And temptation came very soon. He might
have kept his property and used it in Gods
feet propriety and with becoming humility.
But, thinking more of himself-and of his
| standing among MERRIAM Of Jesus-and HIS
redemption, Satan quick to his weak
| point and to take advantage of 1t. So he
| whispered in his ear two thoughts-frst, that
| if he gave considerable part Of the proceeds
NJ IL hCth 10 a,,A
high in the estimation Of his fellows and also
make him more worthy of Gods acceptances
| would have something of his own to lean
upon in time of need. These thoughts seemed
| very plausible and We're very attractive So
| he kept back part of the price, his wife also
| being privy to it, and brought certain part
and laid it at the apostles feet (v. q. Thus
| their pride of position and their fear OF want
in Cod. - $50 p '''s'f''0 N'''''.
When Peter-knowng by the revelation OF
the Holy Ghost the duplicity Of their hearts.
less, by saying tenderly, ssTell me whether
ye sold the land for so much" ". 81. Ana
MAS said nothing, and Sapphire told the ex-
| act truth. Yet both of them told a false
| hood-Ananias by his silence and sapphira
by her speech because both intended to leave
sold for no more than $50 much" they
had had none but men to deal with in this
| transaction, their hypocrisy and falsehood
| might never have been known. But 1t could
not be hidden from God, and He brought ID
into Judgment very. unexpectedly. So is IL
always with those who reckon without Him
! Mean and selfish as this lie appears when
| thus brought to the light, it far more
than merely an attempt to cover defrauding
| Of men. The thing that dishonored God,
was the protesting to give all, and yet keep
| ing back. some. 1t showed that notwith-
standing all their professions, down the depth
| Of their hearts, Ananias and his wife did not
| really trust God and rest implicitly on his
promises. It is very common and very
! subtle temptation affecting both temporal, and
eternal interests. For satan makes 1t equally
| hard to trust God for the daily wants of the
! body, and for the spiritual wants of the
! soul.
In the matter of eternal life. especially,
| men find it very hard to rest by simple faith
! upon the finished work of Christ. They give
| a certain measure of trust to him, but they
| Righteousness" (Rom. &, 81 Can anything
| be more dishonoring to the riches of Gods
| grace?
When Ananias and his wife Joined them
| selves to the company of the believers, the
Holy Ghost came upon them upon the
others. And they, by their profession, had
promised him-as many have done since then
Ito commit themselves unreservedly TO Gods
covenant care in Jesus Christ for time and
eternity. But they had resisted him, ard by
their act they had broken their promise.
| They had lied ito the Holy Ghost when
| they made 1t, and they undertook to live up
! to it in their own way, and not in his. For
this they perished
Bryn Mawr, Pa.
You hardly realize that 1t is medicine
when taking Carter's Little Liver Pills