Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-02-06
True and False
Brotherhood
Sunday Sebool Lsrsol for Feb. 2, 1903
Specially Arranged fsr This Paper

rioc of some length THE fNa.f date az
the AnanIos incident ls unknown Bee
tween a. II. en- and sL
PLACE. -lerusal.n. Probably at the
usual mcctrr place ~ the disciples
Comment and Suggestive Thought
y. 90. "Joses" one form ol Joseph POI
Surnamed Banabas." A Hebrew
name derived from bar. son. and
Nabuah "prophesyinE." pouring ont
words as from q fountain. che impeu-
ing force being the divine Inspiration
The name seems 20 have been CON
ferred upon him by the general con-
sent Of his friends. as a Kind of de
g'3e or pet name. Biblical world
Being Interpreted from Iicbrey into
Greek. The son OF consolation. com
fortIng, "exhortaton." as iu The r.. Y.
Neither definition alone Is complete:
IL takes both TO give thc meaning OF
the original Greek word. which is the
same word as that giyen 90 the Holy
Spirit by Jesus John $500. "the
Comforter "Paraclete." from para. 20
the side or and kaleo. to can or SUM
mon. Tor comfort or help as an advo-
cate, counselor comforter
What Bamabas filed with the Holy
Spirit. did for others was similar. 20
least in most respects. Co chat which
the Holy Spirit does for us His work
was far greater than that implied by
the familiar definition of comforting
20 soothe. Co brnc tranquil enjoyment.
lie was like the advocate I'm Greek and
Latin courts. a powerful friend i'm
whose wis lom. knowledge. influence
and affection the client had conf
oence. and who advised. aided
strengthened and comfortcd him. Bar.
nahas had great gift by his words
character aud personality OF comfort
ing others by inv.gorating them. In
spring them with a new ike. strength
ening their faith and hope. giving them
fresh courage. Tie was like "a fountain
OF the water OF life
Comforting from two Latin words.
means making strorg together. Moth
INK is worthy OF the name OF comfort
that is not invisoraung. inspiring. fu-
ing the soul fun or courage and
strength.
The Holy Spirit comforted the disci-
pies after the death OF Jesus. just as
Jesus promised How2 By making
the frightened men bold as lions. by
changing them into heroes, by giving
JOY unspeakahle when prosecuted. i'm
prisOned. tortured. scattered.
There are two sources OF danger 10
the church OF Christ.
Dangers from without
Dangers from within
The fires OF persecution were kin
died 90 consume &c. But the church
was like the three heroes ia Nebuchad-
nezzar's furnace. the flames did nos
harm them. and one Ike the Son OF
God was with them in the flames And
the light from them caused men 90 see
in clearer light the true God and the
Gospel.
IL advertised the good news. %
scattered the seeds OF truth broadcast.
it led 10 more prayer. a stronger faith.
a firmer coruage. more generous Civ
Ing. more fervent preaching: 10 proved
that the piety OF the church was no
temporary excitement. bat a steady
burning and shining light
We now come to a more dangerous
y.
Fire cannot consume. nor waters
drown the church. There Is no way
20 destroy il but by enemies within
The engine is powerless II the fires
fail The light goes out when the
electric current ceases to flow We
are TO study this attack. learn its les
sons for to-day, and see how God over
FKr rrfrf
for the advancement OF the gospel.
V. 5. "Ananias fell down. and
gave up the ghost" Literally.
''breathed out his life. his soul" In
whatever way il came. 10y the shock
If the discovery of his sin. or By a di-
rect stroke from God. Il was Gods act
and in TO sense the act Of Peter and
the apostles. Very probably they were
as much astonished as anyone. Had
Peter done this act he would have
been a murderer. subject to the law
Of the land. But he had no band In
II whatever
Why such severity OF punishment?
J. 1t was deserved. it was justice. ''Ex-
act justice is commonly more merci-
ful In the long run than pity"
2. II was necessary ia order 20 save
the church from destruction from
within
3. 1t was necessary TO counteract
the effect OF his conduct upon the
world. IL would tend 90 make men
believe that there was nothing in re-
Hgion, that there was no such thing
as conversion and true pity. There.
fore. II was needfui thai the deed and
its spirit should be publicly repu.
dated in the most re- arkab!e man.
ner. as contrary TO the whLie teachins
and spirit OF religion.
4. Thus fl was an act OF mercy. no,
OF hatred or revenge.
A few counterfeit Christians do not
prove that the gospel Is failure. OF
the church unworthy. A few dead
trees in the forest. or dried stalks In
the fields. do not prove that spring is
Q failure o. that the sun does not