The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-07-24
Sabbath School
NOTES BY r. s. HOLMES.
Lesson ". July *. 1909.
PAUL. Ar ATHENS.
tActs y: - 81

Golden Text. God Is 4 Spirit. and
they that worship him must worship
him in spirit and in truth John {: u.
Paul alone in Athens waiting Tor the
coming al his companions is one Of
the most interesting figures oi the
world Luke was perhaps with him.
but he was not n preacher. Paul wan
dercd over the old city. wondering at
its marVcis ~ art. and thinking of the
great men who III the past had made
the glory ui the city. The marvellous
works ui their hands were everywhere
10 be seen But more than all the
preacher oi the gospel oi an invisible
God who was supreme God over all,
wondered at the Astounding manifesto
tons 81 idolatry Silence was impos-
siblc lie talked every day with any
who would talk with him Athens was
the cultured center OF the world Here
all PHILOSOPHERS had their homes. The
old schools oi the days OF Plato were
still existent. aud the philosophers
heard OF the strange uttcrances OF
Paul. and wished To- hear more parti-
cularly from him. in a set address.
what were the points OF The new doc
trinc he was spreading This brought
on the most remarkable single orator
ical incident in PaurS life. The philos-
opherS took him to the most impor-
tant place IN the city. point on Mars
Hill" They took him unto" not
"Arcopagus.' but The Areopagus,"
for this was the rame OF a court and
not oi n man. They gave him the
best place for his address which the
city afforded There he spoke.
THE LESSON.
vs.. - Then Paul standing. etc"
Mars Hill was the Summit oi high
rock III Athens where great public
councils were held II received its
ramc from IN old legend that Mars
was here tried tnr murder by the other
gods
The Nrcupagus' was q quadrangle
in the open air, reached by steps cut
IN the solid rock. aud with stone ben
chcs cut in the rock. On these the
Areopagitcs sat a. judges oi uueS.
tons brought before them. In the
center III Mars llll'' Paul stood in
the open space surrounded by these
benches.
Il perceive. etc The Revised Yer
sion reads somewhat SupcrStitiouS"
instead ri too >upcrStiiiutis. Some
good scholars translate the Greek. II
perceive that in all things ynu are very
religious That Was q compliment
and No, rcpr"ach The philosophers
OF Athens could scarcely he called
superstituuS.
V. -. Thl, i the illustration Paul
gives To- show what made him think
the people were very religious They
had not only erected monuments. or
affairs Ia the gods they knew, but Ia an
"urkn"wn god. II there was any
Paul was particular t." say nothing
about id"latry. lie was very tactiul
lie said. Il passed by and bcheld your
dcv"tiuns II was a most happy way
To- begin You worship an unknown
god, Well. | know that very god. and
] wil tell YOU about him" He could
not have begun better
vs. - That God is the God who
made the world Yes. he made all
things lie is the greatest God there
is. He j. the Lord OF heaven and
earth Md he dwcll> IN u" handmade
tempe hat was new thought. But
Paul had more to say.
vs.. IS Tie cannot he wur,hippcd by
hand Offering, You cannot give God
anything Nj that You have is Gods.
He gave men everything they have
Yes. he gave YOU lie. and breath and
all things Such language had never
been heard in Alhcns.
vs.. 10 Now Paul speak, II Gods
forc-"rda'nlnp power Men belong To-
one family God made man. MOI men.
There !, one blood tu all M are
children ri one parent. aud God has
spread men over all the earth. and ap-
pointed where they should live before
they dwell N the place, they pow call
their own
V y. God, desire in doing all ,hi,
was that men should seek him That
they should try was right. but I" find
him would not be hard, for he is not
far away Where i, this God: you ask.
vs.. IS Why here; right here. we
live. W. move, We have our being IN
him" We cannot get away iron him
He is with II, all the time Md one
ri Your own poets said that That was
a fine thing iur Paul tn do. Ia quote
one ui their poets There were men
there who knew the poem from which
Paul quoted. and they would think.
We'll that man is scholar il he does
say strange things
VS.. 20. Now comes the climax 81
this liuc of thought III We arc child.
rem al TIL, God. children are always
ike their parents We are not gold
images. or silver ones. or stone ones
made by tools Md il We are not.
God j, not We are really spirits. souls
immortal. and such is God. a Spirit.
vs.. go Mcn have not All known this
alawys They have been ignorant and
have w"rShippcd idols, just AS | see
mel doing here in Athens Md God
has been patient with men. and has not
been too severe with them. Tor he has
known how ignorant they were. hut
the time has come when he Is COM
handing all men everywhere Ia repent.
IN tbiul about hin, ;u ap,,L.r ,,.,,.