The Washington herald., 1909-01-30

which Is often used out OF its connection,
They took knowledge OF them that they
had been with Jesus" That Is a phrase
often heard IN prayer meetings Why did
the SanhedTin take knowledge Of Peter
and John2 Because OF their boldness. Il
I was when they beheId the boldness OF
Peter and John. and had perceived that
/ they were unlearned and ignorant mea,
/ they marveled: and they took knowledge
OK them that they had been with Jesus.
Those words "unlearned and ignorant
men" might be freely and correctly inter
preted ~unordained laymen." The point
/ IS that these men were not trained rabbiS,
I but plain men from without the schools.
/ It stiu remains true that when the Unpro-
/ fessional disciple Of Christ. the layman
( who IS now coming into place Of power.
stands I'D 20 utter a clear note OF teSu-
TnOny the world stops and listens
/ The bOldness Of the disciples IS char
J acterislic Of this book. II may be called
the mark OF the Lord Jesus Neither the
J Sanhedrin nor the world since would take
I knowledge OF weakened disciples that
they have been with Jesus. A trait II
those close to Christ is their utter fear
lessness "a Witness-Searing- It stih con-
founds o7eositioB. even as II did IN the
case Of ..le Sanhedrin- The courage Of
the prisoners and the presence Of the
/ healed man brought the persecution 20 a
standstill The Sanhedrin made Overtures
for a compromise, but Peter and John
would not capitulate They demanded
/ freedom without conditions To the re-
/ Quest that they keep silence when freed
I the answer promptly cane- Whether II
is right n the sight OF God % hearken
I Unto you rather than unto God, judge
! ye. for We cannot but speak or things
+ which We saw and heard" Isn't that an
utterance TO put iron into the blood OF
every timorous immortal?
TIE PRESENT NEED.
According 70 this narrative. the first re-
! corded prayer Of the Christian church
was a prayer for 'boldness in bearing wit
ness. Hard on the heels Of the petition
Is written the answer: And when they
had prayed the place was shaken wherein
they were gathered together. and they
were al hIIed with the Holy Spirit. ard
they spake the word OF God with bold
I ness" That stin is the greatest need of
1.-THE Christian church to-day She does not
( speak up with boldness concerning tie
things which she cherishes most dearly
The cry Of the hour IS for a Witnessing
church. Why IS Christian sentiment over
ridden IN public life2 Because the Chris
tan community dares not speak ont bold
\ ". concerning its convictions. Why is-the
majestic march Of the kingdom Of heaven
not recorded iE the public press2 Simply
4 because the members Of that kingdom Go
not assert their desire and their rights II
The ordinary Christian were TO get a grasp
Of the truth that il IS his duty 20 bear
witness against whatever in public print
or public life initiates against righteous
ness and in behalf Of all things true and
Whcle. there would be at once q trans
formed Christian sentiment
There is Omin0Us significance IN the fact
that Just now the one city in the United
States which has perhaps a larger re-
iligtous constituency than any other city
in the States Is IN The throes Of an inves-
JigatiOn Of shameful graft conditions.
Why is # that corrupt politicians and cor
Tupt business men jointly rule so many
states and communities? Does IL mean
that the apostolic power OF protest and
witness bearing has gone from the
church, can It be that. SO far from go
ing % 5al for their faith. modern Chris
tians VIII not even 90 10 the ballot box
sOr 70 the letter box or 70 the public meet
ing OF protest2 ASsuredly there is no
hope for the real cleaning Up OF any
community except through such a mill
tant righteousness as was displayed by
Peter and John before the vested interests
Of their day and time.