Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-04-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson li.-Second Quarter, For
April 9, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Rev. D. M. Stesrns.
We leave Saul at Tarsus. his native
town. for time and return for a few
lessons to Peter as the human iustru-
ment through whom the risen and
assembled Christ continues to prove
that He is alive and the same Jesus.
The one only thing that believers are
on earth for is to magnify the Lord
and glorify Him in all things and win
people to Him. Unless we are turn
iGg people to Him we are not magnify
ing Him. for when He is lifted up be-
fore people in our lives by word Or
deed He who was lifted un on the
cross for US will draw unto Himself
all whom the Father has given unto
Him to form His body We must think
of Peter as in chapter viii. p. preach
ing the word OF the Lc"d wherever be
went to save sinners and to strengthen
and comfort the saints
So he came to LYDIA and was used
by the Lord to give health to man
called Aeneas, who had kept his bed
eight years. being palsied. His words
to him were, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ
maketh thee whole: arise and make
thy bed He was made whole and
arose Immediately. and one result was
that all who dwelt there, seeing this
miracle, turned to the Lord. l have
often thought that perhaps the Lord
would still heal more people IL He saw
that the restored health would glorify
Him or win others to Him. He knows
whom He can trust with health or
trials and which will be best for the
person intrusted with either. When
Lazarus was allowed to die it was that
in some way the Son of God might he
glorified John XII, ~. The man of
John TX. 8, was born blind that the
works Of God should be made mani
fest in him. II only we can say II
have glorified Thee on the earth" we
shall have His well done"
Turning to Peter at Joppa, we are
introduced to saint. called Dorcas.
who while she lived was full of good
works and aims deeds which she did
She was not full Of talk about good
works which might be done. nor did
she spend her time telling of aims
deeds which she knew that others
were able to do and ought to do, but
she was In the Lords hand to be used
by Him as the needle was in her hand.
a willing instrument. Good works are
prepared beforehand for each believer
to walk in (Eph- ii, 10l. not in any
way to add to our safety which is
wholly due to the blood of Jesus
Christ, His finished work. but as an
evidence to people that we are indeed
His workmanship. Good works are
not necessary to God to prove to Him
our faith. for He reads the heart. but
the good works Of believers are gvou
and profitable unto men who cannn'
read the heart Cit ill., 81.
This faithful saint became sick ane
died. She departed to be with Christ
which is far better than continuing
here. She was absent from the body
and present with the Lord. She rest
ed from her labors tPhil 1. 81. %: ii
Cor. v. 8: Rev. xiv. 49,. Consider this
well and then note the conduct of
these disciples at Joppa. Two men
were sent to LYDIA to find Peter and
bring him without delay. hoping that
he might bring Dorcas back to them
from the dead. This was all very nat
ural. and the same desire prevails ev-
erywhere today. as a rule. to have
loved ones come back to earth even
though we know that they have gone
m ha vryith brit,
the very far better. But quietly cen
slider it. When our loved ones on earth
go away for few days or weeks or
months to rest or for their health. and
we know that they are we'll and hap
Ply. what would 1t be but utter self
ishness on the part of those left at
home to send for them to come back
after day or two. saying: "Oh, am
SO lonely. can't bear to have you
away. Come right back to me-
Now. what was the difference In this
case? | hope that am not misjudg-
ing those weeping widows. but as |
see them showing the coats and gar
aents which Dorcas had made l ara
wondering a little II they wanted her
back to do some more sewing for
them when perhaps she had simply
worked herself to death for them.
can almost imagine the Lord Jesus
saying to Dorcas after she had reache
her heavenly home and was enjoying
something of the bliss Of paradise:
"Dorcas. they are asking to have you
come back to earth for awhile. but |
leave 1t to you. I'll be glad to have
you stay. for ! love to have my re-
deemed ones with me in glory Gohn
xvii. 24. but, If you are willing to go
back for time l will let yon bring
others with YOU think that would
decide Dorcas to return. and we know
that by her return to the earth many
believed In the Lord Verse 42,.
The result was the same in the case