Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-04-06

Illus go.
Step by step the Gospel can be
traced, spreading itself, but begin.
ming at Jerusalem" Paurs CONVEX
sion is one OF the greatest evidences
of Christianity. The two miracles OF
today's lesson are additional evidence
that it is Of God.
!. At LYDIA Tvs. 32-35). Caligula.
emperor of Rome in A. d. SO. ordered
his statue to be erected in Jerusalem
that he might be worshiped as god
there as elsewhere. The excitement
and conflict which arose in opposition
to this sacrilege lasted for two years,
during which time Christian persecu.
tons ceased. Following Saul's visit
at Jerusalem. and during this time OF
quiet, Peter made this tour Of vista.
ton. LYDIA (modern Ludd) is about
twenty-five miles northwest of Jeru-
salem. Here dwelt certain saints "
32) literally holy Ones" converted
disciples OF Christ, not ones Of spe.
cial honor, for all who are members
OF the body of Christ, are saints"
| (Phil. I'D. Here also dwelt Aeneas,
"a certain man." possibly not a believ.
err, but having great need ". 26:3:2;
1871, 14:S; 9:10), and of years stand
ing ". 33). Notice Luke, the physi.
clans careful record. Peter must have
seen many such. yet this man is one
[ Peter found: he was evidently look.
ing for him. Peters pity was not SEN
timental but practical and his words
powerful, for back of them was the
Living and Powerful Christ. He
knew who could work a cure. The
long WEAKNESS Is to be relieved. Yet
those days of illness gave time for
meditation and probably prepared the
mans heart to respond in faith to
Peters words. Peter does not attract
attention to himself, but rather to
! Jesus. His was but to be the tnstrur
ment of the cure. The healing was
means to an end, for when those who
dwelt in LYDIA and Sharon ". $50
heard of the miracle, or saw this
healed man, 1t was to them demon,
stration of the power of the risen
Christ, and they turned to the Lord"
| ". 35). There is no comparing Peter
with modern "healers." Peters words
and actions were a living demonstra-
ton. not for profit, of the power OF
Jesus in his life and testimony.
II. At Joppa Tvs. 36::43). Joppa
was the only seaport the Jews ever
| possessed for themselves. It was and
is still q rather insignificant town,
and now marks the beginning of the
railroad leading to Jerusalem, 35
miles distant. No name is recorded
Of any of its rich or prominent citi-
zens, only that of an humble woman.
The record of her life however, is
inspiring ". 36), and her name Is
common one adopted by organizations
of women. Like her master her life
was full of good deeds; like him
she was not ministered unto, but
ministered. This is real greatness
and 1t is open to all of us. Her name
"Tabitha" Hebrew, Dorcas Greek,
means gazelle, which In the East Is
favorite type of beauty. This certain
disciple" was beautiful in life as well,
for she was first a believer, then a
doer. We believe in order to do, not
do in order to believe. This woman
is an example of the wise and capable
woman mentioned in Prov. 31:10-31,
picture well worth studying in these
days of the feminist movement" She
is Q good type to be followed by
church women, and by us all In the
fact that her reputation rested upon
deeds which she did, ". 36), not
ones she war about to do, nor did she
wait for some great opportunity Of
service. The life of Dorcas reveals
one Of the causes of the triumph OF
Christianity in the Roman empire. It
was source OF wonder that those
early Christians should 80 love each
other. The reason why Dorcas was
allowed to die lies in the providence
of God. He loved his work and this
recorded incident mas served to raise
death also reveals that being full Of
good works and aims deeds" does not
exempt his servants from sickness and
death, and that God evidently has 9th
er purposes in sickness than to chas
tise our sin or to humble our pride
(John 9:3, II Kings 1910. The friends
Of Dorcas were folks of faith, for as
yet there was no case OF apostolic
power to raise the dead so far as we
know, and it was now about ten years
after the resurrection of Christ
Peter followed the example OF his
Lord (Luke SO. 54), dismissed all ,
spectators and prayed" ". 40). The
way to revive q Gead pastor, church,
school, personal experience, or per-
son dead in trespasses and SINS" is
by prayer. Peter also did as he had
seen his Master do to his mother-in-
law mark 1880. 81, and gave Dorcas
his hand to help her arise.
This gave an opportunity for fruit.
eul work among the converts ". AZ
and the enlistment of many new be-
.favara ~ l1l an that pafar ahodo