The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-01-29

In this lesson we have a very in
teresting story Of a man who, being
lame from his birth, was carried to
the temple daily and placed by the
beautiful gate where he could ask
aims of those able to go into the
temple. 1t so happened that when
Peter and John were going to join
with the others in prayer at the time
of the second offering of the burned
incense, which would be 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, they were asked by thi.
man for aims. When Peter saw that
the man expected something from
them, he commanded the man "in the
name of Jesus, to walk" This he was
miraculously enabled to do. His going
into the temple with Peter and John
attracted the attention of the people
and gave Peter the opportunity to
preach to a great multitude of people,
though he was finally arrested for do
ing so.
Lesson Discussed.
"The Hour of Prayer. Whatever
else might be said abou the Jews, we
must favorably commend them fol-
their attending the emple services.
The lame man knew that a goodly
number OF people would be going into
the temple at that hour. 1t seemed to
be the custom of the apostles, Peter
and John, to attend this service. The
first verse would leave that impress
sion. Rather a good practice, that of
having a stated time when all the
worshippers Of Jehovah should come
together for prayer. Then it was
daily practice of the devOut people of
the city. They were following the Old
Testament custom of offering burned
incense. This we need not do now, as
Christ has set aside the Old Tesla
ment law and permits us to come in.
dividually direct to God
THE Beautiful Gate and the Lame
Ian. Our attention is called by
modern writer to "the contrast be-
tween the magniflcence of the beau
tiful gate, with it's massive doors over
laid with gold, and the poor crippled
body of the beggar." So very often
the opposites are closely associated
with each other. Beautiful characters
in the same home with moral wrecks.
Wealth and poverty side by side. 1t is
the duty of the healthy in body and
character to offer the hand of help to
their oppOsites even as Peter did. The
healthy in body and the beautiful in
character can not remain long such
if they disregard these, their oppo-
sites. II all the churches and the
Christian people would live up to the
standards given by Jesus, the beauti-
full in religion would soon be a stand
ard for comparison rather than for
contrast.
Better Than Silver and Cold
This man wanted aims but Peter gave
him that which was of more value to
him. To give the beggar a gift may
always keep him a beggar. Construc-
tive charity is helping the other to
help himself. II is easier to throw
a coin to the poor than it is to teach
the poor how to make a living or to
help change the conditions so the poor
can make a living. But the Chris
tian must not take the easiest way. We
must do as Peter did, give our help in
the name of Jesus, the Jesus who took
no short cut nor easy way to give us
the best The world will wake up
some day and find that in much of its
conduct il has been acting in the
name of self and that this selfishness
has but brought on the one who could
have helped the misery and misfortune
Of the other.
Miracles as Signs"-The apostles
were able to perform miracles. BY
this power they were able TO attract
the attention of the people and to
prove that the message they had TO
give was of God. There was the same
use of this marvellous power in the Old
Testament times upon such occasions
as the Exodus, the destruction OF Baal
worship and the establishing of the
supremacy of Jehovah in the time OF
captivity. These signs are not need
ed now. We have too many other
proofs of the divineness of our reli-
gion. Then today the church is re-
producing its marvellous works in
character transformation.
Peters Sermon. The people saw
a wonderful thing had been done. A
man lame from his birth was walking
and leaping before them. They failed
to recognize that the man was giving
God the credit. Therefore Peter said
like this: do not look up
on us as II by our goodness this man
Is made whole. But know this, that
a.. Ga - v.rh..s. 80. ..f,..