Arizona republican., 1920-02-01

foreground as the official press
 and Pathe Weekly news car
 1 Jerusalem The persecution which scattered the disciples seemed to have 1 been an uprising of the people rather
 than of the ecclesiastical authorities
 15. Prayed for them, that they l m ght receive the Holy Spirit This evidently was not the gift of the Holy Spirit that accompanied remission of
 sins following repentance and baptism i (See Acts 2:3s.) Rather, as we learn l from this incident and from verse Is | above, such gift of the Holy Spirit as
 enabled it's possessors to perform signs and miracles.
 T.. They laid their hands on them. '
 The fact that Philip could not confer this particular gift of the Holy Spirit, but that it must come from the hands 1 of the apostles themselves, is em- Ihasized by his narrative.
 Simon's Desire, vss. IS, 19. Simon's proposal suggests that he himself had not been selected by the apostles for such a gift, but that he observed its operation in others. The thought of the immense profit such power would mean to him. made it impossible for him to restrain the expression of the desire to possess it even if it cost him great sum of money.
 19. Give me also this power" From this lesson incident we have the word ''simony" which means the purchase of ecclesiastical power or position by money.
 in this matter He was not one of those who were chosen in this particu- lar matter for receiving the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit.
 22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness." It seems quite beside the a,-1- Iarv 4r.s.- zt<Y saying that Simon was not converted in the first place. There is no indica- ton that he did not receive the gospel with as sincere a purpose as moved the other Samaritans. Pray the Lord" Forgiveness of such q man in such sin, and in similar cases today, is con- ditional upon repentance and prayer.
 9. Thou art in the gall of bitter ness. Peters words, literally, mean: I regard you as a man whose influence will be like that of bond of unright- eousness. or as man who has reached such a state.''-Lange.
 24. Pray ye for me to the Lord"
 Peter had demanded two things of Simon: first, that he should repent; second, that he should pray for forgive ness. He yields only partial obedi- cree to the latter admonition, or strict ly speaking. none at all.
 The Thought of the Heart
 Simon's Wickendess
 Simon thought that Peter and John were sorcerers like himself. He meas- ured them by himself He saw the ef- feet of the coming of the Spirit upon the people. and he thought that he could buy from Peter the power to pro- duce this result just as he had prob- ably bought from sorcerers instruction in some magical feat. He offered his money, saying. Give me also this DOW CT. that on whosoever lay my hands he may receive the Holy Spirit His life had been spent in deceiving people with his tricks, Giving out that he himself was some great one" Until the coming of Philip the people had believed in him they had said, This man is that power Of God which is called Great" Now he will lose his power over them will lose their homage and their money, unless he can equal Peter and John in their magical tricks, as he seemed to consider their gift of the Spirit. His were so occupied with his own l sorceries, with the desire for fame and l love of money, that he could not grasp 1 the idea of a spiritual power. His heart | was not right toward God, as Peter | told him, he needed to pray that the | thought of his heart be forgiven him. The thoughts that he put into words | were wicked because his heart was | wrong toward God. Simon had done | nothing, he had only spoken a wicked | thought. and very justly Peters wrath | Y as kindled against him.
 Thoughts Swerve the Life from God
 Illness
 What is described as probably the greatest meteorite known in the world, xas brought to New York from the ,oast of Greenland by Lieutenant oeary. On the cruise home the pres- .nce of this magnetic iron in the hold ,f the ship affected the compass, and whenever there was bad weather and he mariners had to depend on dead E reckoning they could not keep their ,ourse. So the inward thoughts in he depths of personality impart bias o the mind confuses the Judgment, a ajoles the conscience, para1yses the gill, and makes the life swerve from he line of gOdliness and righteousness. The first stage of all eccentricity of character and irregularity of life is in his secret inward leaning. Remember hat God knows the inward thought md judges it, and us by it.
 Thoughts May Be Controlled
 We are not responsible for the Eoughts that enter our minds. but we re responsible for harboring them. here is an eastern saying that we can ot prevent birds from alighting on our eads, but we can prevent them mak- ng nest there. The French General 'urenne was not responsible for the