The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-02-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republic
can by DIR. U. S. Wright.


Peter and Cornelius. Acts 1C:1-11:18,
The same Lord is Lord of all, and is
rich unto all that call upon him. Rom.
1912.
GODS BRIDGE-HEAD.
Bridge-head has become a common
term thru its frequent use in the speech
of the recent war. 1t is a small matter
that it may have nothing to do with
bridge but it does invariably include a
crossing covered it-may-be by far away
artillery so that advance at that point
may not be held up. Off in the hills the
guns see to it that the road forward is
kept open. God is the great campaign
er breaking through barriers and con-
tinually moving forward toward the
sure goal of the Kingdom but needing
as did other fighters these vantage
points for His strategy. Praying men
are Gods bridge-heads. A tremendous
struggle was on between the race-con-
scious Jew and the principles of Jesus.
The world was to be saved by the Jew
instead of by Jesus. Jerusalem had
become conservative and was settling
into SNUG content that held all the old
pride and exclusiveness that had been
part of the Pharisee's baggage. Indif-
ferent to Samaria, hostile to the Gen
tile, there seemed small hope Of any
world passion of sacrifical love. Indif-
ference on one side and intolerance on
the other gave no crossing. 1t was in
the presence of such a condition that
God got His chance thru two men at
prayer. In the words of Tennyson,
prayer is the lifting of sluice-g gate
between my soul and the Infinite"
God has chance for access with new
impulses and passions. Only to the
listening soul can He speak. And it
has been by way of reyerent spirits
that all real advance has come. Peter
and Cornelius, far apart as the poles in
many ways, were at prayer and to
each came vision that marked Gods
sure movement toward the consumma-
ton of His plans tor the world. Given
these men a path could be pointed to
the hesitant church and the columns
moved forward. 1t was not matter
of Geography that determined the order
for the world is always ready to receive
before the church is ready to give.
What else does the waiting lists for
baptism in India, the call for teachers
in China, the wall of orphans and star,-
ing folk in many lands but that Cor
nelius is calling now as then? God
never asks the church for advance
where He has not already gone Himself.
THE NEW DISCIPLE.
Peter presents such contrast to his
old character as to be positively start
ling. Swiftest of all the disciples to
speak and do. after the vision that re-
called Christ's own words and life at
titude there was most careful attention
to detail. There was no leaping over
the side of the boat in this transaction.
He would 20 but took with him wit
nesses to share responsibility and ad-
wise. He carried them with him in re-
porting the matter and seems apollo
getic as he asks, who was to with
stand God?" The old fiery eagerness
seems lacking in the entire transaction
and one wonders whether he likes this
conservative better than the old radi-
cal. Certainly there has been a sober
ing change. Perhaps it was the re-
cognitlon of the changes involved in the
contact with Gentiles that made him
cautious but again his glory is that he
went. 1t might be hesitant movement
but it was forward with the Christ he
loved. Once sure of Gods will thru
the maturing vision of the house top
and he would go in the direction given.
His heart was eyer swifter than his
head to learn new lessons and his mind
required many repititions in every case
where his feeling would haye leaped to
a conclusion. 1t was the head that was
at work in all the events here for the
Disciple had not yet become as his Lord
in passion for the world.
THE SOLDIER SAINT.
What wonderfully fine man Cor
nelius must have been! We have learn
ed from Donald Hankey. Coningsby
Dawson and thousand others that Sir
Galahad may be clad in khaki. Chris
tianity IS essentially the creed of the
fighter and the white souled Cornelius
is fore-bear of all the idea that has been
in the heart of the movement eyer since
Christ conquered His first foe on the
souls battlefield. An Italian coming
into contact with the Jew in Caesarea
he had beeh attracted and then won to
bow at the shrine of Jehovah. But he
needed the breath of the Spirit to COM
plete the transformation and fill him
with Christly passion. Yet he would
still be soldier and it was along these
soldierly lines that the process pro-
ceeded that linked him into company
and made him comrade instead of an