The Mississippi enterprise., 1960-03-05

MARCH 6, 1860
BY Rev. George A. Harper,
S11 Avenue c.,
Greenwood, Miss
GODS PROTECTING
PROVIDENCE
Acts 22:3O.23:35; Print-Acts
23:6-l1, 1924.
MEMORY SELECTION -
God is our re fuge and
strength, a very present help
in trouble.-Psalm 46:D. We
have found him so, he has en-
gagged to be so, and he ever
will be so. Are we pursured?
God is our refuge to whom
we may flee, and in whom we
may be safe and think our
selves so; secure upon good
grounds. Are we oppressed by
troubles? Have we work to do
and enemies to grapple with?
God is our strength, to bear
us up under our burdens, to
fit us for all our services and
sufferings; he will by his grace
put strength into us, and on
him we may stay ourselves.
Are we in distress? He is a
help, to do all that for us
which we need, a present help,
at hand, one that never is to
seek for, but that is always
near. We cannot desire a bet
ter help, nor shall ever find
the like in any creature. If
God be for us, who can be
against us: to do us any harm?
PAUL REVEALS HIS RE-
LIGIOUS PARTISANSHIP:
"But when Paul perceived that
the one part were Sadducees,
and the other Pharisees, he
cried out in the council, Men
and brethren, am Pharisee,
the son of a Pharisee: of the
hope and resurrection of the
dead l am called in question"
- 1t was no accident on Pauls
part that he affirmed to the
council that he was a Pharisee
and that his being attacked
and brought to trial was be-
cause he believed in the reSur-
rectiOn of the dead. He knew
that this was an explosive is
sue between the SadduceeS
and the Pharisees which could
be used to his advantage at
this time. "And when he had
so said, there arose a dissen-
sion between the PhariSeeS
and the Sadducees; and the
multitude was divided" :.
1t was no more than Paul had
anticipated that dissention
would arise in the court among
its members once he introduc-
ed the issue of the resurrec-
ton, for this was a matter of
great controversy between the
PhariSees and the SadduceeS.
'For the Sadducees say that
there is no resurrection, neith-
er angel, nor spirit: but the
Pharisees confess both" :.
Paul being a Pharisee, believ-
ed in all three things just like
the rest of the members of
his religious party did. 1t was
convenient for him to preach
the resurrection, because it
was in line with his belief.
STRIFE BETWEEN PARTY
MEMBERS:
"And there arose a great
cry: and the scribes that were
of the Pharisees' part aorse,
and strove, saying, We find no
evil in this man: but If a spirit
or an angel hath spoken to
him, let us not fight against
God" =. Paul was bound to
the Pharisees of the council
for very good reasons. In the
first place, he belonged to
their party, that is, he was a
PharlSee. Naturally the Phdrl-
sees did not want to see a
member of their party perse-
cuted by Sadducees. Both as
serted that if the men were
opposed while championine
the cause of righteousness,
their opponents would be
found to be fighting against
God.
"And when there arose a
great dissention, the chief
captain, fearing lest Paul
should have been pulled in
pieces of them, commanded
the soldiers to 60 down and
to take him by force from
among them, and to bring
him into the castle" The
chief captain was, as usual,