OUTLINE LESSONS. November 13.-Morning. Conversion of Saul. READING, Acts ix. 1-22. GOLDEN TEXT, ver. 6. Our lesson on the turning-point in the career of one of the greatest men that ever lived. Read the verses. Mark the progress of sin. Looking on-then doing the same thing. I.-What Saul Proposed to Do. Notice particularly the spirit he displayed-his spiteful plans, how coolly laid. Had grown clever in wickedness. Full of fierce, cruel thoughts. He will exterminate the despised followers of Jesus, and crush out their religion from the earth. Evil passions unchecked ever grow stronger and stronger. Give examples. II. What Happened to Saul. Describe the scene. Saul saw more than a light (chap. xxii. 14). What followed? Jesus feels for His people in their troubles, takes what is done to them as done to Himself. Disciples of Jesus, however poor and humble, are disciples of the King of kings. Injury to Christ's people is injury done to Him (Matt. xxv. 44, 45). Folly of opposing Christ (ver. 5). III.-Effect Produced (ver. 6-9). Sin makes cowards of us. Give Scripture examples. Wicked flee, &c. It is only the righteous who are bold as a lion. Saul convinced of his wickedness— humbled to the very dust, trembling at the Saviour's feet. Christ can change the hardest heart. If we submit to Jesus, He will pardon us, however we may have rebelled against Him. A changed heart produces a changed life (ver, 8, 9). Receive the truth which converted Saul. Whatever we may think of ourselves, we are sinners. Christ is the Saviour. Seek the grace of Christ. need it. You H. NEW TESTAMENT MODE OF KEEPING THE FEAST. -Each Israelite, in holiday attire,repaired to the temple with a palm branch in one hand, and the citron in the other, at the time of the ordinary morning service. One of the priests fetched some water in a golden ewer from the pool of Siloam. At the top of the brazen altar were fixed two silver basins, with small openings in the bottom. Wine was poured into that on the eastern side and the water into that on the western side. And the Hallel, or hymn of praise, was then sung. The Feast of Tabernacles For instances, in later times, of the celebration of this feast, see the dedication of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings viii. 2, 65); and after the Captivity (Ezra iii. 4; Neh. viii. 17). The relation of this festival to the other two-the Passover and the Feast of Weeks-should be pointed out; and the purpose of these feasts in preserving the unity of the nation, and the integrity of the Jehovah worship, should be carefully explained. In studying the arrangements of this feast, notice— I.-The Time. The autumn, when both the field harvest and the vine and fruit harvests were safely gathered in. This 'is usually a time of thankfulness. We keep up the idea of this feast in our harvest homes and harvest sermons. Impress the duty of gratefully recognising the good hand of God in providing so constantly for our temporal needs. II. The Order. Out of Eight days to be devoted to the feast. them two Sabbaths, on which general assemblies, or convocations, were to be held, must be set apart. In the six intervening days there were to be regular sacrifices. By reference to explanations of John vii. 37, find the changes of the order, and additions to it, in later times. Impress, from the special character of the burntofferings, that a full and entire consecration of ourselves to God properly accompanies an act of thanksgiving. III. The Booths. This, the characteristic feature of this feast. Explain what was done, and why done. It is always healthy, though often humbling, to remember the past, and the way wherein God has led us. But the point to see clearly and to enforce is this: that our thankfulness ought never to concern our temporal mercies only; thinking of these should remind us of God's gracious love and lead. So impress that when thankful for daily bread we should be even more thankful for the Bread of Life. ROBT. TUCK, B.A. Justin Martyr, who wrote about thirty years after Pliny, and one hundred after the Gospel was first preached to the Gentiles, thus describes the extent of Christianity in his time: "There is not a nation, either Greek or barbarian, or of any other name, even of those who wander in tribes and live in tents, among whom prayer and thanksgiving are not offered to the Father and Creator of the universe by the name of the crucified Jesus."-Sermons by the Monday Club. NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS.-A gentleman pressing through a crowd of travellers at an hotel office called out to the clerk to assign him a room at once, adding, "I am the Lieutenant-Governor of ———.” "Don't give yourself any concern on that account," replied the clerk. "We'll take just as good care of you as we do of the others." At that office all applicants stood on the same level. The way into the kingdom of God has been likened to a door so low that every one who enters must do so on his knees, and so narrow that none can carry with him even the smallest encumbrance. November 20.-Morning. Gospel Success. READING, Acts x. 34-48. GOLDEN TEXT, ver. 43. A skilful teacher might well include in this lesson, by way of introduction, Peter's vision, which was designed to teach that apostle that the Gospel was intended for all men. Lessons suggested I. God looks with mercy upon all. He is no respecter of persons. "God so loved the world," &c. To every one the offer is made-to you, therefore. II. Two things required of all. (a) Fear of God. (b) Righteous living. Both the product of God's grace in the heart. They are the substance of true religion-evidence-not meritorious cause of acceptance. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Wherever true religion is found God will accept it without regarding names or sects. III. The Gospel which Saves. The truth as it is in Jesus. It is adapted to allunderstood by all-can make all happy, because it comes home to the heart and to the condition of all. The young, the aged. The learned, the rude. The peasant, the prince. All alike are sinners, and all who are saved will owe their salvation to the one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. ii. 5). Never expect salvation elsewhere than from Christ. From Him every one of you may expect it if you repent and seek it from Him. No wonder that the Gospel says so much about Christ (1 Cor. i. 22-24; iii. 11; Gal. vi. 14). IV. This Gospel to be proclaimed to all. All need it. Peter did not wait till all Joppa was converted before taking the good news to Cæsarea. Go and tell your neighbours. Do all you can to help forward the success of the Gospel. If we love the truth ourselves, we shall seek to bring others to love it too. Ver. 8. The Sabbath is the expression in time of a divine and eternal principle, upon which, as upon a golden thread, all the commandments and ordi November 20.-Afternoon. The Year of Jubilee. READING, Lev. xxv. 1-17; GOLDEN TEXT, Psa. lxxxix. 15. I.-The Proclamation of the Jubilee. 1. Time. Not as ordinary years, beginning on the nances of God are strung. first day, but on the tenth day-day of atonement. Picture out events of that day. High priest has fulfilled his duties. What duties? Sin forgiven, cleansed, sent away. "Afflicted" hearts gladdened. The word "Jubilee" is most probably connected 'streaming" with the sound of the trumpets used on the occasion. The peculiar observances of the Jubilee were 1. The manner of its proclamation. 2. The general release of slaves and captives. 3. The restoration of lands to their original owners. "The fundamental thought is:-Jehovah is the Lord of the land of Jehovah, with all its blessings, its soil, harvests, inheritances, dwellings, rich and poor, free and slaves, roads and byeways, holy seasons, Sabbath days, and central holy place - the Tabernacle."-Lange. "Every fiftieth year God restored the whole economy of the state to what it was at the first, that thus the covenant of the people with Him might be placed upon its original footing, and that, with all their early advantages, a new era in their history might begin."Milligan. 2. Manner. Priests sound cornet. Cf. noise on Sinai when God "descended upon it in fire" (Ex. xix. 13, 16, 19, &c.)-a streaming sound, growing louder and louder. Watchers on neighbouring hills catch it up, and pass it on-a musical instead of a fiery beacon. II.-Effects of the Jubilee. Sin cleansed by the atonement; but cleansing does not undo consequences of sin-e.g., a drunkard wastes his property. Repentance will gain pardon, but not restoration of his goods. So too with Israelites; people impoverished through their sin, lost their land, perhaps had to become slaves themselves. Atonement could not undo these evil consequences; but God would show by the year of Jubilee that He could not only forgive sin, but also remedy the evil which it causes (ver. 10-17). 1. A Year of Restoration. Restored liberty. God had delivered people from slavery. Now His servants could never be enslaved more than six years (Ex. xxi. 2), but when Jubilee sounded it declared at once liberty for all. Restored lands. If people belonged to God, so also land. Poor man could not give up his land, for God had allotted it to him in trust; but might be deprived of use of it until year of Jubilee. Picture happiness of such a yearslaves freed, families reunited, old homes regained. 2. A Year of Rest. No field work (ver. 11, 12), though, no doubt, plenty for all to do. Fruit would grow and might be gathered (ver. 12), but any one might gather it; it was God's gift to all. Conclusion. Sin still makes mischief. God forgives sin through the great atonement; and Christ says He will also undo the mischief (Luke iv. 17-21). Through Him an "acceptable year" for all captives and oppressed ones. 1. Even now sin more than forgiven (Eph. i. 12— 14; cf. 1 John iii. 1, 2). 2. Something better in store; the inheritance will follow the earnest of it (Rom. viii. 18-21). Even death not able to hold us back from returning "every man to his possession and to his family." First, however, the atonement, sin removed, then the mischief remedied (Acts iii. 19). To know the joyful sound (Golden Text) we must know first the finished sacrifice. C. A. GOODHART. ́ HEROD AGRIPPA, the grandson of Herod the Great, was now invested with the vassal sovereignty of Judea and Samaria, in addition to the tetrarchies formerly held by Philip, by Lysanias, and by Antipas, so that he now ruled over all his grandfather's dominions. Agrippa was naturally anxious to ingratiate himself with his new subjects, and discovered very early that one of the surest methods to win their favour was the persecution of the Church. After several of the disciples had suffered in various ways, James, the son of Zebedee, was "glain with the sword." This procedure increased the popularity of the king among the unbelieving populace. Rev. S. G. Green, D.D. "JOHN, WHOSE SURNAME WAS MARK."-The Jews had no surnames; but many had two names, one by which they were known among the Jews, and the other among the Greeks and Romans. Dr. Kitto. "CHAINED WITH TWO CHAINS." - It was not November 27.-Morning. Peter's Deliverance. READING, Acts xii. 1-17. GOLDEN TEXT, Jas.v. 17. Herod was a vain, fawning man, seeking popularity among the Jews, for the sake of which he originated and carried on the persecution recorded here. Act from a sense of right, and not simply to please others. II. The Prisoner. Sixteen soldiers, four at a time, to guard him. Chained, and, we might say, comfortless. The night before the morning on which he expected to be led out to execution comes. Yet the apostle is not troubled. He calmly sleeps. He knows God is able to deliver him if He wills, and if not it will be an honour to die in the Lord's cause. God can deliver in time of danger. III.-Prayer for the Prisoner. While the Church was praying, God was working. 1. An angelic deliverer. While Peter is calmly sleeping an angel enters the usual to chain a prisoner prison and fills it with light. He gently wakes the sleeper, and brings him forth abroad, and then, when his work is done, he leaves. to more than one soldier. It is difficult to see how a prisoner could be more completely secure than Peter was. Shut up in a strong prison, the gates barred and guarded by sentinels; his person attached to living men, who would hear and feel bis slightest movement. But the walls were never built, the chains were never forged, the guards never breathed, that could hold in bondage him whom God willed to be free. God has many ways of working, and knows how to deliver. God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves. 2. The astonished apostle. All had been so sudden and rapid that he did not understand it. The night air perhaps helped his reflection. He knows that the Lord has delivered him, and he considers the matter. We should think upon the way in which God delivers. 3. The astonished Church, Rhoda was glad, and so glad that she runs in to tell the news that Peter was free, but those who had been praying count her mad. Peter soon stands before them all; and now surely their prayer was turned to praise. Expect answers to prayer. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. H. G. GILBERT |
