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Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 51.

The Peace of God
Earlier text: THE TEST OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

CHAPTERS IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

By Prof. Charles Morris

NO. 9.

Paul Revere's Ride.

Mysterious Movements in Boston—The Signal from the Church Spire—On the Road to Concord—The Messenger's Escape—The Alarm Given—Paul Revere on Lexington—Hancock and Adams Warned—Dr. Prescott Told the Story—Concord Alarmed—The British at Lexington—First Shots of Revolution—The Stores Saved—Terrible Retreat of the British—The War Begun.
On the evening of April 18, 1775, strange events were taking place in Boston. From certain streets of that town came unwonted sounds; the tread of marching feet, the occasional click of steel, low tones of command. Later there might have been seen on Boston Common, ranks of armed men, who had been marched thither quietly under cover of the night. Evidently something of importance was afoot, some mysterious expedition which it was desired to keep secret from the citizens.
But the patriots of Boston were not easily to be deceived. They were alert to every movement of the British troops, and were by no means all in their beds, as General Gage had hoped. While the soldiers were gathering on the Common, and all the avenues leading from the town were watched by guards, with orders to arrest any one who should attempt to leave, steps were taking to defeat the British plans. Late at night a small boat, carrying a patriotic citizen, was rowed heedfully across Charles River in the darkness, passing perilously close to a British man-of-war. Hidden in the deep shadows which lay on the water, the rower passed unseen, and quickly landed on the shore of Charlestown, a suburb of Boston. Here, in a retired spot, a swift horse awaited him, and he stood expectant of a promised signal, with his eyes fixed on a distant spire, whose slender length was dimly visible in the starlit night.
The watcher was Paul Revere, a man whose name has become famous in history. The purpose of the midnight expedition was no secret to the patriots. At Lexington, thirteen miles from Boston, were two prominent leaders of the people, Sam. Adams and John Hancock, whom the British authorities desired to arrest. At Concord, twenty miles away, was a collection of military stores, made by the provincials, and which General Gage proposed to seize. These stores had been gathered from various sources, even from Boston itself. Canon balls and baskets had been carried from the city under the very eyes of the guards, covered by loads of manure. Powder had been conveyed by marketwomen in their panniers, and cartridges had been taken from the city concealed in candle boxes. The material thus painfully collected was of high value to the patriots, who were bent on resisting the British even to the point of war, and they watched the movements of the garrison with a keenness that was not easily deceived. In some way they had become aware of the secret purpose of General Gage, and were taking active measures for its defeat. Dr. Warren, an active patriot, had directed Paul Revere to proceed to Charlestown in the manner described, and to take to the road as soon as signaled of the movement of the troops.
As the minutes passed, the solitary watcher stood in impatient expectation. Suddenly a double gleam of light shot from the distant spire on which his eyes were fixed. Two candles had been placed in the belfry window of the old North Church. It was the signal agreed upon. Those far-off candle gleams were the beacon lights of the American Revolution. Springing gladly to his saddle, the messenger of hostile tidings gave his uneasy horse the rein, and in a minute more the hoof beats of the mettled steed rang like hammer strokes of destiny in the streets of the sleeping town.
Revere had been bidden to be on the alert, as a force of mounted officers had been sent out to patrol the roads and prevent any one from leaving the town to give the alarm. The need of caution and alertness was soon evident, for he had not long passed Charlestown Neck before two British officers appeared in the road before him. They were part of the mounted patrol.
"Who goes there? Halt!" came the stern challenge.
Paul Revere looked keenly at his challengers. Should he seek to dash by them? No; they were armed, and his errand was too important to take the risk. He had just passed the entrance to another road. Here was an opportunity to pass his opponents. Turning his horse quickly he dashed back, heedless of a loud cry of "Halt, or we will fire!"
His horse proved superior in speed to those of the officers; and in a few minutes he was in the Medford Road, and off again at full speed towards his goal. One of the pursuers, thinking to cut off the flight of the fugitive, turned his horse into the fields between the two roads. But he soon found himself floundering in a clay pit, while Revere shot past with a cry of triumph.
On went the midnight messenger, at the full speed of his well-chosen steed, giving the alarm as he went. At every wayside house he stopped and aroused the inmates by a thundering rap upon the door. As they looked with alarm from the windows he shouted, "Up, up, the regulars are coming," and was away again, while they digested the startling news.
About the time the clocks of Boston town were sounding the hour of midnight, the assembled troops left the Common and marched as noiselessly as possible toward the Neck, on their supposed secret errand. At the same hour many of the dwellers along the road to Concord were up and arming, and shortly after the stroke of midnight, the bearer of evil tidings rode at undiminished speed into the quiet streets of the village of Lexington, within which the patriot leaders, Adams and Hancock, had taken refuge from their royalist enemies. They were sleeping within the house of the Rev. Mr. Clarke when Revere rode headlong up. Eight minute men had been stationed around the house as a guard, and they started hastily to their feet on hearing the sound of rapid hoofs. Hancock and Adams were aroused.
While they eagerly questioned him as to what was afoot, another horseman rode up to the door, and a second messenger, William Dawes by name, entered the house. He had left Boston at the same hour with Revere, but had followed a different route. Adams was by this time aroused, and the patriot leaders, not doubting that their capture was one of the objects of the expedition, prepared in all haste to leave Lexington in search of some safer retreat. This service rendered, Revere and Dawes joined company and took to the road again, riding toward Concord, and continuing to give the alarm at every house they passed.
Meanwhile the quiet of Lexington had been effectually broken. Before many minutes men with arms in their hands began to appear, and by two o'clock 150 minute men were gathered upon the village green. But as no foe appeared, and the night was chilly, they were soon dismissed to their beds again, with orders to be ready to assemble at beat of drum.
Revere and his companion meanwhile hastened along the Concord road. They were not destined to reach the goal of their journey, but by a fortunate incident they succeeded in forwarding their message of alarm. They had not got far from Lexington when they overtook Dr. Samuel Prescott, a resident of Concord, who was taking a late ride home from a visit to a Lexington friend. As they rode on together, the messengers told him of the march of the regulars and its probable purpose. After a brief companionship, the envoys pushed forward again, leaving the doctor to jog on his homeward way more slowly. They had not gone far before their journey came to an unexpected termination. They rode unawares into a group of the British officers, who had been sent out to patrol the roads. Revere, who was in advance, found himself seized before he could make a movement to escape. Dawes, who was riding on rapidly behind him, was also taken prisoner. Fortunately for Prescott, he had dropped some distance in the rear. He was near enough to see the capture of his companions, and at once made his horse spring over the roadside wall, and hasten through the fields from the vicinity of the foe. He reached Concord in safety, and told there the story which he had so opportunely heard. When the news spread from mouth to mouth that a force of British regulars was on the march to seize precious stores, which had been gathered from all sides, active measures were at once taken for their removal. Men and women together gave their earnest aid, carrying muskets, cartridges, and ammunition in all haste to the nearest woods. Some of the cannon balls were buried in quickly-dug trenches, and over these a farmer ran his plow to give the place the appearance of a freshly-plowed field. To the people of Concord were quickly added reinforcements from the neighboring villages, to which the alarm had spread. By break of day a large body of men had gathered, while most of the precious stores had vanished from sight.
While the good people of Concord were thus occupied, events of the highest import were taking place at Lexington. There the first shots of the Revolution had been fired, and the first blood spilled; a new doorway in history had been opened. The troops came within sight of the town about four o'clock in the morning, in full confidence that the inhabitants would be taken by surprise. But the sound of clanging bells told a different tale. Colonel Smith, in command, alarmed by these sounds, sent a messenger in haste to Boston for reinforcements, and ordered Major Pitcairn to push on, with six companies, to Concord, and secure the bridges.
The critical moment was at hand. The scarlet-coated regulars soon entered Lexington, and there saw before them about a hundred militiamen, drawn up upon the green. Pitcairn's orders were to advance. Should this handful of villagers dispute his road? Throwing all thought of consequences to the winds, he galloped forward, sword in hand, and cried:—
"Disperse, you rebels! Throw down your arms and disperse!"
Not a man moved. The patriots stood firm. Turning to his men, Pitcairn bade them advance and surround the rebels. As they obeyed some shots came from their ranks. They were instantly answered by the minute men. Pitcairn discharged his pistol.
"Fire!" he cried to his troops.
Instantly a volley of musketry rang out, before which four of the patriots fell dead. The others fled. A second volley followed, and more of them fell. The remainder hid behind walls and buildings, and returned the fire with some effect. This was the finale of the colonial policy of the British king, these shots the tocsin peal of the Revolution, these victims the martyrs to a great cause, that of American liberty. From the soil fertilized with their blood the greatest of modern nations was to arise.
Elate with their success, the troops pushed on, hoping to reach Concord in time to seize the stores. It was about seven in the morning when they entered that town. By that time most of the material of war had disappeared. They found some sixty barrels of flour, whose heads they knocked in, injured three cannon, threw about five hundred pounds of balls into wells and the mill-pond, and set the court-house on fire. The flames were extinguished by Mrs. Moulton, a dame of Concord, before they could spread.
All this took time. Meanwhile the militia were gathering from all sides. About ten o'clock a force some four hundred strong attacked the enemy on guard at the North Bridge and drove them from their post. Some men fell on both sides. Colonel Smith was in a quandary. Much as he despised the provincials, they were gathering in dangerous numbers, and, if he stayed, he might be caught like a fox in a trap. At length, about twelve o'clock, he gave, with great reluctance, the order to retreat.
The march back began in order; it ended in panic and route. The story of Lexington had spread far, and from every quarter revengeful colonists were hastening to the scene. Hid behind houses, barns, and walls, they poured a galling fire upon the troops, who had to run the gauntlet of a deadly fire of bullets over those dreadful six miles between Concord and Lexington. Numbers of them were slain. It is doubtful if one of them would have reached Boston alive but for the reinforcements which Colonel Smith had ordered. These reached Lexington about two o'clock, barely in time to rescue the remnant of Colonel Smith's command. These were so worn out with fatigue that they threw themselves upon the ground to rest, while their tongues hung from their mouths through drought.
The journey from Lexington to Boston was made through as hot a fire as before, which the troops answered as well as they could. Their situation grew more and more critical, for their ammunition was rapidly running out, while strong forces of minute men were hastening from all sides to the attack. Luckily for them, they reached Charlestown before they could be cut off, and here the pursuit ceased. They had lost nearly three hundred in killed, wounded, and missing during the terrible march. The American loss was about one hundred in all.
Thus ended the first chapter in the series of events that were to convert the British colonies into the United States of America. That midnight ride of Paul Revere was big with destiny. It formed one of the principal turning-points in the history of mankind.

Counting God’s Mercies

Don't spend a minute in trying to count the hypocrites in the church. Better try to count the mercies of God.—Ram's Horn.

Cultivate Cheerfulness

"If you have any regard for that invitation and command which nature and creation are uttering day by day, and night by night, cultivate a spirit of cheerfulness."

Bathing

By E. H. Matthewson, M. D.

STEPS TO HEALTH. NO. 5.

BY E. H. MATTHEWSON, M. D.

Bathing.

BATHING is essential at all seasons for cleanliness. The skin is well supplied with nerves, and a bath rightly taken will stimulate and tone up all parts of the body. A warm bath for cleanliness should be taken at least twice a week, and it would be well if all accustomed themselves to a cool sponge bath each morning. Living in an atmosphere of frequent and marked changes of temperature, we may thus be able to keep the skin toned up so that the circulation may be quickened and equalized. During the night the circulation of the blood is largely internal, but a bath of this kind upon rising will restore a proper amount to the surface, and we will feel its invigorating effect all day. The skin contains small muscles, and when these are contracted its appearance is commonly known as goose-flesh. If we are suddenly exposed to a draft or change of temperature, and these muscles do not contract, the blood is chilled and driven internally, causing a congestion of the membranes of the nose, throat, or lungs, which we call a cold. A cool bath, followed by a brisk rub, exercises these muscles, so that when we are thus exposed they do their work promptly, and we are less liable to suffer these effects.
The small blood-vessels of the skin also contain minute muscles in their walls, and if kept in a good healthy condition by properly caring for the skin, they will work automatically when we are exposed to different temperatures, and so prevent any chilling of the system.
Experiments show that baths are powerful curative agents. Daily bathing may stop the spread of a fever in a family, cool bathing may cure anaemia. In this disease the blood-cells are decreased in number, the patient is pale, especially the ears and lips, there is, therefore, a great loss in vigor, and digestive disorders are common. Frequent cool baths, with friction, will bring the blood to the surface, quicken its flow, and with fresh air and sunlight, combined with moderate exercise, the morbid conditions disappear.
True curative agents are those things which are really essential in preventing sickness. Health is but a relative term. Hundreds of people consider themselves fairly well, tho in a condition where work is not a pleasure, yet not sufficiently low to call a physician's aid. Many believe that it is necessary to take some drug internally before they can regain their health. It is this feeling, on the part of many patients, that fairly compels the doctor to prescribe drugs when he knows they are not essential. How wise it would be on our part to study ourselves and the laws that govern us, and thus, instead of seeking the doctor on small pretexts, know for ourselves the cause of the trouble and the remedy.

The Work of the Kidneys.

The kidneys work to the same purpose as the skin by throwing out of the system those matters, liquid and solid, which are a hindrance to us. Few baths, little exercise, and little fresh air, throw a large amount of material upon these delicate, but important, organs.
Tho unable to see the kidneys or bathe them in the same way we do the skin, they surely deserve and need as much attention. These two organs secrete as much fluid as the entire skin, and they need to be thoroughly cleansed by the same means—water. When poisons are thrown upon the kidneys they need plenty of fluid in which to dissolve them. Three-quarters of the weight of the body is water, and so both inside and outside of the body need a good supply of this important agent. Fluid is necessary to dissolve the poisons and to dissolve the food that circulates through the body. If the kidneys for some reason do not work, it is usual to seek for some drug, known as a diuretic, that the kidneys may be compelled to go on as before. When we do this, we simply put into our system an extra amount of poison, which either forces the kidneys to overdo or may stop their work altogether. If the kidneys are inflamed or otherwise unable to dissolve the poisons lodged there, how sensible it would be to help the skin, bowels, and other organs to increase their work, and thus relieve the kidneys; and at the same time to drink plenty of fluid, that the body may be able to dissolve these substances and wash out and lessen the inflammation that may be present in these important organs. These methods are now practiced by the best of physicians, and the sooner we follow rational methods in treating all disease, and guarding ourselves against it, the better it will be for us.
Chicago Sanitarium, Chicago, Ill.

Question Corner.

By Editor

No. 448. Spirits of Just Men Made Perfect.

Kindly explain Heb. 12:23, "Spirits of just men made perfect."
We do not know what the brother wants explained. The apostle is naming the blessings of faith as contrasted with those of sense and sin. Sight and hearing quailed before Mt. Sinai. Faith brings us to Mount Sion, where our Surety sits as priest (Heb. 8:1); to the angels that minister to the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14); to the general assembly and church of the first born, of which we by faith are a part (James 1:18; Luke 10:20); to God the Judge of all, a fact especially true in these last days (James 5:9); and to the spirits of just men made perfect. To all this faith has come, here, now. We "are complete in Him," "washed," "sanctified." Col. 2:9, 10; 1 Cor. 6:11. The term "spirits" simply relates to the men, no longer earthly, but spiritual.

Delivered Unto Satan

No. 449. Delivered unto Satan.

WILL you explain 1 Tim. 1:20? J. MCK.
Alford translates: "Among whom is Hymanæus and Alexander; whom I delivered over unto Satan, that they may be taught by chastisement not to blaspheme." The text evidently refers to church discipline, which was carried out through the apostle when he was at Ephesus. Compare 1 Cor. 5:1-5, 11-13; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14, and others. When men pursue the course spoken of in 1 Tim. 1:19 they take themselves off from the ground where they can claim God's blessing. The discipline, or chastisement, whatever it was, seems not to have been effectual in their case. See 2 Tim. 2:17; 4:14. What the apostle did was doubtless to declare the Lord's sentence.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER

No. 450. Solomon's Repentance.

ON what is the statement of Solomon's repentance based?

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER

(1) It seems to us that God's mercy to Solomon, David's seed, is indicated in 2 Sam. 7:13-15. (2) That God's chastening was effective in restoring him seems to be shown by the book of Ecclesiastes. This was in all probability written by Solomon, and after he had tried all the pleasures of life a vain world could give. He had found them "all vanity and vexation of spirit," but he had found that it was good to "fear God and keep his commandments." See Eccl. 12:9-14. He only is truly wise who is connected with God. Solomon must therefore have become restored to God's favor.

Christmas and Its Origin

By Editor

No. 451. Christmas and Its Origin.

WILL you kindly inform me of the meaning of the word "Christmas"? and when the festival originated? H. R. W.
"Christmas" comes from "Christ" and "mass," Christ's mass, the latter word referring to the celebration of the Lord's supper in the Roman Catholic Church, considered by them a sacrifice. As often as celebrated, according to this view, the sacrifice of the Lord is literally repeated, a scripturally erroneous doctrine.
It is held by many in commemoration of the birth of Christ. But it is generally conceded now that whatever time of year Jesus was born, it was not in December. The day or the month was not given in the Scriptures, nor are we required to observe it. The first mention made of the day of Christ's birth is by Clement, in the third century. It was then celebrated by the eastern Church January 6, under the name Epiphania, but this was not long held.
Its true origin is doubtless the old pagan festival, the Saturnalia, which came, at that time, in December, characterized by feasting, drinking, giving presents, etc. The Yule-log is an old remnant of Teutonic nature-worship. In England, previous to 1555, an abbot of misrule (in Scotland, of unreason) in every large household, was appointed, says Schaff. The backslidden church adopted the old pagan Saturnalia and called it Christian in order to win the pagans. But the day is kept now practically after the heathen order. To the genuine Christian it is not for a day a year that he rejoices that Jesus is born, but every day continually. Its feasting and gluttony, its giving of gifts to those not needy, are not of Christian origin, but come from paganism. If we must give, let it be to the poor and needy (Luke 14:12-14), or to the precious work of God's Gospel.

Godly Sons and Daughters

"That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace."

MY GUEST.

By Lucy H. Washington

BY LUCY H. WASHINGTON.
I SAT alone and I pondered Upon the Holy Word, When my heart and soul within me Were strangely, deeply stirred.
"Fear not, I am with you alway," The words that met me there— Not heard in the thronged temple, But in my quiet chair.
"Alone," did I say? Nay, Master, Alone I can not be, Since faithful is his promise To come and sup with me.
O soul of mine, be watchful; Door of my heart, swing free, Lest the Master be kept waiting When he comes to sup with me. —Union Signal.

A HOT PLACE TO LIVE.

Their Needs Supplied.

THE hottest region on the earth's surface, says the Christian Work, is on the southwestern coast of Persia, on the border of the Persian Gulf. For forty consecutive days in the months of July and August the mercury has been known to stand above 100 degrees in the shade, night and day, and to run up as high as 130 degrees in the middle of the afternoon. At Bahrein, in the center of the most torrid part of this most torrid place, as tho it were nature's intention to make the place as unbearable as possible, water from wells is something unknown. Great shafts have been sunk to a depth of 100, 200, 300 and even 500 feet, but always with the same result—no water. This serious drawback notwithstanding, a comparatively numerous population contrives to live there, thanks to copious springs which burst forth from the bottom of the gulf more than a mile from the shore. Machadores (divers), whose sole occupation is that of furnishing the people of Bahrein with the life-giving fluid, repair to that portion of the gulf where the springs are situated, and bring away with them hundreds of bags full of the water each day. The water of the gulf where the springs burst forth is nearly 200 feet deep, but these machadores manage to fill their goatskin sacks by diving to the bottom and holding the mouths of the bags over fountain jets—this, too, without allowing the salt water of the gulf to mix with it. The source of these submarine fountains is thought to be in the hills of Osmond, 400 or 500 miles away. Being situated at the bottom of the gulf, it is a mystery how they were ever discovered, but it is said that they have been known since the dawn of history.

THE GREAT MASTER.

"I AM my own master," cried a young man proudly when a friend tried to persuade him from an enterprise which he had on hand. "I am my own master."
"Did you ever consider what a responsible post that is?" asked a friend.
"Responsible, is it?"
"A master must lay out the work he wants done, and see that it is done right. He should try to secure the best ends by the best means. He must keep on the lookout against obstacles and accidents, and watch that everything goes straight, or else he will fail."
"Well?"
"To be master of yourself you have your conscience to keep clear, your heart to cultivate, your temper to govern, your will to direct, and your judgment to instruct. You are master over a hard lot, and if you don't master them they will master you."
"That is so," said the young man.
"Now, I could undertake no such thing," said his friend, "I should fail sure if I did. Saul wanted to be his own master, and failed. Herod did. Judas did. No man is fit for it. 'One is my Master, even Christ.' I work under God's direction. When he is Master all goes right."—Selected.

LESSON OF THE BLEMISHED ONYX.

ONE of God's methods is to bring good out of evil. But this is not a license to us to do evil that good may come, for it takes the skilful hand of God to work this miracle.
A lapidary brought a large and beautiful onyx to a distinguished artist for whom he had obtained many precious stones for carving.
"See how clear, pure and transparent this stone is," said the lapidary; "what a fine one for you to exercise your skill upon were it not for this one fatal blemish!" And he pointed out in one spot an underlying tinge of iron rust, which, as he said, "ruined the stone."
But the artist, with far-reaching sight, seized upon the onyx, and, having examined it attentively, purchased it. With matchless skill and delicacy, he wrought upon the stone, carving the graceful form of a lovely goddess. And by a wonderful exercise of ingenuity, by sharp cuts of his engraving tool, and by light and patient touches, he fashioned the spot which had been thought an irreparable blemish into a leopard skin, upon which rested the foot of the goddess—the contrasting colors enhancing the beauty of the lovely cameo.
As the artist, by patient skill and labor, changes the unsightly spot on the onyx into a beautiful decoration, so sometimes does God work upon his children. He sees in them some fault, some evil passion which blemishes the whole character, and he begins to use the discipline to give that moulding which, by slow processes it may be, will change the blemish into something lovely.
He may use sharp tools, and the work may be tedious and trying; but if we submit ourselves to his hand, and especially if—unlike the passive onyx—we ourselves, being conscious of our faulty character, use our own earnest endeavors, latent graces will gleam out where only blemishes were seen.—Selected.

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

By Felicia Hemans

O LOVELY voices of the sky, That hymned the Saviour's birth! Are ye not singing still on high, Ye that sang, "Peace on earth"? To us yet speak the strains Wherewith, in days gone by, Ye blessed the Syrian swains, O voices of the sky!
O clear and shining light! whose beams That hour heaven's glory shed Around the palms and o'er the streams, And on the shepherd's head, Be near, through life and death, As in that holiest night Of Hope, and Joy, and Faith, O clear and shining light!
O star! which led to Him whose love Brought down man's ransom free; Where art thou? Midst the hosts above May we still gaze on thee? In heaven thou art not set, Thy rays earth might not dim, Send them to guide us yet, O star which led to Him! —Mrs. Felicia Hemans.

The Grace to Say No

"GROWTH in grace is often helped by having the grace to say no."

LESSON II.—SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 1897

"Take heed unto thyself; and unto the doctrine;" "that thy profiting may appear to all."

LESSON II.—SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 1897

THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN.

NOTE.—The date of this lesson is ten days after the last. The place was in the upper room at Jerusalem, where the disciples met for prayer and study. Side-lights in other scriptures: Acts 1:4, 8; John, chaps. 14-16; Joel 2:28-32; Isa. 44:3; Rom. 8:4, 11, 14, 26; 1 Corinthians 12; 2:4-11; Gal. 5:22, 23, and others.
Lesson Scripture, Acts 2:1-13, R. V.
1 "AND when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 2 "Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we, every man in our own language, wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we do hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God. And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this? But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine."
Golden Text: "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:4.
Pronunciations.—Căppădō'cĭă, Cyrē'nĕ, E'lămītes, Gălĭlē'ăns, Lĭb'yă, Mēdes, Mĕsŏpŏtā'mĭă, Pămphyl'ĭă, Păr'thĭăns, Phryg'ĭă, Pŏn'tŭs.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT.

(1) What noted feast of the Jews is mentioned in our lesson? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) Where were the disciples at this time? Verse 1. Note 2. (3) What occurred? Verse 2. (4) What appeared unto them? Verse 3. (5) How were the disciples affected? Verse 4. Note 3. (6) Who were in Jerusalem at this time? and from where? Verse 5. (7) When the disciples heard this sound, what occurred? Verse 6. Note 4. (8) How were the people affected, and what did they say? Verses 7, 8. (9) What languages were present? Verses 9, 10. (10) What did they all hear? Verse 11. (11) What question did they ask? Verse 12. (12) What did the unbelieving say? Verse 13. Note 5. (13) What was the solution of the problem? Golden text.

NOTES.

1. Pentecost, the "fiftieth," that is, the fiftieth day after the Passover, thought by some eminent scholars to have fallen the year of the crucifixion on the Sabbath, by others on Sunday. But it was not any day of the week which the outpouring of the Spirit was to honor. This is shown in the fact that the day of the week is not even referred to, and the further fact that more than one week had passed after our Lord's ascension. The day of Pentecost was God's time. It was one of the three great feasts of the Jews. It was called the day of first-fruits (Num. 28:26), or feast of harvest (Ex. 23:16), as the wheat fields were then ripe. It typified the gathering in of the first-fruits of the Gospel under the outpouring of the early rain of the Spirit. It was said by the Jews to commemorate the giving of the law from Sinai. It was the great gathering of the Jews. In Nero's day 2,700,000 Jews were in Jerusalem at the Passover and still more at Pentecost. It was at such a time that the type of first-fruits met its antitype of the harvest of souls.
2. Together.—This is held to be the better reading. It is said that during the preceding days the devout Jews spent the time in prayer and the study of the word of God. The disciples, numbering 120, were praying and waiting for the promise of the Spirit. See Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8. They were prepared for the promise.
3. Were filled.—Even as the sound filled all the house, the Spirit, the life, the power of God, filled the disciples. They were wholly yielded to God, and the Lord took complete possession. 2 Cor. 4:10, 11. It was to abide, even as its symbol, the tongue of flame, sat on each one. Among the gifts of the Spirit is that of tongues. 1 Cor. 12:10. Apart from the divine power and enlightenment, the gift of tongues, other than their mother tongue, was most needed. God enabled the various ones, as he willed (1 Cor. 12:11), to speak doubtless the languages of each and all present.
4. When, etc.—God never works by halves. When his servants were ready, the Spirit descended. When his servants received the Spirit, the people were prepared, yea, anxious to hear. When God's ministers have his message and his Spirit, he will furnish them auditors. If necessity require, God will give another tongue, or translate to the ear of the hearer in his own tongue, truth spoken in another language.
5. Others mocking.—Men can be so blind as to reject the mightiest evidences. The Jews would not believe Christ, even when the living Lazarus, who was dead, stood before them as the proof of Christ's power. They could not believe as long as self-honor was preferred to God's glory. John 5:44. It is not the amount of evidence which gives faith; it is the spirit of the hearer. The woman of Samaria desired a Saviour; she heard and believed. The proud Pharisee felt sufficient in himself, and rejected the mightiest evidence. "The meek will he teach his way."
Continue reading: LESSON III.—SABBATH, JANUARY 16, 1897