Page images
PDF
EPUB

less because they planned and executed it, that Jesus came into the world to give his life a ransom for many. It was because he was rich in mercy and boundless in compassion. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

"Oh,

But the destruction of mankind, on the other hand, is not the result of divine purpose and contrivance, as some would strangely affirm, but the consequence of human perverseness. "O Israel! thou hast destroyed thyself," is the unerring testimony of Scripture concerning us. why will ye die, O house of Israel," is the tender expostulation of him against whom we have rebelled, and "as I live," saith the Lord, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that he should turn from his wicked ways, and live."

113

LECTURE V.

ACTS iii. 1-16.

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple, at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.

And Peter fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ancle-bones received strength.

And he leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered

'

with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had

happened unto him.

And as the lame man which was healed, held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his son Jesus; whom and denied him in the presence delivered ye of Pilate, when he was determined to let him

up,

go.

But ye denied the holy One, and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you,

And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

ONE of the immediate results of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of

Pentecost was, as we have already seen, the performance of multiplied miracles by the first heralds of salvation. "Many signs and wonders," it is said, "were done by the Apostles."

But as in the narratives of the Evangelists a few only of our Lord's miracles are recorded, as specimens of the whole, so is it in the history which is afforded us in this book of the supernatural acts of the Apostles, we are not furnished with more than an instance here and there of all the wonders which they wrought.

One of those instances, and the first on record, is that which now invites our attention the healing of a man lame from his birth. The reason why this, rather than any other of the miracles performed the same day is noticed by the historian, is obvious, when we read the sequel of the narrative, and trace the consequences to which it gave rise. Nor is it possible to peruse the account without being struck with the simplicity with which it is told.

No laboured expressions are sought out, no ostentatious language used, no exaggeration indulged in: all is quietly and simply stated as matters of fact, which were too notorious to be gainsayed or denied. And truly this thing "was not done in a corner." It was performed publicly-in a public place—and on a public occasion. Both the hour at which the miracle was wrought, and the precise spot, are particularly recorded. The hour was well known to the Jews as the hour of evening prayer, corresponding with our hour of three in the afternoon. They called it the ninth hour, beginning their reckoning at six o'clock in the morning, and not as we do, at midnight.

"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour."

The Apostles were in the habit, it would seem, of attending the public devotions of the Temple both morning and evening; but whether in a body, or sepa

« PreviousContinue »