should not eat. The disorderly and the busybodies were commanded and exhorted in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. They were not to be weary in well-doing. They were not to render evil for evil to any, but always to follow after that which is good, one towards another, and towards all. No doubt the unruly element was a small element. The greater part lived so as to justify the apostle in speaking of the church as a model.

There is a piece of music entitled "The Model Church." One hears it sung in public worship. An aged man went to church. The usher did not notice that his clothes were worn and that he was poor, and gave him a front seat. The choir sang Coronation so grandly that the old man forgot his age and deafness and poverty and faded clothing, and felt as a mariner who caught sight of shore. He went home and said, “Well, wife, I've found the model church, and worshipped there to-day." It is not necessary to say that the artist's conception of a model church, when compared with that of Paul, was a beggarly one. Paul thought of a congregation of redeemed souls walking in the light, imitating Christ and His apostles, enduring opposition and persecution joyfully, filled with the Holy Spirit, living so as to please God, walking in love, each helping the other; a missionary church sounding out the invitation of mercy as through a trumpet; a church so liberal that it gave to the extent of its ability, and beyond its ability; a church that brought its money and laid it on the Lord's altar and asked the apostles to take upon them the administering of their bounty.

Suppose each and every one of the churches in our fellowship measured up to this standard, what would be the result? we would be able to do anything and everything that the Lord wants us to do in His name. Why should not the churches of to-day be equal in all respects and superior to the church in Thessalonica? We live in far more propitious times. Our advantages are much greater. That church was founded in a series of

meetings that lasted only three weeks. At the end of that time its founders were driven away by persecution. The young church was left to its own resources. In our day persecution is unknown.

We have an open Bible and helpful ministries of all kinds. By taking advantage of our privileges and auxiliaries we can do all and be all and more than the church in Thessalonica. The Lord help us to study His word, that we may do His will, and come to be ensamples to all with whom we have to do.

L

XIII

TWO NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES

ACTS 2: 41-47; 11: 20-24; 13: 1-3

ET us study some features of two apostolic churches, the church in Jerusalem and the church in Antioch.

These were the most influential churches in the first period of our era. The church in Jerusalem was the first church established and was the mother of all Jewish Christians. The church in Antioch was the mother and metropolis of Gentile Christendom. No other churches, no matter how great their membership or their wealth or their service, can ever take the place of these two. Let us consider

I. The founding of these churches. The church in Jerusalem dates its origin from the first Pentecost after the death and resurrection and ascension of our Lord. He charged His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, the promise of the Holy Spirit. When the day of Pentecost came the disciples were all together in one place, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. When the multitude came together Peter preached the first sermon of the new dispensation. The conclusion of his sermon was that God had made Jesus the crucified both Lord and Christ. Many of those that heard were pricked in their heart, and asked what they should do. The answer was, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many

as the Lord our God shall call unto Him." With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." They then that received His word were baptized: and there were added to them in that day about three thousand souls. Thus the first church was planted. Peter was the chief spokesman, but all the apostles were present. The gospel was preached; a large number heard, believed, repented, and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. All that was said and done that day was said and done under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

We do not know the names of the men who established the church in Antioch. We know they were from Cyprus and Cyrene. They were Hellenistic Jews and therefore were naturally more liberal than the Jews of Palestine. They were among those who were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen. They had been speaking to Jews only, but when they came to Antioch they spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord." A little time before that Peter had preached to Cornelius and his family in Cæsarea. While he was yet speaking the Holy Spirit fell on them that heard the word. Cornelius and his household spoke with tongues and magnified God. Seeing this Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. When the church in Jerusalem heard these things and Peter's explanation they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life." Prior to this time the gospel was confined to Jews and to Jewish proselytes. We are told that those who were scattered abroad by persecution travelled as far as to Phenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews. It is all but certain that the Hellenistic Jews who preached in Antioch heard of what had taken place in Cæsarea. There was frequent and easy communication between the two places. Learning what Peter had done, and the divine ap

proval of his course, and the ratification of the same by the Jerusalem church, these nameless evangelists were emboldened to speak to the Greeks in Antioch. As a result this church which played so notable a part in the early years of Christianity was founded. No apostle was present. There were no visible demonstrations of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. No miracle was wrought in attestation of the truth spoken. But a great number believed and turned to the Lord. These redeemed souls constituted the church in Antioch. In both cases the believers could say, "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." They were begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto them.

II. The growth of these churches. It is said of the church in Jerusalem that the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved. Evidently, there was a continuous revival. In view of the conditions it could hardly have been otherwise. The converts continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and felowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. The believers had all things in common. Those that had possessions and goods sold them and parted them to all, according as any had need. "And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people." Such a community was a new thing under the sun. It is not surprising that there were daily additions to it.

It was not long before the church encountered opposition and persecution. The apostles were apprehended and thrust into prison. But the word of God was not bound. The church flourishes under persecution as it cannot under prosperity and popularity. So we read that many of them that heard the word