The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 83

t.eachings; and (2) verifice.tion, or adequate and reasonable grounds for belior. But It is characteristic of intelligent inquiry that it seeks its proofs within the spheres of its subjrcts. If it inquireR concerning physiCl\l principles, it seeks for proof l\nd illustra- tion in physical facts. If its sphere be moral or spiritual, it Mks for moral or spiritual reason and proof. So the Berreans did not confuse the spheres and domains of inquiry. 'l'he matter was one of prophetic revelation and of answering historical fact and there- fore their inquiries concerned (1) the actual contents of the revelation, a~d (2) the credibility of the witnesses t.o the historical facts. Conclude by showing the relations of scepticism to faith. The noble man, the intelligent believer, must have won faith out of scepticism-in the sense of humble and earnest inquiry. Those who are simply receptive have their mission in the world, and we desire to institute no unworthy, no discouraging comparisons; but for the active for~ of Christian work, and for the emergencies of the Christian conflict, those are needed who have won faith out of fight. The Berreans are commended because they doubted and inquired; and yet this is the very thing which many nowadays would have feared. But one thing made their inquiries so safe-they led them to the Scrip• tures, and to the searching of God's revealed Word.-R. T. Vers. 19-21.-The passion for something new. Demosthenes said, in one of his speeches, "Tell me, is it all you care for, to go about up and down the market, asking each other, 'Is there any news?'" The restless inquisitiveness of the Athenian character had all along been proverbial It did not alone distinguish the Athenians, though it gained a peculiar prominence in their case. It has returned upon man in such power, now that telegraphs and newspapers bind the nations together, that it may profitably be made the subject of Christian meditation. L IT l!OMETIMEB COMES TO BE A DISEASE. A mental disease. A restlessness that we see illustrated in some children, who tire at once of their toys and crave for something new. We see it in the world of fashion, in which garments are speedily set aside, and the last new colour, or shape, or material is eagerly sought. It is equally shown in the passion for the newest books, the last newspaper, the freshest opinion, the present excitement. It even afflicts Christian people, who in a crowd run after the newest revivalist, and cry for the latest novelty in doctrine or in Church method. It is a kind of feverish delirium, which palls the appetite, vitiates the taste, and makes patient continuance in well-doing impossible. It needs to be treated as a disease, and its influence in a family, in social life, and in the Church needs to be carefully checked, It is not progress that is usually sought, because true progress ever goes slowly; it is mere novelty that is sought. We may generally say_that "the old is better." lL IT IS 0))."E OF THE SIGNS OF OVERDONE CIVILIZATION. lt is a marked feature of a nation that is struggling up into civilization, that all its members must be workers, and none can be kept in idleness. To such a nation - e news is the amusement of its resting leisure hours ; it cannot be the sober business of its days. But when nations have long reached the high levels of civilization, wealth has increased., multitudes can live in idleness, and, having nothing better to do, they may run after the latest stranger in art, or science, or music, or politics, or religion, and gathering round him say, "May we know what this new doctrine is, whereof thou speakest ?" This is well illus- trated in the case of the Athenians, who were surfeited with art and philosophy and superstitious religion. A city full of wealthy idlers, no doubt of good taste and cul- tured minds, who had nothing better to do than t.o run after the last new thing. The antidote for this evil is the preaching of the responsibility resting on every man to be a worker, and a worker for the general welfare. Nobody has any right t.o food and life save as they work, in some good way, for it. Workers soon get interest enough to stop their yearning for "something new." Illustrate how these things may be applied to Church life. Church work is the great remedy for the hindering passion for novelty. ilL YET IT 18 AN INDICATION OF THE UNIVEBIIAL .ABPlBATION FOB IMMOBTALITY, There is good in it; the evil of it lies (1) in the forms it takes, and (2) in the excessive degrees of its exercise. That something in us all which cannot rest, which must seek for 110m.ething more; which rises up above all bondages and limitations; which ill 1111 • An infe.nt crying in the night, 411 lnfant or,ing for tlie light1• on. xvt:I. 1-34.J TllE AO'l'S OF 'l'H:& APOSTLRS. 88