The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 327

"found" (Luke xi. 9, 10). Much as Jesus loves and teaches that we should ask, seek, and knock for his blessings, it must be II sight acceptable to him to eee the patience of bodily suffering that asks nothing. 6. The great attention called hereby to the Lord. The little villages were "born" again in a day (Isa. !xvi. 8). Lydda. and Saron "saw the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God,'' and they "blossomed as the rose" (Isa. xxxv. 1, 2). II. 'l'm: MORE REMARKABLE LESSONS OF' THIS BRIEF NARRATIVE. 1. The refreshin"' suggestion given to us of the force that lies in the genuine activity of cm.e Christian~ 2. The wisdom, amid all our visitings, of visiting Christians an,l little communities uf Christians, who may dwell apart, in the village and the hamlet, afar from the stir of the large masses of the people. When with such, there will be sure to be much to be given and much to be gotten by the genuine. 3. The grand opportunities that seem to come, where our faithlessness least anticipates it, when only we are very simply walking in duty's path. 'l'hose are really the opportunities Heaven sent, and the likeliest of all to be fruitful of immortal good. Our grander preparations do not at all infallibly correspond with Heaven's grander opportunities. Explain it as we may, thou~h the explanation is in no sense far to seek, the laboured preparations of even Christian men ill harmonize with the sublime ease of the Spirit's achievements. But to humble prayer, humble work, untiring activity, opportunities seem to wme which are really Heaven's earliest, freshest sending. 4. The pity that sees and forgets not, sees and visits, and visits that it may see, the patient sufferer. One type of this we know, one only we adore. But how it ought to rivet our gaze and our admiration, and constrain our reverent, loving imitation! The impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, who had "had his infirmity thirty and eight years," gains the notice of Jesus' eye above all the rest. The lEueas who "for eight years had kept his bed because he was palsied," has the eye of the risen Jesus and Lord upon him, and Peter is sent to him. At one and the same time it is true that Jesus does all and that Peter is learning in his work to be like Jesus. 5. The widespread advantages of one real stroke of work done in the Name of "Jesns Christ." There is no doubt a self- spreading force in Christian truth and in Christian good. For they are both what are wanted by men. And nothing so much wanted, so deeply wanted. Let men unsophisticated, let 11,en whose real nature has not yet been utterly lost to the devil, only get a "taste" of the good that Christ has to give, that Christ is, and that Christ can work in mind and heart, and they will "hunger and thirst" for him. But we have to remember that, in order to this, we must take care that it is the Name of Jesus we preach, the pure truth of Jesus we teach, the life of Jesus we uhibit, and the deep, unquenchable love of Jesus that is in our own heart.-B. Vers. 36-43.-The emphatic marlc of Divine approbation which <Jhristianity puts tipon womanly kindness, in what may seem an humble sphere, and upon genuinely felt gratitude for it. The narrative is the more interesting as being tho first subsequent to the Ascension, and· among the Acts of the Apostles, which brings the deeds, the character, and the fa.me of a Christian woman into prominence. The share that Christianity bas contributed in honouring women, and in raising them to occupy their own proper place, has been often acknowledged. Omitting what Christ's own word and deed helped to this end, the narrative now before us may be said to be the beginning of a long stream of illustration of it. Let us notice- I. THE DEOISIVE MARK OP' RESPECT HERE PUT ON BUMBLE BUT PRACTICAL FEMININE GOODNESS, The mark, in few words, consisted in II miracle wrought to restore to life a woman "full of good works and almsdeeds," who was cut off in the midst of her usefulness. But what are the things that may be remarked in more detail of this miracle? 1. It was wrought, not for e. case of long suffering, or for some agonized form of suffering thl\t might necessarily touch any heart with a deep compassion. 2. It was not wrought to restore to the service of this world one who had already largely figured in its high places. It is not position, wealth, great natural power an~ endow- ment, distinguished cha.racter, philanthropy of renown, nor even great learmng, that is the object of honour. We do not at all take the idea that the heaven will fall if this gap which death has made be not somehow or other rapidly filled up. 3. It was not touching youth, fashion, beauty, acoomp).ishment, nor even the mourned  THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [on, a. l-43,