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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR MAY 2.
Subject: rani’s First Missionary
Jeurney-Cyprus, Acts 13:1-12
—Golden Text, Mark 16:15
Commit \ erses 2, 3—Comments,
TIME. —4S A. D. PLACE.—An
tioch, Salamis, Paphos.
EXPOSITION.—I. Barnabas ami
Saul called by the Holy Spirit, set
apart by men, sent forth by men and
by the Holy Spirit, 1-4. The church
at Antioch had five “prophets and
teachers” worthy of mention by
name. This early Gentile church be
came a fountain of light and life to
many other places. The Holy Ghost
spoke to them “as they ministered to
the Lord and fasted.” If we would
spend more time and strength in
ministering to the Lord and in fast
ing, we would have more frequent
and clearer leadings of the Spirit. A
Spirit-filled mind rarely accompanies
an over-filled stomach. Greater sim
plicity in our living would be condu
cive to a clearer perception of the
mind of God. It is not said how the
Spirit spoke, whether in an audible
voice, or silently, in the inner re
cesses of the heart, but He spoke in
an unmistakable way. It was no
vague, uncertain impulse sucn as
men sometimes call “the voice of the
Spirit.” He is ready to speak to-day,
if we will supply the proper condi
tions and listen. It was the Holy
Spirit’s work to call; it was man’s
work to recognize the call, and set
the called apart for the work. Those
who ignore ordination by man are as
unscriptural as those who ignore a
call by God. But it was “for the
work whereunto” the Spirit called
that they w r ere to be set apart. Too
often we set men apart for a work
whereunto the Spirit never called
them. Spirit called men are a great
need of our day. We have far too
many men whom men have called;
or. worse yet, who have called them
selves. Every step in that early
church was taken in prayer. It was
prayer to which men gave themselves
so heartily that they withdrew them
selves even from their necessary
food to pursue it (v. 3). The prompt
ness with which this church obeyed
the Spirit’s command is worthy of
note. He had demanded the best
and they gave them up without a
murmur. They would have liked to
have kept Barnabas and Saul, but the
Spirit called them elsewhere, and
“they sent them away.” But. while
they sent them back of it all they
were really “sent forth by the Holy
Ghost.” Wonderfully suggestive and
inspiring words these. With what
confidence a man can go forth when
he can confidently affirm, “I have
been sent on the errand by the Holy
Ghost!” He may not know just
where he is going, or just what he is
to do, or just what awaits him. No
directions seem to have been given as
to where they were to go; so they
made straight for the nearest port
and thence for the old home of Barna
bas (ch. 4:36).
11. Triumph of Saul, filled with
the Spirit, over Elymas, Full of all
Guile and all Villainy, 5-12. They
were true to their commission, “they
preached the word of God.” Many a
man has been sent forth by the Holy
Ghost who has afterward forgotten
what he was sent to preach; and so a
mission that was divine in its origin
has come to nothing in its execution.
If there was ever a day in which their
example needed imitation, it is to
day, when men are preaching any
thing and everything but “the word
of God” (comp. 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim.
4:2). Opponents of the gosnel, who
make great pretensions and do amaz
ing things, are not at all new. One
need not be frightened because men
who make astonishing claims, and
who display extraordinary gifts, arise
to lead men astray. It was so in the
first days of the church's history, and
yet the church went right on, in face
of this apparently dangerous opposi
tion. The “theosophists” and “Chris
tian Scientists” of to-day are no more
dangerous than the Simons and Ely
mas of early days. Spirit-filled men
were needed to oppose and confound
them then, and Spirit-filled men are
needed to oppose and confound them
now. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus,
gave good proof that he was indeed
“A man of understanding;” “he
called unto him Barnabas and Saul
and sought to hear the word of God.”
Whatever claims to prudence and
wisdom and common sense a man
may make, he is not “a man of un
derstanding,” if he is not desirous “to
hear the word of God.” Elymas did
not give up without a fight. The
devil never does (2 Tim. 3-8). His
chief business is turning men aside
from the'faith (v. 8; cf. Cor. 4:3, 4;
Luke 8:12). But the opposition of
Elymas for all his marvelous powers
were vain, for he had run up against
a Spirit-filled man. Paul had been
filled with the Holy Spirit soon after
his conversion (ch. 9:17). But now
a new emergency arises, and there is
a new filling for the new need. Wo
ought not to be content because we
have once, or fifty times, known what
It was to have the Spirit of God come
rushing upon us and taking posses
sion of our minds, and giving us
words of wisdom, boldness and power
to utter. As each new emergency
arises we should cast ourselves upon
Him anew. Paul’s words are very se
vere and very searching. They
pose the depths of the infamy of Ely
mas. Plainness and boldness or
speech is a characteristic of a Spirit
filled man (Acts 4:31; Eph. 6.19J*
gl/| erry Side
111 ....of Life
A HARD LUCK STORY'.
If I was a squirrel I’d have nothin’ much
to do,
Lxeep to scamper roun’ de tree when pe»
pie come in view.
If I a catfish or a shiner or a bass,
1 d simply have to swim aroun’ an’ let de
seasons pass.
If I was a bird I’d go a-floatin’ thro’ de
skv
A-pickin out de climate dat I thought
would satisfy.
If I was a bulldog or a setter or a spitz,
I d romp aroun’ an’ bark an’ scare de
strangers into fits.
If I was mos’ any critter dat I ever sees
i d spend a heap o’ time in doin’ mos’ly
as I please,
A-livin in de sunshine or where leafy
shadows lurk;
But ’cause l’s human folks, doggone! I’s
got to go to work!
—Judge.
SELDOM DOES.
“His last merger was an utter fail
ure.”
“How so?”
“He tried to combine business with
pleasure, but it wouldn’t go.”—Kan
sas City Journal.
NOT VORACIOUS A BIT.
“Is your husband voracious in his
appetite, madam?”
“I can’t say as he is, doctor. He’ll
eat anything and everything as long
as there’s anything to eat.”—Balti
more American.
UNANIMOUS RESIGNATION.
Deacon—“ Are you willing to go?”
Unpopular Citizen (dying)—“Oh,
yes, I am.”
Deacon—“ Well, I’m glad you are
for that makes it unanimous.”-
Judge.
YOU CAN’T PLEASE SOME.
“He is more disgusted with
churches than ever.”
“How now?”
“He visited one, expecteing to be
snubbed, and was made welcome in'
stead.”—Houston Chronicle.
WHEN ALEC FAILED.
"Alexander the Great conquered
the entire world.”
“Yes,” answered Mr. Dustin Stax.
“He conquered it; but some of us
moderns could have shown him a
thing or two about making it pay
dividends.” —Washington Star.
HOW HE KNEW.
“So your daughter Is improving in
her piano playing?”
“Yes,” answered Mr. Cumrox.
“You enjoy it?”
“No. But it doesn’t make me as
nervous as it used to.”—Washington
Star.
A DEFINITION.
Lawyer (examining juror)—“Do
you understand the difference be
tween character and reputation?”
Juror —“Reputation is the name
your neighbor gives you; character
is the one they take from you.”—
Pick-Me-Up.
READING THE SIGNS.
Wigg—“So you believe in signs,
eh? Well, when a man is always
making new friends what is that a
sign of?”
Wagg—“lt’s generally a sign thai
his old friends are onto him.” —Phil,
adelphia Record.
IN NEW YORK.
“All our tables are engaged twc
years in advance.”
“That’s all right. I have subleased
a table, and here are the documents,
Now, can I get an option on a steak,
with trimmings to match?” —Louis-
ville Courier-Journal.
CARING FOR THE CAT.
Mrs. X. (away from home)
“John, did you leave out anything
for the cat before you started?”
Mr. X. (who dislikes the beast) —
“Yes; I left a can of condensed milk
on the table, with the can opener be
side it.” —Boston Transcript.
BOTH DETERIORATING.
“Yes,” said Mrs. Nexdore, “my
daughter is very persevering in her
ipiano playing. Do you notice that
she's improving?”
“No,” replied Mrs. Peppery, “and
I also notice that my husband’s tem
per isn’t.” —Philadelphia Press.
THE AUTOMATIC SOUBRETTE.
“I suppose your play starts with a
housemaid dusting the furniture and
soliloquizing about the family af
fairs?”
“No; we’ve cut all that out. In
stead, we have a vacuum cleaner with
phonographic attachment.” Pitts
burg Post.
AS IT USUALLY IS.
“Pa,'' asked little Willie, looking
up from his book, “what a ‘mis-an
thropist?’ ”
“A minanthropist,” replied his pa,
“is the sort of fellow who after catch
ing himself cheating at solitaire de
cides that all men are liars and
frauds.” —Philadelphia Press.
URGBUMD" wsf IjWIETE BUILMeV
IN MIDDLE GEORGIA.
We manufacture and sell all classes of Rough and Dressed Lumber, Pine, Cypress, or
Mefal Shingles, Laths, Flooring, Ceiling, Weatherboarding, Boxing, Frames for Windows
and doors, Inside Finish, Mouldings, Columns, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Mantels, Grates, Hard
ware, Tile, Brick, Lime, Cement, Plaster, Paints, Varnishes, Stains, Metal and Composition
Roofing, Electric Wiring, Fixtures, Plumbing and Supplies, and in fact
“Everything Used in Building”
Our facilities enables us to fill orders tor any class of building complete on short notice
but we pay particular attention to details and prompt service in small orders.
We also do a large amount of Contract Work and are prepared to furnish Plans and
Estimates complete on any class of Buildings, Residences, Store Houses, Factories, Schools
or Churches, this department being well equipped with a complete organization, including
Draughtsmen, Electrical Engineers, Plumbers and other competent mechanics.
We also operate an up-to-date Foundry, furnishing all kinds of Machinery .and other
Castings. N. B.—We buy all old scrap iron and brass.
Telephone, write or call on us for prices.
GRESHAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
Telephone No. 105. Griffin, Geoigia.
v// /
|LOO,Ks|tior
It buys a Strictly
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Send at ONCE for OUR
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Most complete and in
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asked, for quality riuirantced. our Machines are un-
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gh-grade Pianos. Organs, Steel Ranges. Cooking
Stoves. Heating Stoves, Phonographs. Dinner and
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1 MALSBY, SHIPP & CO.,
DeputyQ 41 S. Forsyth Street, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
The man at the desk may net be
smart, but he has more get up and
go than the fellow who stares at the
wine shops ar.d wonders if it’s time
to go in. , .
How to Increase the Yield of Fruit
Increased fruit crops are more often the result of good manage
ment than of good luck. Fruit trees and fruit plants need a liberal
supply of
Virginia-Carolina
Fertilizers
The trees absorb plant foods—that is, nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash—from the soil just the same as any other crop. Experi
ence has shown this over and over again. This truth has become so
well recognized that “ return to the land what the tree removes if you
would expect the best results ” has become an axiom with the best
growers.
Apple, pear, peach, orange and other fruit trees soon respond to
careful fertilization. But be sure to use the best fertilizers.
“ I made a test with other companies’ fertilizers,” says Mr. H. O.
Lowry, of Manatee County, Fla., “ and yours proved to be the best.
The yield where I used Virginia-Carolina Fertilizer, was just twice as
much as where the other two companies’ fertilizer was used.’*
Hundreds of users say Virginia-Carolina Fertilizers are cheapest
because of their good qualities—give better satisfaction and quicker
results.
Many facts of great interest and value to fruit growers are pub
lished in the new 1909 Farmers’ Year Book, a copy of which will be
sent free on application to any of our sales offices.
Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co.
Sales Offices
Richmond, Va.
Norfolk, Va.
Columbia, S. C.
Atlanta. Ga.
Savannah, Ga.
Memphis, Tenn.
KYifyitiia-Caroltnal
tChcmfcal J|
Sales Offices
Durham, N. C.
Charleston, S. C.
Baltimore, Md.
Columbus, Ga.
M ontgomery, A la»
Shreveport, La.
