May 3

Acts viii. — 5. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8. And there was great joy in that city.

9. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one;

10. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12. But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13. Then Simon himself believed also; and, when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14. Now, when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John;

15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18. And, when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19. Saying, Give me also this power, that, on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22. Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee;

23. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

The preaching of Philip in Samaria was the beginning of evangelization outside the pale of Judaism. Missions were born of persecution. The violent measures of the adversary for the suppression of the gospel scattered it everywhere abroad. Magic arts were in great repute in the East; and as, in times of religious excitement, all forms of enthusiasm come to the surface. Simon took advantage of the prevalent expectation of the Messiah to set himself up as one possessed of supernatural power. But "when he saw his followers dropping off, and was himself astounded at the miracles wrought by Philip, he thought it best himself also to acknowledge this

superior power. He was convinced, from the works which Philip did, that he was in league with some powerful spirit. He viewed baptism as the initiation into communion with that spirit, and expected that he should be able to make use of the higher power thus gained for his own purposes, and unite this new magical power to his own." The offer to buy the Holy Ghost has given rise to the term simony, applied to buying and selling ecclesiastical benefices. Alas! how many, who would revolt at the grossness of Simon's offer, nevertheless endeavor to get some worldly gain out of the profession of godliness!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 73, 82, 90.

We acknowledge thy loving-kindness this morning, O God! and bless thee for the consolations and the promises of thy holy Word. Thou hast spoken by thy prophets blessed things concerning the future; and we pray thee hasten the day when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. Let the people praise thee, O God! let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

We praise thee that we have heard of this great salvation, and have known the power of redeeming grace. May we never pervert thy gospel to selfish ends, nor corrupt it with the spirit of Man-

mon! O Lord! purify thy Church, and save thy people.

Father in heaven, thou hast graciously spared us to see the light of another day. Thou hast spread a table for us in the wilderness; our cup runneth over. Bless the Lord, O our souls! and forget not all his benefits. Keep us this day, we beseech thee, from all evil; keep us mindful of thy will and our duty in all our occupations. May thy revealed will be the man of our counsel, and the rule of our lives! Whatsoever things are just and true and honest and lovely and of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, may we think upon these things! We ask all for the Redeemer's sake. Amen.