This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...daring heroism. Under its influence they rose to sublimer heights of courage and devotion, as a bird mounts upward against the wind, which assists more than hinders its heavenward flight. And so the enemies of the gospel simply helped it on by their efforts to destroy it. They added to the splendor of its achievements, arid increased its attractions. By such qualities the early Christians prevailed. God grant a return of the primitive Christianity, that, filled with the same spirit that so qualified the apostles, the church of to-day may glorify Jesus' name, and carry forward with success the work of the gospel! THE SEVEN CHOSEN. LESSON. Acts, vi. 1-15. GOLDEN TEXT. I Tim. iii. 13. Acts, Vi. 5-7. "And they chose Stephen, a man full offaith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Micanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased: and the number of the disciples multiplied in "Jerusalem greatly." The text records the establishment of the deacon's office in the early Christian church. What was the original purpose of the office? A glance at the circumstances under which it was created will show. In the short space of a few days after the day of Pentecost, the Christian church, under the fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the extraordinary power given to the preaching of the apostles, had increased from a small number of disciples to a multitude of thousands. This sudden enlargement greatly increased the burdens of the apostles. There were many poor people among the believers who needed pecuniary assistance, or support. In the enthusiasm of their Christian love, those...

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.