1 ; J CUNDAY â€" - JCHOO I F,;<;nM =n THK SPUKKN AND THE WIUT- TEX WORDâ€" Acts 17;l-15; 1 T&es- salons 2:112. Frinted Text .Acts 17:1, 5-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12. Golden Text â€" The word of God Is living and a ctiv-e and sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12. The LeasoD in its Setting Timeâ€" A.D. 51. Placeâ€" Thessalonica on the Gulf of Salonica in northern Greece, and Beruea. forty miies from Thessa- lonica somewhat inland. The flan of the Lesson Subject: The Power uf the Word of God When Preached,, the Right -Approach to Its Earnest Considera- tion. 1. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Amphipolis was aboiit thirty-three miles from the city of Philippi, and Apollonia was about thirty miles farther on. These two cities, as well as the next or.e mentijned, were all on the famous road called the Via Egnatia, which extended for a distance of over five hundred miles, from the Hellespont to Dyrrachlum. "It was realiy the continuation through Macedonia of the Via Ap- pia (see Acts 28:16) and it might be trulj said that when St. Paul was on the Roman road from Troas to Philippi he was on a road which led to the gates of Rome." They came to Thessalonica, where was a syna- gogue of the Jews. Thessalonica was the largest and the most populous city in Macedonia. 5. But the .Jews being moved with jealousy. "When the Jew; saw pros- elytes and Gentiles, and many of the leading women ot the city, convinced by St. Paul's te:;ching, they must have felt that his influence was silentlj undermining theirs. Took un- to them certain vile fellow« of the rabble. The word here translated "rabble" is from a word meaning "the marketplace,' and hence, "loungers in the marketplace." And gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar. The unfairness and deliberate base- nos.s of these Jews is revealed here. They went out and brought together a great mob, which, of course, could not be contj-olled by reason, but wore driven on to do outrageous things under the powtr of mysterious mob psychology. And assaulting thj house of Jason, thjy sought to bri.i.f them forth to the people. Of thi.s man Ja.soti, we know nothing further from the New 'estament records; he may or may not be the on," bj the same name referred to by thn apostle Paul in Romans 16:21. (i. And when they found thtm out, they dragged Jason am' certain brethren befoie the rulert of the city. The vord here translated "ruleris" is the Greek vord polit- arches, a word that occurs in no other place in the New Testament and in no Greek classical writer. The remarkable accuracy of the authoi of Ajts is again shown in his use of this very word, for in this very city of Thessalonica. an in- scription on an arch spf.t:iiini, a street of the city has been pre.served an arch which is assigned to the time of Vespasian, on which this very word is to be found The inscrip- tion Itself wa. placed by the British council in 1876 and is now in the British M.useum in London. Crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. What a magnificent tribute to the power of the Christ:an faith within our generation of the ascension of our Loi'd! 7 Whom J-iJun hath retcivod; and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar. "This may here refer to the successive dec:t'f:s of the Emper- ors against treason." Saying that there is another king, on. Jesus. This was the charge, the political charge of h gh treason, brought against the Loru himself by the Je->vs (Luke 23:J; John 19:12. 15). S And they troubled the nuntitude and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 0. And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest they let them go. "The charge brought against Pau Iwas 8ubt y conceived and most aanger- ous." iJ .-Vnd the bri.'lh.e:i nnniediately sell away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the syna- gogue of the Jews. Beroea was about forty miles from Thessalonica. 11. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica. The word here translated "noble" is used elsewhere by the apostle Paul in speaking of men who are noble born (1 Cor. 1:26) It ii the word from which derives Luke 19:12). Why '.hey were more noble Luke is about to tell us. In that they received the word with all readintss of mind. Sec Matt. 26: 41; Mark 14:38; 2 Cor. 8:11. 19; 9:2). Examining the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. The â- word here translate*! "examining" is usci. elsewhere by St. Luke of a judicial inquiry ot investigation (Luljj 23:14; Acts 4:9; 12:79; 28:18). 7. But W3 were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children. (Cf.Matl 23: 37). The word iiere translated "cherish- eth" is used in Eph. 5:29 and in Deut. 22:6. It is used of the hen bird setting over its young in the nest. 8. Even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were we'l pleased to Impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls because ye were become very dear to us. (Cf. Phil 2:17; •> Cor. 12:15). Note carefully how words expressing love pile up in these verses. 9. tor ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached into you the gospel of God. Undoubtedly the members of the early Thessalonian church were poor, and Paul was de- termined that he would not burden them by making it necessary, while he was in Thessalonica. for them to support him; consequently, he worked through the week at the handicraft, which he had undoubtedly been trained in when • young nan before his conversion, the making of haircloth tents, which are still ' in constant use in the Levant (see Acte 18:3; 20:34). 10. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblamably we behaved ourselves to- ward you that believe. The word "holily" has reference primarily to one's re'.ationship to God, and the word "righteously" to one's honest relationship to men; while the word "unblamably," of course, means that the di sciples were so undeniably living godly and upright lives tnat no one could honestly p ace any just criticism against them. 11. As ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father witt hi? own children, â- =xhoi-ing you, and en couraging you, and testifying. "E.n horting" is the general term for an: mating address; "encour; ging is the calm and consoling side of ex- hortation as addressed to 'he afflic ted or the weak 'Testifying' ( iset also in Gal. 5:3; Eph. 4:17) express- es its solemn warning element." One- can only testify about those things concerning which one ha.-= a persona experience. 12. To the end that ye should walk worthily of God. Paul lived what ho preached; he preached as he lived. Who calleth you into his own King dom and glory. "The meaning is thai God is the inviter to whom they own their admission into the kingdom, and that . .ey mu&t lia'.itiially iivh in a manner which befits such a privi- lege (see 2 Thess. 7:14 ;1 Cor. 1:9; Gal. 5:8; Col. 3:15; 1 Tim. 6:12).' Reauly For Tests Before Fyllng Atlantic "^1^ The Caledonia, the first of long range flying boats being built for Transatlantic passenger service, on the slipways before taking 1» the water for a series of test flights. Regular Transatlantic flights are expected to be inaugurated next simiiner. Hay! Bales of Fun! the Pretty farmerettes pitch in to make the annual hay and dairy festival at Hyr.es. Cal,. interestii.g to ! visitors to the world's largest hay market. Th e gals look husky enough to shine at hay mamlg. Floats A New Idea w. s».T'^ ^^vlA(4»«|^«HM.-yKWft^tM^gi^;^||^^ X^^. â- â- ^^ Barney I'Vv spoilsman and inventor, introihued this one for deep sea fislving off Venice, (.al. He calls it a hydrocycle. It is propelled by a paddie w heel, operated similarly to a bicycle, mounted be- tween two 14-foot pontoons. He claims a ."-.-eed of 10 miles per hour. Loyalists Attack Rebel Stronghold The Greatest Things (Osnian) The best day: Today. The greatest deceiver: One who deceives himself. The greatest mistake: Giving up. The most expensive Indulgence: Hato. The cheapest, stupidest, and easi- est thing to do: Finding fault. The greatest trouble maker: Tallc ing too much. The worst bankrupt: The soul that has lost its enthusiasm. The best teacher: One who makei you want to learn. The best part of any one's relig- ion: Gentleness and cheerfulness. The meanest feeling: Jealousy. The greatest need: Common sens«. Farm Queries Conducted by PROFESSOR HENRY G. BELL With the Co-Operation of the Various Departments of the Ontario Agricultural College With heavy losses reported to have been ml'licted on both sides, more loyalist troops arrive ^t Porto Christo, Majorca, in Federal advance on Palma. The business of farming is yearly becon.ing more and more dependent upon facts thai have been gathered regarding live- stock and livestock management, crop production, soil manage- ment, disease and insect control and business organization of the farming industry. Individual problems involving ont or more of these and many other phases of agriculture, engage the atten- tion of Ontario farmers from day to day. Through this column farmers may secure the latest informa- tion pertaining to their difficult ies Address all inquiries to Farm rroblema Dept.. Wilson Publish- ing Co., Room 421. 73 Adelaide St, W.. Toronto. Ont. 1. QUESTION: How important is the organic matter or humus prob- lem? ANSWER: The humus or organic matter supply in cultivated soils in Ontario bids fair to become a major problem. In some sections, farmers are burning straw piles. In many others they are keeping less and less livestock which means a dimin- ishing supply of manure. In still other sections, they are growing cul- tivated crops such as corn, potatoes jr sugar beets on the same soil year uftcr year without alternating with ^â- rops such as clover or alfalfa, the second growth of which can be ;'lowed under as green manure. .\ll too rarely are green manure crops grown to be turned under as soil improvers. The reason for this seeming forgetfulness is not care- lessness, but is simply an expression of the ambition of Ontario farmers to make their soils return an in- creasing interest on investment. Nevertheless, forgetfulness to keep up the Organic matter in the soil has ruined many a good country- side and it is inevitable that farms where such neglect has been prac- tised will face a deteriorating soil which very quickly will mean loss and less crops. Ohio Experiment Station faced this situation forty years ago. After growing corn on the same ground for thirty vears. the full amount of or- ganic matter in the soil was ascer- taineil. It was found to be approx- imately 1-3 of that which was in the original soil. On the other hand, where crops were grown in rotation, and manures and fertilizers used judiciously, the organic matter was maintained and the soils were in- creasingly productive. Two out- standing, and not fully explained in- stances of the benefit of organic mat- ter, were found at the Rothamsted Station. England. The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, Eng- land in 1934 reported as follows: "One set of long continued experi- ments brings out an important prop i-Tty of the organic matter. On the Rothamsted mangold plots part ot the ground has had no farmyard manure or any other organic manure since 1S43, while part receives farm- yard manure every year. During the recent dry seasons the plants on this latter area started much earlier and grew much better in th« early part of the season than those without organic matter, partly at any rate due to the better tilth and the larger amount of soil moisture retained where orgai.ii. matter had been given. The classical instance of the unexplained effects of fantt- yard manure, however, is on Hooi field at Rothamsted where a plot that received farmyard manure from 1852 to 1871. but nothing since still gives nearly double the crop of bar- ley obtained on the adjoining plot that has been similarly treated since 1871, but had received i.o farmyard mani.re during the preceding 20 years. .\t the time of writing (mid-July, 1934) the barley on this old manured plot is strikingij better th: that on the old 'jamanured land, suggesting some benefit from the farmyard manure given more than 60 years ago. We have uo- yet suc- cctded in accounting sal-'sfactorily for this result." When Ontario farmers fully ap- prcc.ate the great service„ ot organic matter, much more alteatioa^iH be given to this important pha.ie of soil handling 2. QLESTION: I fertilized for sugar btels and lost the crop. WiU there be any planlfood left in the oil from the fertili'^ct tha* was ap- plied? .•VNSWER: If the soil is in good condition, about neutral in reaction, that is, neither sou- t;oi sweet, there should be a consiJerable amount of phosphate and potash whicl. vas ap- plied for the beets still available in the soils for crops of next year. In all probability the rain and ujow wir. have removed mjch j the sol- uable nitrogen, but ^reen crop* or corn which are grown on thii soil next year should find a co.is der»Me help from the phosphate and potash which was added for the sug*« beets. .3. QUESTION: What fertilizer, value has the waste from tomatoes? Where we grew tomatoes this year, quite a lot remained on the ground after picking. We live near enough to the canning factory so that we can get considerable waste pulp Jind skins of tomatoes. Have these any value as fertilizer? ANSWER: Tomato fruit contains about 2 per cent, nitrogen, 7 per cent phosphoric acid and oo per cent, pot- ash, while the leaves and stalkr con- tain about 35 per cent, nitrogen. 1 per cent phosphoric acid and 45 per cent potash. This will give you a idea of the fertilizer value of thi« material when it is left on th« ground. HENRV W. BELL. .\ssociate Professor of Chemistry, Ontario Agricultural College