"GREAT FEAR CAME UPON ALL."
By The Christian
WHEN Ananias and Sapphira, for lying to God, had been smitten with his curse, we are told: "Great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard those things." "And of the rest durst no man join himself unto them." It was a solemn thing to join God's church; it is a light thing to join man's. The church at Jerusalem at that time was not a safe place for hypocrites, liars, or deceivers. There are persons who find safe quarters in many churches to-day, who profess to be as poor as Ananias and Sapphira did, and who have kept back quite as large a proportion of the price, but who are yet unscathed by the curse. There are churches, connection with which is sought as an open avenue to wealth, honor, fame, respect, and business advancement; but the true church of God should be a band of men and women so holy, so pure, so faithful, and so imbued with the spirit and power of the Holy Ghost, that hypocrites would find no attraction there, and worldly men would fear to profane that temple where God himself dwells and walks, and reveals his grace and power.—The Christian.