He went down to Samaria to preach. He did not go to Sychar, in Samaria, where Jesus had once preached to the woman at the well. He went to the finest city in Samaria. Its name was the same as the name of the countrySamaria. It was built on a beautiful hill, that rises up in the midst of a sweet and fruitful valley. This city was a very wicked place. There were idol temples in it, and there were men who worshipped Satan himself. Here Philip preached about Jesus; and he also did many great miracles, for the apostles had once laid their hands on him, and given this power to him as well as to Stephen. Many unclean spirits and devils came out of poor creatures when Philip commanded them. Helpless creatures with the palsy rose up and walked at Philip's word, and lame people leaped like stags.

When men saw what wonders Philip could do, they believed what he told

them about Jesus, and there was great joy in all the city. Why? Because they knew Christ and His salvation.

Amongst the men who believed there was one more wicked than the rest. His name was Simon. He had been a great deceiver, and had made people believe he was very great, so that everybody said, This man is the great power of God.' Little children said so, and old men said so, too: rich and poor-all admired and praised Simon. He was called a sorcerer. What is that? A man who trusts in Satan, and gets help from him ; man who tells lies, and plays all kinds of deceitful tricks.

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But now this wicked Simon believed what Philip said, and he asked to be baptized. People no longer thought him wonderful.

Every one listened to Philip, and wondered at his miracles. Philip thought that Simon was turned from

his wickedness, and that he believed in Jesus with his heart. So he baptized him. But Simon's heart was not changed.

You know Christ once said, 'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God' (John, iii. 5). Simon was baptized, and he was born of water, but he was not born of the Spirit. was just as wicked as ever.

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Though he believed that Jesus was the Son of God, he did not love Him.' He stood by Philip, wondering at his miracles, and sorry that he himself could no longer do the wonderful things, that he had once done when he was a great He did not repent of his past wickedness, nor pray to Christ for pardon.

sorcerer.

'Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.' -Rom. viii. 9.

X.

SIMON THE SORCERER.

Acts, viii. 14-24.

THE apostles, you remember, remained at Jerusalem. They were not afraid of the cruel hatred of the Jews. They heard the good news that the city of Samaria was full of believers. They thought that they could do them good by coming to see them.

So the apostles sent Peter and John down to Samaria. These two apostles were such friends that they generally went together.

When they came to Samaria they found a great many men and women who had turned to God, and who had been baptized by Philip. But they found none who could do miracles by the Holy Ghost.

So Peter and John laid their hands on the heads of the believers, and

prayed that God would give them the Holy Ghost.

Philip had not laid his hands on the believers, for he was not an apostle; he was only a deacon, and he could not bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost on other people. None but the apostles Icould do this.

When Simon saw what the apostles did to the believers, he thought he should like to be able to do the same, that he might be admired, as he used to be, and that he might get rich. So he took some money, and offered it to Peter and John, and said, 'Do give me this power, that when I lay my hands on any one he may receive the Holy Ghost."

The apostles were much displeased at Simon thinking they would take money for the gift of God. They were grieved at his having such a wicked thought in his heart. Peter said to him, Thy money perish as well as