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are full' only o f the good works which we intend to do some time, but are very empty o f the good works which we actually do. She" seems to have had no relatives, but instead o f murmuring about her lonely lot she made herself sister and mother to all, and so while she had no relatives she had many friends. v. 37. "And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick (fell sick), and died: whom when tfiey had washed {and when they had washed her), they laid her in an upper chamber." The |fact that she was “ full o f good works and almsdeeds” did not exempt her from sickness, nor even from sickness unto death. The theory that if we are right with God sickness will not enter our lives, and above all death from sickness, breaks down over the description which the Holy Spirit Himself gives us of the case of Dorcas. She was “ full o f good works and almsdeeds,” nevertheless “ she fell sick and died.” It is evident that God has other purposes in sickness than merely the chastisement o f our sin and the humb ling o f our pride (cf. John 9 :3 ; John 1E3, 4; 2 Kings 13:14). It will not do to decide too hastily that the one who has fallen sick, or even dies, has in some way wandered away from God. Dorcas was liv ing very near to God at this time, “ full o f good works and almsdeeds,” but she died. It is true that she was raised, never theless she died. v. 38. “And forasmuch (omit, foras much) as Lydda was nigh to {unto) Joppa, and the disciples had heard ( the disciples, hearing) that Peter was there, sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them {entreating him, Delay not to some unto us).” These disciples certainly had a mighty faith. There had not been a case o f resurrection, as far. as we know, in the ten years that had elapsed since the resurrection o f Christ, yet these humble disciples believed in a living God, and a living Christ, and that a need o f a resur rection from the dead, having arisen,. God would grant jt, and God did. v. 39. “ Then {And) Peter arose and
went with them: When '{And when) he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.” Peter was. prompt in responding to the call for help from these afflicted disciples. The disciples, on their part, appealed for help in a very striking way :• the widows whom Dorcas had befriended, stood by him weeping and show ing the visible tokens o f how necessary Dorcas was to their welfare. Dorcas had built for herself a monument with her needle. Through the centuries many have gazed at that monument and been prompted to acts o f love and sacrifice like.hers. We should carefully note that Dorcas made these garments “while she was with them.” That is the time to do things for people, while we are with them. Post-mortem ben efactions are more common but they do not count much with God. I f we are going to do anything for those who need'our help, let us do it while they live. I f we leave it to our executors it will probably never be done. V. 40. “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed, and turning to the body, (add, he) said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.” While Peter was touched with the sorrows 'o f the widows, he put them all forth in order that he might be alone with Tabitha and with God. He was following closely in the footsteps o f his Master and doing the very thing that he had seen his Master do under sim ilar circumstances (Luke 8:51, 54). In. such a supreme moment as this one wants no spectators; he must be alone with God. Being alone he “prayed.” Ah, what power there is in prayer: it can raise the dead. Have you a dead minister, try it on him. Have you a dead church, try it on it. Plave you a friend “ dead in trespasses and sins,” try it on him. I f Peter had spent his time grumbling at the corpse it v^ould never have eome to life: Praying, not grumbling, is what we want today. Peter first turned to God, then he turned to the corpse. Here is
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