c 2 Co. iv. 6. d Ac. ix. 15; Ep. iii. 8. e Cony, and How. i. 105. 9 Ac. ix. 2 ; 12. On P. in Arabia, see disser. by Lightfoot, p. 87, in his Notes on Galatians; and on P.'s first visit to Jerus., Ibid. p. 91. "The speediest or human friends and instructors. neither, etc., fr. Damascus. to.. me, to tell them my story, and receive their authority. Arabia, prob. desert nr. Damascus. His object prob. to show he was never in any place where he could learn anything fr. the Aposs. Damascus, [iii. 81]. It pleased God.-Introduction:-we find four things that are said to have pleased God-1. To bruise Christ; 2. That all fulness should dwell in Christ; 3. To save men by the foolishness of preaching; 4. To bless Israel. These words-I. Explain all mercies: 1. Paul's birth; 2. His conversion; 3. His Apostleship. II. Comfort under all trials.h-Paul's conversion.-I. Who was called ?i II. How was he called? III. How did he receive the call?-The interval between the choice of a profession and the entrance on its duties.-I. The professions or callings which present themselves to one about to embark on life: 1. The great variety of things to be done in the world; 2. The variety and easiest of endowments among men; 3. The fact that the ends of life may method of ac-be secured, the purposes of society advanced, and God honoured, complishing our in any one of these occupations. II. On what principles such a calling should be chosen. That calling should be chosen-1. In which the most can be made of life for its proper purposes; 2. Which, when there is a fitness for two or more, will be the most adapted, under the circumstances, to secure the ends of life; tions, without 3. Which will best develope the peculiar endowments of the mind; conferring with 4. Which is just and honourable; 5. In which there are fewest temptations to evil; 6. Which will promote the good both of one's self and society; 7. Which will not hinder, but assist the preparation for another world. III. In what way the interval between the choice of and the entrance on a profession should be emk Albert Barnes.ployed: 1. In preparation and study; 2. This study should have "Christ when on reference to the future calling; 3. This preparation should be earth cured subordinate to the preparation for eternity. desire to over come the evil, and do good, is an immediate compliance with our first convic flesh and blood."" -Bogatzky. h Dr. J. Edmond. i W. Hofacker. but never many a spot, es- Profession of decision.-A freedman said, "I have got safe by pecially of lepro- de go-back corner, and I will go all de journey home; and, if you sy, smoothed any don't see me at de first of dem twelve gates, look to de next one, wrinkle never for I shall be dere." Another says, "When I left de rebel ranks, made any old and crossed over to de Lord's army, I tore up de bridge behind man young Now I'm fightin' with de Captain dat's never lost a battle." -Success of decision.-Alexander, being asked how he had conquered the world, replied, "By not delaying." again."-Fuller. his first visit to the Apostles a Ac. ix. 26. b Lightfoot. c Wordsworth. d W. Burkitt. "The teachings of God are infallible me. 18-20. three years, aft. conver. see, visit, form acquaintance of. and.. days, short time, explained. James brother [i. 67; ii. 214, 368], called here an Apos., but it does not follow that he was one of the Twelve. now.. you, this acc. of my little association with man. behold. . not, a solemn adjuration. I speak in the sight of God, who sees that I do not lie.c The truth of Paul's words.-I. The causes he had to suspect teachings. that the Galatians would not believe him-1. The false apostles; The wisest and 2. The seduced people. II. The means he took to clear himself holiest of men from the imputation of falsehood, he took a solemn oath. 1. may mistake, and ad others into The lawfulness of this proceeding; 2. Its necessity.d the same mistake The beauty of Truth.-No man can read that story of Walter with themselves; Scott's "Mid-Lothian," where Effie Deans was on trial for her the teachings of life, and Jeanie was to bear witness, and the saving of her sister's God. If we can life just turned on the slightest evasion of the truth, and she but it is not so in could not lie, even to save her sister, but had to tell the truth, and see her old father fall dead to the ground, and feel that the terrible enginery of justice must roll over her heart and crush her-no man can read that story (I defy Machiavelli himself to do it) and not say that it was beautiful to speak the truth under such circumstances." 21-24. afterwards.. Cilicia a [iii. 88], to Cæsarea and Tarsus. (On Cilicia see intro. to Ep. to Romans.) the.. Judæa, as disting. fr. Jerus. he . . past, our persecutor of former times. faith, the religion of Christ. they.. me, they saw that such a change in P. was the work of God. the be sure that God teaches us, we may be as sure of the truth of what He teacheth.". Flavel. e H. W. Beecher. his first a Ac. ix. 28—30. b Lightfoot, Ellicott.. God." How is that? Why, they praised Him, and took courage to believe the more in the mercy of God, for that He had had mercy on such a great sinner as he. me;' The effect of the intelligence of Paul's conversion on the Judæan c Ac. xxi. 18-20. Churches.-I. The emotions this news excited: 1. Gratitude; 2. 66 6 'They glorified Love; 3. Joy. II. The blessings it brought: 1. Their faith was exercised; 2. Their belief was confirmed; 3. Their zeal awakened; 4. A fresh theme was opened up for discourse. III. The crowning results it obtained: 1. God was glorified; 2. Paul was encouraged. Application:-A word of--(1) Admonition to Church; (2) Encouragement to sinners to seek the Lord.d A blasphemer converted.-The Rev. J. Perkins, one of the American missionaries, has recorded the following remarkable anecdote in his Journal. A physician who had been personally They glorified acquainted with the infidel Paine, had embraced his sentiments, and was very profane and dissipated. After more than a year striving against the convictions of the Spirit of God, which were so powerful, and his stubbornness so great, like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, as to bring him to a bed of long confinement, and the most awful depression of mind, he became a humble, zealous, and exemplary Christian. And as soon as his health was recovered, he qualified himself, by preparatory studies, to go forth to the world, and preach that Jesus whom he for many d R. A. Griffin. years considered as an impostor, whose name he had habitually blasphemed, and whose religion he had counted foolishness, and a base imposition on the world. CHAPTER THE SECOND. 66 Direct God in the Bunyan. more." returned to Jerusalem Wordsworth, Bengel. b Mack.; Alford, who puts the case 1, 2. then.. after, perh. aft. first visit to Jerus.a [i. 18], but he prob. aft. conversion. Titus, one of "certain others."c revelation, I have acted throughout at the direction of one Teacher. a Lightfoot, privately, in a priv. confer. lest. . vain, lest by others, with less knowledge, my work might be deemed fruitless. evidence of mutual respect betw. P. and the Twelve." d Paul's Gospel.-I. Its glorious peculiarity-a Gospel for the Gentiles, v. 7, 8-stripped of Jewish ceremony and prejudice-of communicatsalvation by faith without the works of the law. II. How he communicated it—wherever the Spirit led him-with a prudent regard for Jewish prejudice-privately to those of reputation. III. Why he adopted this method-to prevent unnecessary strife -to ensure success.e Seasonableness of advice.-The honest and just bounds of observation by one person upon another extend no further but to understand him sufficiently, whereby not to give him offence, or whereby to be able to give him faithful counsel, or whereby to stand upon reasonable guard and caution in respect of a man's thus: "After my conver. my occas. ing with the other Ap. were these: (1) After three yrs. I went up, etc. (2) After fourteen yrs. had elapsed, I again went up, etc." This view is favoured by Ellicott. See interesting discussion in Cony, and How. he defended the liberty of the Gospel a Ac. xv. 1. b Alford, Ellicott. e Ga. iv. 9, 10; v. 1, 2. d Ja. iii. 17; Jude 3. fear Ike the man that self; but to be speculative into another man, to the end to know how to work him, or wind him, or govern him, proceedeth from a heart that is double and cloven, and not entire and ingenuous.Lord Bacon. a spy 3-5. compelled, by the Apostles and men of repute. circumcised, as though it were needful to pass through Judaism to Christianity. because, explains reason of ref. to this. of.. brethren, Judaizers. unawares, surreptitiously. out, in a hostile sense. liberty, fr. ceremonial law. that.. bondage, to that law. we, Barnabas, Titus, Paul. subjection, by yielding what they claimed. no.. hour, their answer was prompt, decisive: they asked no time for consideration. that.. you, and all Churches gathered fr. the heathen world. e C. Simeon, M.A. Christian and unchristian pertinacity.-I. When pertinacity "Your pretended may be considered as unamiable and sinful. When the object in lest error dispute is: 1. Questionable or indifferent; 2. Purely temporal should step in, is and carnal. II. When it is a virtue of prime necessity. When otherwise-1. Christ's obedience would be violated; 2. Christ's faith would be compromised. Application:-See what need we have to get (1) Our minds duly enlightened; (2) Our spirit and conduct duly regulated.e would keep all the wine out of the country lest drunk. It would men should be be found an un just and unwise jealousy to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature, upon a supposition he may he doth abuse it, judge!"-O. Crom abuse it; when well. f T. Pearson. he was the c 2 Co. xii. 11. d Ac. i. 8; ii. 14, 41; iv. 4; v. 12, 14, 15; xxvi. 17, 18; Col. i. 25, 29. e Hammond. "Every man in a Christian Church ought to feel that Formalism and evangelism.-Formalism says, we who fast so often, pray so fervently, and attend on the sacraments so punctually, are God's people. Evangelism replies, "He is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God." The one says, baptism is regeneration; only be baptized, come to the sacramental table, and ye shall be saved. The other says, "Neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." .. 6-8. those.. somewhat,a high in reputation. it.. me, mere reputation or official position is of no consequence. God person, looks not on the outside. added.. me, interposed no authority. the.. uncircumcision, mission to the Gentiles. as.. circumcision, mission to the Jews. wrought. . apostleship,d for the successful performance of it. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.-A masterpiece of Divine wisdom, which says, "My thoughts are not as your thoughts." I. According to human ideas everything seemed adverse: 1. His condition of life-born a Jew; educated a Pharisee; 2. His disposition-before conversion, a zealot for the law; after conversion his adherence to his people; 3. The will of men-the hatred of the Jews; the doubts of the brethren. II. But the wisdom of he uses the power God triumphed over all these obstacles: 1. Appointing Paul to of the whole, yet be the Apostle to the Gentiles; 2. Equipping him by external never so as to and internal providences; 3. Accrediting him by the great fruits take away from him the need of of his labour. individual exer- Bad advice.-Judge Buller, when in the company of a young tion." H. W. gentleman of sixteen, cautioned him against being led astray by the example or persuasion of others, and said, "If I had listened to the advice of some of those who called themselves my friends when I was young, instead of being a Judge of the King's Bench, I should have died long ago a prisoner in the King's Bench." Beecher. Gerok. 9, 10. pillars, supports and ornaments of the Church. the opinion of right.. fellowship, in the Apostolic office of preaching and James, Peter, teaching. only.. poor, i.e., the poor saints at Jerus. same.. do, he had done so bef. they asked him :d he did so aft. writing Lightfoot somethis Ep. on his fifth and last journey. John a "This title, where tells us, the bers of the great The remembrance of the poor.-I. The duty. We should re- Jewish doctors member the poor: 1. Their spiritual wants; 2. Their physical gave to the memnecessities; 3. We should remember them compassionately; Sanhedrim."4. Efficiently; 5. Judiciously; 6. Piously and evangelically. Macknight; cf. Re. II. Our obligations to perform it: 1. Humanity; 2. The calls of iii. 12. duty; 3. Justice; 4. Gratitude; 5. A regard to our own interest, b Ro. i. 5; 1 Co all require it./ xv. 10; Ep. iii. 8. "Where personal communication was incon send images of clasped as a token right hands of friendship.”— Xen. Anab. ii. 4.1; Tacit. Hist. i. 54; ii. 8. Remembering the poor.—Among the graces for which Mr. Foxe, c the celebrated martyrologist, was eminent, may be noticed his extensive liberality to the poor. He was so bountiful to them venient, it was while he lived, that he had no ready money to leave to them customary to at his death. A friend once inquiring of him, "Whether he recollected a certain poor man whom he used to relieve?" he replied, Yes, I remember him well; and I willingly forget lords and ladies, to remember such as he."-Saving in order to give.A gentleman seeing a little boy take out his purse, and give some money to a poor blind man, said to the child :-"My little friend, you do very right to assist people who are in distress; but you must have a great allowance to be so generous; or else, you are 1 Co. xvi. 3; 2 Co. not fond of sweet things, nor of toys." "Sir," said the little boy, ix. 1f.; Ac. xxiv. "mamma is very good to me; she is almost always giving me 17. something. It is very natural to give part to the poor; to poor f Anon. blind people especially; they are so much to be pitied, because they cannot see the light of the sun. I give but little; if I were rich, I would give more." b Ac. xi. 29, 30. e Ro. xv. 26, 27; Peter c Ps. xxix. 25. 11-13. withstood.. face, example of P.'s Apostolic inde- he withstood pendence. he.. blamed, Gk., per. part. pass., i.e., he was (self) convicted; i.e., of inconsistency by his conduct.a certain a Alford. .. James, their office and mission unknown. he.. Gentiles, Ac. xi. 2, 3. regardless of ceremonial defilement. he.. himself, thus he dissembled. the ..him, Gk., were guilty of like hypocrisy. a Wieseler. insomuch.. dissimulation, prob. they gave plausible reasons. e M. Henry. "A practical denial of their better (spiritual) insight."a Peter rebuked by Paul.-I. Peter's fault: 1. The weakness and "Of all the inconstancy of the best of men when left to themselves; 2. The great force of bad examples. II. The rebuke given him by Paul. Notwithstanding Peter's position and character, yet Paul was not afraid to reprove him.e Many men, many minds.-Charles V., Emperor of Germany, occupied himself after his abdication in making clocks, and, it is said, was greatly disappointed at his inability to make the machines keep one time. "How foolish I have been," he exclaimed," to imagine that I could make my subjects think alike, when I cannot make two clocks perform at the same rate!" b duties, the love of truth, with faith and constancy in it, ranks first and highest. Truth is God. To love God and to love truth are one and the same. Silvio Pellico. 14-16. uprightly, with honest simplicity. said.. all, justification bef. the Church. livest.. Gentiles, as thou didst bef. these by faith brethren came fr. Jerus. why.. Gentiles, by refusing to eat a 2 Co. i. 12. with them. to.. Jews? as if distinc. of meats was necessary? b 1 Ti. v. 20. we, Apostles. nature, birth. not.. Gentiles, but men who c Ac. xv. 1. know the Scriptures and the way of Salvation. knowing, by a Ep. ii. 12. VOL. IV. M e Ro. iii. 20; v. 1; Ga. iii. 11, 24. f Ac. xiii. 38, 39. g Ps. cxliii. 2. "None can ever ness. God hath Word of God and our own inspiration. man.. law, observance of ceremonial law; nor on the score of duty alone. faith Christ, and faith alone. for.. law, either of Moses or of nature. justified, at the judgment. Justification by faith and works reconciled (comp. Jas. ii. 24). enter heaven by -I. The subject under consideration-Justification. Observe:—1. a law righteous- All sinners are guilty, and condemned by the Divine law; 2. To nailed this door be justified is to be freed from the charge, and considered up. This way to righteous; 3. And of course to be treated as such. II. How the heaven is like the sinner is justified. Paul says by faith. God-1. Had mercy on our guilty world; 2. Gave His Son; 3. Now justifies all who believe in Christ. III. How works are not really discarded. The Apostle James-1. Is protesting against justification by a dead or nominal faith; 2. Is vindicating a living faith. Conclusion:(1) Justifying faith is a living faith, not nominal; (2) It always bears fruit; (3) Works do not produce faith, but faith works." northern passage to the Indies; whoever at tempts it is sure to get frozen up halfway thither." before he gets -Gurnall. h Dr. J. Burns. whom light as Mr. The hardest thing in religion.-In the parish where Mr. Hervey "Never yet did preached, when he inclined to Arminian sentiments, there resided there exist a full a ploughman, who usually attended the ministry of Dr. Doddridge, faith in the Di- and was well informed in the doctrines of grace. Mr. Hervey vine Word (by being advised by his physician, for the benefit of his health, to well as immor- follow the plough in order to smell the fresh earth, frequently tality was accompanied this ploughman in his rural employment. brought into the Hervey, understanding the ploughman was a serious person, said world) which did not expand the to him one morning, "What do you think is the hardest thing intellect, while it in religion?" To which he replied, I am a poor illiterate man, purified the and you, sir, are a minister: beg leave to return the question." heart, which did not multiply Then," said Mr. Hervey, "I think the hardest thing is to deny the aims and ob- sinful self;" and applauded at some length this instance of selfjects of the un- denial. The ploughman replied, "Mr Hervey, you have forgot derstanding, the greatest act of the grace of self-denial, which is to deny simplified those ourselves of a proud confidence in our own obedience for justificaof the desires and tion." In repeating this story to a friend, Mr. Hervey observed, passions."-Cole- "I then hated the righteousness of Christ; I looked at the man ridge. with astonishment and disdain, and thought him an old fool. I have since clearly seen who was the fool: not the wise old Christian, but the proud James Hervey." while it fixed and Christ is not the minister of sin a 2 Co. iii. 9:1 Co. xv. 17; Ga. v. 4; ii. 21. b1 Jo. iii. 5. c Ro. vi. 14; 4, 6. vii. d Ro. vi. 11; 2 14. e Dr. Thomas. "We we 17-19. while.. Christ,a as our only way of salvation. sinners, acknowledge ourselves to be such notwithstanding our observance of law. is.. sin Pb is sin promoted by the doc. of faith? for.. destroyed, ceremonial rites. transgressor, by my hypocrisy. I.. law, through its violation. dead.. law, being in Christ, I am dead to its claims and its curse. that God, a d fr. whom my salvation cometh; and not to the law, wh. cannot save. Christians and Christianity.— I. Christians are professedly Co. v. 15; He. ix. endeavouring to be made right-1. They seek to be made right; 2. Right through Christ. II. Yet they are liable to fall into sin. Sins-1. That are common to all men; 2. Peculiar to the make Christian profession: (1) Intolerant doctrinalism; (2) ExChrist the mini-aggerative pietism. III. These sins expose Christianity to blame. ster of sin' were we to suppose This blame is unjust, because all Christ's-1. Doctrines; 2. that His merits Precepts; 3. Examples; 4. Agency on earth, are against sin. were insufficient Living unto God.-Mrs. Sherwood relates that, pained at seeing believer; even as Henry Martyn completely prostrated by his tormentor, Sabat, the others make Him apostate, she exclaimed, "Why subject yourself to all this? Rid to justify the |
