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rejecting and refusing this way of salvation now preached to them, they bring such a remarkable destruction upon themselves now, as God threatened to bring upon their forefathers of old. The sense is, "If ye reject this Jesus, and the way to life and salvation by him, ye shall be destroyed by the Romans, as your ancestors were by the Chaldeans." Sin is as odious to God at one time as another, and in one people as another particularly the sin of obstinate infidelity and unbelief, is a God-provoking and a wrath-procuring sin: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish.

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath-day came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout, and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barna

bas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

Observe here, 1. The apostle having ended his sermon to the Jews, the Gentile proselytes desired to hear more of this subject the next sabbath-day. Such to whom the word of God is savoury and sweet, are not soon cloyed with it, but hunger after it. Neither do they loath the heavenly manna, because it is rained down frequently about their tents. Observe, 2. The apospreaches again the next sabbath, when tle readily complies with their desire; he almost the whole city came together to hear the gospel. But this angered the devil, and occasioned great envy and persecution to the apostles. Learn thence, That a crowd of hearers, but especially of young converts, is very hurtful to Satan, and doth usually stir up abundance of rage in his servants against the ministers of Christ: When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy. Observe, 3. The instruments Satan makes use of to carry on his fierce persecution against the apostles: He stirred up the devout and honourable women, and chief men of the city. Learn thence, 1. That the powerful and successviolent persecution against the preachers of ful preaching of the gospel usually stirs up the gospel. 2. That devout women and great men, nourished up in ignorance, are oftentimes great opposers of the truth, and instruments of persecution: The Jews stirred up the devout women, &c. Observe,

4. How the apostle with great boldness and courage acquaints them with their sin and danger: Ye judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life. But how so? Not directly and formally, but interpretatively and practically. They thought very well of themselves, no doubt, and judged themselves worthy of eternal life, but their practice pronounced them unworthy, and gave themselves; for this their contempt of the sentence against them, whilst they acquitted grace of the gospel, did declare them unworthy of eternal life. Observe, 5. The emblematical action performed by the apostles, to signify God's rejection of this miserable people; They shook off the dust of their feet against them. This sign fied, such refusers of the precious gospel did inha1. That the very earth was polluted where bit, and was therefore to be shaken off as a filthy thing. 2. That they were a base peo

ple, vile as the dust; and that, as such, God had now shaken them off. 3. That the dust of the apostles' feet there left, might be as a witness against them, that the gospel had been preached to them. This action of shaking off the dust of their feet, was a dismal signification of a forsaken people. Observe, 6. With what joy and gladness the poor Gentiles entertained the glad tidings of the gospel: When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad; and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. That is, when the Gentiles heard the good news, and understood their own interest in it, they rejoiced exceedingly; and as many as were by the Holy Spirit of God prepared and disposed to seek after eternal life, believed.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. That is, "The apostles and disciples in this city were nothing discouraged with the Jews' blasphemies, oppositions, and persecutions, but were filled with spiritual joy that they had embraced the gospel, and went on courageously in the profession of it." Learn thence, that God's grace, and the church's joy, may and doth increase under the greatest opposition and persecutions of men. Infinite wisdom and sovereign power knows how to overrule the contradiction of sinners, for glory to himself, and good to his church.

CHAP. XIV.

AND it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks, believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil-affected against the brethren.

Here we have an account of the fourth journey which Paul and Barnabas undertook in their travels, to plant and propagate the christian faith, and that was to Iconium. Where observe, 1. The unity of these two great apostles, both amongst themselves and in the work of God: They went both together into the synagogue. O how happy is it for the ministers of Christ to walk and work together in unity! to go hand in hand together in the service of the gospel, nd with united endeavours

promote the glory of God, and the interest of souls! Observe, 2. As their unity, so their great constancy in performing their duty, notwithstanding all their persecutors' fury and obstinacy. Though the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles against the apostles, yet they continue preaching in the synagogues. Observe, 3. The great success with which it pleased God to crown the endeavours of the holy apostles: a great multitude of both Jews and Gentiles believed; and that which doth constantly attend the success of the ministry of the word, namely, the envy and opposition of wicked men: they exasperated, or made the Gentiles' minds evil-affected against the brethren.

3 Long time therefore abode they, speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Note here, 1. The manner of the apostles' preaching at Iconium: They spake boldly: that is, openly in the synagogues; and there with great freedom and plainness of speech asserted truth, condemned error, reproved sin, and denounced judgments against impenitent sinners; and this with a wise, but convincing boldness; with a meek, but zealous boldness; knowing, that if they had not now been bold for Christ, they could not at the

great day be bold before him. That miChrist now, will certainly be ashamed to nister that is afraid to speak and plead for look him in the face then. A serious thought of this, when we are going to preach, will make us shut all base fear out of the pulpit. Note, 2. The time of their preaching at Iconium; it was not a single sermon or two, in transitu, but long time they abode, speaking boldly in the Lord. A constant course of preaching is needful to root that word which one or two sermons oft leaveth loose; the end of the ministry is to build up, as well as to bring in, and this is done by our constancy in preaching, and exemplariness in holy living. Note, 3. How God honoured his word in the mouth of his ministers, confirming their doctrine by miracles: He gave testimony by the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. The miracles, which the apostles wrought were the

convincing cause of the credibility of the apostles' testimony.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made, both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7 And there they preached the gospel.

Observe here, 1. How upon the preaching of the gospel there follow great divisions: The multitude was divided. Not that the gospel is the cause of division, but the occasion only, and that by accident too. The sacred institutions and ordinances of Christ, are not to be quarrelled with, or objected against, because through man's corruption they breed differences, discords, and divisions. Observe, 2. How this division was the cause of persecution: The city was divided, and an attempt was made to use the apostles despitefully, and to stone them. Lord! what ill usage have thine ambassadors met with from the first publication of the gospel! The unkind world has treated them as if they were not fit to live, driving them from place to place, and persecuting them from city to city. But ob serve, 3. The prudential care which the apostles use for their own preservation: They were ware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe: according to Christ's command, When they persecute you in one city, flee unto another. Christ allows his ministers a liberty of flight in time of persecution, that they may preserve their lives for future service. We must not expect safety by a miracle, when we may have it in the use of means: yet probably it might not be fear, or desire to save their lives, which made the apostles flee; but because they were unwilling to lose time there, when their ministry was obstructed, and when they saw the gospel was rejected. Accordingly they fled to Derbe and Lystra, and there preached the gospel. From whence note, How greatly persecution, by scattering, tends to the increasing of the

gospel. Thousands had never heard of Jesus Christ, if persecution had not driven the ministers of the gospel unto them. The wisdom of God well knows how to order those things which are designed for the gospel, Phil. i. 12. prejudice, to tend to the furtherance, of the

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying, in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us, in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Here we have an account of the fifth journey which the apostles Barnabas and Paul undertook in their travels to plant and propagate the christian faith; and that was at Lystra and Derbe. Here their first work was to preach the gospel; which done, God honoured Paul to work a glorious miracle for the confirmation of what they had preached. Where note, 1. The subject whom this miraculous cure was wrought upon: a man that was a cripple, not by accident, but by nature, from his mother's womb, and consequently never had walked. They that are lame by casualty, may possibly be relieved by art and industry: but to cure one that is born lame, nothing less is required than a divine power: such defects as are from nature, can only be relieved by the God of nature. Note, 2. What an extraordinary spirit of discerning was at some times, and upon certain occasions, found with the apostles: St. Paul perceived that this poor cripple had faith to be healed; that is, by that extraordinary gift of discerning spirits, which at this time the apostle had. The like had St. Peter also upon a special occasion; (for this gift of discerning spirits, was not at all times found with the apostles,) he discerned the hypocrisy and falsehood of Ananias and Simon Magus. The gift of working mira.

cles, and the gift of discerning spirits, were for a time conferred upon the apostles, for confirming their testimony, but are long since ceased in the church; the reason of their ceasing is, the gospel being sufficiently established and confirmed. Note, 3. The reality of this miracle: it was not a lying wonder, but a real miracle: the man not only walked, but leaped for joy, to show that he was perfectly cured, and thoroughly recovered. All the works of God, especially his miraculous works, are perfect. Whom God cures, he cures effectually. Note, 4. What influence the sight of this miracle had upon the minds of the people of Lystra: they ascribe the honour of this glorious miracle to their dunghill deities, not to the true God; they pay their rent to a wrong landlord. Such was the blind superstition of these poor Pagans, that believing their gods were come down to them in the likeness of men, they called Barnabas, Jupiter, who was their chief god; and Paul, Mercurius, whom they accounted the messenger and interpreter of the gods. Lord! how blind are the principles of corrupt reason in fallen mankind! And how forcible is an evil custom and a vain conversation received by tradition from their forefathers! And how hard a matter is it to rectify such mistakes in religion, as time and general consent have rooted and riveted in the minds of men!

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that should turn from these vanities, unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein : 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

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18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

Observe, 1. How far Paganish superstition did transport and carry these men : they come to the gates of the house where the apostles had lodged, and bring oxen with them, trimmed with garlands of flowers, according to their Heathenish rites, verily intending to offer sacrifice unto them. Learn, How forward the devil is to put honour, much honour, yca, overmuch honour, upon the ministers of Christ, when it is to contradict their doctrine, and gain advantage to himself by it. The devil laughed to see the blind superstitious Lystrians adore the apostles, and adorn them with the names of their heathen gods, hoping to make advantage thereby to himself. Observe, 2. With what indignation and disdain, detestation and abhorrence, the apostles reject this vile idolatry: telling them they were men of like passions, and in the same condition of mortality with themselves, and that their business was to turn them from their idols, which were mere vanities and nothing, compared with the living and true God, who made them and all the world. Learn hence, 1. That the worshipping of idols is the most senseless and irrational vanity that ever the devil put into the stupified heart of man. 2. That all good men hate idolatry in others, and abhor to be idolized themselves. Observe, 3. The description which the holy apostle gives of the true God, to draw the people off from worshipping idols: he styles him the living God, that made the glorious fabric of heaven and earth, the sea, and all things therein. A good God, that giveth rain, and fruitful seasons, filling his creatures' hearts with food and gladness. Intimating, 1. That whatsoever concerns the happiness and felicity of man in this life, is wholly derived from God. 2. That there is no nation nor person under heaven, tokens of his goodness: The Lord is good to whom God exhibits not the evident to all, and his tender mercies are over ull his works. Observe, 4. The character which the apostles give of the former times, in which the heathen world lived: In times past they were suffered to walk in their own ways. That is, of old God sufto walk in their own ways: the meaning is, fered all nations, except the Jewish nation, he did not check them in their sinful ways and courses, as he did his own people the

Jews. Yet we must not understand the apostle absolutely, but comparatively only; there never was any man, much less any nation, whom God suffered to go on in a course of sin without any stop. Every person, and every nation, has had the stop of the light of nature at least; but every nation has not had the stop of the light of the gospel, the stop of ordinances, the preaching of the word, the motions of the Holy Spirit; these the Jews

had, but the Gentiles had not. In this sense God suffered all nations to walk in their own ways; he did not give them his word, his statutes, or his judgments, to show them his ways, or to hinder them in walking in their own ways; and this was a sore judgment. To suffer either nation or person to walk without control or check,

from word or rod, from ordinances or providences, in the ways of sin and wickedness, is a very dreadful and tremendous judgment: In times past he suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Note here, 1. The ill requital St. Paul had for his excellent discourse to these blasphemous idolaters: They stoned him to death, in their own apprehension. The sharpest and keenest edge of persecution is usually turned against the ministers of Christ, and falls heaviest on the prophets of God. The devil will do his utmost to take away their lives, who are continually endeavouring the destruction of him and .bis kingdom. Note, 2. The great inconstancy and incredible fickleness of the common people; who one day would sacrifice to the apostles as gods, and the next day stone them to death as malefactors. What wise man will value himself by the applause of the multitude, and live upon the breath of the people, (that contingent judge of good and evil,) which rather attend the vain than the virtuous? But thus the common people dealt with Christ himself, crying one day, Hosanna! and the next day, Crucify! Note, 3. The miraculous re

covery of the apostle, after his persecutors had stoned him : He rose up, and came into the city. His recovery seems to be miraculous, else his stoning would have disabled him from walking. God had farther work for this great apostle to do; and therefore neither the wrath of men, nor the rage of the devil, could at that time cut him off.

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

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Observe here, The great and good use which the apostle makes of his miraculous recovery: he is no sooner upon his legs, but he travels to Derbe, to preach the gosChrist more fervently desire, and more dilipel. Nothing do the faithful ministers of gently endeavour, than to lay out their lives, their strength, their time, their all, for God, in his service, and to his glory. Yet observe farther, That notwithstanding the apostles were persecuted at Lystra and having planted churches there, they go Iconium, yet they returned thither again; back to water their own plantations. secutions did not, could not, make them forsake the plantations which they had newly made. It is not enough that the seed of the word be sown, it must be watered also, otherwise it will fade and wither, languish and die. But what did the apostles do, when they returned to visit their new-planted churches? Ans. 1. They confirmed and established them in the doctrine of the gospel; they exhorted them to stedfastness and perseverance in their holy religion, and armed them against the fears of affliction and persecution, for the sake of Christ and his holy religion; acquainting them, that they must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of heaven. Afflictions, like the waters of Marah, must be met with in our way to the heavenly Canaan: there is no coming at the crown but by the cross: the Head having been crowned with thorns, it is unsuitable that the feet should tread on roses. Christianity is the doctrine of the cross, which the ministers of Christ ought to let their people understand and know, that they may not

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