Gospel with them, and preached it

every

where. Philip, one of the deacons, of whom mention is made in the 6th chap.; but who also was an evangelist, as we find in the 21st chap. 8th v. went down to Samaria, and in his character of evangelist, not of deacon, preached Christ unto them. Philip's preaching was blessed, so that in Samaria, the seed of the woman bruised the head of the serpent, destroying his power.

Whilst in this city, he received his commission, the fulfilment of which terminated in the victory of grace over sin, and the spread of the gospel among the regions of darkness. Of this commission mention is made in the 26 v. with which our lecture commences," And the angel of the Lord

spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go "towards the south, unto the way that "goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, "which is desert.

Here the instrumentality of an angel is used to promote the purposes of God. Such an instrument we find from the Scriptures he has often used. We know nothing of the being and nature of angels, except from God's own revelation. It is probable, they

were formed the first day of the creationfor the Lord informs us, that when he laid the foundations of the earth," the morning "stars sang together, and all the sons of "God shouted for joy"." They are incorporeal creatures, possessing intellectual and active powers, and originally made holy. A part of them, however, fell from their holiness, and became devils. The chief of them is called Satan, or the Adversary, and was the old Serpent, who tempted Eve to her ruin. When they fell, is not revealed; but as "God saw every thing that he had made," on the sixth day," and behold it was very good""-it is probable, they did not rebel until after that day. These fallen spirits are incessantly engaged in opposing God, and harassing his people. On the other hand, those spirits who have kept their first estate are God's ministers, to do his will. Their number is exceeding great, and they seem, from some parts of Scripture, to differ in rank and power. Let it be remembered, however, that not one of them is an archangel. I know the idea is common that archangels are a superior grade of angels;

a Job xxxviii. 4. 7.

b Gen. i. 31. c. Coloss. i. 16.

but the Scriptures mention but one archangel, and that only in two places. In the one place', he is called Michael. By turn

ing to Daniel you will find this is the name of Messiah, the Great Prince who is to stand up for the children of the prophet's people'. That he is the only archangel, you will perceive by recurring to one of the passages already quoted', where the archangel and the Lord and God are one and the same person".

The holy angels of whom we speak are represented as surrounding the throne of God, and engaged there in praising him.

They also fulfil his purposes of vengeance

to his enemies, as in the case of Sennacherib'; and of mercy and kindness to his people, as in the case of Peter. To the Lord Jesus they performed many services, while he was on earth'; and to his people they are said to be ministering spirits, by the apostle to the Hebrews". One of them, in the execution of this office, spake to Philip, while in Samaria. Let this not be

d Thess. iv. 16. & Jude 9. e Jude 9. f Dan. xii. 1. 1 Thess. iv. 16. h Horsely's Sermon, on the Watchers. i 2 Kings xix. 35. k Acts xii. 7. 10. 7 Matt. iv. 11. Luke xxii. 43. m Heb. i. 14.

considered incredible; for assuredly God, who made both angels and men, can qualify the former to convey instruction or warning to the latter, though the former be spirits, and the latter possess bodily organs. God enabled an angel to speak audibly, without bodily organs, to Philip; so that Philip heard him, and knew well that the message delivered was from the Lord.

By this message the evangelist was directed to go. south of Jerusalem, to Gaza, “which is desert." This city lay at the south west point of Judea. This is the city whose gates Samson took away, and whither he was carried when he was taken prisoner, and where he pulled down the house of their god Dagon upon the lords of the Philistines. "It was destroyed by Alex"ander the Great, and so made desolate, "as the prophet," Amos," had foretold; and

is therefore called, and, saith Strabo the

heathen geographer, continued, desert"." To this place, as commanded, the evangelist arose and went. He knew not why he was thus sent to a distance from Samaria, at the very time his labours there were blessed.

n Well's Geogr. vol. 2, p. 2, chap. 2, sect. 6.

He only knew that the Lord had made it his duty to go. He therefore cheerfully and unhesitatingly obeyed. When arrived at the place, he was made acquainted with God's design, and received his reward in being made the honoured agent of adding one more subject to the Redeemer's king

dom.

Behold, says the sacred historian, v. 27, 28, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot, read Esaias the prophet.

The country to which the evangelist refers here, is not the Asiatic Ethiopia, or part of Arabia mentioned in the Old Testament, but more properly Cush, or Cushan. This was situated on the borders of Egypt, and extended along the eastern shore of the Red Sea. The Ethiopia meant was in Africa, now called Abyssinia, on the south west of the Red Sea, and south of Egypt. In a part of this country, called Meroe, heathen writers inform us that Candace had long 53

VOL. II.