Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v04000

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 9KB | 157 lines

04002
 #30-41 Men deceive themselves, if they think God cannot do what
 he sees to be good any where; he can bring his people into a
 wilderness, and there speak comfortably to them. He appeared to
 Moses in a flame of fire, yet the bush was not consumed; which
 represented the state of Israel in Egypt, where, though they
 were in the fire of affliction, yet they were not consumed. It
 may also be looked upon as a type of Christ's taking upon him
 the nature of man, and the union between the Divine and human
 nature. The death of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, cannot break the
 covenant relation between God and them. Our Saviour by this
 proves the future state, #Mt 22:31|. Abraham is dead, yet God is
 still his God, therefore Abraham is still alive. Now, this is
 that life and immortality which are brought to light by the
 gospel. Stephen here shows that Moses was an eminent type of
 Christ, as he was Israel's deliverer. God has compassion for the
 troubles of his church, and the groans of his persecuted people;
 and their deliverance takes rise from his pity. And that
 deliverance was typical of what Christ did, when, for us men,
 and for our salvation, he came down from heaven. This Jesus,
 whom they now refused, as their fathers did Moses, even this
 same has God advanced to be a Prince and Saviour. It does not at
 all take from the just honour of Moses to say, that he was but
 an instrument, and that he is infinitely outshone by Jesus. In
 asserting that Jesus should change the customs of the ceremonial
 law, Stephen was so far from blaspheming Moses, that really he
 honoured him, by showing how the prophecy of Moses was come to
 pass, which was so clear. God who gave them those customs by his
 servant Moses, might, no doubt, change the custom by his Son
 Jesus. But Israel thrust Moses from them, and would have
 returned to their bondage; so men in general will not obey
 Jesus, because they love this present evil world, and rejoice in
 their own works and devices.
04014
 #42-50 Stephen upbraids the Jews with the idolatry of their
 fathers, to which God gave them up as a punishment for their
 early forsaking him. It was no dishonour, but an honour to God,
 that the tabernacle gave way to the temple; so it is now, that
 the earthly temple gives way to the spiritual one; and so it
 will be when, at last, the spiritual shall give way to the
 eternal one. The whole world is God's temple, in which he is
 every where present, and fills it with his glory; what occasion
 has he then for a temple to manifest himself in? And these
 things show his eternal power and Godhead. But as heaven is his
 throne, and the earth his footstool, so none of our services can
 profit Him who made all things. Next to the human nature of
 Christ, the broken and spiritual heart is his most valued
 temple.

04023
 #51-53 Stephen was going on, it seems, to show that the temple
 and the temple service must come to an end, and it would be the
 glory of both to give way to the worship of the Father in spirit
 and in truth; but he perceived they would not bear it. Therefore
 he broke off, and by the Spirit of wisdom, courage, and power,
 sharply rebuked his persecutors. When plain arguments and truths
 provoke the opposers of the gospel, they should be shown their
 guilt and danger. They, like their fathers, were stubborn and
 wilful. There is that in our sinful hearts, which always resists
 the Holy Ghost, a flesh that lusts against the Spirit, and wars
 against his motions; but in the hearts of God's elect, when the
 fulness of time comes, this resistance is overcome. The gospel
 was offered now, not by angels, but from the Holy Ghost; yet
 they did not embrace it, for they were resolved not to comply
 with God, either in his law or in his gospel. Their guilt stung
 them to the heart, and they sought relief in murdering their
 reprover, instead of sorrow and supplication for mercy.

04026
 #54-60 Nothing is so comfortable to dying saints, or so
 encouraging to suffering saints, as to see Jesus at the right
 hand of God: blessed be God, by faith we may see him there.
 Stephen offered up two short prayers in his dying moments. Our
 Lord Jesus is God, to whom we are to seek, and in whom we are to
 trust and comfort ourselves, living and dying. And if this has
 been our care while we live, it will be our comfort when we die.
 Here is a prayer for his persecutors. Though the sin was very
 great, yet if they would lay it to their hearts, God would not
 lay it to their charge. Stephen died as much in a hurry as ever
 any man did, yet, when he died, the words used are, he fell
 asleep; he applied himself to his dying work with as much
 composure as if he had been going to sleep. He shall awake again
 in the morning of the resurrection, to be received into the
 presence of the Lord, where is fulness of joy, and to share the
 pleasures that are at his right hand, for evermore.
04033
 * Saul persecutes the church. (1-4) Philip's success at Samaria.
 Simon the sorcerer baptized. (5-13) The hypocrisy of Simon
 detected. (14-25) Philip and the Ethiopian. (26-40)

 #1-4 Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it
 may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer
 is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes
 known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple
 desire of doing good influences the heart, it will be found
 impossible to shut a man out from all opportunities of
 usefulness.

04037
 #5-13 As far as the gospel prevails, evil spirits are dislodged,
 particularly unclean spirits. All inclinations to the lusts of
 the flesh which war against the soul are such. Distempers are
 here named, the most difficult to be cured by the course of
 nature, and most expressive of the disease of sin. Pride,
 ambition, and desire after grandeur have always caused abundance
 of mischief, both to the world and to the church. The people
 said of Simon, This man is the great power of God. See how
 ignorant and thoughtless people mistake. But how strong is the
 power of Divine grace, by which they were brought to Christ, who
 is Truth itself! The people not only gave heed to what Philip
 said, but were fully convinced that it was of God, and not of
 men, and gave up themselves to be directed thereby. Even bad
 men, and those whose hearts still go after covetousness, may
 come before God as his people come, and for a time continue with
 them. And many wonder at the proofs of Divine truths, who never
 experience their power. The gospel preached may have a common
 operation upon a soul, where it never produced inward holiness.
 All are not savingly converted who profess to believe the
 gospel.

04046
 #14-25 The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these
 converts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of
 the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement
 from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces
 of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are
 concerned; for that includes all blessings. No man can give the
 Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands; but we should use our
 best endeavours to instruct those for whom we pray. Simon Magus
 was ambitious to have the honour of an apostle, but cared not at
 all to have the spirit and disposition of a Christian. He was
 more desirous to gain honour to himself, than to do good to
 others. Peter shows him his crime. He esteemed the wealth of
 this world, as if it would answer for things relating to the
 other life, and would purchase the pardon of sin, the gift of
 the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. This was such a condemning
 error as could by no means consist with a state of grace. Our
 hearts are what they are in the sight of God, who cannot be
 deceived. And if they are not right in his sight, our religion
 is vain, and will stand us in no stead. A proud and covetous
 heart cannot be right with God. It is possible for a man to
 continue under the power of sin, yet to put on a form of
 godliness. When tempted with money to do evil, see what a
 perishing thing money is, and scorn it. Think not that
 Christianity is a trade to live by in this world. There is much
 wickedness in the thought of the heart, its false notions, and
 corrupt affections, and wicked projects, which must be repented
 of, or we are undone. But it shall be forgiven, upon our
 repentance. The doubt here is of the sincerity of Simon's
 repentance, not of his pardon, if his repentance was sincere.
 Grant us, Lord, another sort of faith than that which made Simon
 wonder only, and did not sanctify his heart. May we abhor all
 thoughts of making religion serve the purposes of pride or
 ambition. And keep us from that subtle poison of spiritual
 pride, which seeks glory to itself even from humility. May we
 seek only the honour which cometh from God.