Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v04050

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 113 lines

04058
 #26-40 Philip was directed to go to a desert. Sometimes God
 opens a door of opportunity to his ministers in very unlikely
 places. We should study to do good to those we come into company
 with by travelling. We should not be so shy of all strangers as
 some affect to be. As to those of whom we know nothing else, we
 know this, that they have souls. It is wisdom for men of
 business to redeem time for holy duties; to fill up every minute
 with something which will turn to a good account. In reading the
 word of God, we should often pause, to inquire of whom and of
 what the sacred writers spake; but especially our thoughts
 should be employed about the Redeemer. The Ethiopian was
 convinced by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, of the exact
 fulfilment of the Scripture, was made to understand the nature
 of the Messiah's kingdom and salvation, and desired to be
 numbered among the disciples of Christ. Those who seek the
 truth, and employ their time in searching the Scriptures, will
 be sure to reap advantages. The avowal of the Ethiopian must be
 understood as expressing simple reliance on Christ for
 salvation, and unreserved devotion to Him. Let us not be
 satisfied till we get faith, as the Ethiopian did, by diligent
 study of the Holy Scriptures, and the teaching of the Spirit of
 God; let us not be satisfied till we get it fixed as a principle
 in our hearts. As soon as he was baptized, the Spirit of God
 took Philip from him, so that he saw him no more; but this
 tended to confirm his faith. When the inquirer after salvation
 becomes acquainted with Jesus and his gospel, he will go on his
 way rejoicing, and will fill up his station in society, and
 discharge his duties, from other motives, and in another manner
 than heretofore. Though baptized in the name of the Father, Son,
 and Holy Ghost, with water, it is not enough without the baptism
 of the Holy Ghost. Lord, grant this to every one of us; then
 shall we go on our way rejoicing.
04073
 * The conversion of Saul. (1-9) Saul converted preaches Christ.
 (10-22) Saul is persecuted at Damascus, and goes to Jerusalem.
 (23-31) Cure of Aeneas. (32-35) Dorcas raised to life. (36-43)

 #1-9 So ill informed was Saul, that he thought he ought to do
 all he could against the name of Christ, and that he did God
 service thereby; he seemed to breathe in this as in his element.
 Let us not despair of renewing grace for the conversion of the
 greatest sinners, nor let such despair of the pardoning mercy of
 God for the greatest sin. It is a signal token of Divine favour,
 if God, by the inward working of his grace, or the outward
 events of his providence, stops us from prosecuting or executing
 sinful purposes. Saul saw that Just One, ch. #22:14; 26:13|. How
 near to us is the unseen world! It is but for God to draw aside
 the veil, and objects are presented to the view, compared with
 which, whatever is most admired on earth is mean and
 contemptible. Saul submitted without reserve, desirous to know
 what the Lord Jesus would have him to do. Christ's discoveries
 of himself to poor souls are humbling; they lay them very low,
 in mean thoughts of themselves. For three days Saul took no
 food, and it pleased God to leave him for that time without
 relief. His sins were now set in order before him; he was in the
 dark concerning his own spiritual state, and wounded in spirit
 for sin. When a sinner is brought to a proper sense of his own
 state and conduct, he will cast himself wholly on the mercy of
 the Saviour, asking what he would have him to do. God will
 direct the humbled sinner, and though he does not often bring
 transgressors to joy and peace in believing, without sorrows and
 distress of conscience, under which the soul is deeply engaged
 as to eternal things, yet happy are those who sow in tears, for
 they shall reap in joy.

04082
 #10-22 A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to
 Christ's feet with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to
 do? And never did Christ leave any who were brought to that.
 Behold, the proud Pharisee, the unmerciful oppressor, the daring
 blasphemer, prayeth! And thus it is even now, and with the proud
 infidel, or the abandoned sinner. What happy tidings are these
 to all who understand the nature and power of prayer, of such
 prayer as the humbled sinner presents for the blessings of free
 salvation! Now he began to pray after another manner than he had
 done; before, he said his prayers, now, he prayed them.
 Regenerating grace sets people on praying; you may as well find
 a living man without breath, as a living Christian without
 prayer. Yet even eminent disciples, like Ananias, sometimes
 stagger at the commands of the Lord. But it is the Lord's glory
 to surpass our scanty expectations, and show that those are
 vessels of his mercy whom we are apt to consider as objects of
 his vengeance. The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the
 scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then the
 sinner becomes a new creature, and endeavours to recommend the
 anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former companions.

04095
 #23-31 When we enter into the way of God, we must look for
 trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will,
 with the temptation, also make a way to escape. Though Saul's
 conversion was and is a proof of the truth of Christianity, yet
 it could not, of itself, convert one soul at enmity with the
 truth; for nothing can produce true faith, but that power which
 new-creates the heart. Believers are apt to be too suspicious of
 those against whom they have prejudices. The world is full of
 deceit, and it is necessary to be cautious, but we must exercise
 charity, #1Co 13:5|. The Lord will clear up the characters of
 true believers; and he will bring them to his people, and often
 gives them opportunities of bearing testimony to his truth,
 before those who once witnessed their hatred to it. Christ now
 appeared to Saul, and ordered him to go quickly out of
 Jerusalem, for he must be sent to the Gentiles: see ch. #22:21|.
 Christ's witnesses cannot be slain till they have finished their
 testimony. The persecutions were stayed. The professors of the
 gospel walked uprightly, and enjoyed much comfort from the Holy
 Ghost, in the hope and peace of the gospel, and others were won
 over to them. They lived upon the comfort of the Holy Ghost, not
 only in the days of trouble and affliction, but in days of rest
 and prosperity. Those are most likely to walk cheerfully, who
 walk circumspectly.