Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v04450

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 9KB | 152 lines

04454
 #13-20 It was common, especially among the Jews, for persons to
 profess or to try to cast out evil spirits. If we resist the
 devil by faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think
 to resist him by the using of Christ's name, or his works, as a
 spell or charm, Satan will prevail against us. Where there is
 true sorrow for sin, there will be free confession of sin to God
 in every prayer and to man whom we have offended, when the case
 requires it. Surely if the word of God prevailed among us, many
 lewd, infidel, and wicked books would be burned by their
 possessors. Will not these Ephesian converts rise up in
 judgement against professors, who traffic in such works for the
 sake of gain, or allow themselves to possess them? If we desire
 to be in earnest in the great work of salvation, every pursuit
 and enjoyment must be given up which hinders the effect of the
 gospel upon the mind, or loosens its hold upon the heart.

04462
 #21-31 Persons who came from afar to pay their devotions at the
 temple of Ephesus, bought little silver shrines, or models of
 the temple, to carry home with them. See how craftsmen make
 advantage to themselves of people's superstition, and serve
 their worldly ends by it. Men are jealous for that by which they
 get their wealth; and many set themselves against the gospel of
 Christ, because it calls men from all unlawful crafts, however
 much wealth is to be gotten by them. There are persons who will
 stickle for what is most grossly absurd, unreasonable, and
 false; as this, that those are gods which are made with hands,
 if it has but worldly interest on its side. The whole city was
 full of confusion, the common and natural effect of zeal for
 false religion. Zeal for the honour of Christ, and love to the
 brethren, encourage zealous believers to venture into danger.
 Friends will often be raised up among those who are strangers to
 true religion, but have observed the honest and consistent
 behaviour of Christians.

04473
 #32-41 The Jews came forward in this tumult. Those who are thus
 careful to distinguish themselves from the servants of Christ
 now, and are afraid of being taken for them, shall have their
 doom accordingly in the great day. One, having authority, at
 length stilled the noise. It is a very good rule at all times,
 both in private and public affairs, not to be hasty and rash in
 our motions, but to take time to consider; and always to keep
 our passions under check. We ought to be quiet, and to do
 nothing rashly; to do nothing in haste, of which we may repent
 at leisure. The regular methods of the law ought always to stop
 popular tumults, and in well-governed nations will do so. Most
 people stand in awe of men's judgments more than of the
 judgement of God. How well it were if we would thus quiet our
 disorderly appetites and passions, by considering the account we
 must shortly give to the Judge of heaven and earth! And see how
 the overruling providence of God keeps the public peace, by an
 unaccountable power over the spirits of men. Thus the world is
 kept in some order, and men are held back from devouring each
 other. We can scarcely look around but we see men act like
 Demetrius and the workmen. It is as safe to contend with wild
 beasts as with men enraged by party zeal and disappointed
 covetousness, who think that all arguments are answered, when
 they have shown that they grow rich by the practices which are
 opposed. Whatever side in religious disputes, or whatever name
 this spirit assumes, it is worldly, and should be
 discountenanced by all who regard truth and piety. And let us
 not be dismayed; the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of
 many waters; he can still the rage of the people.
04483
 * Paul's journeys. (1-6) Eutychus restored to life. (7-12) Paul
 travels towards Jerusalem. (13-16) Paul's discourse to the
 elders of Ephesus. (17-27) Their farewell. (28-38)

 #1-6 Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove
 from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his
 pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it
 worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was
 but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we,
 how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some
 good account.

04489
 #7-12 Though the disciples read, and meditated, and prayed, and
 sung apart, and thereby kept up communion with God, yet they
 came together to worship God, and so kept up their communion
 with one another. They came together on the first day of the
 week, the Lord's day. It is to be religiously observed by all
 disciples of Christ. In the breaking of the bread, not only the
 breaking of Christ's body for us, to be a sacrifice for our
 sins, is remembered, but the breaking of Christ's body to us, to
 be food and a feast for our souls, is signified. In the early
 times it was the custom to receive the Lord's supper every
 Lord's day, thus celebrating the memorial of Christ's death. In
 this assembly Paul preached. The preaching of the gospel ought
 to go with the sacraments. They were willing to hear, he saw
 they were so, and continued his speech till midnight. Sleeping
 when hearing the word, is an evil thing, a sign of low esteem of
 the word of God. We must do what we can to prevent being sleepy;
 not put ourselves to sleep, but get our hearts affected with the
 word we hear, so as to drive sleep far away. Infirmity requires
 tenderness; but contempt requires severity. It interrupted the
 apostle's preaching; but was made to confirm his preaching.
 Eutychus was brought to life again. And as they knew not when
 they should have Paul's company again, they made the best use of
 it they could, and reckoned a night's sleep well lost for that
 purpose. How seldom are hours of repose broken for the purposes
 of devotion! but how often for mere amusement or sinful revelry!
 So hard is it for spiritual life to thrive in the heart of man!
 so naturally do carnal practices flourish there!

04495
 #13-16 Paul hastened to Jerusalem, but tried to do good by the
 way, when going from place to place, as every good man should
 do. In doing God's work, our own wills and those of our friends
 must often be crossed; we must not spend time with them when
 duty calls us another way.

04499
 #17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking
 man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably,
 and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a
 plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be
 understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel
 as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony
 against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher;
 one that aimed to inform their judgments, and reform their
 hearts and lives. He was a painful preacher, very industrious in
 his work. He was a faithful preacher; he did not keep back
 reproofs when necessary, nor keep back the preaching of the
 cross. He was a truly Christian, evangelical preacher; he did
 not preach notions or doubtful matters; nor affairs of state or
 the civil government; but he preached faith and repentance. A
 better summary of these things, without which there is no
 salvation, cannot be given: even repentance towards God, and
 faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, with their fruits and
 effects. Without these no sinner can escape, and with these none
 will come short of eternal life. Let them not think that Paul
 left Asia for fear of persecution; he was in full expectation of
 trouble, yet resolved to go on, well assured that it was by
 Divine direction. Thanks be to God that we know not the things
 which shall befall us during the year, the week, the day which
 has begun. It is enough for the child of God to know that his
 strength shall be equal to his day. He knows not, he would not
 know, what the day before him shall bring forth. The powerful
 influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true Christian to his
 duty. Even when he expects persecution and affliction, the love
 of Christ constrains him to proceed. None of these things moved
 Paul from his work; they did not deprive him of his comfort. It
 is the business of our life to provide for a joyful death.
 Believing that this was the last time they should see him, he
 appeals concerning his integrity. He had preached to them the
 whole counsel of God. As he had preached to them the gospel
 purely, so he had preached it to them entire; he faithfully did
 his work, whether men would bear or forbear.