that were spoken by Philip, as they heard and saw the miracles 7 which he performed. For unclean spirits, which had possessed many, crying with a loud voice, came out of them; and many who were paralytic and lame were healed. And there was great joy 8 in that city. But there was a certain man, named Simon, who had 9 before in the same city used magic, and astonished the nation of 10 Samaria; pretending himself to be some extraordinary person.:

to whom they all paid regard from the least to the greatest, saying, 11 This man is the great power of God. And they paid this regard to him, because he had for a long time astonished them with his 12 enchantments. But when they gave credit to Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus 13 Christ, they were baptized both men and women. And Simon himself also believed; and being baptized, he kept near to Philip, beholding with amazement the great and powerful miracles which were wrought by him.

REFLECTIONS.

It was honourably and well done of these devout men, to pay this last token of respect to the remains of this first martyr in the Christian cause, by carrying him to his funeral with solemn pomp and public lamentation, though he died like an infamous criminal. Our ever-living and victorious Lord, no doubt, took it well at their hands, and they will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just, when that mangled body which they deposited in the grave shall be transformed into the glorious image of him for whom he gave it up to destruction, and to whose immediate and faithful care he committed the far nobler and more important part.

The wrath of man, O Lord, shall praise thee. It was particularly made to praise thee in this instance, by sending out the gospel-mssionaries, who, during the short repose of the church, had been qualifying for their work, and dispersing them through all the neighbouring countries. Had the calm continued longer, while they were so happy in the love and fellowship of each other, they might have been too much inclinable to build their tabernacles at Jerusalem, and to say, It' is good for us to be here : such delightful mutual converse might have engaged them to prolong their abode there to future months, and perhaps years: In mercy to the churches therefore, and even to themselves, whose truest happiness was connected with their usefulness, were they, like so many clouds big with the rain of heaven, driven different ways by the wind of persecution, that so they might empty themselves in fruitful showers on the several tracts of land through which they went preaching the gospel.

But the remainder of the wrath of this cruel Saul, and the rest of the persecutors, was so restrained, in the midst of its career, that the apostles, who of all others seemed the most obnoxious persons, were for the present secure in Jerusalem; the power of Christ wrought secretly for their defence, and, by some unknown operation, either softened or awed the minds of those who (humanly speaking) had it in their power to add their blood to that of Stephen. Thus was our Lord's

prediction fulfilled with regard to them, in some of the most pressing dangers that could be imagined, that not a hair of their head should perish; and thus was their fidelity and courage approved, by their continued resistance even in this hazardous situation, till Providence gave a further signal for their removal: In this, and in that, they were no doubt directed by supernatural influence, and we may admire their dutiful obedience to those commands, the particular reasons of which we cannot now fully trace.

The continued outrages and cruelties of Saul, serve more and more to illustrate the sovereignty and freedom of divine grace, in that conversion which we are hereafter to survey; and give us a view of a very delightful contrast between the warinth of those efforts which he made first to destroy, and then with proportionable zeal to save.

It is also pleasant to observe, how the gospel mutually conquered the prejudices between the Jews and Samaritans, teaching the Jews to communicate, and the Samaritans to receive it with pleasure. It was a wonderful providence which had permitted the enchantments of Simon to be so successful before; but at length Simon also believeď and was baptized: We see in this, as in a thousand nearer instances, that there may be speculative faith in the gospel, where there is no true piety; and if such persons on the profession of that faith, where nothing appears contrary to it, be admitted to those ordinances by which Christians are distinguished from the rest of mankind, it is an evil in the present state of things unavoidable; and the conduct of Christian ministers and societies in admitting such, will be less displeasing to God than a rigorous severity. May God give us wisdom to guide our way, that we may obtain the happy medium between prostituting divine ordinances by a foolish credulity, and defrauding the children of the household of their bread, because they have not reached such a stature, or do not seek it in those forms or gestures which our mistaken caution may sometimes be ready to demand.

SECTION XVII.

Peter going to Samaria, to impart spiritual gifts there, discovers the hypocrisy of Simon. Ch. viii. 14-25.

14

OW when the apostles, who were still at Jerusalem, heard that

the word of God. they sent to

15 them Peter and John; who going down, prayed for them, that 16 they might receive the Holy Spirit; (for he was not yet fallen on

any of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Je17 sus). Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the 18 Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given

by the imposition of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit, thinking to make advantage of it. 20 But Peter said to him, Let thy money go with thee to destruction,

since thou hast thought the gift of God might be purchased with 21 money. Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter; for thine heart

22 is not upright in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness; and beg of God, if perhaps the thought of thy 23 heart may be forgiven thee; for I perceive that thou art in the 24 gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity. And Simon answered and said, Make your supplications to the Lord on my behalf, that none of these things which ye have spoken may come upon me.

25

When therefore they had borne their testimony to the truth of the go pel, and had spoken the word of the Lord, they turned back for Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans, which lay in their way.

REFLECTIONS.

or

Let us observe this peculiar honour by which the apostles were distinguished, that the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of their hands. Thus did Christ bear his testimony to them, as the authorized teachers of his church; and it evidently appears, that we may with great safety and pleasure submit ourselves to their instruction; these extraordinary gifts were intended in some measure for our benefit; that by an entire resignation to their authority, thus attested, we might be made partakers of those graces, in comparison of which the tongues of men and of angels would be but as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

Who can read without horror the infamous proposal which Simon made, when he thought of purchasing the gift of God with money ? With somewhat of the same horror must we look on all those by whom sacred things are either bought or sold; it is an infamous traffick, about which an upright man cannot deliberate a moment, but will reject it at once with an honest scorn and indignation, like that of Peter in the present instance. God grant that none of the ordinances of Christ may ever be prostituted to secular ends, which seems a crime almost equally enormous! In vain it is for men to profess themselves Christians, in vain to submit like Simon to baptism, or like him to adhere constantly to the ministers of the gospel, if their heart be not right with God; an hypocritical conduct like this will proclaim it aloud, that they are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Wash us, O God, from this odious and polluting gall, which naturally overspreads us; and loosen these bonds of sin with which Satan may sometimes bind those who have a name and a place in thy church, and in which he conveys them to final and everlasting destruction.

Yet let us not utterly despair even of the worst of men, but direct them to that great universal remedy, a deep and serious repentance of their sins, and an earnest address to God by prayer; to him who can wash us from crimson stains, and break in pieces fetters of iron. It is some to ken for good, when sinners seem to fall under reproof, and desire the prayers of those who are more upright than themselves: But if men are animated in such requests and submissions, by no more noble and generous a principle than a fear of destruction from God, there is great reason to suspect the sincerity of that repentance which they profess, and to apprehend that, like Simon, they will unsay all their confession, VOL. I

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and perhaps like him (if we may credit the most authentic uninspired histories of the church) become open enemies to that gospel which they pretended for a while to believe and reverence.

26

SECTION XVIII.

Philip instructs and baptizes an Ethiopian Eunuch. Cl. viii. 26, &c.

A

ND an angel of the Lord spake to Philip, saying, Arise, and go towards the south by the way that goeth down from Jeru27 salem to Gaza, which is desert. And he arose, and took his journey and behold a certain Ethiopian eunuch*, a grandee in the court of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, that was over all 28 her treasure, who had come to worship at Jerusalem, was returning, 29 and sate in his chariot reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spir 30 it said to Philip, Approach, and join thyself to this chariot. And

Philip running up to it, heard him read in the prophet Isaiah, and said to him, Dost thou understand those things which thou art 31 reading? And he said, How can I, unless some one should guide me? And he requested Philip that he would come up and sit with 32 him. Now the period of scripture, which he was reading was this (I. liii. 7, 8.) "He was brought to the slaughter, as a sheep, and as a lamb before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not 33 his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken awayt; and who shall declare his generation? for his life is cut off from 34 the earth." And the eunuch answering Philip, said, I beseech

thee, of whom doth the prophet say this? of himself, or some 35 other person? Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from 36 this scripture, preached to him Jesus. And, as they went along

the way, they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, Be37 hold here is water : what should hinder my being baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, it may lawfully be done. And he answering, said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the 38 son of God. And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he bap39 tized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the

Spirit of the Lord snatched away Philip, and the eunuch saw 40 him no more: for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus||; and going on from thence, he preached the gospel in all the cities along the coast of the Mediterranean, till he came to Cesarea, where he settled for a time.

REFLECTIONS.

There is great reason to adore the gracious counsels and purposes of God, with respect to this Ethiopian eunuch; he was a chosen vessel

*The Hebrew word, which answers to the Greek, is sometimes rendered, an officer. Gen xxxvii. 36, &c.

t. e. His humble station exposed him to injustice: and who can describe the wickedness of that age? A. [See Bp. Lowth in loc.]

The Alex. and other ancient copies read, "The Holy Spirit fell upon the Eunuch, but an angel of the Lord snatched away Philip."

# Or Ashdod, a city 30 miles from Gaza,

and desiring to improve the weak light which he had, God took effectual methods to impart to him more. Thus shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. An angel of the Lord is sent to give directions to an evangelist to meet him in a desert, and to instruct him there, in what he had not learnt in his attendance at Jerusalem; and Philip, in obedience to the divine command, immediately retires from the more public service he had been engaged in at Samaria, to execute whatever God should please to call him to, though he should order him to go into a wilderness, as he could even there open a door of opportunity to make him useful and while, like Philip, we govern ourselves by the intimations of his will, we shall not run in vain nor labour in vain.

It was a prudent and exemplary care, especially in a person engaged in such a variety of public business as the eunuch was, to improve that vacant space of time which a journey allowed him, in reading what might edify and instruct him even as he sat in his chariot. He chose the sacred oracles, and while perusing them, was in an extraordinary manner taught of God. The question which Philip put to him, we should often put to ourselves; Understandest thou what thou readest? Let us choose those writings which may be worth our study, and then let us labour to digest them, and not rest in the empty amusement which a few wandering, unconnected, and undigested ideas may give us, while they pass through our minds like so many images over a mirror, leaving no impression at all behind them. The scripture especially will be worthy of our study, that we may understand it; and we should earnestly pray, that this study may be successful. For this purpose let us be willing to make use of proper guides, though it must be confessed, that none we are like to meet with at present can have a claim to that authority with which Philip taught. It is pleasant, nevertheless, with a becoming humility, to offer what assistance we can to our fellow travellers on such an occasion as this; and God grant that we who do it, especially in that way which is most extensive and lasting, may neither be deceived in scripture ourselves, nor deceive others by misrepresenting its sense!

If we enter into the true sense of the ancient prophecies, we must undoubtedly see Christ in them, and particularly in that excellent chapter of Isaiah which the pious eunuch was now reading. Let us often view our divine master in that amiable and affecting light in which he is here represented; let us view him, though the Son of God, by a generation which none can fully declare, yet brought to the slaughter as a lamb, and dumb as a sheep before its shearers. And let us learn patiently to suffer with him, if called to it, in humble hope of reigning with him, even though, like his, our judgment also should be taken away, and we be cut off from the land of the living.-Let those who firmly believe in him as the Son of God, enter themselves into his church, by those distinguishing solemnities which he has appointed for that purpose, to which the greatest should not think themselves above submitting. Let the ministers of Christ readily admit those that make a credible profession of their faith in Jesus, and of their resolution to be subject to him, to such ordinances, not clogging them with any arbitrary impositions or demands. And when men are come