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Now, however, the light was come, and the glory of God had risen at Jerusalem. But Jerusalem herself refused to “ arise and shine.”7 Her people preferred the "gross darkness" by which they were covered, to the light which had come into the world. They rejected their own mercy : and they to whom the offer was first made, put it from them, and judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life: leaving an example to all future ages, lest they also perish "through an evil heart of unbelief." 8

Unworthy of everlasting life, we must all continue to the end. "We do not presume to come before God, trusting in our own righteousness, but in his manifold and great mercies." But God counts as worthiness, a thankful acceptance of his mercy, a lively faith in his promises: a willing movement of the heart towards Him, whom he himself has made "the Lord our righteousness." The unworthiness of these persons, was the unworthiness of those who "profess to know God, but in their works deny him:" "who love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.” "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ;" these had no charms for them: they had nothing in common with such things. Therefore they must "eat

7 Is. lx. ut supra.

8 Heb. iii. 12.

the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices:" "for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord." 9

LECTURE XLII.

A COMPANY OF BELIEVERS FORMED AT ANTIOCH. THE APOSTLES ARE DRIVEN FROM THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.-A. d. 45.

ACTS xiii. 48-52.

48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

The Lord Jesus had affirmed that "no man can come unto him, unless the Father draw him:" and had also said, "All that the Father giveth me, shall come unto me." 4

Here were those manifestly drawn of the Father. They had followed Paul and Barnabas; and after hearing them, had desired that their doctrines might be more fully explained. Of these hearers some probably had dropped off, not persuaded to continue in the grace of God. Others were glad,

9 Prov. i. 31, 29.

1 John vi. 44. Ibid. 37.

and embraced the faith, and glorified the word of the Lord.

Seeing this, and well knowing that it could not be except through the power of the Holy Ghost, St. Luke speaks of them in an unusual phrase, As many as were ordained to eternal life believed. The same words had been addressed to all. All had heard the same assurance: "Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this Jesus is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” But one party, from the first, had heard these words with indifference, and then with opposition and enmity. The others, meanwhile, had shown, first, interest, then earnestness, then thankful joy readiness of mind to hear, and humbleness of heart to receive the gospel. Such a spirit can be given of God alone: and when he saw it given, the writer at once refers it to God's will and pleasure, who had not appointed them to wrath, but to obtain salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ." 2

Look now on the other side; on those who did not believe; and therefore were not ordained to eternal life. When they saw the multitude, they

2 See 1 Thess. v. 9. Much has been written concerning the word Teтayμevo, ordained, as signifying those prepared, set in order, disposed. Here, however, is an ambiguity. We shall not rightly interpret the phrase, unless we bear in mind that the word can never describe men as prepared, set in order, or disposed for anything of themselves.

were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. This was their exclusion. There was indeed a difference, a separation; but they made it for themselves. The door was not shut against them, but they closed the door of their own hearts. God did not set up a light for the Gentiles, and strike the Jews with blindness. Their own evil passions, their envy, their prejudice, their national pride, kept their hearts closed, and acted as a veil before their minds, that seeing they should not see, and hearing they should not understand.

3

Meanwhile, the whole is according to divine appointment. It is God's appointment, that such a state of mind as was shown by the Jews of Antioch, should be hardened into unbelief. And it is equally his appointment, that the sheep who hear the voice of the true shepherd, and follow him, are ordained to eternal life: and "they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of his hand."4

We see, in what follows, the temper of that party which had counted themselves unworthy of eternal life.

50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, und expelled them out of their coasts.

3 See 1 Peter ii. 8.

4 John x. 27.

51. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came into Iconium.

52. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Here was a fulfilment of our Lord's words: (Luke xii. 51) "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division." As at Iconium, afterwards, "the whole

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city was divided." On the one side, were those who published the word of the Lord, and those who with joy received it. On the other hand were those who opposed the word, “contradicting and blaspheming." And these made a party to their support; stirred up men of influence and women of respectable condition, and persuaded them that the preachers of those new truths were dangerous persons, innovators, disturbers of the peace of families, who could not be too soon forced to leave the place where they were causing so much disquiet.

The apostles obeyed their Lord's injunction. Being "persecuted in one city," they "fled into another." 6 But first they protested against those who raised the persecution, and expelled them out of their coasts. They shook off the dust of their feet against them: as much as to say, that they considered them as heathens, though calling them

5 Ch. xiv. 4.

6 Matt. x. 23.

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