Jerusalem, but had not heard of His resurrection and ascension, or was not assured of it till it was now confirmed to him by one sent from God Himself; and so, not knowing what to believe, he had earnestly prayed to God to lead him in the way of truth, and to make known to him what he ought to do2. To these aspirations an Angel of God was commissioned to come and say to him, "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." Extraordinary means of information are never to be expected when ordinary instruction can be found. A truth which destroys enthusiasm in every shape, and places the faith of the Gospel above imposture or deceit. Accordingly we find the information desired by Cornelius is not given him by the Angel, for the dispensation of the Gospel was committed not to Angels but to men; and all things must be done in order as God has thought proper to appoint in the Church'; but Cornelius was commanded to "send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon whose surname is Peter; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." And now the grand dispensation, the mystery which had been kept secret for ages, was to be unfolded, "that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of 2 Joseph Mede. 3 Brewster. 4 Bishop Horne. the promise of Christ." A particular revelation prepared the mind of Peter for proposing these high privileges to the heathens, and removed his objections; and afterwards the prejudices of his brother Apostles, all of whom were with difficulty persuaded of this truth, though it had been so expressly predicted by the prophets. About noon, being one of the hours of daily prayer, "Peter went up upon the house-top to pray," where, being overtaken by a strong sensation of hunger, "he fell into a trance," and saw all manner of unclean animals presented to him as it were from heaven, and heard a voice inviting him to satisfy his hunger upon them. Astonished at such an invitation, he ventured to express the scruples, which, as a Jew, hitherto observant of the rules laid down by Moses, he could not but feel'; but he was taught by an audible voice from heaven, three times repeated, that the distinction of clean and unclean, appointed by the Levitical Law, was now to cease; and that what God had sanctified he must not reject as common or polluted". "Now, while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate;" and 5 Dr. Robinson. 6 Dr. Whitby. $ Dr. Robinson. while Peter thought on the vision, he was directed by the Spirit to "go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them." "Then Peter went down unto the men," "and on the morrow went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him." St. Peter seems to have taken these brethren with him as witnesses of all that might occur, and to prevent misrepresentations'. SECT. CXCVII.-Peter preacheth Christ to Cornelius and his Countrymen.-Acts x. 24-48. THEY found Cornelius at Cesarea waiting for them, and "he had called together his kinsmen and near friends," who were assembled to hear the doctrine of this Divine teacher. Accordingly, after stating on what grounds he had undertaken the journey, Peter proceeded to preach the Gospel to them without reserve'; he now fully understood the meaning of the vision that had perplexed him at Joppa, that he should associate as freely with Gentiles as he had hitherto done with Jews2. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." Some persons have grafted a dangerous error on this text, as if to fear God and work righteousness, under any form of religious belief, were all that was essentially necessary to salvation. Such D Bishop Pearce. 1 Dr. Robinson. 2 Dean Howard. an opinion is however fully refuted by the case of Cornelius himself, who, though he possessed all those requisites, yet was required by a special revelation to embrace Christianity 3. Peter then declared the character and work of Jesus Christ, and insisted on His life, death, resurrection, and the future judgment; and he maintained that, agreeably to God's revelations by the prophets, from the beginning, “remission of sins".could now be obtained by all who believe in the Saviour's name. It pleased God to confirm the Word, and prove undeniably that He would have the Gentiles admitted into His Church, a miracle is added from heaven to the doctrine taught by Peter, and "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word 1." The Holy Ghost was poured alike upon the uncircumcised as well as upon the circumcised, giving the most convincing proof that God now intended no further difference between them ". This giving of the Holy Ghost before baptism, contrary to the usual manner, seems to have been intended for a proof to the Jews here present, that God would have the Gentiles called into Christianity. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." The Holy Ghost is thus bestowed on them in the same manner as it was first bestowed on the Jews by immediate infusion, and not by 3 Dr. Hales. 66 imposition of hands; and by the gift of tongues they were enabled to speak and understand the originals of Scripture. That this ability was the first-fruits of the gift of tongues is manifest; for this was more necessary for their own edification, and for the edification of others, than the mere speaking in divers tongues, where all understood the same language'. These effusions of the Holy Spirit, liberal, glorious, and manifestly Divine as they were, did not supersede the necessity of those Sacraments which Christ had left as ordinary marks and means of conferring and expressing Church membership amongst His followers: and it plainly demonstrates the error of the doctrine maintained by the Quakers, that water-baptism is unnecessary to those that have received the inward baptism of the Spirit; since here Peter not only declares that waterbaptism ought to be administered: "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we ?" but also commands them to be baptized on this very account o. SECT. CXCVIII.-Peter accused, maketh his defence.— THE free communication of St. Peter with the 7 Dr. Lightfoot. * Dean Stanhope. Dr. Whitby. |