VII. To prevent the di.'^couragement of those that want gifts, or parts, or means. Suppose their adversaries be mighty : * It is nothing with God to help with many, or them that have no power,' 2 Chron. xiv. 11. The less in the creature the more in God : 2 Cor. xii. 9, ' His power is perfected in our weakness.' God many times passeth over the strong, wise, and under.'^tanding, and gets himself most glory in protecting the weak, and providing for them.
The issue of all is this : Let us bear all things befalling its from the wi.se hand and providence of the Lord, and encourage ourselves in his all-sufficiency in all straits and difiiculties.
Acts XXL 14.] the fifteenth sermon. 327
SERMON XV.
And when he luould not he persuaded, we ceased, saying, The ivill of the Lord he done. — Acts XXI. 14.
The history that concerns this passage begins at the 8th verse. la the whole you may take notice : —
I. Of the occasion.
II. Of the carriage of the saints upon it.
I. In the occasion I observe : —
1. That Paul was now at Cesarea, in Philip's house, ver. 8. Philip was one of those that were scattered and driven out of his dwelling by Paul's persecution, Acts viii. 4, 5 ; and now he received him into his own house. Philip, that was injured by Paul a persecutor, is easily reconciled with Paul a convert. It is an ill office to rake in the filth which God hath covered, and it argueth some envy at the divine grace to upbraid men with sins committed before conversion. Former mis- carriages and injuries should be forgotten. If Christ hath taken them into his bosom, we should not be strange to them.
2. There Agabus comes to him and prophesieth of Paul's bonds at Jerusalem. Agabus was a prophet, but by what appeal's of him in scripture, ever a prophet of evil tidings: he foretold a famine, Acts xi. 28, and now Paul's bonds. God will be glorified by all manner of tempers and dispositions. Some, like Agabus, come always with a sad message in their mouths ; and yet these have their use. Even those that give warning of judgments to come should be accepted, as well as those that bring us hojies of mercy and deliverance. It was an unjust exception of the king of Israel against Micaiah, 1 Kings xxii. 8, ' I hate him ; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.' They that do evil do not love to hear of evil ; and yet that may be true which is not pleasing.
3. Agabus useth a sign, ver. 11 ; he goes and binds himself, and showeth thus it should be done with Paul at Jerusalem. This was usual with the prophets ; as Isaiah went naked and barefoot to show what should be their usage under the king of Assyria, Isa. xx. 2, 3. Ezekiel was to pack up his stuff and remove, to signify what should be the lot of the people, Ezek. xii. 3-5 ; that God might teach his people by visible signs, as well as by word of mouth, and what was received by both senses (sight and hearing) might make a deeper im- pression upon their souls ; therefore he hath instituted sacraments. As kings delight to have their royal deeds not only recorded in chronicles, but to have some monuments set up as a sign which may be perpetuated in future ages, so the Lord Jesus, having vanquished death, hell, the grave, the devil, and sin, not only has it recorded in his Avord, but would give us signs and monuments, that we might continually remember both the victory and the comfort we have by Christ.
But what needs Paul so often to be warned of his bonds ? He had been told before, Acts xx. 22, 23, * I go bound in the spirit to Jeru- salem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there, save that the
328 THE FIFTEENTH SERMON. [ACTS XXI. 14.
Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.' And then again, in tliis chapter, Acts xxi. 4, ' There were some disciples which said to Pan! through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.' How shall we reconcile these expressions ? They ' said through the Spirit that Paul should not go up to Jerusa- lem ;' and yet l*aul was ' bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem.' In this latter place we must distinguish between the prediction of troubles and the counsel of satety. The i)rediction of troubles ; so they said through theSpirit that it would bedangerous tor Paul to go to Jerusalem, but they dissuaded him i'rom going to Jerusalem out of their own private love and afiection to him ; so that Paul was warned again and again.
Quesf. But why was he warned so often ?
Ans. That he might be thoroughly prepared. God doth not love to take his children unprovided. Paul was not surprised, but had warning upon warning of his present danger. If a sudden and unex- pected tlood of miseries break in upon us, it is not because we want warning, but because we will not take warning. When we are well at ease, we will not think of death and the cross ; and therefore, if we be unprovided, we may thank our own security.