Uses. Now this is —
1. An argument to confirm us in the divine authority of the word, because it worketh such terrors and asonies in men's hearts. What
VeR. 37.] SERMONS UPON ACTS 11. 37, 33. 239
but the word of God can cite men's consciences before his tribunal, who alone giveth laws to the conscience, and appalleth the stoutest sinners ? Paul, a prisoner at the bar, maketh the judge tremble. It is true, natural conscience can accuse and terrify, but it is for sins evident by natural light : Kom. ii. 15, ' Which show the work of the law written upon their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or excusing one another ; ' Heb. ii. 15, ' Who through fear of death are all their lifetime subject to bon- dage.' But not for gospel sins, and not believing in Christ ; tliat is the property of the word, accompanied by the Spirit : John xvi. 9, ' He shall convince the world of sin, because they believe not in me.' And to convince them in sucli a heart-breaking manner as that nothing will satisfy them but the favour of God in Christ, that is divine. They that have not felt this power of the word fear it : John iii. 20, ' For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.' They see the majesty of God in his word ransacking the conscience.
2. It encourageth us to preach the word with power and authority, as knowing whose ministers we are, and whose word it is. Yea, though we have a refractory people, who are ready to deride and mock at what we say to them in the name of the Lord, yet we ought not to be daunted, but set our faces as an adamant stone. The prophet Jeremiah was dis- couraged, and ready to give over, when he heard ' the defaming of many, and the word of the Lord was made a reproach to him,' Jer. xx. 8-11, ' But the Lord is with me, as a mighty and terrible one.' That fetched up his spirits, and got np his courage again. We distrust the power of our Master, and his mighty Spirit, that hath ever gone along with his word, and made it able to break the stoutest and stiffest hearts. Two things may encourage us —
[I.] The blood of Christ, which is of virtue sufficient to work off men from their inveterate customs : 1 Peter i. 18, ' For ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversations received by tradition from your fathers.' There is merit enough on his part to make the word effectual, and the power of his Spirit, which can bear down all prejudices. As here, where it was first poured out, when some of the persecutors of Christ were in a scoffing, mocking frame, they were indicted and arraigned by Peter, and con- demned in their own consciences, yea, were changed and converted by it. And such a power doth still accompany the word : 1 Cor. xiv, 24, 25, ' But if they all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, and judged of all; and thus are tiie secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.' An infidel coming in by chance, God taketh him by the heart ; tliere- fore why should we be dismayed and discouraged in the Lord's work ? 2 Cor. X. 4, * For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.'
[2.] Encouragement to those that are sensible of hanhiess to wait on the word of Cod. It is a powerfid instrument in the hand of God wlien used as his ordinance, and his blessing is waited for, to melt and soften US, and make us pliable to every holy purpose. God appealeth to our
240 SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. [SeR. L
experience : Jer, xxiii. 29, ' Is not my word like fire, saiili the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces ? ' A fire to melt, and a hammer to break ! Ob, what can stand before the power of it ? Use it in good conscience, as one of the means of grace, and you shall find it will awaken you ; nay, wound and heal you, and prove the power of God to your salvation. Some consideration or other will be given out to set your hearts a-work in heavenly things with greater life and ])Ower. All the miracles which God showed, either before or at the death of Christ, did not work so as this one sermon of Peter's. Cer- tainly either the word will do it, or nothing will do it.
Secondly, It was the word of God, soundly taught, and handled with wisdom, and in a convincing way ; for Peter taketh the scriptures, and solidly proveth to them that Jesus, whom they crucified, was the Christ. That is his conclusion in the 36th verse, •' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, botli Lord and Christ.' He maketh it evident in a powerful way of conviction ; ' Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart.' Note, a powerful searching ministiy, that bringeth men to a sight and sense of their sins, is best to fit men for conversion to God. Theie is a playing with scripture in oratorian flourishes, and a sound inculcation of it. When men strive to make Ihose that hear them the better for what they say, that is the ministry that will prick the heart ; the others scarce tear the skin. It was said of Pericles, that his speech was piercing, in animis auditorum aculeos reliquit: he left a sting in the minds of his hearers, not by the charms of rhetoric, but by a serious, pungent discourse. That is the best preaching which woundeth the heart ; it is most for the glory of God, and for the good of souls. Speaking pleasing things to tickle the ear better becometh the stage than the pulpit. It is said, Eccles. xii. 11, ' That the words of the wise are as goads and nails, fastened by the master of the assemblies ; ' words that have a notable acumen in them ; some spiritual sharpness to affect the heart and quicken our dull affections. He meaneth sound and spiritual doctrine, such as doth not flatter men in their sins, but awaken and rouse them up. Si prcedica- toris non ^nmgit sermo, sed ohlectai, sapiens non est — He is not a wise preacher who doth not mind his end, whose speech is fuller of flashes of wit than of savoury wholesome truths, that rather thinketh to please the ear than to awaken the conscience. He doth not act like a master of the assemblies. Illius doctoris vocem lihenter audio, non qui sihi plausum, sed qui mihi plan ctum movet, saith Bernard. They are the best preachers, and most aff'ectionate to you, that wound your souls ; though they rub an old sore till it ache, it is the better. The work of a minister is not to gain applause to himself, but souls to God. That maketh you go away, and say, not. How well hath he preached ! but, How ill have I lived ! — that ends with self-loathing rather than com- mendation of his parts. He must not lenocinia qucerere, sed remedia, saith Salvian : seek out, not jingling words, but choice remedies for your souls.