2. I observe again, that they took some course for their comfort and relief : ' They said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles. Men and brethren, what shall we do ? ' Felix trembled, but it was but a super- ficial work, and came to nothing, Acts xxiv. 25 ; it was soon over ; he delayeth and adjourneth the consideration of his danger. Cain and Judas being terrified, they despair : Gen. iv. 13, 14, ' And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear ; ' Mat. xxvii. 3, 4, ' He brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said. What is tliat to us? See thou to that.' But this in the text was a more kindly work. They do not turn the sense of their misery into a slothful despair and despondency, but ask counsel. Many have some qualms and risings of conscience, but they soon die away. Therefore it is good to see what we do with our trouble. It is opus respecttvtim ; it reacheth to some further work, which we should look after, that we smother it not.
3. I observe that they take a good course. They do not go to the scribes and })harisees, whose malice would have prompted them to have defaced this work, but to Peter and the rest of the apostles ; not to merry company and carnal delights, where it might be quenched, but to those that could best direct them how to improve it for good, to the ambassadors of Christ. When we are sick, it concerneth us to think what physician we choose ; some are mere mountebanks, and will pre- scribe poisons instead of remedies. Many, when they are wounded in spirit, run to their carnal companions, and drink away sorrow, or game
254 SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. [SeR. IIL
and play away sorrow, or read away sorrow, and seek to put themselves out of the humour. Alas ! this is but to put off that which they can- not put away, and to fly from grief, not to cure it : not to settle, but to sear the conscience ; vain helps, that will in the issue perplex us the more, and make the cure the more difficult.
4. I observe in the general, that they speedily took a good course. It is not good to neglect the present time, and lose the importunity of the present conviction. While it is warm upon our hearts, let us carry on the work of God as far as it will go. Let us step in as soon as we see the waters troubled, John v. 4. There is much time in a little opportunity. As soon as the wound is given and felt ; in bodily diseases delay is dangerous ; as soon as we feel the first strivings and grudgings of conscience : Acts xxiv. 25, * Felix trembled.' He was all in an agony ; but he put off his conviction, and we hear no more of him. We read of converts that followed Christ forthwith : Mat. iv. 20, ' Straightway they left their nets, and followed him ; ' and Gal. i. 16, ' Immediately I consulted not with flesh and blood.' These impulses will be lost, and you will outgrow the feelings of conscience in a little time. These good motions are spent if not prosecuted, and then you will be in a worse condition than before. Your comforts will come the sooner, the sooner you look after a cure. Sorrow will increase to horror and desperation : 2 Chron. xxiv. 19, 20, 'When the king heard the words of the law, he presently rent his clothes, and commands them to go and inquire of the Lord for him.' Green wounds are the soonest cured. When a bone is out of joint, the longer the setting is forborne, the greater will the pain of the patient be ; yea, it may be so long neglected that no skill nor art can set it right again. So it is in the cure of a wounded spirit and bleeding conscience. The ground is fitter to receive the seed after it is newly ploughed, and the present impres- sion of grace is a great advantage. Work while you have that advan- tage. Worldly occasions and distractions will choke the sense we have of our condition ; therefore let us betimes strike in, and seek a remedy. To put it off is strangely to neglect the soul and eternal peace. When thy conscience is struck by the word, and thy heart is pierced, withdraw thyself from all other distractions, and drive the work home ; seek presently for direction and remedy.
SERMON III.
And they said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, lohat shall loe do ? — Acts ii. 37.
Observe in the words — (1.) To whom they go ; (2.) What they say.
1. Their civil compellation.
2. Their solemn question.
First, Their civil compellation and respect to the apostles, ' Men and brethren.' Ministers are in season (and therefore in esteem) when
VeR. 37.] SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. 255
raen lie under distress of conscience. Pliaraoli ran not to his magicians in his trouble, but to Moses and Aaron. Those that humour our lusts are ministers only for our carnal prosperity ; those that deal consci- entiously are ministers for our distress ; and though they were con- temptible before, and scorned by us, yet then they are in request. Before, they and their pains might be well spared, their persons are hated, their doctrine scorned and despised ; but stay a little, till a pang of spiritual trouble comes upon them, and then their sentiments are altered. Those that mocked at them before will now be glad of their advice. The jailor put the apostles into the inner prison, and put their feet in the stocks ; but when a trembling fit cometh upon him, then it is, ' Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? ' Acts xvi. 30. Those that slighted holy things before, yet when chastened with pain upon the body, and their soul draweth near to the grave, and their life to the destroyers, oh, then for a faithful minister, for a ' messenger of God, one of a thousand, to show a man his uprightness,' Job xxxiii. 23. Then they are of great account and esteem. Oh, that we had the same notions of men and things in trouble and out of trouble, living and dying ! it would prevent a great deal of mischief.