the law was given by Moses; that Moses himself was rejected by the people whom he was sent to deliver; that he also had directed the people to look for another Prophet who should arise after him, and whom they must obey at the peril of their souls. He then shewed, that whilst the temple was yet in all its glory, and its services were performed with the strictest regularity, God had spoken of the temple in the most dis- paraging terms, as unsuitable to the majesty of Him who fdled heaven and earth b.
Here the drift of his discourse began to appear : the people saw that their temple and its services were not necessary to the enjoyment of God's favour, and that they could afford no security to those who were disobedient to his word. Here therefore they manifested their wrathful indignation : which obliged him to drop the prosecution of his argument, and to proceed to]
2. The application of it to their hearts and con- sciences—
[Nothing could be more temperate or cautious than the foregoing discourse. But when Stephen saw the inveteracy of their prejudices, he changed his voice, and adckessed them with an energy and fidelity that became a servant of the living God. They had indeed in their flesh the seal of God's cove- nant ; but they were " uncircumcised in heart and ears," and " resisted the Holy Ghost," who both by his word and influ- ence strove to bring them to a better mind. They professed to venerate the prophets ; but they were following the steps of their forefathers, who had uniformly persecuted those whom God had sent to instruct and warn them : yea, they had been the betrayers and murderers of their Messiah himself: and though they pretended a great regard for the law, and pro- fessed to be actuated by a zeal for its honour, they had never been truly observant of its commands.
Such is the character of persecutors in general : they are full of pride and wrath, and are so blinded by prejudice as to be incapable of seeing the wickedness of their own hateful dispositions. Their zeal for God's honour is a mere pretence, a cover, and a plea for their own malignity. Look at them in every age, they all are actuated by the same spirit, and all tread in the same paths. Doubtless in addressing them we should first try what argument and persuasion will do ; and we should exercise much patience towards them : but when we find that they shut their ears and harden their hearts against conviction, we should not be afraid to exhibit their conduct in its true light, or to set before them the judgments which they are bringing on their own souls.]
h Isai. lxvi. 1, 2.