indeed in our Jerusalem, who does not know how fiercely even the first principle of the Gospel, the doctrine of salvation by
faith in Christ, is decried The sons of Jannes and
Jambres, and of Alexander the coppersmith, are as subtle and malignant as their fathers weref ]
2. By base calumnies —
[We can have no doubt but that Elymas would endeavour to discredit the testimony of Paul and Barnabas by evil in- sinuations against their character and designs ; nor would he fail to load their doctrine also with all the reproaches which Jewish malignity could suggest. And are not these weapons still used against the Gospel? Are not the preachers of it represented as " the troublers of Israel," as " deceivers," as "turning the world upside down?" Are they not often spoken of as crafty men, who in their hearts are adverse to the civil and ecclesiastical establishments of the land wherein they dwell ? Is not their doctrine traduced precisely as in the days of old? St. Paul's complaint was, " We be slanderously reported, and some affirm that we say, Let us do evil that good may come : " and for the same complaint there is abundant occasion, wherever the Gospel is faithfully preached: nor can any better answer be made to our accusers than Paul himself made, namely, that " their damnation is justg." Indeed it is not possible for any one to embrace the truth in sincerity, without becoming an object for the envenomed shafts of slander : and it is worthy of observation, that, as this treatment is experienced by those universally who preach or profess the Gospel, so it is experienced by them exclusively : a man may preach or profess what else he will, and yet be at peace with the world : but the moment he becomes a decided follower of Christ, a warfare is commenced against him, even by his nearest relatives ; yea " his greatest foes are generally those of his own household."]
In the Apostle's answer,, however, we observe, III. The evil and danger of opposing it —
The evil of it is marked in the terms which the Apostle used —
[We will grant that there was in Elymas a peculiar malignity of character, which justified the severity of St. Paul's address ; and that the same severity would not be just, if used against many who oppose the Gospel : but still, in pro- portion as our character or conduct resembles that of Elymas, the terms in which he was addressed may be applied to us.
It is a fact, that the greater part of those who raise up opposition to the Gospel, are men of a subtle and mischievous
f 2 Tim. iii. 8. and iv. 1-1, 15. p Rom. iii. 8.