0 Rom. viii. 20.
THE GOOD EFFECTS OF A CANDID ATTENTION TO THE GOSPEL.
Acts xvii. 11, 12. These tvere more noble than those in IViessa- hnica, in, that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scripttires daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed.
THE clamour often raised against the Gospel is no argument against the Gospel itself. God's messengers have in all ages been opposed by the ungodly. Even our Lord himself, who spake as never man spake, was credited by very few; but there will always be found some who will give the truth a favourable reception. Different hearers are differently affected with the word they hear in these days. This however only shews that human nature is the same now that it was in St. Paul's time.
I. Wherein the Beraeans excelled the Thessalonians —
The Jews in Beraea had been educated in the same prejudices as those in Thessalonica : yet their conduct was in perfect contrast with that of the Thessalonians.
They excelled,
1. In candour —
[The Thessalonians would not so much as consider what they heard from the Apostle : but the Beraeans " inquired whether these things were so." They did not conclude every thing to be false which did not accord with their preconceived opinions. This was a noble spirit, because it shewed that they were not in subjection to their prejudices.]
2. In equity —
[The Thessalonians, not satisfied with rejecting the word, were filled with wrath against those who delivered it unto them3. Nothing could be more contrary to equity than thus to calumniate the innocent, and persecute the messengers of heaven. The Beraeans, on the contrary, made a diligent use of the means afforded them for solving their doubts : they "searched the Scriptures," which they considered as the only standard of truth, and to which the Apostle himself had appealed ; they " searched them daily," that they might form their judgment upon the surest grounds : they would neither receive nor reject any thing which they had not maturely weighed.]
3. In a regard for truth —
[Truth was neither sought for, nor desired by, the Thessa- lonian Jews. Loving darkness rather than light, they strove to extinguish the light which shone around them. But the Beraeans " received the word with all readiness of mind :" they were glad to get instruction in matters of such moment : their hearts were prepared for it, as melted wax for the sealb. Thus they acted as beings endowed with reason, while the Thessalonians resembled irrational and ferocious beasts.]
Suited to their noble disposition0 was,
a They misrepresented the principles of the Apostle, stirred up a tumult against him, assaulted his friends under colour of justice, obliged him to flee for his life, followed him with unrelenting animo- sity to Beraea, and, notwithstanding the acceptance he met with there, drove him from thence also.
b See Rom. vi. 17. which, in the Greek conveys the idea of being cast into a mould.
c Even a heathen saw that such a virtuous disposition constituted the only true nobility. "Nobilitas sola est, atque unica, virtus." Juv. Sat. 8.