world, the faithful servants of Christ. Their conduct
on this occasion will lead me to sh
I. What effects the Gospel produced on them —
S me amongst them had already "believed* in Christ : but not so as to come under the full influence of the Go* .re wrought upon at this
time : the wonder, which they beheld, impressing them . a conviction which they had not felt before. . _ neral sentiment now pervaded the whole assem- vho had used curious an-, brought their book- _ ::ier, and burned them be- fore all men;" thus shewing, that, through the grace of God, they v. led to obtain a victory ov
1 . The love of this world —
[They had been held in high repute for their skill in magic: and probably, like Simon the Sorcerer, had induced many to regard them with the utmc rf .he great
power of Gode.~ But now they u confessed," before all, that had been impostors: u they shewed their deeds," and took shame to themselves --eople.
had been enabled to keep up the deception, they devoted to destruction : and thus gave to all a most unquestionable evidence of their shame, their sorrow, and contrition.
Tr. bewed their disregard of worldly honour. And
same contempt they manifested, also, for their worldly in- terests. These books were numerous, and c : :ng great valu.. lowest calculation. -Jd have sold for • ':. of our money: and, if the owners had been anxious about their temporal interest, they might easi. :.und an excuse for conver: g ir property into mon. they preferred the honouring of God, in the destruction of propertv that must be so hateful to him. And in this senti- ment thev were all of one accord and of one mind.]
2. T::e principle of sin within them —
[Perhaps thi? - that they could
make : since, from a variety of considerations, both of honour and of inter regarded by them as their
dearest treasure. But the afraid lest these boo-
retained bv them, should become a snare to them in future ; or, if sold by them, become an occasion of sin to others : and in either case the evil would be incalculabl. Ehey now felt
b See John iL 23— 25. —11.