What degree of success attended his efforts will appear from, II. The effects it produced —
On Drusilla's mind it seems to have produced no effect —
[She, as a Jewess, must have often heard these subjects treated ; but, having sinned against light and knowledge, she was unaffected by all she heard : and thus are many hardened even by the Gospel itself.]
a Felix had induced Drusilla to forsake her own husband, and to marry him : he was moreover remarkably avaricious and oppressive.
But Felix " trembled"—
[A curious and uncommon sight! The judge "trembling" at the reasonings of his prisoner ! But well might he tremble at the review of his past life and at the prospect of a future retribution. And who has not reason to tremble, if he have not fled to Christ for refuge and found acceptance with God through him? Take the holy law of God, my brethren, and try yourselves by it. Surely there will not be one who will not cry out, as Felix should have done, " What shall I do to be saved?"]
He forbore however to improve the occasion as he ought —
[He promised himself a more convenient season for at- tending to the concerns of his soul. But what season could be more suitable, than when the Spirit of God was striving with him, and his conscience was awake, and an inspired instructor was at hand to lead him to a Saviour ? Could he have better hopes of success, when he had seared his conscience, quenched the Spirit, confirmed his evil habits, and delivered himself up to the chains of Satan? The hoped-for day, alas! never arrived. He still for two years longer continued his avaricious and oppressive habits b. O that he had known the day of his visitation, and impi'oved his day of grace !]
Let his example serve as a caution to us —
[All of us have known, in some measure, the motions of God's Spirit. All of us have felt, at times, some general apprehensions respecting the account which we must give at the day of judgment. But how many have silenced their con- victions, in hopes of finding some more convenient season for attending to them ! And how many have died before the hoped-for opportunity arrived ! Let us beware of this device of Satan, whereby he upholds his kingdom in the world0. Let us remember, that the same temptations will recur, and the same motives influence us at future periods. Let us attend to that salutary advice of the Apostle d — and let us seek, with- out delay, that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation e.]
b ver. 26, 27.
c He does not tempt any to resolve that they will never repent : hut takes the more plausible method of insinuating that they will have a more convenient season for repenting.
d Heb. iii. 13, 15. e 2 Cor. vii. 10.
1811.] Paul's commission. 560