The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 67

proud, 11elf-llllfficient, but insufficient egoism. Christianity dill'era from it In that it teaohe11- J. THAT A Drvnra FATHBR, AND NOT A.N INEXORABLE FATE, I8 TRB RULING POWER IN THE UNIVl>RSB. It is not true that Deity is subject to a\l-eonquering fate; it is true that all circumstanoe is under Divino control. JI. TluT OONTROLLED AND 001!.'SKORATED FEELING, NOT A.N INl'LEXIDLE APATHY, 18 THE mGHEBT ATTAINABLE OONDITION. We are not to quench our feeling, or to impose on ouraelves or others by the appearance of apathy. We are to weep nnd to rejoice; but (1) our sorrow and our joy are both to be regulated-we are to "let our moderation appear unto all men;" and (2) our sorrow and our joy are both to be consecrated to God,-the one is to be borne with a resignation which is not a sullen endurance of the inevit~ble, but a filial acccpt&nco of the d~cision of the wiso and faithful Father of spirits ; the other is to he accepted with thankfulness, and dedicated to the ser\·ice of the Supromo One and the surrounding ones. lll. THAT A TRUE SPIDITUAL OONDITION IS ATTAINABLE, NOT BY UNAIDED INDI• YIDUAL wn.L, llUT BY HELP OF TIIK DIVINE SPDUT. (2 Cor. :xii. 10; Phil. iv. 13.) lV. THAT l!."EITRER ULTIMATE ABSOBPTION, NOR UTTER DESTRUCTION, DUT AN EVEll•LIYING SPffiIT IN A GLOltIFmD DODY, IS THE HOPE OF THE WISE AND TRUE. .. He preached unto them Jesus, and the resuf'Netion."-0. Vers. IS-21.-0uriosity at thefeet of Ohrist. In the company which gathered on !fars' Hill, to listen to the Christian teacher, we have a picture of curiosity sitting at the feet of Christ. For it is clear that this was not a court sitting to try a prisoner, but a chance compn.ny of citizens, wishing to hear what new and strange doctrine this visitor had brought them. L TRE CCll.IOSITY WRICH IB OONTEMPI'UOUB. "What will this babbler say?" said some, using the language of superciliousness. They evidently thought it was hardly worth while to pause in their gossip to listen to this new speaker; nevertheless they condescended to hear him for :five minutes ora quarter of an hour I When men assume this attitude io\\·ard Christ and his gospel, they may expect to gain nothing at all from him. " God resisreth the proud." Except we be converted from the spirit of contemp- tuousness, we sh.al.l not enter the kingdom of heavenly truth. II. TBE CCll.IOSITY wmCH IS FRIVOLOUS. The audience on the Acropolis included some who were not contemptuous, but simply curious; they wanted to hear "some new thing" (ver. 21), to learn what was to be said of those" strange gods" which this Jew was "setting forth" (ver. 18). If there is nothing directly unfavourable, there is nothing actn.ally favourable in this spirit of undevout inquisitiveness. No one attend- ing the sanctuary in this temper has any right to expect a blessing. The disciple who brings nothing better than this to the feet of the Mast.er may expect to go away unen- lightened. But he 'ITU1,!f not depart unblessed. Of the men who clave to Paul and believed (ver. 34), there were probably some who came on no high purpose bent, and who found more than they soughL Better come and listen, even from empty curiosity, than refuse t.o hear; better bring in the multitude with this inducement, than leave them outside in ignorance and error. IIL THE <roEIOSITY WHICH IS EAR:1!."DIT. Shall we not think that among the " certain men" who did believe, there were found a few who went up the steps of Mars' Hill sincerely desirous of learning what w&11 true? Was not Dionysius or Damaris one whose heart had some " hunger after righteousness"? Certainly it is they who come in order that they may know the truth, who are curious to hear that they may be prompt to do the will of God-it is they who are likely to "be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." "Of such is the kingdom of heaven ; " and to such it is that the Master says," Seek, and ye shall :find ; knock, and it shall be opened unt.o yolL" Those who earnestly desire to know (1) what is tho character and the attitude of God, (2) what are the real conditions of salvation and eternal life, (3) how they may best live to please God and to benefit the world,-thcse lliuill 11ot return empty-minded ; they shall be filled (Matt, v. 6).-C. Ven. 22--29.-Goa reveal,ed: hia nature and relation. Paul's spirit was "stirred " wim iwly i.ndignatio11, and with pure and si.-oni compase,ion, as he wltJ;l81111ed ~~II CH, XVD, 1--34,) THE Arnrs OF THE APOSTLES. 119