The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 238

Men would never lJ<,ar to be edd1'8118ed on any other subject whatsoever in the way end in the tone and with the persistency to which they readily yield themselves in the mat.ter of the appeals of religion, And that they sufficiently know nothing but their own deepest advantage is aimed at, is the sufficient account of it. 4. No doubt the oommanding power of religious appeal-in the sense of convincing power-is due to the operation of the Holy Spirit. Il. THE POWER OF RESISTANOZ TO THE APPEALS OF RELIGION, \VHIOB EMPHASIZES IO TERRIDLY HUll.AN RESPONSmil.ITY. The <leep reality of such power of resistance is testified with certainty from the too well-known fact of it. Notice such cause, of it as are traceable amid the deeper and inscrutable mysteries that cloud the subject. 1, A mind really turned from the light and truth. 2. A heart that is strong in its own pride. How ma.ny & heart knows the love that is intended for it, yet of pride refuses it I S. An aversion to effort, specially moral effort; and to the demand of change which it involves in habit and action, specially that form of change called reform, 4. The grievous lacilities for ~·iclding to temptation. Legion is the name of subter- fuge in things moral. The wide ~weep of opportunity for resisting, courts the very spirit of him who is open et all to the :t]'proach of temptation. 'l'be shifts lo which such will condescend to have recourse are innumerable, unaccountable, and find their strict descriptiun only as of tho:se "devices of SatAn, of which we are not ignorant," indeed-" not ignorant" in a double scn~e-but against which so many are unarmed and irresolute in their preseuce. Tbe ver,atility also of subterfuge in order to gain the end of resistance is amazmg. It can blind the eyes of reason end of self-interest. It can stifle the conscience and hush to silence the deepest, justest sources of fear. It can defy the lessons of practical life. It will induce a man to use the responsible advantages of his own highest position to stay, in feeling's most favoured and critical moment, the pressure and all the persuasion of moral importunity itself. And to all else, to elude the one precious moment of grace, temporizing, procrastinating, playing with time, it condescends to the mournfully vain expedient of attempting to throw rlust with one hand into the eyes of others, and into its own with the other. The moment when Felix trembled as he beard the great verities of life announced and urged, was the ,airest moment of his life. But it vanished. And the darkest moment succeeded it all swiftly, when Felix not only resisted the pleadings of knowledge, of truth and grace, and of the Spirit, but resisted them by the aid of the subterfuges of procrastinating, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."-B, Ver. 2.-The iTljluenoe of a good ruler on national wi1,, See the rendering in the Revised Version, " Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by thy provi- dence evils are corrected for this nation." How far this may be a true description of Felix it may be difficult to decide. The only good thing known of his rule ie the ener- getic effort which he made to put down the gangs of Sfr-arii (Assassins) a.nd brigands by whom Palestine was infested. Within two years of this very time Felix was recalled from his province, and accused by the Jews at Rome. He only escaped punishment by the intervention of his brother Pallas, then as high in favour with Nero as he had been with Claudius. But Tertullus describes the proper influence of good rulers, end so suggests a subject on which we may profitably dwell L TllB GBOWTB 01' 11.ATIONAL EVILS, ESPECIALLY IN A CONQUERED NATION, Certain forms of lawlessness are only kept in check by the strong hand of an active, vigorous government. In every land there are criminal classes and revolutionary classes, and thCl!e m&ke headway as soon as, from any cause, the pressure of authority and national police is relieved. In a conq~er~ nation there is alw_ays a dangerous sympathy ~th the revolutionary classes, which mcreases burglary, bngandage, end murder. Effective illustration may be ta.ken from the recent history of Ireland. II. TllB MODES m wmcH SUCH NATIONAL EVILS KAY BE COBBECTED, 1. There ii the simple, but harsh method of conquest by armiel!, and the crushing down of all expres- llion.B of life by brute force. This, however, never really succeeds, 2, There is the 1low method of forming aright public opinion, which makes the nation become it.a own police. Thie often fails, becaUBe the demagogue creates an opposing and unworthy public opinion. 3. There iB the influence gained by the good ruler who can be prompt md monc, wile and far-teeing, who love, t)le people, and i:nasters the evilB for the cm. ll.rt. 1-27.J THE AO I'S OF THE APOSTLES, 245