The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 274

otr THE PABT. Of who.ta. fearful load will this e.t once relieve them l Ilow drea<lful the outlook still is ma.de, whatever it might be, if it is haunted by the visions of the past, nay, far more, overtaken by the dead hand of the past, and stricken down in every 11ttompt of its own hand, because of the overwhelming arrears due! That which might be the brightest future is dashed by memories only sometimes, but much more by memories the.t come be.rbed with sternest actual po.ins e.nd with demands that cannot be satisfied, V. To FIND THEM A PLACE AMONG A PEOPLE TRACTED BY A NEW, A SPECIAL, A IDGHEBT KIND OF TRAINING. The place is found beyond a doubt here, as truly as there can be, as there is a "heaven on earth." In its perfection it is to be found, when years upon yea.re have rolled; ever till then, holding out the thought of home, the haven of rest, the heart of perfect peace, the Church of ravishing worship, the unima.g;inable hlis~ of heaven, whatever tha.t ma.y be, a.ad of God himself. How va.st that contrast l What a change and growth from the first to this fifth stage l Now first our eye needs to be opened, then what will it be when each blessed one ma.y say, "As for me, I behold thy face in righteousness ; I am satisfied, awake, with thy likeness "?-B. Ver, 18 (end).-Ohrist's own stress laid on faith in a personal object. "And an inheritance among them that are sanctified," etc. The utterances of the ascended Saviour to the man who was to be in a. double sense the great first apostle of his religion to a.11 the world cannot but be regarded by us as invested with the very fullest interest. The philosophy of religion is simple with Jesus; and he throws into clear prominence certain things, which may surely mark for us the prominence we should give them. Notice-- I. THE MANIFEST STRESS LAID ON FAITBIN THE PEBsoN CHRIST. .. Faith, tha.t which centres in me." So we may justly expound the words of Christ. Jesus speaks thus emphatically to protect against mysticism, defeat, deviation. 1. Faith in a living person can mean nothing short of genera.I trust in him (unless pa.rticula.r qualification be expressed, e.g. faith in a person as a financier, etc.) and great trust in him, unless some qualification of measure be expressly stated, as is never done to Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ will include, therefore, (1) trust in his teaching; (2) trust in his example; (3) trust in his loving, sympathetic guidance; ( 4) trust in all that he says, in all that in his providence he does; (5) trust in the worthiness of his service; as well as (6) trust on the part of the soul's deepest demands for him, in his last " power to save." 2. The service or office of faith is here suggested. It is not remarked on here in its elevating influence on the individual cha.ra.cter, and in its present points of superiority over sight for such a nature as ours. But it is instanced in its function as the link of eunnection, real, vital connection, between Christ and any man. It has, in itself, elevating as are the conception and the gradual training inherent in it, no sufficient, no sovereign, certainly no saving, efficacy, It is nothing tha.t is to be depended upon, of and in itself_. But it leads to One, unites to One, keeps an open communication with One, and clings mightily to the end unto One, who is to be depended on, with all the heart, and mind, and strength, and soul. 3. The great calm, peace, divinest content and foretaste of heaven's own he.ppiness that are commanded by real trust should always be credited to faith in Christ. If these fail and when they fail, it is not that faith fails of its office, or tha.t Christ fails of his goodness, but tha.t men sever this golden link awhile, or let this golden conduit pitifully lea.k awhile. II. THE PLACE GIVEN TO FAITH IN THE PERSONAL CHRIST IN RELATION TO SANCTI- FICATION. It appears from this pronouncement of Jesus that "faith that is in him" is responsible for our sanctification. 'l'here is no limitation to the statement that sanctification depends on faith in Jesus. 1. It rises out of that faith or trust already spoken of. Without the real and living connection with Christ, there would be no entrance possible to the knowledge and the privileges which come with him. 2. It is fed the whole way along by the truth, the example, the guidance, the sympathizing love, of Jesus. 3. It avails to take away that surest foe of all to sanctification, trust in self, at one stroke, but a stroke that must be felt life's length. 4. Up to the very la.st, it is that simplest, purest, most depending l!rust of the soul on Je,us when it faces "the valley," and" the river," and "the shadow," and" the unknown," which com- pletu, BO far as we oan trace it at all, the sanctification of man. If at that last moment 282 THE AOTS OF THE APOSTLES, [oJI, XXVI, 1-3!,