The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 150

under those condnions, sce.rcely be realized, The genn of the Church showed far otherwise. 'l'he highest type of Church life possible on earth may be confidently oe.lcule.ted on to show something very different. And till such difference become plain in any part of the Christian Church, it faintly indeed reflects the glorious reality above. II. THE CmmOH BHOULD BE "THE RoYAT, ExonANOE" 011' CHRIBTIA1' NEWS, oF CnnISTIAN ENTERPRISE, AND 011' CHRISTIAN BUSINESS. The world may know, and nil the better that it should know, the achievements of Christ and his truth. But the Church should know them still better, and often under very different aspects. Nor has tho Church anything to conceal of its· purposes or its methods; yet may these oftener be hallowed, and be more abounding and richer in grace and the elements of success, when considered and matured in tile Church. If only we could imagine the account in detail which Peter and John now gave "to their own company" of their experience, and what their eyes had seen and their ear& had heard, and of the irre- sistible impress~ns of the characters of others which had been made upon their minds, by the events of tho past, say, fifteen hours, since they had been put in ward! Now every ear was attention, gladdened thought smiled on every countenance, anrl emboldened purpose stirred every heart. While anon the "threatenin~s" (ver. 29), that had been among the things which "the chief priests and elders had said to them" (ver. 23), received also their due consideration. It is quite to be supposed that no one of that " company" but found himself stronger for the joy of that hour, and more watchful and forearmed for what of forewarning it had in it. III. THE Ommen SHOULD FIND THE PLACE IN FULLEST GRANDEUR OF ADCTIATION, GRATEFUL PRAISE, APPEAL, Als"'D PRAYER, MET TOGETilEB IN ONE SERVICE. Everything argues that the scene now before us was one of high inspiration. A large multitude of sympathetic souls hear the simplest tidings on a certain subject of the two liberated apostles; and though doubtless some one must have led off the chorus, forthwith the whole company "lift up their voice to God with one accord." And as we listen to that most real orchestra, what is it that we hear them singing? They uplift first the outburst of adoration; it is the snatch of a song sung by their ancestors a thow,and years before (vers. 24-26), and it simulates the responsive too. For it quotes the confirming word and declaration of God, putting it as if in response to the human ascription made first to him: "Lord, thou art God .•. and thou didst say, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?" We listen still, and there follows the recitative-a few bars that tell the recent history of the Messiah, the anointed Jesus. But these strains do not die off without pronouncing in majesty the foreseeing, foredetermining, sovereign counsel that belongs to God. Then follow appeal (ver. 29) and prayer (ver. 30), and they both were acceptable and accepted. In this appeal and prayer, with the reverent suggestion they venture upon-" by stretching forth thy hand to heal "-there is something touching and pathetic. It were as though those who prayed bespoke of their sovereign Friend that he would not over- look the "threatenings" wherewith they were threatened, bot that he would divinely checkmate these by again "stretching forth the healing hand," and again and again working" signs and wonders by the Name of Jesus," so that, together with faithfulness granted to his servants to speak the word, there might he superadded to them "bold- ness" in speaking it. Nothing less befits the character of the Word of Go<l, scarcely anything more dishonours it, than to speak it fearfully, half apologetically, or with halting accents and uncertain sound. It is worthy to be spoken with that boldness which is all its own, and its own least due. Nothing on earth can equal the grandeur of a service like this. Such a service cannot find its habitat except in the Church. But hns it found it there as often as it might? JV. TnE CHURCH SHOULD WORK FOB ONE THING-THE EMPHATIC WITI!ESS 011' THE HOLY GnosT. Christianity is tM dispensation of the Spfrit. It is very certain that the most perfect outline of Christian truth is but a skeleton, and the most complete and harmonious and scriptural body of Christian doctrine but a corpse, e~cept as ~he Spirit breathes life and power into them. The skeleton may be a marvel ol adaptation and symmetry laid bare to the eye of whoever will behold, and the fashioned and filled-in body mny be an exquisite model for grace and proportion; but they are dca~. till the Spirit gives the life. This is not to be snppoeed to need any proof now; but 1! 4CTS, I,  116 THE ACTS OF THE .APOSTLES. [ea, 1v, 1-37,