The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 189

the pre:iching th:it has been fruitful of influence and has shown changed hcm·te and drnngecl Ii vcs. ll. 'l'llAT "TTIIS LIFE" SHALL BB THB BUIIJECT OF 01-.'IVERSAL APPEAL TO II THE PEOPLE." The distinguishing facts or doctrines of Christianity kno,v no distinction of esoteric nod t!XOteric. They are what may be understood of the people, and they arc whnt IIlRY be trusted to the people. Sa<ldncees and others, not n few who woul1l profe~s themselves conversant with these higher rm1tters of life and its outlook, are putting from them their grand opportunity. But to "the people," "the gospel," "the .,o,ds of this life,·• are preached, The gospel is to try its genius and its force among them, nnd then it tries it ever, not altogether in vain. It is to be noticed that this crowning doctrine or fact c,f the future life or eternal life is (1) to be announced in clo~est connection with the personal history of Jesus Christ-with his Resurrection; llnd (2) that it is to be announced with all the fulness and variety of which it rua.y admit-" All the 'l\·ords of this life" are to be enlarged on without stint: (a) what it is in its own intrinsic self, (b) what it is as gained for man by Christ, (c) what it is as illustrated by Christ's own resurrection. Ill, THAT THE APPEAL SHALL BE FEARLESSLY MADE DY MEN, MEDE MEN, MEN UK ASSISTED BY ..!.!>'"Y EARTHLY POWER AND EXPOSED TO ALL EARTHLY DANGERS. Jesus Christ has cone his work, so far as the part of it on earth was concerned. Angels, it clearly appears, have their share too in furthering the work of Christ on earth. nut their share is of a more indirect kind. When Jesus goes, men, feeble, orring, sinful men, are called to t.'Lke up the work, are honoured to take it up. Let this mean what it may, and harmonize with what it may or may not, the fact merits probably more thought than all it has yet received. And if it is to be rightly esti- mated, equal regard must be paid to two facts-(l) that man is to be the worker, and that (2) the man who is thus to work is to be one "called" and one qualified by the Holy Spilit. 'l'hus called and thus equipped within, he is to "go, and stand," as though in unassisted strength, and to stand in the place of courted and solemu observation, in the publicity of" the temple," and to take heed that he "speak to the people al.l the words of this life."-B. Ver. 41.-Joy in thefellowsltip of shame. "And they departed ••. for his Name." The great types of Christian character begin to show themselves. 'l'he appearances which we have here before us are unusual. They mean something very unreal or else they begin to speak something true to a higher nature than that commonly found among men. It is against the grain of nature to rejoice in suffering and pain ; it is yet more against the grain of a high nature to rejoice in "shame." '!'here must have been potent causes at work when men are to be found rejoicing in eufering shame, and in being "counted worthy to suffer shame." Neglecting the supposition, which could not be sustained in this case, that there was any affectation on the part of the apostles it would be still open to question whether this attitude were a justifiable one, whether it were a lovely one, whether it did not betray a disdainful tendency, looking toward haughtiness, with regard to their fellow-men. Perhaps these considerations will be best met by simply asking on what grounds and moved by what influences the apostles now rejoiced. L THEY REJOICED IN A CERTAIN FELLOWSHIP OF BUFFEnINO. They are not of those who stoically glory in "suffering." 'l'hey are not of those who cynically or self- relyingly glory in "shame." They have not courted the one nor flippantly encoun• tered the other. And these facts shelter them from blameworthiness, which might otherwise have very possibly lain at their door. It is a shame already existing, and which has already dragged a long suffering with it and after it-a shame unoriginated by themselves or by anything in themselves-that they are willing, glad, proud to share. This at once lends a character to their rejoicing, and lifts it above a common kind of joy. There has, indeed, been an abundance of shame in the world, nnd of suffering consequent upon it, that could not in the very nature of things have shed any glory on the principals concerned in them. Yet that abundance of shame and suffering has found a very field of glory, new untrodden paths of glory, and lofty heights of glory for not a few, who, having no part in the guilt, have voluntarily entered into 1ellowship with the suffering, and the suffering of shame, which it hall involved. And till, V. l._4!!,] THE ACTS 01!' THE APOSTLES. 186