HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1--4.-Pervei·sionand restoration. These verses suggest- I. How FAR FROM RIGHT FEELING WILL WRONG THOUGHTS LEAD MEN ASTRAY. "Saul was consenting [rejoicing] unto his death" (ver. 1). "Saui made havoc of [ was ravaging] the Church," etc. (ver. 3). The death of the first martyr, which was so ~tterly shameful to those who compassed it, and so deeply regrettable from a human estimate, was, in the eyes of Saul, a thing in which to triui:n~h with s~v~ge pleasure. And this dreadful satisfaction of his grew out of strong rehg1ous ~onv1Ct1ons-he hate~ S~ephen so p~ssion~tely because he clung to" the Law" S? tenac1?usly. No; was this his only man1festat1on of distorted feeling. He was not satisfied with the stomng of Stephen ; he joined heartily in the persecution which broke up Christian families and caused their AOTB, I U8 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [oR. vm. 1--40.
ge~ere.l disr:ersion (ver. 2), himself being the most I;>rominent agent of the council; neither ordmary humanity, nor the gentleness "11h1ch should oome wlth a liberal e?ucation, nor t~e ten~erness which is due to womanly feeling, la:tlng any restraint upon him: . Every w~s~r, kinder, more generous sentime!lt was los~ in a violent, relentless, unp1tymg fe.natic1sm. So does error pervert the mmd and distort the impulses and nbnse the e~ergies of the soul. Before we lend ourselves to any cal18e, before we plunge into an:y stnfe, let us very carefully and devoutly weigh the question whether we are really right, whether our traditions are not leading us astray as men's inherited notions have led them astray from the truth, whether, before we act with a burning zeal, we must not alter our position or even cha.nge our side. Not till we have an intelligent assure.nee that we are in the right should we act with enthusiasm and severity; else we may be cherishing feeUng, and doing actions which are diabolical rather than Divine. II. How MUCH HOLY EARNESTNESS MAY BE OALLED TO SOFFER. The Christians of those early times were called: 1. To sympathize, with painful intensity, with a suffering man. If Saul was consenting to his death, with what lacerated and bleeding hearts did his Christian friends see the first martyr rue I They " made great lamentation over him" (ver. 2). 2. To be distressed for a bereaved and weakened Church. The cause of Christ could ill spare (so they would naturally feel) such an eloquent and earnest advocate as he whose tongue had been so cruelly silencea.; they must have lamented the loss which, as men bent on a high and noble mission, they had sustained. 3. To endure serious trouble in their own circumstances. There was "great persecution ... and they were all scattered abroad" (ver. 1). This must have involved a painful severe.nee of family ties and a serious disturbance in business life. Holy earnestness has similar sufferings to endure now. (1) Its personal attachments are peculiarly deep and its sympathies peculiarly strong. When injury or death comes to the objects of them, there is cor- responding pain and sorrow of soul. (2) It is often deeply distressed for the cause of Christ in its times of loss, weakness, wrong. (3) It suffers, in virtue of its fidelity, from the scorn, the opposition, the persecution, in some form or other, of those who are the enemies of God and truth. But, th118 doing, it treads closely in the footsteps of the best of men, and in those of the Divine Master himself. And thus suffering with him, it will be crowned with his honour and joy (Rom. viii. 17 ; 2 'l'im. ii. 12 ; 1 Pet. iv. 13). III. How WONDROUSLY GoD OVERRULES EVERYTHING. (Ver. 4.) He (1) used the machinations of the enemy and (2) recompensed the faithfulness of the suffering Church by causing the dispersion of the disciples to result in " the furtherance of the gospel." What misguided men hoped would be e. death-blow to the new "way" proved to be a valuable stroke on its behalf, increasing the number of its active witnesses, and multi- plying its adherents largely. So shall it be with the evil designs of the wicked ; they will be made to subserve the gracious purposes of God. 1. How vain and foolish, as well as guilty, is it to fight against Godl 2. How confidently may we who are co-workers with him await the issue! The angry and threatening storm which is on the horizon will perhaps only speed the good vessel of the truth and bring her sooner to the haven.-C. Vers. 5-25.-BucceBB and disappointment in Olvristian work. L A LABGE lllEABUBB OF BUCOEBS. We must consider: 1. The special obstacles in the way, viz. (1) the people of Samaria were to some extent alien ; they were likely to be less friendly than those who were wholly foreign, for their connection with the Jews as their near neigh- bours had led to the bitterest jealo118ies and animosities. (2) They were under the spell of a skilful and powerful impostor (vers. 9-11). 2. The means by which success was gained. (1) Philip presented to the people the one great truth which they needed to know: he" preached Christ unto them" (ver. 5). Obstacles must be mighty indeed if there are not found hearts to respond when a once crucified, now exalted Saviour is preached, whose death is the sacrifice for sin, and who offers himself to our souls as our living Lord and unchan"ing Friend. (2) The preached truth was confirmed by striking and gladdening proofs of Divine power: they gave heed," seeing the miracles which he ilid" (ver. 6); and great wonders were wrought in their mids_t, so numerous and bene- ficent that "there was great joy in that city." 3. The magrutude of the success. (1) They gave unanimous attention : "with one accord they gave heed" (ver. 6). (2) They 'believed and avowed their faith : "they were baptized, both men and women" oB, vm. 1-40.] 'l'HE AOTS OJ!' THE APOSTLES. 259