The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 265

freedom in the body and the soul-in every city. These, then, are the constant evi- dences of Christianity, No other" apologetic" can be needed, for this is invincible. Without it the subtlest arguments are unavailing. IV. T1IE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY OVER SUPERSTITION, Simon the Mairus is the type or those who work upon the imaginatio~ of the people, as contrasted with the true Ohristrnn teacher who appeals to the conscience. What wa., to decide between the genuine teacher and healer and the eloquent and skilful quack? Close is the shadow to the light in all the course of the gospel. In the individual conscience lies the test. To that God speaks; that in every age is the mirror of the truth. And to the truth and to God the conscience of the impostor bears witness. Simon believed in the word of Philip, and became by baptism a professor of the new creed. It is said that he was astonished at the signs and great wonders which occurred. What we call" sensationalism" in the mind, the craving for the wonder, is the spurious form of a true instinct. Men must see in order to be convinced; when conviction is attained, they can afterwards walk bv faith in regions where sight is not possible. We never change the habit of our thought until we find something inexplicable where before all was plain and simple-something wondrous where we only recognized the commonplace. To ask for belief without giving evidence is to insult the conscience, to refuse belief when the evidence is clear is to deny to one's self the possibility of guidance when the evidence is not altogether clear. Let men take the evidence which is clear to them, and act upon it; that is safe for the time, and the rest will become clearer by-and-by. But the case of Simon shows how void is any kind of mere conviction unless it be followed by the corresponding act of will. Simon was convinced, but not converted. The light penetrated his intelligence, hut failed to move his heart.-J. Vers. 24, 25.-The impostor unmasked. L THE MISSION OF PETER A.ND Jomr, Samaria-there is an emphasis on this word-had received the Word of God. There was something significant in this conversion. The gospel was already proving itself a power to reconcile and break down distinctions long rooted and deeply felt. So important an occasion called for the services of the two leading apostles, Peter and John. These go down and pray for the new converts, that they may receive the Holy Ghost. Power and purity, the joy and freedom of the Christian life, are associated with this baptism; as repentance or a preparatory change of life was associated with that of John the Baptist. It is difficult to understand how such gifts as those we associate with spiritual religion could be conveyed by the physical act of imposition of hands. Nor are we required to believe that the imposition of hands was in any way causally related to the spiritual re8ult, or even instrumentally. It was an external association, an apparent not a real connection, such as might well deceive the unspiritual observer. II. 'l'nE SELF-DECEPTION 01!' THE UNSPIRITUAL :MAN. Simon perceives the solemn act of la.ying on of hands; he perceives that something follows-a spiritual power in the converts, and he mistakenly infers that the apostles are magicians, who can bestow at their pleasure supernatural gifts. What man can bestow may be bought from man. Had the apostles been like Tetzel, the friar who went about in Luther's time selliug indulgences, it would have been natural to offer them, and for them to receive pay- ment for the communication of the power. But spiritual things are spiritually discerned; and" the carnal mind understands not the things of the Spirit of God." When the heart has not been awakened, when the man has not been born into the kingdom of God, there is constantly the danger of confounding things that differ. Money cannot buy thought, nor feeling, nor in ward power; though it can buy action and the imitation of reality, but not reality itself. Simon confounds the outward phenomena of the Spirit with the essence and meaning. III. Trrn UNSPIRITUAL :MAN'S ERROR EXl'OSED. 1. The si~ of Simon is that of the money-loving man. His faith is in it; he believes that _it ' answers all things_," not only in reference to this world, but in reference to the kmgdom of God. He 1s the type of a class. There are those who secretly believe they can patronize the ministers of Christ, and purcha.se for themselves an interest in the kingdom of God. Tho po,~er of w~alth so subtly minglos with all Christian w~rk, e.nd profuse)y used may s_o reachly acquire for its possessor the reputation of sanctity. But the immortal antipathy of  THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [CIR,vm,1--((),