The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 269

man lengthened during the last throe centuries, since the truth had fuller sway over the thoughts of men and their universal activity. Science the outgrowth of the civil and religious liberty obtained by the victories of spiritual heroes. II. God works great results with BMALL INaTBUMENTALITIE8. Philip was one man among multitudes. 1. An encouragement to all mission work both at home and abroad. 2. A lesson as to method. " Ho proclaimed the Christ unto them." The people will "give heed" when the message is adapted to their wants. 3. A manifesta- tion of Divine energy. Philip alone was powerless. The Spirit wroun-ht with him. Moral miracles still accompany faithful preaching. The signs may dilfe;, but stilt be equally striking and convincing. Witness the work done by Wesley and Whitefield. 4. A prophecy of the future. Great joy in all cities. Samaria might recall the visit of Jesus to Sychar. Somo work already done there. So in the world generally, a foundation on which Christian messengers can labour. 'fhe heathen world has its measure of light, though mingled with joyless gloom of superstition and falsehood. When the multitudes give heed to the preaching of the Christ, what may not be anticipated? "Great joy" instead of great wars and great famines and great desola- tion: the great joy of universal progress and a redeemed humanity acknowledging and glorifying Christ. What is our joy? What is the joy of our neighbours? Cast out the lies and lot the Spirit of life come in.-R. Vere. 9-13.-The spirit of lies cast out. Simon an example of the kind of deceivers under whose spell the ancient world was taken captive. Samaria half heathen. "Salvation is of the Jews" (cf. John iv.). A striking instance showing that a dim twilight of knowledge is the condition favourable to the growth of falsehood and superstition. They would not have given heed to Simon had they studied the whole Scripture. Yet the gospel found a ready soil because the true wonders could be opposed to the false. I. 'l'HE STATE OF THE WORLD APART FBOlll CHRIST. Given up to .. strong delusion to believe lies." 1. Abuse of human learning and philosophy. Simon probably versed in ancient lore. 2. The distinction between sorcery and magic and true science, and the wonders of human progress, has been the fruit of Christian teaching and the develop- ment of the kingdom of God.. 3. 'l'he signs of man's birthright still traceable in his degrading bondage. Subjection to the power of God. Readiness to worship. Idea of a Divine kingdom. II. THE VIOTORY OF THE TRUTH OVER THE FALSEHOOD. 1. Good tidings-liberty, peace, joy-" without money and without price." 2. Power manifested. This is the true kingdom, not such as Simon pretended to show. 3. Subjugation of all--even Simon himself. As in Egypt, the miracles of God are infinitely more wonderful than the deceits of the false teachers. So let us learn confidence in the gospel message. We may yet bring the very deceivers themselves to the feet of Christ. The world will be amazed as the gospel reveals its power. "Have faith in God,"-R. Vers. 14-24.-The spii-it of mammon in the Christian Church. Peter and John represented the apostolic authority, but not as something to be imposed on believers, but as linking them with the source of spiritual gifts. Simon represented the spirit of this world in the Church-the sins of ambition, covetousness, hypocrisy, priestcraft, intimately connected with the one fatal error of admitting the world's calculations into the Church. "He:offered them money." The Church has listened to such offer~ far too much. The Simon-spirit, the mixture of sorcery and faith, has filled some port10ns of the professed Church with lies and mammon-worship. Notice- . I. The TRUE APOSTOLIO SPIRIT manifested. 1. Dependence on prayer. 2. Separation of spiritual gifts from all money considerations. 3. Detection and denunciatiou of the false and sordid. II. The CnuBon's DANGER from the laxness of discipline. 1. Those that have "neither pa.rt nor lot in this matter" must be kept out of the number of_ God's people. 2. Especially must the ministry be preserved from every form of simony. 3. 'l'he bold and fearless course on the part of thoso in office is much the safest. Hypocrisy is weakness. Simon will succumb to Poter, if Peter only speaks out the Word of God, and stands up for purity of faith and conscientiousness. Better a poor  266 THE AO'l'B OF THE APOSTLES. [OH, VIII, 1--40,