Acts 13

We are said to be justified [Greek text], through faith as an instrument (Ephesians 2:8), but not for faith as a cause; and if not justified for faith, then much less elected. God's decree of election is eternal and unchangeable, therefore it depends not upon faith foreseen (Act…

God the Father is said to justify (Romans 8:33). It is God that justifies. God the Son is said to justify (Acts 13:39). By him all that believe are justified. God the Holy Ghost is said to justify (1 Corinthians 6:11). But you are justified by the spirit of our God.

2. Our holiness consists in our subjection to the will of God: As God's nature is the pattern of holiness, so his will is the rule of holiness. This is our holiness, 1. When we do his will (Acts 13:22). 2. When we bear his will (Micah 7:9).

God's providences are uncertain, but his promises are the sure mercies of David. (Acts 13:34) God is not a man that he should repent, (1 Samuel 15:29). The word of a prince cannot always be taken, but God's promise is inviolable.

Some men have foolishly taken up a prejudice against religion; they are resolved rather never to go to Heaven, than go there through the strait gate. I may say of prejudice as Paul to Elimas (Acts 13:10): O prejudice, you child of the Devil, you enemy of all righteousness, how m…

The Scripture calls him the Branch of David (Jeremiah 23:5), and I may call him the Flower of the Virgin, having assumed our nature. By him all that believe are justified (Acts 13:39). 3. The third person in the Trinity is the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

This was God's charge to Israel (Numbers 15:40): Remember to do all my commandments. And it was spoken of David (Acts 13:22): I have found David a man after my own heart, who shall perform all my will, Greek, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], all my wills. Every command has the same…

The Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say. Acts 13:3. And as they ministred to the Lord and fasted; the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Vers. 4. So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, depa…

Quest. 17. Which are the principal institutions of the Gospel to be observed in the worship of God? Answ. (1.) The calling, gathering and setling of Churches with their Officers, as the seat and subject of all other solemn instituted worship. (2.) Prayer with thanksgiving. (3.)…

(4) Acts 14:23. (5) Acts 13:2; 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Timothy 4:14. Explication.

And in like manner, places of Scripture misunderstood do often prove matter of great temptation to many, as that Hebrews 6 to one who having fallen from his first love, concluded he could never be saved, because it is there said that 'they which are once enlightened, if they fal…

Acts 10:43. That through his name all that believe in him, shall receive remission of sins. Acts 13:39. By him every one that believes, is justified. Romans 1:16. The Gospel is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes.

As he has appointed a man to live, so he has appointed the same man to use those means which preserve life, as meat, drink, rest, recreation, labor, physic. Even so, as he has appointed a man to be saved, he has appointed him to use the means, and to walk in the way of salvation…

But if we would be saved, then with our inward faith, we must join the observation of the outward ordinary means whereby God uses to save men's souls; as namely, the hearing of God's word, calling upon God by prayer, and the receiving of the sacraments; that thereby our sinful l…

The faith and baptism that these twelve had received from John, or his Disciples' ministry, though it was a saving faith all the days of John and his Disciples' ministry, yet it was not a saving faith after the death, and resurrection, and ascension of Christ into glory, in the…

Thirdly, to take common sanctification, that is, such a reformation and a change of life as floweth from a spirit of bondage, restraining from sin, and constraining to duty, and sometimes accompanied with enlargement and comforts in duty; yet without the sense and feeling of the…

Therefore Jehovah himself becomes our righteousness, that we might say, In Jehovah have we righteousness and strength, and that in him all the seed of Israel might be justified and glory (Isaiah 45:25). For by him are all that believe justified from all things, from which they c…

As (1) that those whom God graciously takes into covenant, are many of them antecedently obnoxious to all sorts of sins. (2) That in the grace of the covenant there is mercy provided for the pardon of them all, even of them from which they could not be justified by the Law of Mo…

To the same purpose he argues (Chap. 7:11, 19). And with respect to this end it is said that the Law was weak (Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:21; Acts 13:38, 39). In brief, that which the Apostle designeth to prove is that the first Covenant was of that constitution, that it could not…

So again he expresses the order of the dispensation of this Covenant with respect to the Promise made to Abraham (Acts 3:25, 26): "You are the children of the Prophets, and of the Covenant which God made with our Fathers, saying to Abraham, and in your seed shall all the kindred…

It may be indeed that those of the Hebrews were in the first place intended. For to them did the Promise belong in the first place, as they were the natural seed of Abraham, and to them was it first to be declared and proposed upon its accomplishment (Acts 2:29; Acts 3:25; Acts…

Nor did they rest there, but persecuted the Apostles, drove them out from among them, and all that preached the Gospel; and this not only with respect to themselves alone, and those of their own nation; but they set themselves with fury all the world over against the preaching o…

God conceals this secret design under promiscuous outward dispensations. For he obliges those by whom the Word is preached to declare his mind therein to all men indefinitely, leaving the effectual work of his grace in the pursuit of his purpose to himself; from where they belie…

Do but compare these persons in question, whom the hasty and rigid severity of man here pronounces to be justly deemed breakers of the Covenant, and to have put themselves out of it, with those whom the holy, but merciful and gracious God does in Scripture call and account such…

Wisdom in the Proverbs (which with one consent of all Divines is said to be Christ) affirms that she was before the world was created, that is, from eternity (Proverbs 8:24): for before the world was made there was nothing but eternity. But it may be alleged to the contrary, tha…

5. That the light cometh to us, and shineth in this land. The Gospel is a great national privilege: To you is this Word of salvation sent (Acts 13:26). Pray mark, 'tis sent; he does not say we have brought it to you, but 'tis sent, 'tis a token sent from Heaven in love.

I know that Christ, as he is the eternal Son of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God, does with the Father and the holy Ghost reign and rule over all the Kingdoms of the sons of men. He that is Mediator, being God, has, as God, all power in heaven and earth, (and…

For if you respect the literal name, there were many others that were called Jesus, as well as He, at the hearing of whose names, the grossest idolatry is oftentimes committed, by capping, and bowing, before they know what Jesus is intended and spoken of. For the Apocrypha menti…

2. I do not find in the Scripture, that these musical instruments were a part of their Synagogue-worship, which was moral, but rather of their Temple-worship, which was ceremonial. In their Synagogues they had the public moral worship of God, reading and expounding the law, &c.…

Answer: This is a gross mistake; for first, the civil court was in the gate of the city, not in the synagogue. Second, he who presided in the synagogue was called the chief ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8, 17), the rest who sat and voiced therein, were called the rulers of the…

The Saints are likewise misrepresented, they are evill spoken of, they are presented to mens understanding otherwise than they are. There are a generation of men, that pervert the strait waies of God (Acts 13:10), that is, they make them seeme crooked: though they are straight,…

Romanists looking on that as imperfect, judge it necessary to institute a new Sacrifice of their own, to be repeated every day, and that without any the least color or warrant from the word of God, or example of the Apostles. But our Author puts in an exception, and tells us tho…

The same course steered the Apostle Peter (Acts 2 and 3), and expressly in his second Epistle, chap. 2, v. 17, 18, 19. And Paul (Acts 13:16, 17, etc.). And of Apollos, who openly disputed with the Jews upon this argument, it is said, that he mightily convinced the Jews, publicly…

And now if we will not, not only submit to Diocesan Bishops, but also reverence the grave Metropolitans, standing upon such clear Apostolical institution, it is fit that all the world should count us the arrantest schismatics that ever lived since Pope Boniface his time. The sum…

This further appears by another passage in that Epistle, where this act of the Apostles approving by the Spirit, and receiving perfect fore-knowledge what would fall out, and what they should do, is by him illustrated by the example of Moses, who [in non-Latin alphabet] fore-kne…

And if not, then there is sure a necessity of believing in Jesus Christ, or of lying under the wrath of God for ever. 2. Consider that this gospel and word of salvation is preached to you in particular; when we speak of salvation, we do not say, that Christ was once preached to…

Hence (John 5:40), our Lord says, You will not come to me, that you may get life: and (Matthew 23), at the close, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you, and you would not; this was it that did aggravate their sin, that He would, and they would not. So (Psal…

Use. It serves for good use to such as may fall to doubt and dispute what warrant they have to believe: we say, you have as good warrant as Abraham, David, Paul, or any of the godly that lived before you had; you have the same Gospel covenant and promises, it was always God's Wo…

Thus you see what is the meaning of these words, "my people" — that is, his elect people in or by the decree of election. I shall shortly give you some few grounds from Scripture to clear and confirm this truth; the first of which is taken from the names that the people of God g…

This is it that makes Christ get the name of a Savior, that the Shepherd being smitten, God might turn His hand on the little ones. And therefore, as a fourth use, see here a good ground, whereon to preach to you by the death of Christ, the offer of life, and the remission of si…

And what else is that, but to be in good terms with God, to have him passing by all quarrels, as having nothing to say against us, but accepting us through Christ as righteous? So, Acts 13:38-39: Be it known to you, that through this man is preached to you forgiveness of sins, a…

And therefore if we look forward to their preaching, we will find it to run in the same strain. (Acts 13:38-39): Be it known to you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and that by him, all that believe are justified, fro…

Secondly, carry always along with you the impression of your original sin, and natural corruption; and of the sinfulness of your practices; this will make you loathsome, and abominable in your own eyes, and Christ precious, and such a soul will not be in such danger of putting h…

Now suppose (as I hinted before, not long ago) that when these rebels have yielded themselves, and accepted of the terms; if any of them should be called to answer at the bar, or the king's bench, as being challenged for his rebellion; his answer, and defense would be, that such…

(Colossians 3:22) God has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Acts 13:38-39) Through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and by him, all that believe are justified from all things, from which t…

And Paul, that chosen vessel — how often was he persecuted? And he has the same complaint, in the same words that Isaiah has here, of his hearers, especially the Jews (Acts 13:46 and Acts 28:28), and was constrained to tell them, that he and his fellow preachers were obliged to…

Though by being man He became of no reputation, and a veil was drawn over the declarative glory of the Godhead in His person for a time, yet He remained still the Son of God, and glorious in Himself, and it cannot be but He that is God must be glorious in His exaltation, when th…

Our ability or fitness for duty, is not the rule of our duty, but God's command; and we are called to put our hand to duty in the sense of our own insufficiency, acknowledging God's sufficiency, which if we did, we should find it go better with us, and may not the same be expect…

2 Corinthians 4:4, In whom the god of this world has blinded the mind of them that believe not: and he makes a workhouse of the souls of the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2), they are the Devil's forge and shop, in whom he frames curious pieces for himself. 4. His crown…

And 3. the humbled soul, for ought he knows, (I speak of legal humiliation) has no more any Gospel-title or promise that saving grace shall be given to him, even of mere grace, upon condition of his humiliation, or external hearing, or desire of the physician, than the proud Pha…