Acts 14

There's no way to Constantinople but through the straits, no way to heaven but through sufferings: no way to the crown but by the way of the cross. Jerusalem above is a pleasant city, streets of gold, gates of pearl, but we must travel through a dirty road to this city, through…

A prince who bestows continual favors on a subject, if that subject have any ingenuity, he cannot but love his prince. God is continually heaping benefits upon us: He fills our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17). As the rock followed Israel, wherever they went streams of…

Is it a likely thing that God should make a law against sin, and then have a hand in breaking his own law, is that likely? And therefore to answer the objection, God in his providence does permit men's sins (Acts 14:16). He suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

To suffer adversity with the people of God. Here we may observe what is the ordinary state and condition of God's Church and people in this world: namely, to be in affliction and under the cross. Hence Paul says, That we must come to heaven through manifold afflictions, Acts 14:…

There is a prophane party in the Land, who drink, and roar, and declare their sin as Sodom; These Sampsons are like to pull down the house upon our head; instead of bringing the water of tears to quench Gods anger, they adde oile to the flame. The men of Lystra seeing the miracl…

That it is the will and pleasure of God, that we should through many afflictions, enter into the kingdome of God. Act. 14. 22. Nowe it is the propertie of a true child of God, to rest content in his fathers good will and pleasure, even when he is afflicted, Prou. 3. 11.

(3) Believers are called men (Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 3:21, 22). In regard of passions (Acts 14:15). Of carnal walking (1 Corinthians 3:3).

So (Revelation 22:9): "I fell down to worship before the face of the angel, that showed me these things, and he said to me, see you do it not, for I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the sayings of this book; worship God." Paul, whe…

As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, stand up, I myself also am a man (Acts 14:14-15). Paul and Barnabas when they heard this, rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out and sayi…

But it was otherwise. For the Gentiles were without God, and Christ (Ephesians 2:12); and they were left to themselves, to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16). The third point is, how long this difference endured?

Fourthly, they are marks of adoption, if we be content to obey God in them (Hebrews 12:7). Lastly, they are the trodden and beaten way to the kingdom of heaven (Acts 14:23). When Paul says, If they be in vain, we are to observe his moderation.

Their estate in Gentilism stands in two things: ignorance of God — then you knew not God — idolatry or superstition, you served them which are not Gods by nature. Touching their ignorance of God, it may be demanded, how they can be said not to know God, whereas Paul says, that w…

Act 16:6. They were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia: which is expounded, v. 10. to be the preaching of the Gospel: Thus it is used, Act 14:25. when they had preached the word in Perga. Mark 4:14.

The last is from this fair theater of the world, where God's glory shines round about and beneath us. He would have contented himself with this second demonstration, if he had had to deal with the profane Gentiles; as Saint Paul also does (Acts 14:17). For speaking to them of Ic…

But first of all, if they will know what an opinion we ought to conceive of such an idolatrous and barbarous reverence, let them learn it from Saint Peter, whose seat they brag to hold: for he would not suffer Cornelius the Centurion to do him such reverence (Acts 10:26). Let th…

He describes this to be the end of preaching; for although God has never left himself (ἀμάρτυρον) without witness, (Acts 14:17,) and although in special manner he testified to the Jews concerning himself, yet it was a testimony remarkable beyond all others when he revealed himse…

This is a notable place of the use of miracles: namely that they should get to God among men, reverence and obedience. So you read in Mark, that the Lord confirmed his doctrine by miracles that followed (Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3). So Luke says, that the Lord gave testimony to the w…

Rom. 1. 19, 20, 21. Acts 14. 15, 16, 17. Acts 7. 24, 25, 26, 27. leaving only on the Works of his Hands some obscure Impressions of the distinction of Persons, subsisting in the Unity of that Being, whose Properties he had displayed and glorified.

Things in the Scripture are said to be vain, which are useless and fruitless. [[original in non-Latin script]], Vain, is from [[original in non-Latin script]], to no purpose, Matth. 15. 9. Hence the Apostle calls the Idols of the Gentiles, and the Rites used in their Worship, [[…

Who bid us expect rest, ease, delight, and things of this kind in this world? He has never told us, we shall be rich, healthy and at ease in our habitations; but on the contrary, he has often told us, we must expect troubles in the world, John 16:33 and that through many tribula…

Moreover, the defense of Lay-Elders out of this present text of Saint Paul is contrary to the signification of the word Presbyter, which when it is used concerning the polity of the New Testament, does always signify the ministers of the word. (Acts 11:30) They sent their collec…

That report filled him with a mixture of grief and anger; he was grieved that the holy name of God was blasphemed, he was angry with the blasphemer: these caused holy indignation, and this the renting of his garments. Thus also when Paul and Barnabas had restored the cripple at…

He has continued the race of mankind for a long season on the earth; he has watched over them with his providence, and exercised exceeding patience, forbearance and longsuffering towards them. This the apostle Paul at large discourss on, Acts 14:15, 16, 17. Chap.

Againe, God has set his name on every creature, he has imprinted in them the signes of his power, wisdom, justice, and mercie: Rom. 1. 20. The inuisible things of God are seene by his workes: and, Act. 14. 17. Raine from heaven, and fruitfull season, were witnesses unto the Gent…

This is []lat Atheisine: and yet we must distinguish of Gods blessings, for some are common blessings which God oft gives to men without their asking, because they serve to preserue nature: as raine and fruitfull seasons, food, raiment, &c. Act. 14. 16. and yet even these common…

The way of nature, is when men live onely by the light of nature: of this S. Paul speaks, Act. 14. 16. God suffered all the Gentiles to walk in their own wayes: wherein they were voide of God in Christ, and so not under mercie.

1. God speaks by his merciful providences, by his patience, and bounty, and goodness, he calls men to repentance (Romans 2:4). He gives witness of himself, in giving rain and fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17). God's providing mercies, God's preventing mercies, God's preserving merci…

The resemblance lies in the following particulars. The rain comes from heaven (Acts 14:17): He gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, etc. The doctrine of the Gospel is also of a heavenly extraction and descent; they are heavenly truths which are brought to you in earthe…

The way to Canaan is through the wilderness, even after a sore and tedious bondage; yea, and when God brought his people into Canaan, he brought them into the worst part of Canaan first, into the southern part, which was the most dry and barren part of the land. The way to Zion…

The first cry of the Newborn Christian (says one) gives Hell an alarm, and awakens the rage, both of Devils and Men against him. Hence Paul and Barnabas acquainted those new Converts, Acts 14:22. That through much tribulation, they must enter into the Kingdom of God: And we find…

Wherefore the Lord goes further; and by the works of his providence in preserving and ruling the world which he made, discovers and reveals these properties also. For whereas by cursing the earth, and filling all the elements oftentimes with signs of his anger and indignation, h…

So Job: chapter 37, chapter 38, chapter 39; throughout. God who made heaven and earth, and the Sea, and all things that are therein, suffered in times past all nations to walk in their own ways, yet he left not himself without witness in that he did Good, and gave us rain from h…

I have shown you the ruggedness of your way, that you stumble not at it, taking it to be a smooth plain one, but withal where this is spoken of, it is usually allayed with the mention of those comforts, that accompany these sufferings, or that glory that follows them. The doctri…

God may give a man meat, yet not an appetite; he may not give him the comfortable use of it, a blessing with it. And therefore the apostle makes it to be an argument of God's bounty to the heathen, that as he gave them food, so he gave them gladness of heart: (Acts 14:17). He ga…

But much more is this man's duty, as we have reason, and can clearly own the first cause. And therefore upon these natural grounds the Apostle reasons with them, why they should seek after God (Acts 14:17). 2. As this common relation binds us to pray; so it draws common benefits…

1. All desire it, Christians, Pagans, all agree in this. When Paul was dealing with the Heathens, he urges two notions wherein God might be taken up: That of a first Cause (Acts 14:16-17). Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain fr…

It were strange if otherwise: as if a man were told that his journey lay through a rough stony country, and should pass over a smooth carpet-way. Our way-mark is many tribulations (Acts 14:22): Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of Heaven. God had one Son w…

Then we read afterward among the Jews themselves in their private sects, who were very keen against each other, Pharisees and Sadducees; and Paul though an enemy to them both, and was looked upon as a common adversary, yet they had rather join with him than among themselves (Act…

Verse 29: he spoke boldly in the name of Jesus. Acts 14:3: long time therefore they stayed, speaking boldly in the Lord. Acts 13:46: then Paul and Barnabas grew bold.

But now the godly are more appointed to troubles; because God will try their faith, perfect their patience, train them up for a better world: they are now hated by the world, (2 Timothy 3:12) indeed, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. (Acts 1…

2. Providences, these do more awaken us. God's daily benefits should bring him to our remembrance (Acts 14:17). Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

So for his goodness, what part has God been acting in the world for so long a time but that of mercy? He may be traced more by his acts of goodness than vengeance: (Acts 14:17) Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, [in non-Latin alphabet], in that he did good, and ga…

If he take them not away, yet many times he blasts them as to their natural use (Malachi 2:2): And if you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of [reconstructed: Hosts], I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse you…

And this goodness of God shines forth in all his creatures; not only what he does to them themselves, but in what he does about them for man's sake: they were defiled with man's sin, and therefore he might in justice have abolished them, or made them useless to man, or instrumen…

The heathens had experience of it. Acts 14:17. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And will he be unkind to his servants, to whom he is engaged by pro…

He makes his sun to shine on the evil, and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Acts 14:17) Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our he…

It is so clear, says the Apostle, from the creation, namely, the Eternal Godhead, that they are left without excuse (Romans 1:20). Rain from heaven, etc. is God's witness of his being, and being good, as the Apostle infallibly concludes (Acts 14:15-18). Creation and Providence (…

(Acts 17:30) The [illegible] of this ignorance God regarded not: they lived in their sins without God, and Christ, and [illegible], and the Lord never regarded them so as to look after them to recover them out of this estate. (Acts 14:16) He suffered the nations to walk in their…

For look what the [illegible] of another man may do in the use of the Word [illegible] ordinance, that my reason used in such a manner [illegible] to God may do. But another man by the [illegible] of reason or strength of argument out of the [illegible] may convince my conscienc…

I shall speak chiefly of the first, and bring in the other in the applicatory. Doctr. The observation is, that true godliness is usually attended with persecution (Acts 14:22). We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 13:50).