Acts 2

Resp. 1. There are pangs before the birth; so before Christ be born in the heart, there are spiritual pangs. Some pangs of conscience, deep convictions (Acts 2:37), they were pricked at their heart. I grant, the new birth does Recipere magis & minus — all have not the same pangs…

Answer. Get a principle of grace infused: grace is like the salt cast into the spring: grace changes the heart, and sanctifies all the members of the body; it sanctifies the eyes, and makes them chaste; it sanctifies the tongue, and makes it meek and calm. When the Holy Ghost ca…

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. Peter tells the Jews plainly of their sin in crucifying Christ; but uses suasive and Gospel lenitives, to allure and encourage them to believe (Acts 2:23). Him you have taken, and by wicked hands crucified.

Zeal loves truth when it is despised and opposed (Psalm 119:126): They have made void your law, therefore I love your law. Here is grace increasing like the sun in the horizon: Zeal resembles the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:2): There appeared cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat up…

We are to count the Sabbath honorable, because God has honored it. All the persons in the Trinity have honored it: God the Father blessed it, God the Son rose upon it, God the Holy Ghost descended on this day (Acts 2:1). And indeed this day is to be honored of all good Christian…

If others cast false aspersions on any, we should wipe them off. The Apostles (who were filled with the wine of Spirit) being charged with drunkenness, Peter was their compurgator, and openly cleared their innocency (Acts 2:15). These are not drunken as you suppose.

Oh make much of the motions of the Spirit, it is as much as your salvation is worth. The Spirit of God is compared to fire (Acts 2:2); if we are careful to blow this spark, we may have fire to inflame our affections, and to light our feet into the way of peace. If we quench the…

How was he fired with zeal, steeled with courage? He who before was dashed out of countenance by the voice of a maid; now dares openly confess Christ before the rulers and the councils (Acts 2:14). The shaking of the tree settles it the more; God lets his children be shaken with…

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.)…

Thirdly, in pursuit of this appointment of Christ, and by his authority, the Apostles so soon as any were converted to the faith at Jerusalem, although the old national Church state of the Jews was yet continued, gathered them into a Church or society for celebration of the ordi…

Quest. 20. By what means do persons so called become a Church of Christ? Answ. They are constituted a Church, and interested in the rights, power, and priviledges of a Gospel-Church, by the will, promise, authority, and law of Jesus Christ, upon their own voluntary consent and e…

Quest. 24. Wherein consists the general duty of the whole Church, and every member thereof in their proper station and condition? Answ. In performing, doing, and keeping inviolate all the commands and institutions of Jesus Christ, walking unblameably and fruitfully in the World,…

(2) Ephesians 4:8, 12, 13; Romans 8:15, 16; Galatians 4:6. (3) Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:5. (4) Revelation 8:3, 4; Hebrews 4:14, 15, 16; Chap. 6:20; Chap. 10:20, 21, 22.

Quest. 47. The preservation of the Church in purity, order, and holiness being provided for, by what way is it to be continued and increased? Answ. The way appointed thereunto, is by adding such as being effectually called to the obedience of faith shall voluntarily offer themse…

(2.) That they may direct, and encourage in the way, such as appear to be sincere, instructing them principally in the nature of the way whereinto they are engaging, the duties, dangers, and benefits of it (Acts 18:26; Acts 14:22; 1 Corinthians 3:22, 23). (3.) To propose them, t…

Who are to receive the sacraments? The faithful members of some visible church, and their seed (Genesis 17:10, 11; Acts 2:39). What is the proper effect and use of a sacrament?

Q. If the matter of particular churches for the quality of it ought to be true believers in Christ, what ought to be the quantity thereof? Q. No more in number in the days of the new Testament, but only so many as may ordinarily meet together in one congregation (Acts 2:46; 5:12…

Q. What may be a third instance hereof? A. The great sin and wickedness of them who put the Lord Jesus Christ to death, as foul a fact as the sun ever saw, and yet even this did the Lord dispose and order for the redemption and salvation of his elect (Acts 2:23 & 4:27, 28). Q. B…

And where lay principally the demonstration of that power? Not simply in raising his body up again — that was no more than he did for others — but in Acts 2:24 the power is said to be shown in this: that he, having loosed the pains of death whereby it was impossible he should be…

The first reason I will draw out of most evident testimonies of Scripture. Acts 2:23: Him I say being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, after you had taken, with wicked hands you have crucified and slain. Acts 4:27–28: They gathered themselves togeth…

3. What is the form of this spiritual house? Union: They which gladly received the word were baptized, and were added to the Church (and so were compacted into one spiritual house, whereof Jesus the Christ is Lord (Hebrews 3:6): but Christ as a Son over his own house, whose hous…

But there is a promise to all poor enquiring souls, that in the time of their ignorance and unbelief, have denied Jesus the Christ, their eternal King and Prophet, as well as Priest, and now by the Spirit of God being convicted, that they are liars and Antichristian, that deny t…

Thirdly, Know (gentle Reader, who are a searcher after truth in these inquiring times) that the Publisher wrote this Treatise, to discover that the difference lieth not so much among us in point of Baptism; as it is about the doctrine of the Faith of Jesus the Christ, the Son of…

The Spirit and the Bride, the Lamb's wife, said; Repent, and be Baptized in the name of Jesus, &c. Then I gladly received the Word, was Baptized, and was added to the Church (Acts 2:38, 39, 40, 41, 42). Yet, by the grace of God, now I am, what I am; and having from some friends,…

And the other, thus; (1 John 2:22) Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is not the Christ, He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. And when I thought to understand the difference, it was too hard for me, until I went into the Sanctuary of God; where the F…

He is, or was to be, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Sanctus, Holy, that is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. For, (Acts 2:22) [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] is rendered [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], your Holy one: from Psalm 16:10. And the Lord Christ is there said to be [〈 in non-Latin al…

This the whole Scripture testifieth to, namely, a real communication of glory to Christ by the Father after his ascension which he had not before. See Luke 24:16; John 17:24; Acts 2:33; Acts 5:31; Romans 14:9; Ephesians 1:20, 21, 22, 23; Philippians 2:9, 10, 11; Hebrews 1:3; Cha…

When God renewed the promise of it to Abraham, he is said to make a Covenant with him, and he did so, but it was with respect to other things, especially the proceeding of the promised Seed from his loins. But absolutely under the Old Testament, it consisted only in a promise, a…

To the whole seed of Abraham according to the flesh it was, that the terms and grace of this Covenant was first to be offered. So Peter tells them in his first Sermon, that the Promise was to them and their children who were there present, that is, the House of Judah, and to the…

[in non-Latin alphabet] is the preaching of the word. And this was one of the first things wherein believers were to be instructed, namely, that they were to abide [in non-Latin alphabet] (Acts 2:42), in a constant attendance to the doctrine of the Gospel, when preached to them.…

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…

Therefore the Apostle treating here of the glorious exaltation of the Son of God, that none might pretend or fancy to themselves that it was any other thing or person that he intended, he expresseth him by that name, whereby he was known in the world, under which he was reproach…

(1.) The solemn dedication of themselves to Christ in and by their Baptism. (2.) Their solemn joyning themselves to the Church, and continuance in the duties of its worship (Acts 2:41, 42). On this opening of the words, it is evident what sin it is that is intended, against whic…

Thirdly, such as were the first heads of their twelve tribes into which the nation was divided, that is, the twelve sons of Jacob, are called Patriarchs (Acts 7:8, 9). Others that followed them, as David, who is also called a Patriarch (Acts 2:29), were termed so, in allusion to…

And so far as I can observe [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], the gift, with respect to God as denoting the thing given, is nowhere used but only to signify the Holy Ghost. And if it be so, the sense of this place is determined (Acts 2:38): you shall receive [〈 in non-Latin alphabet…

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…

(2.) All that he has built, and leaned upon, now fails him: he would have done what they endeavored (Romans 10:3), namely, have established his own righteousness. There is not one man among all Adam's posterity, that is not naturally very strongly inclined this way; but he sees…

The first Argument of the Synod for confirming this Proposition, is; because the children here spoken of are partakers of that which is the main ground of baptizing any children whatever, and neither the parents nor the children do put in any bar to hinder it. Of which the forme…

So far is Baptism from being inseparable from immediate admission to the Lord's Supper, that we read of no one, (no not of the adult) in all the New Testament that was admitted to the Lord's Supper immediately upon his Baptism, from the first Baptism of John, to the end of the A…

3. This exposition takes it for granted that hell is seated in the middle of the earth: whereas the scriptures reveal to us no more but this, that hell is in the lower parts: but where these lower parts should be, no man is able to define. Objection 2. (Acts 2:37) You will not l…

1. This duty is prescribed (1.) to them only who profess faith in Christ Jesus, who own themselves to be his disciples, that call Jesus Lord. For this is the method of the Gospel, that first men by the preaching of it be made disciples, or be brought to faith in Christ Jesus, an…

Election and Reprobation are not a thing of yesterday, and subsequent to the acts of the creature; but from all eternity. 2. There is a decree and preordination, not only a naked fore-sight of those that perish: some Lutherans say that Praedestination is proper only to the elect…

But now since vain speculations and fruitless controversies have so much prevailed, and heart-work and practical godliness so much neglected among professors, the case is sadly altered — their discourse has become like other men's. If you come among them now, they may (to allude…

God and Nature has made Magistrates, and given them great authority: But from Christ as Mediator they have it not. I finde in Scripture, that Church-Officers have their power from Christ as Mediator, and they are to manage their office under and for Christ, and in the Name of th…

So it was when the Apostles were sent forth into the world. Peter applies to that time the words of Joel: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in earth beneath, blood and fire, and vapor of smoke, the Sun shall be turned into darkness, and the Moon into blood (Acts…

To confess the iniquity of your sin with David (Psalm 51:32)? To cry out with them, What shall we do? (Acts 2:37). Have you seen the wonderful, glorious, rich grace of God in the free offer of Christ in the gospel?

Then was all power given to Him in Heaven and Earth (Matthew 28:19). Then did God make Him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), because then, and not till then, he did advance Him to the full and plenary exercise of his kingly power and authority, so that, by the name of Jesus is m…

In the most villainous and unrighteous action that ever was done, God is said to have an influence on it. God is said to deliver up Christ (Acts 2:23): "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified a…

So that the taking hold of God's Covenant, which is there required to make these strangers members of the Church, is a believing in heart on the God of Israel, and an open profession that they did believe, and likewise a promise of obedience or subjection to the God of Israel, a…

By Scripture also, because (Acts 8:1) we read of the Church at Jerusalem, not the Churches: howbeit there were at that instant above eight thousand Christians at Jerusalem, and all these still in the city (for the first scattering of them follows thereafter in that chapter). Thi…