Acts 22

(9.) By consenting to another's death. So Saul consented to the death of Stephen (Acts 22:20): I also was standing by and consenting to his death. He that gives consent is accessory to the murder.

It will be such a question as will cause a heart-trembling. God will examine a man as the chief captain did Paul with scourging (Acts 22:24). It is true, the best saint, if God should weigh him in the balance, would be found defective.

We must know that the Mother was the chief doer in this work, and the father though he was not a doer, yet he gave his consent. Now we must remember, that consent is a kind of doing, whether it be in good things, or in evil: for, when Saul did but keep the persecutors clothes th…

and shall not the Rhetoric there practiced, be the purest? Surely, if Moses had written a book of his own, as he was a mere man, and as he was Moses brought up in Egypt: or Paul writ a book, as he was a Pharisee, and Doctor of the Law; they would both have been full of all excel…

The apostles who were the eyes of the world, the breasts of the church, earthly angels; yet were counted by some like the dungcart, that goes through the city, into which every one throws his filth. The saints are loaded with invectives, and are not judged worthy to live in the…

Objection. Remission of sins, regeneration, and salvation is ascribed to the sacrament of baptism in Acts 22:16, Ephesians 5, Galatians 3:27, and Titus 3:5. Answer: Salvation and remission of sins is ascribed to baptism and the Lord's Supper as to the word, which is the power of…

Thus Saul sinned in keeeping the garments of them that stoned Steuen. Act. 22. 20. Fourthly, by prouocation: thus they sin that prouoke others to sin, and hereof Paul speaks when he says, Fathers must not prouoke their children to wrath.

That seeing of the salvation of God, is neither conversion, nor preparation of a people for Christ. 2. The phrase of seeing God, and the salvation of God, being set down as a powerful fruit of the Gospel, has never in Scripture so low a meaning as is not wanting to natural men,…

In the same manner must other phrases be vnderstood; as when it is said, that baptisme saus, 1. Pet 3:21. that men must be baptised for the remission of sinnes, Act 22:6. that we are buried by baptisme into the death of Christ. Rom 6:3.

So of spiritual Joy, as in the stony-ground Hearers, Matthew 13:20, and particularly many of John the Baptist's Hearers, John 5:35. So of Zeal, as in Jehu, 2 Kings 10:16, and in Paul before his Conversion, Galatians 1:14, Philippians 3:6, and the unbelieving Jews, Acts 22:3, Rom…

And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son, to be the Saviour of the World. Acts 22:14-15. The God of our Fathers hath chosen you, that you should know his Will, and see that just One, and should hear the Voice of his Mouth: For you shall be his Witness unto…

The main quarrel you grant to be in the second, which is the power of Ordination; appropriated (as you enviously and untruly speak) to ourselves: this you say was in former times in the hands of the Presbyters, and undertake to prove it from (1 Timothy 4:14): Neglect not the gif…

This act was symbolic: it prefigured that all things were full of sorrowful confusion, the earth and the air were mingled, the heavens also were cloudy and darkened, therefore they cast dust toward heaven; for as by a stormy wind and tempest, the dust is raised, which thickens t…

For without blood [reconstructed: there] is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). And without remission there can be no salvation (Acts 22:18). And indeed this is one of the great and main ends of giving the law, that the necessity and all-sufficiency of Christ to save us, may be rendere…

2. If we will not try ourselves, God will try us. He will examine us as the chief captain did Paul, by scourging (Acts 22:24). He will ask that question as Christ, Whose image [reconstructed: and] superscription is this?

Having recounted the excellencies which he had, and the privileges which he enjoyed in his Judaism, which were all of a spiritual nature, and a participation wherein made the rest of his countrymen despise all the world, and look upon themselves as the only acceptable persons wi…

God will give whole Kingdoms to ransome his jewells, Isaiah. 43:3. The wicked think the Godly are not worthy to live in the world, Acts 22. 21. and God thinks the World is not worthy of them, Hebrews 11:38. Hence it is God takes away his Jewels so fast, and placeth them among th…

O but then the price with which Christ bought our freedom, should make us more chary of it, and stand in the defense of it with greater courage and constancy, whatever it cost us. The captain told Paul, that his liberty as a Roman was obtained with a great sum (Acts 22:28). Now…

So are his people thrust out by the world, laid by, as not deemed worthy to be employed for any use. Acts 22:22. Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. This is the judgment which the world makes on God's servants.

Therefore (Proverbs 1:10), if sinners entice you, consent not; enter your dissent, and let not your soul have anything to do with their secrets. This consent may be: 1. By symbolizing and complying actions, as Paul speaks in what was once his own case (Acts 22:20): he consented,…

Zeal without knowledge, is like an ignis fatuus in a dark night, that leads a traveler out of his way, into the bogs and mire. This was the zeal of Paul, while he was a Pharisee, I was zealous towards God, as you all are this day, and I persecuted this way to the death (Acts 22:…

The Lord Jesus prevails with those that are the most refuse persons, even when they are in the rough and height of all their wretchedness; when they are in the extremest outrage and running riot in the ways of wickedness, beyond the bounds of modesty and moderation. Our Savior C…

(Psalm 85:8) I will hear what God will speak to my soul: whereas a corrupt heart when the Word meets with his beloved lusts [illegible] the heart is in league, and indeed would not only pinch, but pluck it away by main force; it's death to him, and so distasteful as that he cann…

But that deliverance [illegible] this freedom — they were little, not the dust of the [illegible] if they be compared with freedom from hell and death, sin and guilt; and with those [illegible] inconceivable benefits of grace and glory. Have you but faith, you have interest in a…

Wherefore I grant that the whole force of this consideration lies in this alone, that those who gave Testimony to the Scripture to be the Word of God, had an Attestation given unto their Ministry by these miraculous operations; concerning which we have good collateral security a…

No man would understand the expression in any other sense than this, that in the midst of the war and battle, he was struck with conviction of his wickedness, and became cordially reconciled to his sovereign. If the Doctor depended on the original words [in non-Latin alphabet],…

So has Christ taken bones, and sap, and strength from the devil, and made him as fruitless, as the feathers that serve to sport children (1 John 3:8). For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, [illegible] that he might dissolve the works of the Devil: The word in Scripture…

Secondly, the fruits of that fellowship; we are buried with Christ by baptism (Romans 6:3-6), and in his resurrection, from where these four fruits flow, which is the second thing. First, justification by his death, remission of sin, that is, justification (Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38…