Acts 8

Woe to him that gives his neighbor drink, that puts your bottle to him. 4. By consenting to another's sin: Saul did not cast one stone at Stephen, yet the Scripture says, Saul was consenting to his death (Acts 8:1). Thus he had a hand in it; if several did combine to murder a ma…

4, Pray that the same Spirit that wrote the Word may assist you in the reading of it; that God's Spirit would show you the wonderful things of his law. Go near, says God to Philip, join yourself to this chariot (Acts 8:29). So when God's Spirit joins himself with this chariot of…

But who will not say he is a believer? Simon Magus believed (Acts 8:13), yet was in the gall of bitterness. The hypocrite can put on faith's mantle, as the devil did Samuel's.

It is not our prayers or tears or good deeds, can purchase pardon. When Simon Magus would have bought the gift of the Holy Ghost with money; Your money (says Peter) perish with you (Acts 8:20). So they, who think they can buy pardon of sin with their duties and alms, their money…

Verse 47: the Lord adding to this Church daily such as should be saved. And this company is expressly called the Church at Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). This Church thus called and collected out of the Church of the Jews was the rule and pattern of the disposing of all the disciples of…

The principal means subservient or preparitory to the continuance and increase of the Church, is the preaching of the Word to the conviction, illumination and conversion of sinners, whereby they may be made meet to become living stones in this spiritual building, and members of…

(4) To admit them being approved into the order and fellowship of the Gospel in the Church. Acts 8:20, 23; Titus 1:10; Revelation 2:2; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 18:26; 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8, 11; Acts 9:29, 27; Romans 14:1. Qu. 50 What is the duty of the whole Church in reference to…

The proper inward effect that accompanies that ordinance (which casts men out of the church) being inward affliction and distress of conscience by Satan (which of all afflictions is the greatest punishment, as the apostle calls it, 2 Corinthians 2:6) — thereby to bring a man to…

And in Moses' days Jethro Moses' father in Law, a Priest of Midian, obtained this at Gods hands, to be joined unto Gods Church: and so was Ruth the Moabite, Ruth 1.16: and Naaman the Assyrian, 2 Kings 5.17: and as some think Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4.3, but that is not so certain…

And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spake with new tongues, and prophesied; and the men were about twelve (Acts 19:5, 6). Such an instance likewise we have in Samaria; Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and t…

That the whole glory in discovering of truth to any, might be given to God. 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 Bapti…

And it was of old of common use among the Jews in the dedication of their Rulers, Rabbis or Teachers, being called by them [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. Fourthly, it was used by the Apostles in the collation of the supernatural spiritual gifts of the Holy Ghost to them who were b…

Besides those continual hazards they were in from their adversaries, and the occasional sufferings that they were exposed to; they seem to have had some special seasons of persecution before the writing of this Epistle. The first was in the stoning of Stephen, when great persecu…

No more is required hereunto, but that they were publicly, and in the sight of all that had occasion or opportunity to behold them, exposed to these things. So was it with them, when they haled men and women out of their meetings, who being dragged, or driven in the streets, wer…

So to partake of him is to have a share, part or portion in what he distributes by way of spiritual gifts; in answer to that expression: All these worketh that one and self-same Spirit, dividing to every one severally as he will (1 Corinthians 12:11). So Peter told Simon the Mag…

See (Isaiah 50, last verse): Walk in the light of your fire: do so as long as you will, and if it be never so long, yet the end will be to lie down in sorrow. See (Acts 8:13): Simon believed, and was baptized, &c. yet verse 21, 23, see what is said of him; he was in the gall of…

It is sure they were once Members, and, as such, were Baptized; and it is clear, that though now they be adult, or grown up, yet they were never, in any way of God, cut off, or cast out from their Membership: and therefore we think it more rational to say, that they still contin…

See Hanmer of Confirmat. pag. 17. Now it's evident, that even in the Apostles times sundry were baptized that had not so received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:15, 16, 17 & 19:2–6). But there are sundry further evidences at hand (were there room here to insert them) which show that in…

Question. David uses imprecations against his enemies, in which he prays for their utter confusion, as Psalm 59 and Psalm 109, etc. The like is done by Paul (Galatians 5:12; 2 Timothy 4:14) and Peter (Acts 8:20), though afterwards he mitigates his execration. But how could they…

Philip said, If you do believe with all your heart, you may. Then he answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God (Acts 8:38). By this it appears, that although all men, for the most part, among us can say this Creed, yet not one of a thousand can tell the ancient and…

There is a mighty Providence accompanieth the Gospel; the journeys of the Apostles (as I said but now) were ordered by the Spirit as well as their doctrine. Acts 8:26. The Angel of the Lord said to Philip, Arise, and go towards the South, towards the way that goeth down to Jerus…

To conclude, such is the vileness of mere heart-sins that the Scriptures sometimes intimate the difficulty of pardon for them. So in the case of Simon Magus (Acts 8:21): his heart was not right; he had vile thoughts of God and the things of God; the apostle bids him repent and p…

But true wisdom teaches men to distinguish (1.) between persons and persons, between pretenders and sincere Christians. I would not countenance that fond conceit of some who pretend to a spirit of discerning in this sense, that they can distinguish between hypocrites and sincere…

But yet there were in that crowd of believers sundry that were unsound, as appears by the special instance of Ananias and Saphira in chapter 5. So in Acts 8:13, it is said of that sorcerer that Simon himself believed and was baptized, but yet he had no true faith, for his heart…

Paul's prison made his preaching famous in Rome, and was an occasion of bringing Christianity into Nero's court, that monster of mankind — one might have looked for saints in hell as soon — his bonds were as great a confirmation of the truth of his doctrine as his eloquence (Phi…

Therefore seeing neither conversion, nor loving affection, nor cohabitation, nor coming into their meetings, does join a man as a member of the visible Church (for some men have all these, and yet are not members, and others are sometimes members of the visible Churches, and yet…

Philip preached and baptized, not as a Deacon, but as an Evangelist (Acts 21:8). Besides at the time of his preaching and baptizing, he could not have exercised the office of his Deaconship, by reason of the persecution, which scattered rich and poor and all (Acts 8:1). That whi…

Then say I, we may say the Church of Scotland, as well as the Churches of Scotland, because all the particular churches in Scotland, are united together into one, by the bond of a national oath and covenant, to walk in all the ways and ordinances of God. By Scripture also, becau…

Certainly there were rather more than fewer, though we cannot determine how many. It is written of Samaria, that the people with one accord gave heed to Philip (Acts 8:6), even all of them both men and women, from the least to the greatest, who had before given heed to Simon: of…

And thus did the Apostles pray against their persecutors (Acts 4:29): O Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant to your servants with all boldness to speak your word. Question. David uses imprecations against his enemies, in which he prays for their utter confusion, as (Psalm…

Simon Magus's wickedness lay in his thought. It is said to him, 'Repent of this your wickedness, and pray the thought of your heart may be forgiven you' (Acts 8:22). And when the prophet exhorts (as before) (Jeremiah 4:14) to wash the heart from wickedness, he adds, 'How long sh…

[illegible]. 1. In pursuit of this matter of Metropolitanes, he proceeds next to take notice of one observation of mine in these words. 2. To this end he informs sect. 2. that in the New Testament there is in sundry places mention made of Church [illegible] number, as Galatians…

Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We hope it shall not be needful to insist in opening the scope of this chapter, or in clearing to you of whom the prophet means, and is speaking: It was once questioned by the Eunuch, Acts 8:32…

I know that place of (Matthew 8:17) has its own difficulty, and therefore I shall speak a word for clearing of it; he has spoken in verse 16 of Christ's healing all that were sick, and then subjoins in verse 17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet,…

This is the heart-warming commendation of his sufferings, that with delight and pleasure he underwent them, as if he had been purchasing a kingdom to himself. Now, to come to the Use of all these doctrines; when they with the things contained in them are laid together, we profes…

Isaiah 53:8 — Verse 8. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people was he stricken. We need not tell you of whom the Prophet is speaking here, every verse a…

We show you that we conceive these words to be these that express the Prophet's turning of himself from Christ's humiliation to his exaltation; He has insisted long in setting out his wonderful abasement, exinanition, and humiliation, which these words import, He was brought fro…

3. The Lord, in the Word of the Gospel has revealed this; and has comprehended the way of a sinner's justification in the gospel covenant, and promises, and makes offer of it to all that hear of it, saying, "He that believes in the Son shall not perish, but have eternal life, an…

Manasseh, as if he had intended to make sure work of Hell, runs on to pawn soul and salvation, and gives himself to witchcraft; observing of times; to cause the streets of Jerusalem to run with blood, to all abominable idolatry: mercy in the Lord went as near hell to save him. P…

Thirdly, it is a means to put people in remembrance of what they know, though it be not to salvation. And lastly, it kindles in them some desires to know these things, that they might understand them; though that be rare, I dare not reckon the Eunuch among the ignorant and unbel…

So that the word opened by way of conference made their hearts to burn within them, they do not call it preaching, but rather a private conference, an applying the Scripture to this point they stood in need to be instructed in, and they go away with full resolution, the Lord is…

Labor not for any loaves, whatever you might find in your pursuit after Christ. It was this by which Peter did discover the hypocrisy of Simon Magus: he desired the gift of the Holy Ghost, but for Christ himself, his heart was not set upon him, but he only desired that in which…

Peter seeing the disciple which Jesus loved, said Lord, and what shall this man do? As willing to know the future state of his friend, so (Acts 8:14). Peter and John go to Samaria to confirm the disciples, see (John 18:15).

And I say to you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 2. It is the question put to those that would enter upon Christianity (Acts 8:37): If you believe with all your heart you may; and he answered and…

And this malediction proceeds from the Holy Ghost. As Peter also in Acts 8 curses Simon the Sorcerer: Your money and you perish together. And the holy Scripture often uses cursing, against such troublers of men's consciences, and chiefly in the Psalms: as Psalm 55: Let death com…

The second is, by the message of a creature. Thus Aaron and the tribe of Leui was called by Moses: Elizeus, by Elias: Philip was called by an angel to baptize the Eunuch, Act 8:26. The third is, by instinct.

The first is, that we must have and carrie in vs a right heart. For the want of this was Simon Magus condemned, Act 8:21. A right heart is an humble and an honest heart.

Jonah preaches, yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed: but withal he adds, It may be the Lord will repent, and turn from his fierce wrath (Jonah 3:9). Peter says to Simon Magus, You are in the gall of bitterness: but withal he adds, Pray God that the thought of your hear…

Read (Acts 20:31). 4. He had a prerogative, (as the rest of the Apostles had) after he had made disciples by imposition of hands to give to them the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:17). And these are the means whereby this special love was procured.

Simon Magus though a wicked wretch, a limme of the Deuill, a sorcerer, &c. yet had this conceit of himselfe, and gaue it out also, that he was some great man. Act 8:9. to wit, the great power of God. v. 10. The Church of Laodicea, thought shee was rich, and increased with goods,…