Expository notes, with practical observations, on the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ... By William Burkitt, ... 1753
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Without Queſtion, Gamaliel's Spirit was | h and Rulers. 1ence,note, That it is no new Thing to tax the Miniſters of Chriſt for preaching Sedition, when Rulers de- ſign to ſtop their Mouths, and not ſuffer them to preach at all. But to-remove this part of the Charge, the Apoſtle tells them, That this Jeſus whom they ignominiouſly flew on Earth, is now an exalted Prince in Heaven, able to give Repentance and Remiſſion of Sin to the worſt of his Murtherers, if they unſeignedly deſire it, Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and 4 Saviour, to give Repentance, &c. Whence learn, 1. That Teſus will be a Saviour to none to whom he is not a Prince. We muſt ſubmit ourſelves to his Ruling Power, as well as commit ourſelves to his ſaving Mercy. For it is in vain, to expect Salvation by him, if we do not yield Subjection to him. 2. That Repentance and Remiſſion of Sins are the ſpe- cial Fruits and Advantages of Chriſt's Exaltation. Him hath. God exalted to give Repentance and Remiſſion of Sins. Learn, 3. That it is the ſole Prerogative of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, E Repentance and Remiſlion of Sins. Where note, The couragement - which the Apoſtle's Miniſtry gave to the Murtherers of Chriſt to hope for Pardon; he preaches the Duty of Repentance and the Privilege of Remiſſion of Sins, but aſſureth them for. their Comfort, that Chriſt ſtands ready to ipenſe both. But obſerve the ſad Effects which this Ser- Wo which St Peter preached, chap, 2. when ſo many Thouſands were pricked at the Heart by Sorrow and Compunction; whereas theſe Men were cut to the Heart with Anger and Indignation, Whence learn, 1. That the moſt ſound and ſa- ered Doctrine is an intolerable Torment, to an unſound and nholy Heart. 2. That the Word of God diſpenſed by the = Minifter, and in the ſame, Manner, has not always the Succeſs. The. Subſtance of both theſe Sermons was the Peter) was the ſame, but the Succeſs was not the ſame; to let the Apoſtle know, that the Excellency of the Power was of God, and not of himſelf, as St Paul ſpeaks, 2 Cor. W. 7. + # 34 Then ſtood there up one in the council, a Phäri- fee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in re- putation among all the people, and commanded to put | 35 And faid unto; them, Ye men of Iſrael, take heed to yourſelves, what ye intend to do as touching theſe men, 36 For before theſe days roſe up Theudas boaſting himſelf to be ſome body, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, Joined themſelves : who was ſlain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were ſcattered and brought to nought. 37 Alter this man roſe up Judas of Gali lee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him : he alſo periſhed, and all, even as many as obeyed him, were diſperſed. 38 And now I ſay unto: you, Refrain from theſe men, and let them alone: for if this counſel] or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; [leſt haply ye be found even to fight againſt God. 40 And to him they agreed. And when they had called the apoſtles, and beaten them, they commanded ' that they ſhould not ſpeak in the name of Jeſus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the preſence of the council, rejoieing that they were count- ed worthy of ſhame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple and in every houſe, they ceaſed not to teach and preach: Jeſus Chriſt. | Obſerve here, 1. A General Council erring, and that fun- -Bamentally in Matters of Faith. They determined peremp- torily, That the Doctrine and Practice of the Apoſtles was not from God; and accordingly reſolved to ſuppreſs them, and acted and influenced by the Spirit of God, to give ſuch Coun. ſel as is here given. Obſerve, 3. The. Counſel and Advice ry in the, ſeveral Parts of it. 1. He adviſes them to take eed what they did to theſe Men, ver. 35. implying, that Men bad need take heed how they engage themſelves in ſup- prefling or deſtroying any Sort of Men whatſoever, until they have clear and expreſſive Warrant from Heaven for the Execy. tion. 2. He aſſures them, That if this Work be of Men, it will certainly come to nought; which he owes by a double Inſtance, namely, Theudas, and Judas of Galilee, wha both pretended to be ſent of God as Saviours of their Coun- try, and gathered many Followers, but miſcarryed in their En- terprize ; intimating, that mT Invention, Contrivance, or Device of Man, eſpecially in Things pertaining to God and Religion, will in Time be blaſted and blown upon by God and come to Nothing. 3. He adds, That if this Work be of God it can never 3 overthrown ; but the Attempt will be .deemed a fighting againſt God. Signifying to us, That for any Perſon to attempt the Suppreſſion of any Doctrine or Practice that is from God, is 0 fight againſt (od: himſelf, 4. He intimates to them the great Peril and Danger of fight- ing againſt God, in the Word even, leſt ye be found euer fighting againſt God. Thence laarn, That fighting againſt God is a moſt dangerous Enterprize for any Perſon at any Time to be found engaged or concerned in. Obſerve, 4. The Succeſs or Iflue of Gamaliel's Council, his Advice being ſo wiſe and rational, it prevailed with the Rulers to deſiſt from | their former Intention of putting the Apoſtles to Death; but they come not off without Blows, tho without Bloodſhed; they are ſcourged, as their Mafter was before them, which was both a painful and reproachful Puniſhment: Yet were they ſo far from being diſcouraged, that they were the more re- ſolved. 28 rejoiced that they were ſo graced as to be diſgraced for Chriſt, and accounted it their higheſt Honour to be diſhonoured for him, eſteeming it a very great Favour and Happineſs to bear Reproach for Chriſt,. according to that of the Apoſtle St Peter, 1 Epiſt. iv. 14. F he be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of Glory and of God reſteth upon you. This ſent them from the Pre- fence of the Council rejoicing that they were accounted worthy ro ſuffer Shame fer his Name. ready received the Faith of Chriſt. Thus the more outragj- ous were their Adverſaries, the more couragious were the holy Apoſtles. They religiouſly profeſs the Name of Chriſt, and reſolutely abide by their Profefiion, tho? they were derided, impriſoned, perſecuted and beaten for the ſame. Lord! Help thy Miniſters at this Day to ſuffer Reproach for thy Goſpel ; but never let any of them either reproach it, or be a Reproach unto it. - Amen. | | 7 ; c 4 1. Ft! * 7 „„ MI, In the feregoing Chapters an Account is given of the two firt Perſecutions which . befel the Chriſtian Church after Chriſt's Aſcenſion : The former in the impriſoning, the latter in the beat- ing of the Apoſtles. This and the' next Chapter | acquaints us with a third Blow given to this Infant-Gharch, 'blacker and blozdier than both the former, in the Death of the holy Martyr St Stephen; and the Occafion of it was 53 Þ EDM ND in thoſe days, when the number of the diſciples was multiplied, there aroſe a murmur- ing of the Grecians againſt the Hebrews, becauſe their that by Death. Thence learn, That no Determination of a Council againſt a Poctrine or Practice is any demonſtrative or ſuffieient Proof, that ſuch a Doctrine or. Practice is not from widows were neglected in the daily miniſtration- 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the diſciples unto them, and ſaid, It is nat reaſon that God. Obſerve, a. How God raiſed up a particular Perſon in we ſhould leave the word of God, and ſerve tables. the Conch, Gamaliel, to interpoſe en the Apoltle's behalf, as 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you ſeven — 2 8 » ” FL tea „„ 4 | Chap. 6. 1 E\* „„. ACTS * W 7 * n 8 men of honeſt report, full of the holy Ghoſt and wiſ- dom, whom we may appoint over this buſineſs, 4 But we will give our ſelves continually to prayer and to the lere obſerve, 1. How the Number of Chriſtians increaſed up- on the foregoing Perſecution : as the Jewiſh Church in Egypt, the more it was oppreſſed the more it multiplied ; ſo the Chriſ- tian Church here got Ground by Oppoſition z; ver. 1. In thoſe: Days the Number of the Diſciples was .multiplied. j Obſerve, 2, How the Number of Believers increaſing, there aroſe (as it too often happens among a Multitude) a Murmuring among them: '. wh The Grecians, (that is, ſuch Jews às were diſperſed abroad among the Greeks) complaining that their Widows were neg-! lected, and received lefs than the Widows of the Febrews in the daily Diſtribution of the Church's Money, fot charitable Uſes: : Thence larn, That Neglect of the Poor; particularly of the; Godly Poor, is a Sin in all, but eſpecially in the Churches of Chriſt Obſerve, 3. How the. Apoſtles defiring to have the Poor well provided for, and not having Leiſure themſelves per- ſonally to take Care of them, adviſe the Church to chuſe ſeven Perſons out of the hundred and twenty, mentioned Chapter the firſt, to be Stewards and Diſpenſers of the Church's Stock, to diſtribute the ſame with Equity and Indifferenee to all proper Objects of Charity without Exception. Thence learn, That a general Concern for the Poor, and a tender Regard to their Ne- ceſſities and Wants, is a Duty that well becomes the Miniſters and Ambaſſadors of God: God's Poor are his Treaſure, his Jewels, the Signet upon his Arm; they are always in his Eye, and upon his Heart; how well then doth it become the Mini- ſters of God to take Care of them who are ſo dear to bim? Obſerue, 4. How the Apoſtles reſolve to perform their Duty to God and their People, with ſuch Zeal and Application, as be- came Perſons of their holy Character and Profeſſion. Me wall give ourſelves continually unto Prayer, and to the Miniſtry of the Herd. Where note, 1. That ſuch as are called by God to the Work of the Miniſtry, ought to give themſelves wholly to it: Me tuill give ourſelves continually thereunto. 2. And they choſe Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy Ghoſt, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Ni- canor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas a proſelyte of Antioch. 6 Whom they ſet before the apoſtles : and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increaſed , and the number of the diſciples multiplied in Jeruſalem greatly; and a great company of the prieſts were obe- % // , mnt Obſerve here, That to remove the fore- mentioned Murmur- ing at the Inequality of the Poor's Relief, ſeven Deacons were choſen to aſſiſt the Apoſtles, and to diſpoſe of that Treaſure (which had been laid down at the Apoſtles Feet) with more Indifferency to all fit Objects of Charity without Exception. Here note, 1. The Qualification of the 1 choſen; Men full of the Holy GHH: That is, Perſons that were extraor- dinarily aſſiſted by the Spirit to perform the Duties required of Eving on 0 ** aer. all Fulneſs dwell. Note, 2. The Manner how, theſe Deacons tb. Ther rage and id their Hands os fhep., ying on of Hands was uſed anciently upon a threefold Occa-' ſion in the Jewiſh Church; namely, in their Sacrifices, Exod, xxix. 15. in their Bleſſing, Gen. xlviit. 14. and in their Deſigna- tion unto a Charge or Office, Numb. xxvii, 18. Thus Moſes laid his Hands on Joſhua and from hence it was derived and brought into the. pd when Miniſters were ordained by the Apoſtles in the Primitive Times, they laid their Hands upon them, 1 Tim. v, 22. Note, 3. The mighty Succels of the Goſpel, - ene all the violent Oppoſition that was made againſt it; The Word of God, that is, the Doctrine of the Golpel, increaſed, the Number of Believers multiplied; yea, ſome of the Prieſts themſelves, tho? formerly bitter Enemies to Chtiſt, now, embraced the Faith, and were joined to the Church; great is Truth, eſpecially the Spirit of Truth, and will prevail. Naked Truth is too hard for armed Error. Truth has the Strength of God in it, and therefore human Po- er can never prevail againſt divine Truth. So mightily grew the Mord of God and prevailed. + 8 And Stephen full of faith and power did great wonders and, miracles 124. the people. 9 C Then there aroſe certain of the ſynagogue which is called the ſynagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Aſia, diſputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to reſiſt the wiſdom and the ſpirit by which he ſpake. 11 Then they ſuborned ten which ſaid, We have heard him ſpeak. blaſphemous words againſt Moſes and aguinft God. 12 And they ſtirred up the people and the elders and the ſcribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And ſct up falſe witneſſes, which ſaid, This man ceaſeth not to ſpeak blaſphemous words | againſt this holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him ſay, that this Jeſus of Nazareth ſhall deſtroy this place, and ſhall change the cuſtoms which Moſes de- livered us. 15 And all that fat in the council, looking ſtedfaſtly on him, ſaw his face as it had been the face of PCC Obſerve here, The great Character given of St Stephen; a # % 7 1 7 Man full of the Grace of God, full of Faith, full of Power to work Miracles, mighty in Word and Deed ; able to do all Things, and ſuffer all Things through Chriſt that ſtrength⸗ ened him. Ob/crve 2. The violent Oppoſition which this good Man met with, in the Way of his Duty. He is, 1; Encountred by Diſputation with the Heads of five Colleges in Jeruſalem, namely, Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cici ians, and Afraticks., Behold here an adniirable 4e kept, wherein St Stephen was the Reſpondent, againſt whom Opponents appear- ed from all Parts of the then known World; but all too few to reſiſt the Wiſdom and Spirit by which he ſpake. He aſſert- ed the Truth ſo conyincingly, that all his Oppoſites had no Power to oppoſe him. See here how faithful Chriſt was itt fulfilling of his Promiſe, Luke xxi. 1 5 Iwill give you 4 Mouth ſay nor oppoſe. 2. His Adverſaries being baffled in their Diſ- putes, they burn with Revenge ; they hire Men to accuſe him falſly, that they might take away his Life. The beſt Argu- ments of a baffled Adverſary are ever. found to be Craft and Cruelty; it has been an old Artifice of the Devil, to ſwear innocent Men, out of their Lives: And therefore, it is next to a Miracle that no greater Number of innocent Perſons have been murthered in the World by Perjury and falſe. Accuſa- them; for the Office of a Deacon was, beſides the taking Care | tion; when fo many Thouſands hate them, who make ng of the Poor, to preach the Goſpel and to baptize ; as it ap- Conſcience of falſe ( Je pears Philip did; had it been only to take Care of the Poor, | cuſation, brought againſt Stephen, that he ſpake | bly. of the Jewiſh Religion, that he was centinually. etel» they needed not to be fo inquiſitive to find out Men full of the Holy Ghoſt for that Service. Here obſerve, That the Scripture; mentions a threefold Fulneſs of the Holy Ghoſt cegrging to! a threefold Capacity: of the Receivers. There is plenitude aths. Obſerve, 3; ng - and Ac- of all the Moſaick Rites. It is very probable, 100 be te ficientiz, the Fulneſs of a Veſſel; this 928 Believer bal, zhere is plenitudo Abundantiæ, the Fulneſs of a Stream; this the Apoſtles had, when extraordigarily inſpired, and filled with the $puit at the firſt Plantation of the Goſpel ; ind there is plent- | dred V cars! before. either Tapernacle or Temple, were built, them the Shadows and Ceremonies were to vaniſh, now | Subſtance was come.; and that the Moſaick Rites were. to ling Deſtruction to the Temple, and. threatening th 5 = „ 7 give Place, that a more excellent and ſpiritual Worſhip might ſucceed, For 28 God, was worſhipped aright Four thuns * tudo Superabundantizr, the Fulneſs of the Fountain; and this or the Jewiſh; Rites inſtituted: So He might ggai be truly N eee eee 282 — CS Chriſt had, Col. i. 19. 7? ar a the Father that in bim. ſpauld enter into their Office; it is by Prayer and Impohfioe of-Hands, 9411 ern mur xj is Rite of and Miſdum, which all your Adverſaries fhall not be able to gain- iſhonoura- HR — —— — —— —e— - \ : — K — — ONE — —L— — — — —— —„—¼d ẽ i — — Pant DI — wo ——— — — ————— ñꝗ́ʒG——— ß —ñ4 ͤ  —. ——ů— — —— — :. he 4 CT it") mat. Chap. 7. . 1 2 b ;. worſhipped after they were aboliſhed. Olſerve laſtly, How Almighty God by a. Miracle bears witneſs to the Innocency of his holy Servant St Stephen; and to convince his Accuſers that he had done no Wrong to Moſes, God makes his Face to ſhine now as Moſes's Face had ſhined of old, and gave him an igelical Countenance, in which appeared an extraordinary 1 and Radiancy; not that an Angel has a Face, or ſhines viſibly ; but it intimates that amazing Brightneſs of Beauty which was inſtamped upon the Face of Stephen. He now be- an to border upon Heaven, and had received ſome Bearns of lory approaching; it pleaſeth God ſometimes to give his Children and Servants ſome Prælibations and Foretaſtes of Heaven before they ſtep into Heaven, eſpecially holy Martyrs and Confeſſors, who love not their Lives unto Death; God bears an honourable Reſpect to them that bear witneſs to his Name and Truth, and as they ſhall ſhine forth in the King- dom of their Father, ſo will God ſometimes, put a Luſtre upon their Faces here. All in the Council ſaw St Stephen's Face, | 14-041 ' as it had been the Face of an Angel. 4 CHAP vo. |. " HEN ſaid the high-prieſt, Are theſe things ſo ? 2 And he faid, Men, brethren and fathers, heark- en: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abra- ham when he was in Meſopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And faid unto him, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and come into the land which 1 ſhall ſhew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran : and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he ave him none inheritance in it, no not ſo much as to Kt his foot on; yet he promiſed that he would give it to him for a poſſeſſion, and to his ſeed after him, when as yet he had no child. ill! robo [ This Chapter contains St Stephen's Apology, or defenſa- tive Plea which he makes for himſelf : The Jews had in the foregoing Chapter accuſed him for 1 their Law, and e their Temple, imagining that Almighty God was ſo pleaſed with the Temple-Service and Moſaick Rites, that no other Way of Worſhip could be acceptable to him. There- fore by an Hiſtorical Deduction, he ſhews them, that God was worſhipped aright before either Tabernacle or Temple and conſequently that the true Worſhip of God was not ne- ceſſarily and inſeparably annexed to any of theſe Things. For the Proof of this, he begins at Abraham, and ſhews them, that ters, God was pleaſed of his free Mercy to call him, to en- lighten, and draw him to own and worſhip the True God, and commanding him to leave his native Country, and go into a Land which He ſhould ſhew him: He promiſed to make of him a great Nation, and that in him all the Families of the Earth ſhould be bleſſed. Now the Defign and Drift of Ste- phen in this Relation is to prove, that Abraham from his firſt Call in Chaldea, when he was Seventy. Years old, to the Time of his being Ninety Years old, had ſerved God faithfully all out Tabernacle or Temple; and conſequently that the true Worſhip of God might be now performed acceptably after theſe Ceremanies were aboliſhed, as well as it was performed before they were inſtituted. Learn hence, 1. That religious Worſhip is manifeſtly due to God, by the Law and Light of Nature. 2. That the Manner how that Worſhip ſhould be acceptably performed, was not known by the Law of Nature, but diſcovered by Divine Revelation. Adam in Innocence knew God was to be worſhipped ; yet he did not know by what outward Acts he was to teſtify that Homage, till God the Sovereign Governor and Supreme Lawgiver did give Direction. 3. That the Worſhip due from the Creature to God the Creator, is a Spiritual Worſhip, and ought to be ſpiritually performed. 4. The Judaical Worſhip, tho' +7 pointed by God himſelf, was fleſhly and carnal, and never pleaſed God for its own Sake. 5. The Evangelical Worſhip belag ſpiritual, and moſt ſuitable to the Nature of God, is therefore moſt acceptable and beſt pleaſing to him, - The manded it; but the Evangelical Worſhip is therefore com- manded becauſe good. The Legal Worſhip is called F1:/þ in deripture, and a carnal Ordinance, in Oppoſition to the Goſpel, which is called Spirit, and a Miniſtration. of the Si- Fit becauſe attended with a more ſpiritual Efficacy on the earts and Lives of Mew, 4 | 6 And God ſpake on this wiſe, That his ſeed ſhould ſojourn in a ftrange land ; and that they ſhould bring them into bondage, and intreat 7hem evil four hun- dred years. 7 And the nation to whom they ſhall be in bondage will I judge, faid God. And after that ſhall they come forth, and ſerve me in this place. g And he gave him the covenant of circumciſion, And ſo Abraham. begat Iſaac, and circumciſed him the eighth day; and Iſaac begat Jacob: and Jacob Begar the twelve patriarchs. FE EE, Ly e Obſerve here, The great Trial which God put Abraham's Faith unto : The Lord promiſed to give him the Land of Ca- naan for a Poſſeflion, but he gave him not a Foot's Breadth : He promiſed to give it unto his Seed, when as yet he had no Child; and when God gave him Seed, yet they were to ſo- Journ in a ſtrange Land, Egypt; and continue there in Bon- dage four hundred Years. - Learn hence, That there is no Grace which God delights more to exerciſe and try, than the Faith of his People; as Faith puts Honour upon God, ſo doth God put Honour-upon Faith ; and Faith nevers honours God more, nor is more highly honoured by Him, than when it is put upon the greateſt Exerciſe and Trial, 1 Pet. i. 7. That the Trial of your Faith being much more precious than of Gold that periſbeth, might be found unte Praiſe, and Honour, and Glory, Here the Apoſtle compares Faith unto, and prefers it before Gold, even the moſt precious Gold purified in the Fire. Is Gold precious and rare? So is Faith. Is Gold pure and re- ſplendent? So is Faith. Is Gold laſting and durable? So is Faith. Is Gold purified and improved by trying in the Fire? 80 is Faith by Exerciſe ; as the Inſtance of Abraham here ful- ly proves. O8f. 2. How God takes Abraham and his Seed in- to Covenant with him, and gives him Gircumciſion, the Seal of the Covenant. Thence learn, That in the Covenant which God made with Abraham, he gave himſelf to be a God to Abraham and to his Seed, and received Abraham and his Seed to be a People unto himſelf. 2. That Circumciſion was both the Sign and the Seal of the Covenant which God made with Abraham, and his Seed, The People of the Jews: It is here called the Covenant of Circumcifion, becauſe Circumciſion was both the Sign and the Seal of that Covenant made with Abraham, 1. Circumciſion was a Sign, and that in ſeveral Reſpects: It was a Commemorative Sign of God's Covenant with Afraham ; it was, a Repreſentative Sign of | Abraham's Faith, and Obedience towards: God. A+ Demonſtrative Sign of Original Sin, and the Depravity of Human Nature. A Diſcriminating and Diſtinguiſhing Sign of the true Church, and People of God, from all the reſt of the World. An Ini- tiating Sign, by which all Strangers were admitted into the Jewi hurch, And laſtly, it was a Prefigurative Sign of Baptiſm, which ſucceeded in the Room of Circumciſion in the Chriſtian Church. 2. ' Circumciſion was not only a Sign, but a Seal alſo, Rom. iv. 11. 9 And the patriarchs moved with envy ſold. Jo- ſeph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wiſdom in the ſight of Pharoah king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his houſe. 11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Fgypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found-no ſuſtenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he ſent out our fathers firſt. 13 And at the ſecond im- Joſeph was made known to his brethren: and Joſeph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Ceremonial Worſhip was therefore good, becauſe God _ 14 Then ſent Joſeph. and called his father TER. to Chap. 7. | "TT HCTS him and all his kindred, threeſcore and fifteen ſouls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the ſepulchre that Abraham bought for a ſum of money of the ſons of Emmor 7he father of Sy- chem. 17 But when the time of the promiſe drew nigh which God had ſworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Till another king aroſe, which knew not Joſeph. 19 The ſame dealt ſubtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, fo that they caſt out their young children, to the end they might not live. Fob CI From the Hiſtory of Abraham, Stephen proceeds to that of Foſeph ; and ſhews, as he did before, that Jeſeph, as well as Abraham, worſhipped God acceptably without either Taber- nacle or Temple, and without ſuch Cuſtoms as Moſes delivered; and conſequently, that the Worſhip of God is not confined to an outward Temple, or a Moſaical Miniſtration; and that therefore it was not Blaſphemy in him to ſay, That God might be ſo worſhipped. This is St Stephen's Argument from the Inſtance of Joſeph. As to the particular Story of Jaſeph, Ob/. 1. The great and fore Afflictions, which befel that holy and good Man; he was envied and hated of his Brethren, they conſpired againſt him, and fought to take ak his Life ; he is thrown into a Pit, and afterwards ſold for a Bond-ſlave to the Midia- nites; they ſell him into Egypt, where he was impriſoned ſo long, till the Iron entred into his Soul; that is, ſo loaded with Irons, that his Fleſh was eaten with them. Learn thence, That Afflictions, many and great Afflictions, long and fore Afflictions, have been, and may be, the Lot and Portion of the holieſt and beſt of Men, and all theſe occaſioned by their own Brethren : Jaſeph's Brethren moved with Envy, fold Foſeph into Egypt. Obſerve, 2. The fingular Support and Comfort which Joſeph experienc'd in, and under his, great Afflictions; God was with him, God was with Fe/eph in Potiphar's Houſe, and gave him Favour in the Eyes of his Maſter, who repoſed an entire Confidence in him. God was with 7ozph in Priſon, and cauſed his Impriſonment to make Way for his Enlargement. God was with Joſeph in Pharoah's Court, and gave him a pru- dent and provident Spirit, making him a Father unto P:aroah, and to all his People; giving him alſo a compaſſionate and merciful Spirit to his | 5: hy pardoning their Cruelties, and forgiving the Injuries done unto him. Hence we learn, That all the 05 7 Malice, and miſchievous Deſigns of Men ſhall never be able to hinder or diſappoint the Purpoſe and Pleaſure of God: The Patriarchs moved with Envy, fold Foſeph into Egypt : But God was with him. Obſerve, 3. The religious Deſire which Jacob and Foſeph, and the reſt of the Holy Patri- archs had to be buried together in the Land of Canaan, ver. 15, Ib. Jab died, and our Fathers, and were carried over into Sychem, and laid in a Sepulchre. No doubt this was done b Way of Declaration of their own Faith, and in order to the Confirmation of the Faith of others, that their Poſterity ſhould enjoy and poſſeſs that Land; ſo that this Act of theirs was a Profeſſion of their Faith in the Promiſes which God had made to them of their poſſeſſing and enjoying the Land of Canaan, There is a natural Defire in Perſons to be buried by their Anceſtors ; but here it was a religious Deſire ; they died in the Faith of their Anceſtors, and laid down their Heads toge- tier upon the ſame Pillow of Duſt, in Hope of a bleſſed and glorious Reſurrection. | | | „„ 20 In which time Moſes was born, and was exceed- ing fair, and nouriſhed up in his father's. houſe three months. 21 And when he was caſt out, Pharoah's daughter took him up, and nouriſhed him for her own ſon. 22 And Moſes was learned in all the wiſdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to viſit his brethren the children of Iſrael. 24 And ſeeing one of them ſuffer wrong, he defended bim, and avenged him that was oppreſſed, and ſmote the Egyptian: 25 For he ſuppoſed his brethren would have underſtood how that God by his hand would deliver them, but they underſtood not. next da and would have ſet them at one again, ſaying, Sirs, ye are brethren: why do ye wrong one to another ? 27 But he that did his neighbour: wrong thruſt him away, ſaying, who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedſt the Egyptian yeſterday ? 29 Then fled Moſes at this ſay- ing, and was a ſtranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two ſons. OLIN | From the Hiſtory of. Abraham and Joſepb, St Stephen de- ſcends to that of Mil by Pharoab's Daughter, and has a noble Education given to him : Being inſtructed in all Kinds of good Literature, to fit him for ſuch great Services, as a Prince's Court might proba- bly have brought him to: Moſes was learned. Hence nate, That the greater Men are, the greater ſhould their Care be for the Learned and Religious Education of their Children: Becauſe nothing is more incongruous and unſuitable than Greatneſs of Eſtate and Meanneſs of Underſtanding. It is a Shame to great Men to breed up their Children ſenſually, to Gaming, porting, and Exceſs; as if an Inheritance did ferve for no - other Purpoſe, but to make the Heir of it uſeleſs, and good for nothing. Again note, The Latitude and Extent of MAaſes's Learning. He was learned in all the Learning of the Egyp- tians, Where remar#,. I. The different End which God had in his Providence, from what Pharoah's Daughter had in her particular Care. She intended by this Education of Maſes, the Good of Egypt; but God intended the Good of 1jrael; ſhe deſigned the Service of Pharoah ; but God deſigned Joes to be a Deliverer from Pharoah. Thus the wiſe and holy Pro- vidence of God uſeth the Diligence of Men to affect and bring Things about which they never thought of. 2. We may re- mark, How that Moſes the great Prophet, whom God ſpake to Mouth to Mouth, is here commended for his Learning, yea, for Egyptian Learning. Thence we may gather, That Human Learning is a noble and beneficial Gift of God, and a very great Ornament and Honour unto the greateſt and moſt excellent Men; for it is in itſelf an Ornament and Perfection to the Mind; it renders Men the more uſeful and ſerviceable in their Generation, and a greater Bleſſing to Human Socie- ty, but eſpecially to the Church of God. Human Learning indeed is far inferior to Holineſs ; but in holy Men, Learning is a rare Ornament and Acceſſion to Holineſs. Sanctified Wit beautifies Religion, ſanctified Reaſon defends it, ſanctified Power protects it, ſanctified Elocution perſuades others to the Love of it. So that to decry the Uſe of Human Learning muſt proceed either from Ignorance, or from Malice, and a De- ſire to have Religion betrayed. Let us ſee that we get our Learning ſeaſoned with Holineſs, that we uſe it with Humility, y | Moderation and Sobriety, as an Handmaid unto Chriſt; not vain-glorious unto Oſtentation, not proudly with Contempt of others, not heretically in Defence of Error : never ſuffer- ing Human Learning, but Divine Revelation, to determine Articles of Faith; then if with Maſes we be learn'd in all the Learning of the Philoſophers, the more Glory we ſhall bring to God, and be the more uſeful and beneficial to Mankind. G, 2. As the Education of Moſes in Pharoah's Court, fo the Time of his continuing there; namely, till he was Forty Years old - After which. God put it into his Heart to viſit his Brethren, the Children of '//-ae/, and offer himſelf to be a Deliverer to them; and he ſuppoſed that they would have : underſtood the Pur- pole of God to ſave them by his Hand, but they underſtood it not. But what Reaſon was there for the Jſraelites to ſuppoſe, that Moſes was the Perſon: deſigned by God for their Deli- verer? Anſwer, Very great Reaſdn: Becauſe, 1. They knew that the Time of their Deliverance did now draw very near, 2. From the Extraordinarineſs of Moſes's Preſervation, by his being hid three Months in his Father's Houſe without Diſco- very; by his floating upon the Waters in an Ark of Bulruſhes | without Danger, when an Infant; they might have rational- ly thought that ſuch a Perſon was deſigned by God for very great Purpoſes. 3. 4 & WOW — — — RR — . dr 4 Pa er . We — — — X ISP . — — ä —— NEL — Oh == — — —y—ͤ—D ' . — — —. — — 6 — IR as ——— * 6 8 MS Tees * — 328 Te 10 TS. Chap. 7. Of. z. The ill Treatment given to Moſes, when he offered him- ſelf to be a Reconciler, they thruſt him from them, and ex- poſtulate with him, I ho made thee a Ruler or a Judge! The meek Man replies, Sirs, ye are Brethren, why do ye wrong one to another? Where note, 1, Who were the Perſons doing Wrong to each other; they were 1/raelites, both Iſraelites; to ſee an I raelite and an Egyptian ſtruggling, had been no Wonder, but to ſee two {/raelites who were a Brethren by Nation, Brethren by Religion, Brethren in Tribulation, both of the Seed of Abraham, both initiated into the ſame Covenant, both in Bondage to a cruel Tyrant, Pharoah, who had condemn- ed them to an ignominious Slavery, and deſigned ſuch a De- gree of Cruelty, as to murder all the Male Iſſue: This was an. aſtoniſhing Sight, and Moſes might well fay, Ty do ye _ wrong one to another? Plainly implying, that both Parties were to blame; but that Party moſt, who would not hear of a Re- conciliation, or putting a Stop to the Quarrel ; a Reconciler is more odious than a Stranger in the Apprehenſion of ſome, Obſerve, laſtly, How Meſes being thus ill-treated by them, departs from them, and they hear no more of him for Forty Years, ver. 29. Then fled Moſes, and was a Stranger in the Land of Midian : Where obſerve, The Years of Moſes's Life were an Hundred and Twenty: Forty Vears he ſpent at the Court of Egypt : Forty Years he ſpent in Midian with his Fa- ther-in-law Jethro; and the laſt Forty Years of his Life in the Wilderneſs. Now all this "Time Moſes was a Worſhipper of the true God, and that in an acceptable Manner, and moſt of this Time he worſhipped God without either "Tabernacle or Temple: from whence St Stephen draws his Argument to $a that as God was acceptably worſhipped by Holy Men, before either Tabernacle or Temple were erected, in like Man- ner he may be ſo again, after both Tabernacle and Temple are deſtroyed ; and conſequently that they unjuſtly accuſed him of Blaſphemy, or ſpeaking blaſphemous Words againſt Moſes, and againſt God. 31 When Moſes ſaw it, he wondered at the ſight : and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Iſaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moſes trem bled, and durſt not behold, 33 Then faid the Lord to him, Put off thy ſhoes from thy feet: for the place where thou ſtandeſt is holy ground. 34 I have ſeen, J have ſeen the affliction of my people, which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. - And now come, I will ſend thee into Egypt. 35 This Moſes, whom they refuſed, ſaying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the ſame did God fend 4% be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the buſh. 36 He brought them out, after that he had ſhewed wonders and ſigns in the land of Egypt, and in the red ſea, and in the wilderneſs forty years. 37 J This is that Moſes which ſaid unto the chil- dren of Iſrael, A prophet ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up unto you of your brethren like unto me: him ſhall ye hear. 38 This is he that was in the church in the wilderneſs, with the angel which ſpake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers : who re- ceived the lively oracles to give unto. us. 39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thruſt him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 Saying unto. Aaron, Make us gods to —_— _ A. go before us: for as for this Moſes which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is be- come of him. 41 And they made a calf in thoſe days, and offered ſacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worſhip the hoſt of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye houſe of Iſrael, have ye offered to me ſlain beaſts and ſacrifices by the ſpace of forty years in the wilderneſs? 43 Yea, fer, | ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the ſtar of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to wor- ſhip. them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon, 44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witneſs in the wilderneſs, as he had appointed, ſpeaking unto Moſes that he ſhould make it according to the faſhion that he had feen. 45 Which alſo our fathers that came after brought in with Jeſus into the poſſeſſion of the Gen- tiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David, 46 Who found favour before God, and deſired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him an houſe, 48 Howbeit the moſt High dwelleth not in temples made with hands ; as faith the prophet, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth 7s my footſtool; what houſe will ye build me? faith the Lord: or what is the place of my reſt? 50 Hath not my hand made all theſe things ? 15 | St Stephen here goes on with the Hiſtory of Maſes, and having in the former Verſes made mention of what occurred to him in Egypt, and in Midian here an Account is given of what happened to him in the Wilderneſs ; and the firſt Thing obſervable is the Appearance of God to him in a Flame of Fire out of the Midſt of a Buſh, which burned, but was not con- ſumed., This Buſh was an Emblem of the Church; This Buſh burning, pointed out the afflicted State of the Church in Egypt, having a long time been in the fiery Furnace there, but the burning Buſh, not conſumed, ſignified the Church's Preſervation. God was in the Midſt of the Buſh, whilſt the. Buſh was in the Midſt of the Burning. Where note, How Al- mighty God intending to fend Moſes as a Deliverer of his People out of Egyp7, gives him a viſible Sign for confirming of his Faith, in the Sight of this burning, but unconſumed Buſh. 1. To aſſure him of his People's Deliverance, that tho they were now Slaves in Egypt, yet they ſhould be ſet free and inſtated in a Land flowing with Milk and Honey; next to fatisfy him that he ſhould be the Inſtrument to bring to pals ſo glorious a Work. O how gracious is God's Condeſcenſion towards his Servants, who is pleaſed by viſible Signs to ſup- port the Weakneſs of their Faith! The Lord appeared to Moſes in a Flame of Fire in the Buſh, Obſerve, 2. How Moſes in the Faith of God's Preſence with him, Protection over him, and Affiſtance of him, goes forth for Egypt, where he works many Signs and Wonders before Phareah, at laſt brings the People forth into the Wilderneſs to Mount Sinai, where God gave them his Law, and appointed ſes then to make a Ta- bernacle for his Worſhip. Now the Uſe which St Stephen makes of this, is to convince- the Jews, that for above four Hundred Years their Fathers had worſhipped God without any: Tabernacle at all, and, conſequently, that now that Sort of Worſhip was aboliſhed, God might be very acceptably ſerved and worſhipped in the Abſence of it. Obſerve, 3. That not- withſtanding Moſes was raiſed up by God, and ſent to be a De- liverer into Egypt, and a Lawgiver to the [/raclites in the Wil- derneſs; yet they rebelled againſt him, and againſt God in him; for they ran into the vileſt Idolatry, even to make and wor- ſhip a Golden Calf, to adore the Hoſt of Heaven, the Sun, Moon, and Stars, for Deities ; yea, they carried about with them the Images and Pictures of the Heathen Gods, Mars and Saturn, with Deſign to worſhip them ; for which groſs Idolatry God ſent them into Captivity beyond Babylon. Rete learn, I. That there is a ſtrange Inclination in Man's Heart to the Sin of Idolatry ; the Reaſon is, becauſe it is a Worſhip. of our own Invention. The 1/raelites being come out of Egypt by the Conduct of H- and having entered the Wilderneſs at God's * A | n - P es A FM 0 4 * |; 4 - 4 * _— 4p v ——— LETT OE 6 1 7 1 a 1 * a * 's o 0 1 ar 46 * ö wo 1 Ou 2G * „ 455 oe 1 1 o * \ * * : = = [of . } , 329 and particular Direction, the [Tabernacle for his publick Wor- and drives them into the worſt Kind of Madneſs. Learn hence, ſhip and gervice is erected, . his is here called, ver. 44. The Jabernacle of Witneſs ; it being the Place where God uſed to witneſs and manifeſt his glorious Preſence, and becauſe the Ark of the Covenant, the Law, and the Teſtimonies, were laid up in it, which were Witneſſes and Declarations of God's Now this Tabernacle was an ambulatory Temple as the Temple was a ſtanding Taberna- cle, This Tabernacle was moveable ;- they carried it with them from Place to Place, while they ſojourned in the Wilder- neſs, and at laſt they brought it with them into Canaan, ver, 45. which Tabernacle our Forefathers 158. in with Je- Will how he would be ſerved. ſus (that is, Jaſbua) into the Poſſeſſion of the rentiles, that is, the Land of Canaan, where it continued all the Days of Da- vid, till Solomon began his Reign, who built the Temple in a| moſt magnificent and ſumptuous Manner. Here note, I. 