and teach him; some would have huffed at it as a rude affront, but he condescends to learn of one beneath him. Such as are modest and thoroughly humble are also truly docile and teachable, willing to learn knowledge, although from the mouth of an inferior: He desired Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer so opened he not his mouth : 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man ? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Observe here, 1. The particular text of holy scripture which God directed the eunuch to read in order to his conversion. It was a prophecy of Christ the promised Messias, recorded in the 53d of Isaiah, He was led as a sheep to the staughter, and as a lamb dumb before the shearer. Pointing out the innocency, the meekness, and patience, of the Lord Jesus Christ, in and under all his satisfactory sufferings for our sins: In the day of his humiliation, particularly in the day of his trial and sentence: His judgment was taken away; that is, the right was taken away by the unrighteous judgment of the Jewish sanhedrim, and no right or justice done him; and who can declare sufficiently the wickedness of that generation, which cut off so innocent a person from the land of the living?-This text, Philip informs the eunuch, was truly applicable to the Messias, who was certainly come into the world, and both did and suffered all that was prophesied of him. Here note, How wonderfully the divine providence did work in a concurring tendency towards the eunuch's conversion. God moves his heart to read, to read the scriptures, to read this scripture which informed him of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, and sends Philip out of his way to meet him, and he meets him just as he was

reading that portion of scripture which most concerned him; he wanted to be informed concerning Christ, and Philip is at his elbow at that very juncture, to instruct him in a most fundamental truth, in order to his conversion and salvation. O the wonderful love and manifold wisdom of God, in finding out ways and methods for bringing home souls to himself! If his providence brings not them under the means, it will bring the means to them. This eunuch wanted the ordinary means of knowledge; but being desirous of spiritual knowledge, God steps out of the ordinary road to meet him, though an Ethiopian, commonly esteemed the meanest of mankind: and thereby shows, that as there is no respect of persons, so no difference of nations, with him; but whoever feareth

God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him. In the close, Philip preaches a Christ before him; and by the blessing of gospel sermon to him, displaying Jesus God upon the ordinance, saving faith was effectually wrought in the eunuch's soul.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered

39

and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities till he came to Cesarea.

Observe here, 1. The eunuch is instructed before baptized, and he desired baptism of Philip; it was not forced upon him by Philip against his will; The eunuch said, What hinders me to be baptized? To drive men to baptism, as they drive beasts to watering, and force christianity upon them against their wills, to send forth booted apostles with javelins in their hands,

and crosses on their breasts, as the Romish church doth, to dragoon men into christianity, is the way to make hypocrites, but not proselytes; for it is not whole armies that can besiege my reason, nor cannons batter my will. It is conviction, not compulsion, that must induce assent. Observe, 2. The eunuch after instruction desired baptism: See, here is water, let me be baptized. As if he had said, "O Philip! as thou hast instructed me, I pray thee also baptize me. Now that I have received the benefit of thy doctrine, let me not want the comfort of the sacrament." Where the heart is truly touched by the ministry of the word, and the soul thoroughly converted unto God, there is a desire to be partaker of the sacraments. Observe, 3. The condition required of the eunuch before he was baptized, namely, a profession of his faith in the promised Messias: If thou believest, thou mayest be baptized. There is a necessity of faith, to render man a meet partaker of the holy sacraments: if we come to any of the sacraments without faith, we are sure to depart without fruit. Observe, 4. The qualification of that faith which gives a right to the holy sacrament: If thou be lievest with all thine heart. Only that faith gives a right to baptism, and entitles to salvation, which is with all the heart. The eunuch believed with his whole heart, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. This gave him at once a right to baptism, and a title to heaven. Observe, 5. The manner of the administration of baptism to the eunuch he went down into the water, and was baptized by Philip. In those hot countries it was usual so to do; and we do not oppose the lawfulness of dipping in some cases, but the necessity of dipping in all cases. In sacraments, it is not the quantity of the elements, but the significancy of them, that ought to be attended to: as in circumcision, it was not the quantity of the flesh cut off; and in the Lord's supper, it is not the quantity of the bread and wine taken down; so in baptism, a few drops of water poured upon me, doth signify and seal, and convey and confirm to

me a right and interest in all the benefits of my Saviour's death and resurrection, as fully as if, with Jonah, I were plunged into the main ocean. Observe, 6. What followed upon the eunuch's baptizing, and coming out of the water. 1. The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; by the ministry of an angel he was carried out of his sight, that the eunuch might be the more as

sured of the truth of those things which were taught him by Philip's ministry; and that he was a person sent of God to direct him in the way to true happiness. 2. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing, as well he might; it was the happiest journey he ever took, to meet with Christ and conversion in his way, and heaven and salvation at his journey's end. A converted man hath great cause of rejoicing; the gospel proclaimed, much more heartily embraced, is matter of great joy. Behold the fruit of faith, joy, and rejoicing; the eunuch is instructed, believed, is baptized, and goes home rejoicing. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Observe, lastly, Philip was found at Azotus, or Ashdod, thirty-four miles from Gaza, so far had the ministry of the angels carried him, and there safely set him down. Learn, How good it is to obey God in the most difficult command. Philip had a hard and tiresome journey from Samaria to Gaza, footing it through a desert, in untrodden paths, and running as fast as the eunuch's chariot, to join himself unto it at the command of God. But now from Gaza to Azotus he has a swifter and easier passage, he rides in an angelical flying chariot. When we attend the execution of God's commands, the holy angels shall attend us, take care of us, and administer necessary help unto us; like tender nurses, they keep us safe whilst we live, and bring us home in their arms to our Father's house when we die. Blessed be God for the ministry of his holy angels.

CHAP. IX.

This chapter relates to us both Saul's cruelty and

conversion; and acquaints us with the wonderful method which the infinitely wise God took for his church's deliverance from the fury of persecution; namely, by the conversion (not confusion) of Saul the principal persecutor; whereby the churches had rest and peace. His cruelty is recorded, ver. 1 and 2.

AND Saul yet breathing out

threatenings and slaughter a gainst the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high-priest, 2. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Observe here, 1. The lively character of a bloody persecutor: He breathes out threatenings and slaughter against the members of Christ. His very breath smells of fire; threatenings and slaughter, like lightnings and thunder, proceed out of his mouth. Whilst a persecutor hath in him the breath of his own life, he breathes nothing but death against others: nothing will satisfy him but the death and destruction of the members of Jesus Christ. An indiscreet and ungovernable zeal soon degenerates into fury and madness. Observe, 2. How restless and unwearied persecutors are in the prosecution of their bloody designs and purposes. Saul was now Inquisitor heretica pravitatis; away he trots to the high-priest for a commission to bind heretics, who believed on Jesus, and opposed the traditions of the fathers; and having, as he thought, swept Jerusalem of saints, he resolved next to ransack Damascus, though it was five or six days' journey from Jerusalem. However, he spurs on; away he goes through fire and water to revenge his malice on the poor members of Jesus Christ. Learn hence, that persecutors will spare neither purse nor pains, they will stick at nothing, though never so toilsome and hazardous, so they may glut their malice, and satisfy their revenge upon the poor disciples of Jesus Christ. The high-priest needed not to hire Saul to this black work; he both offers himself, and sues for the office. No doubt the high-priest and council highly applauded his zeal and forwardness for extirpating heretics, commending the gallantry of his resolution and the bravery of his mind; and having sealed his commission, sent him away with wishes of success.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus ; and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord ? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Saul was now onward of his journey to Damascus (the worst journey that ever he intended, but the best that ever he under

took,) a journey most maliciously purposed by him, but most mercifully disposed by God. Heaven had designed him for better service, and work of another nature; and accordingly he is stopped in his way, knocked off his horse, a sudden beam of light beyond the brightness of the sun darts upon him, dazzles him, and he hears a voice saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? that is, me, in my members. Whatever is done against christians for any thing that Christ commandeth them, he takes it as done against himself. Such as persecute the saints for their sanctity, persecute Christ himself; and he can no more endure to see them wronged, than himself. As the honour of Christ the head redounds to the members, so the sorrows of the members are resented by the head. Christ said not thus to his murderers on earth, Why bind ye me? why buffet ye me? why scourge ye me, and why crucify ye me? But here, when the members suffer, he cries out from heaven, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Lord! thou art more tender of thy body mystical, than thou wast of thy body natural: more sensible of thy members' sufferings, than thine own. Observe, 2. The wonderful power of the heart-changing grace of God. Saul cries out, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Saul is no longer a lion, but a lamb; the wolf that hunted before for his prey, now gently couches like a sheep, hears and obeys the voice of Christ the great Shepherd; and of a persecutor of the church, becomes the great doctor of the Gentiles. Behold! the tare is become wheat; the child of wrath a chosen vessel; the prodigy of nature, the miracle of grace. Lord, who can enough admire and magnify the sovereignty and omnipotent prevalency of divine grace, which could refine and did extract very precious gold from so rough, so coarse, and so base a metal? Conversion is a work of wonder in all men, but a miracle in this man, and extraordinarily strange and instantaneously sudden; and therefore is by no means to be made the measure and standard of every man's conversion. Shall we think no man converted, unless he be struck down with a light and power immediately from heaven, and be taken with a fit of trembling, and frighted almost out of his wits? many by the benefit of a good education, others by the blessing of God upon some affliction, and upon calm consideration, without any great terrors and amazement,

How

have been visibly changed and converted? The effects and fruits of conversion are very visible in all, but the manner of conversion is not alike in all. Things may be very visible in their effects, which yet are not visible in their cause. If the fruits of our conversion be visible, the certainty of it is unquestionable, and the advantage of it will be unspeakable, although we cannot tell the time when, or the manner how, the Holy Spirit wrought it in us.

6 And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what

thou must do.

Observe here, 1. How easily God can make the fiercest persecutor to quake and tremble: Saul is struck down, but it is to convert him; he trembles, but his trembling was in order to rejoicing. It was a favourable, though an affrighting stroke, which struck him down, but with design to raise him up again. Humiliation for sin, in some measure, always goes before a soul's acceptance of Christ, and subjection to him. Observe, 2. How ready and desirous a converted person is to know and do the mind and will of God: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? He is inquisitive after his duty, and desirous of the know ledge of it. We may sooner find fire without heat, than a true convert without operative grace. It is not, Lord, what wilt thou have me to say? but, What wilt thou have me to do? It is not the talking, but the walking and working person, that is the true christian. Observe, 3. God's answer to Saul's enquiry: Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Mark, He was going to Damascus before on the devil's errand; now. God bids him go. He had better authority for his going thither now, than what he had from the high-priest before. He went before for other's destruction; he now goes for his own instruction, in order to salvation: There it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

Observe here, The testimony or witnesses of Saul's conversion, to wit, the men

that journeyed with him. It is probable that he had a considerable number of offcers with him, to bring both men and women that professed christianity bound to Jerusalem. These saw the light shining, and heard a confused noise like thunder but they saw not Christ himself, as he did, nor heard the articulate voice of Christ that he heard, which spake so powerfully, so convincingly, and so convertingly, to his soul. Lord, how many are there that come under thine ordinances, who hear only (like Saul's companions) a confused noise and empty sound? They do not hear the distinct voice of Christ speaking to their hearts with a strong hand, inwardly and effectually; and so remain under the power of unbelief, in an unconverted state.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Observe here, 1. The change of Saul's posture: He arose from the earth. He that fell to the earth a persecutor, rises up a saint. O free mercy, and astonishing rich grace, that the earth upon which he lay, did not open her mouth and swallow him up alive! he that had run away from God, and employed his feet in the service of the devil, is once more set upon his feet again. Observe, 2. His blindness and loss of sight: When his eyes were opened, he

saw no man.

Christ taught him, by his bodily blindness, the blindness of his soul in spiritual things, which till now he was insensible of. As Saul was, so all men naturally are, spiritually blind, before regeneration and conversion; true, he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and was a great proficient in human learning, but after his conversion he counted that knowledge no Obbetter than blindness, Phil. iii. 7. 8. serve, 3. His manuduction or leading by the hand into the city: They led him by the hand into Damascus. Who led him? doubtless his companions that came along with him upon his bloody design from Jerusalem. Here the blind led the blind; those very hands led him to Damascus, which should have haled the saints from Damascus to Jerusalem. But, O Saul! thou hadst a better leader than all these, even Christ himself: he led thee by the

hand into the city, in order to the completing of thy conversion. Now happy Saul! though formerly rebellious, who hast thy Saviour for a leader, thou shall neither wander nor miscarry. Observe, 4. The duration and continuance of Saul's blindness: He was three days without sight. This was a long night to him, who persecuted the children of the day; a just time for him to be in darkness, who so implacably attempted to blow out the light of the gospel; but perhaps no less time would have been sufficient to humble him for his rage and madness against Christ and his members. Besides, there are some that think, that in these three days of his continued blindness he had that rapture into the third heaven, which is mentioned, 2 Cor. xii. 2. But however that be, doubtless in that time his mind was filled with divine contemplations; and that glorious gospel was taught him in three days, which he taught to others all his days. Observe, 5. His abstinence from food: He did neither cat nor drink. He spent those three days, we may believe, in fasting and prayer, and extraordinary humiliation before God, for his former wicked life, and particularly for his violent persecution of the church of Christ: he fasted, to make him more fervent in prayer; for fasting prepares for prayer, and gives wings to prayer. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias: and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house

of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Observe here, 1. Though Christ converted Saul himself, yet Ananias his minister must instruct him. By Christ is grace infused, but by his ministers increased; such an honour doth Christ put upon the ministers of the gospel, that he makes use of their endeavours ordinarily both for the production and augmentation of grace in the hearts of his people. O, the necessity and usefulness of a standing ministry! It is a singu

lar favour to have the mind of God made known to us by men like ourselves; and behold the honour that God puts upon the ministers, in using them as conduit pipes, for conveying the water of life to us, which he is not pleased to communicate immediately from himself! Observe, 2. What an exact knowledge the Lord has of particular persons and particular places: he tells Ananias in what city Saul was, in Damascus; in what strect he was, in the street called Straight; in whose house he was, in the house of Judas. It is matter of consolation, yea of highest consolation to the children of God, to know and remember that God knows them, that God knows their persons, knows their purposes, knows their performances, knows their place of abode; that he knows who they are, what they do, and where they dwell. It assures them as to their persons, that they shall be accepted; as to their performances, that they shall be rewarded; as to their habitations, that they shall be loved, blessed, and protected by him. So dear are the holy servants of God unto him, that he loves the very streets in which they lodge, the house in which they dwell; the walls of their habitation are always before him, and he delights continually to look upon them. Let holiness to the Lord' then be always written in fair and legible characters upon the walls of our houses, Zech. xiv. 10. Observe, 3. The course which Almighty God takes to remove all fear from Ananias's mind, and to encourage him to go to Saul, according to the direction given him; although he had been such a bloody persecutor, he tells him, that, Behold, he prayeth; as if he had said, "Though he has been bad, he is not now what he was, he is another man; nay, he is a new man, he is truly and thoroughly converted; and this is the undeniable evidence and testimony of it, That whereas before he persecuted, now he prayeth : "Behold, he prayeth." Learn thence, That spiritual breath is a good sign of spiritual birth: none of God's children are still-born, they all come crying into the world. The duty of prayer faithfully and perseveringly performed, is a good evidence that a soul is thoroughly converted and brought home by repentance unto God: Behold, Saul prayeth! But did he never pray till now? Yes, no doubt, many a time; when he was a strict Pharisee, he prayed after a loose and customary manner; but he never prayed so sensibly and