Might not this part of the Divine Testimony-The Acts of the Apostles-be called the Actings of the Holy Ghost? What interest this Book is clothed with as opening to us the dispensation or economy of the Lord the Spirit—which we may term the dispensation of resurrection in contrast with the dispensation of the flesh which preceded it. Man is wholly set aside as to any capacity or good thing in him. The name of Jesus, wonderful and mighty, and the presence and power of the Holy Ghost, are the absorbing themes. God is thus exalted, and becomes all in all. In fine, it may be said, that to the Saints-to the Church-the Divine Name (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost) is duly proclaimed; and the mysteries of the faith (now alas! so lost or forgotten) are revealed. Our Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples of the operations of this blessed Spirit-the " other Comforter," as told to us in John's Gospel-and of further development of the Spirit's power and acting, which the few weak ones around Him could not then bear (John 16:12,1312I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:12‑13)), but which the day of Pentecost and its results made manifest. He had spoken to Nicodemus (John 3) of the regenerating power of the Spirit, connected even with Jewish or earthly things, in contrast with heavenly things (see. ver. 12). He had declared to the poor Samaritan sinner at the well (4:10, 14), that He was the Giver of living water, which was to be, in those who received it, " a well of water springing up into everlasting life." But He revealed further and deeper truth, when He spoke by promise of a future thing connected with His glorification (7:37), "If any man- thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet, because that Jesus was not yet glorified." Here we find not only the well springing up to refresh and cleanse, but further, its streams flowing out for the benefit of others; the Divine thought and arrangement evidently as to ministry during this dispensation, by the power of the Holy Ghost acting down here through the members of the body, witnessing to them, as He does, the resurrection, Lordship, and glory of Jesus, as the Head at the right hand of God. The Lord unfolded more still to the disciples, as we well know, in chapters 14 to 16 of this Gospel; and two points might be mentioned in passing on:-One (which, indeed, we are learning our need of), that blessed declaration and promise, that the other Comforter would " abide with them forever," notwithstanding all the failure and ruin which, as in everything entrusted to man, shortly began. Compare Hag. 2:55According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. (Haggai 2:5)-a precious word spoken in that low state of Israel, " According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you; fear ye not." And let us heartily justify God, and say, " Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; that Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and be clear when Thou judgest " (Rom. 3:44God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)). The other truth, which may be alluded to is practical (compare John 16:7, 117Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:11) with Acts 2, 1st Cor. 12, Eph. 4). If it was expedient that Jesus should go away, that the Paraclete, the other Comforter, might come to form, and dwell personally in, the Church, and to in-dwell in each member of the body; and being there, to be the power to convince the world of sin, it is very manifest, that the objects of this amazing care and blessing, or believers in the Lord Jesus, ought to have a conscience void of offense. The Saints truly are responsible to walk in the Spirit, because they have got the Spirit; and to maintain a good conscience, as Paul insists upon, both for himself, and as exhorting and beseeching others.
In Acts 1 we read the parting words of the Lord Jesus, before "a cloud received Him out of their sight." It seems to be quite clear, that the baptism of the Holy Ghost, of which He spoke (ver. 5), " the power of the Holy Ghost" coming upon them (see margin, ver. 8) was the descent of that Blessed Spirit on the day of Pentecost (chap. 2.) when the disciples were all " filled with the Holy Ghost," " the promise of the Father" (ver. 33) as testified by Peter, who now had understanding- the Church formed (though doubtless it was not till after Paul's conversion, the disciples fully knew Church-place, specialty, real standing and glory), and God Himself in the midst. From this, we have a gradual but wonderful development of truth, until it becomes wide and deep indeed; and bearing this mark-the largeness of God's heart and goodnessy_And this seen the more as contrasted here and there with-man's narrow and contracted measure. After the descentof the Holy Ghost, with what energy does He testify by.Teter (compare 1st Peter i. 12) when "three thousand being pricked to the heart, believed." With what boldness does Peter (who before denied Christ, and forsook Him) now charge these blood-stained men with the murder of Jesus; the Lord, in His amazing grace, having directed that the first proffer of mercy should be made here; " beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:4747And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)), and these three thousand having gladly received the good news, that there was remission of sins in His name, are at once baptized, and introduced into the fellowship; and continue steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. Chapter 3 shows us the testimony of the Holy Ghost to Israel yet to repent, with offers that Jesus would come-for that Lord who delighteth in mercy, to whom judgment is " strange work," who wept over Jerusalem "in the days of his flesh," lingers as loth to leave the ancient people. But Israel, the wicked generation, resist the Holy Ghost; and consummate this resistance by stoning Stephen, the protomartyr. Still many believed (iv. 4.) till about five thousand were inside; when Satan stirred up people, priests, (religion so called, being always the bitter enemy of Christ), and the Sadducees against them: and in this trial. and Der secution, the power of the " name of thy holy child Jesus," and their faith in that name is manifested. The place was shaken where they prayed, and all, filled with the Holy Ghost, spake the word of God with boldness. " And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all" (ver. 33). We see the Church standing for a time in corporate integrity; producing the blessed fruits of the Spirit, and obeying that word: " Ye are members one of another" (Eph. 4:2525Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)). " By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:3535By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35)). But failure in measure sets in, in chap. v., where we find the manifested power and presence of God in the assembly, when He avenges, by judgment, the insult offered to His present Majesty. "Thou past not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:44Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:4)). Let it be remarked, in this place, that these truths of God are not altered by man's failure and folly. The unbelief of believers in Christ, does not impair truth a whit; and when the Holy Ghost does bring these things in His own vivid power to the consciences and hearts of saints,-when He is pleased to work with energy in any little company of His own,-there will always be the effects-surely something of them all we read of in chap. ii. 42-47,-even in this day of weakness, confusion, and failure; the family scene -the mutual care of the members-the pleasant fruit of love (loving with the powers of eternal life)-the fruits of the Spirit will surely appear. So likewise, when real faith is at work (not the quantity so much as the quality of faith) as to the presence of God-as to walking with, and serving the Living God, and waiting for His Son from Heaven; when there is true abiding in Jesus, and communion in and by Him-surely just in proportion will that word be reverenced: " Holiness becometh Thy house forever." The Church, or assembly of Saints-the habitation of God by the Spirit-will be a place of discipline and godly care. Nothing would or could be allowed, no, not for an hour, in doctrine or walk-much less in doctrine-which would dishonor God, and lower the standard of His Truth. The name and glory of Jesus-the presence of the Spirit-the genius of the
13*
dispensation-the grace in which we stand-the real welfare of God's people-the word of God-all cry out with many tongues, against the allowance of any evil thing whatsoever-any leaven, which if allowed " leaveneth the whole lump," for " ye are unleavened " (24/.4oc, 1 Cor. 5:77Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7).) God's thought about the people-without leaven-therefore suffer it not to come in and defile. When found, put it away; and if the case need such truth as this, walk in obedience to it-" from such turn away." "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use" (2 Tim. 2:2121If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)). " Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly " (2 Thess. 3:66Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)). The sad and perpetual tendency of our hearts,
is just,t6 slip out of the sense of grace and the Lord's
presence. The lively living apprehension of our standing
and \of Him who called us with a " heavenly calling," soon May be lost or forgotten. Then, in an hour of difficulty and of Satan's power-natural feeling, expediency and policy- the unjudged flesh begins to work-wheel within wheel, difficulty, perplexity-men, and what is of man, are found getting between the conscience and Christ; and then Christian men, under the plea of Christ's honor and the good of His people, really are opposed to godly discipline and order. But sad and woeful is the condition, the low sunk-down state, when
souls object to dealing with evil in the house of God, and
prefer in reality their own things (Paul's sorrow in
which are Jesus Christ's") to the things of God. "Buy the truth, and sell it not," said the wise man in Proverbs. Those who stand in God's truth, and are contented to abide with him, though many go back, may find a still darker, and (to others) more confused time. But the Jude-position, ver. 20-25, is a very good one, and throws one at once on the only wise God, our Savior, " to whom be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever, Amen."
In chap. 7 we find a great advance in truth. The heavens opened; and Jesus "received" by a cloud "out of their sight" in (1:9) is seen by His faithful servant and martyr Stephen (ver. 55); "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God; and said, Behold I see the Heavens opened," etc. Israel, utterly rejecting the testimony of the Holy Ghost by Stephen, proceed to stone him: "he fell asleep" (ver. 60). And, therefore, instead of the Lord Jesus coming down to them, as offered in chap. 3 (noticed above), we here see that Holy One ("who, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high") standing to receive, as it would appear, the spirit of His martyred servant. In chap. 8, let it be noted, that, in the largeness of God's heart, He could not have the waters of life pent up as it were in Jerusalem. He therefore permits persecution (He may have seen His chosen ones inclined to nestle together) that the streams of salvation may flow out. The nation reject, but God will follow the individuals. O what a God is our God! Saul of Tarsus made havoc of the Church;" the one who soon becomes a special witness and illustrious vessel of mercy, not only to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, and that faith which he destroyed (as far as he could), but to be specially the Church's minister or servant (see Col. 1:24, 2524Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:24‑25)), "Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went everywhere preaching the word" (ver. 4). These holy fugitives carried the lamp of truth into dark places, and the Spirit tells us of them (chap. 11:19-21), they preached unto the Jews only, and " the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord." In chap. 9 we advance into still deeper truth. Saul of Tarsus breathing out slaughter, in his mad career, is arrested by seeing Jesus, the Heavenly Son of Man, from whose face streamed down the glory of God, and that light-too effulgent for human sight (Saul is blind for a season)-shines into his heart (compare 2 Cor. 4:66For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)). He sees the Lord of Glory, who begins/to unfold to him the great mystery (το μυστηριον μεγα, the great mystery, not a great, as translated, Eph. 5:3232This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32), but the mystery, of which Adam and Eve in the garden were a type), that He had a Bride, the Bride of the Lamb-a glorified body, whose members Saul was persecuting, but whose union with. the Heavenly Head was so complete and indissoluble (Paul's great theme afterward), and marked by such living sympathy, that whoso touched them, touched the apple of his eye; whoso served them even with a cup of cold water, served Him. We can at once perceive the difference of revelation made to Peter and to Paul. Peter knew the Lord Jesus in the flesh; the One of promise and prophecy; who by suffering entered into glory. Paul knows not Jesus after the flesh at all. He beholds the Lord of glory, and straightway preaches that Jesus is the Son of God, not before preached. It is a fuller, clearer revelation of the Divine Person of the Lord, and of the result of His work, it was Redemption-glory. Peter could testify of the sufferings of Christ, and the glories after these [sufferings] see Greek, 1 Peter 1:1111Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1 Peter 1:11). (Note, not glory, as translated, but glories, for Our Lord Jesus will be crowned with many, many diadems of glory; He will bear all the glory-glory connected with each dispensation). But Paul sees Jesus as the One who had completed His work-who was at once the foundation, deeper than Hades and Hell-for His own-the Head, the center, " Christ is all and in all,"-who had reconciled all to God, and upheld His body, the Church, before God, in His own righteousness, beauty, glory, and strength. "I am Jesus," was the electrifying word to reach, quicken, and search Saul's heart and conscience. 'And I have a body, whose members struggling through the wilderness, are yet so identified with me, that in hurting them, thou persecutest me.' It was this full revelation of Jesus, which, while it crushed Paul's flesh, through the working of the Holy Ghost in his soul, gave him that strong grasp of faith for all saints, enabled him to endure the petulance of some, while he could not bear any doctrine which touched the gospel, the work of Christ, as we see in Galatians; led him through such sufferings ( 2 Cor. 11:2323Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (2 Corinthians 11:23), etc.); qualified him to be a minister of the Church (see Col. 1:2323If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23), et seq). Peter did indeed confess to Christ (Matt. 16), His divine glory as Son of God; but in his testimony we never see more than Jesus as the glorified Head. The saints risen were as pilgrims and strangers scattered abroad," looking for a heavenly inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled. Paul had a key, given to him to open the mystery, not before known, of an elect heavenly bride-Jew and Gentile in one-the Church-the Body of Christ—the fullness of Him "who filleth all in all,"-and it may be observed, how, to the end of his course, we find him speaking of our gospel, my gospel, -"The glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God."- "My gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest" (Rom. 16:2525Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25)). It would seem to be clear indeed, that after, Paul's conversion and preaching Jesus to be the Son of God, deeper instruction is given to the saints, and we read, "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:2626And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)). Antioch seems to have been the scene of work from which Paul started with a fuller revelation, and more glorious gospel: and though I ought now to look at chap. 10, which was the limit proposed in this paper, I would just follow Paul on to two eventful epochs in his course, as shown in the Acts, in which one traces what he got from this glorious gospel, how strikingly we find displayed in him the power, conscious ease with God, joy in deep trial, and real standing in the dignity put upon him by virtue of his union with Christ" (Acts 16 and 26). In the former, we read of the commencement (in Lydia and the Jailer), "according to the grace of God given to Paul as a wise master builder" (1 Cor. 3:1010According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Corinthians 3:10)), of the Church at Philippi, so endeared to the apostle, as we find in his epistle to them. Satan strives to weaken and nullify the testimony of the apostle (ver. 16, 17), as if he was in league with the apostle, and approved of the preaching of the way of salvation; and Paul being grieved, commands the evil spirit to come out in the name of the Lord Jesus. Satan changes his opposition to violent persecution. The apostles are, as far as bodily trial went, in wretched plight; the stocks, according to historians, were high, and Paul and Silas it would appear, must have been lying on their flayed backs, with their clothes rent off, but God is present. They prayed and sang praises, and the Lord answers as it were with a voice of thunder (ver. 26), symbolical truly of that mighty gospel of Christ, which " Brings out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house " (Isa. 42). In chap. 26, how vividly and blessedly Paul spews out what was in his heart and soul: he stands in chains, a prisoner before the mightiest monarch of the world, and all the state surrounding him. Yet Paul evidently is the one possessed of conscious dignity and ease and happiness. He can afford to wish that all that heard him were " almost and altogether such as he was, except these bonds." What joy in God, what blessedness Paul stood in, as having simple faith in that of which Festus spoke, " Of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive" (25:19). In chap. 10 Peter also sees " Heaven opened." God works a miracle to meet the prejudice of his narrow heart! The "great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth," in a lively manner represents the heavenly calling of the Church,-its heavenly origin (though filled with unclean creatures in themselves)-its having no resting-place on earth-but moved about, waved, as a bough of a tree, as it were, is received up again into heaven. Another has suggested whether the expression, "Knit at the four corners," may not be delicately significant of the heavenly calling of the saints, inasmuch as those inside the sheet, whose corners were thus knit, could not possibly look down on the ground. They must look up, and that of necessity. Such is the Church's standing and portion. How soon "we which are, alive!" (1 Thess. 4:1515For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)) may be caught up, solemn yet joyful thought-" to be forever with the Lord!" Observe in this and the preceding chapter of Acts, man's narrowness, God's largeness. Ananias (9:13) pleads with God against the reception of so bad a man as Saul of Tarsus-" But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me." In this chapter Peter evidently does not like that the unclean Gentiles should enter the kingdom (compare ver. 14, and 28). The Divine answer is -O what mercy for our poor souls!- " What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
There is nothing new in these thoughts beloved reader, but there is old truth, which we cannot meditate on too much (read 2 Peter 1:1212Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. (2 Peter 1:12)), and never more than in such a day as this is. As the Lord spoke to Jeremiah (6:16), "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and ask for Me old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein; and ye shall find rest for your souls." " Surely I am coming quickly, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all." Amen.
A.