The Ethiopian Eunuchs Conversion, Commentary on Acts 8 · Verse 39
VERSE 39. And as ſoone as they were come out of the water, the ſpirit of the Lord caught away Philip: And, the Eunuch ſaw him no more, and he went on his way reioycing.
WE hauehave in this Verſe the happie fruite and effect that followed the miniſtery of Philip: wherein are obſeruable two things.
1. That miraculous tranſportation of Philip.
2. The wonderfull ioy that followed.
Firſt, it is ſaid, that the ſpirit of the Lord tooke away Philip. After what manner were curioſitie to enquire: For, as one faith well, why ſhould we with danger determine that, that without danger we may be ignorant of. It is ſufficient for vsus to know that the Lord hauing effected, what was the good pleaſure of his owne will in the Eunuchs conuerſion, he remoued his ſeruant to another place, euen to Azotus, to preach the word to another people, as we hauehave it in the laſt verſe of this Chapter.
Now it came not to paſſe, but by the good prouidence of God, that Philip in this ſtrange and miraculous manner ſhould be taken away at this time; for herein and hereby the Lord would confirme this Nobleman in the truth that Philip had preached vntounto him, when he ſhould now conſider that he was ſent from heauen by a diuine prouidence to inſtruct him, in regard of that his ſtrange and miraculous departure from him.
Wherein we may take notice Doct. of the wonderfull louelove of God towards his people,The Lord would hauehave his ſeruants ſetle in the truth. that he would not hauehave them wauer, or bee doubtfull in the weightie matter of their ſaluation, but he would hauehave them to bee grounded and ſtableſhed in the truth; and hence is it that the Lord would hauehave this Eunuch ſetled in the faith by this miracle that hee wrought. Thus he was pleaſed to confirme his Goſpell at the firſt by miracles from heauen, that men might ſee that it was not from men, but from God, as our Sauiour ſaith, The works that I do, beare witneſſe of me. And with thoſe ſignes and wonders we ought to reſt ſatisfied, and not to looke for new ones daily, as the Church of Rome doth, to confirme ſo cleare a truth For thus to doe, were but to cal… the truth againe into queſtion and to require ſignes from heauen as the Iewes did.
We will bee content that the Popiſh Impoſture ſhould bragge and boaſt of their Miracles, as their Straw miracle at Garneis death not worth a ſtraw; the miracles daily done by the reliques of ſome of their he Saints, and ſhe Saints: this they bragge and boaſt of, this they make a Marke of the true Church.
Surely the Papiſts pride it to hauehave his holineſſe of Rome to be knowne to be Antichriſt, otherwiſe they would neuer ſtand ſo much vponupon Miracles now in the time of the Goſpell, to confirme that, that was at firſt confirmed, by ſo many ſignes and wonders from heauen. Doth not the Apoſtle make this a marke and brand of Antichriſt;2. Theſ. 2.9. Whoſe comming ſhall be with ſignes and lying wonders. What, Church euer ſince the Apoſtles times ſtood ſo much for miracles as the Church of Rome? Wee are content herein they carry the Bell; it is not the leaſt argument to proue their Church Antichriſtian.
(And the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip.)
His departure was on a ſudden, before he had any reward for his labour.
The Eunuch might now ſee that hee inſinuated not himſelfe into his company at the firſt for gaine, or preferment, which many are ready to conceiue of painfull and laborious Miniſters of Chriſt, who when they ſee them diligent in preaching the word, think preſently they do it to hauehave a reward, to gaine a liuing, or get preferment; and were it not for that, they ſuppoſe, they would be idle enough; and hereby take occaſion to neglect that good which otherwiſe they might hauehave by their miniſtery.
And ſurely it is that complaint that may moſt iuſtly be taken vp of many, that for a time were very painfull and laborious, whileſt they had but ſome meane place in the Church; But afterwards when they hauehave got ſome great preferment, hauehave abated their zeale, labour, and diligence, to feed the flocke of Chriſt. Many ſuch hauehave wee knowne in our times. An euident demonſtration that they neuer at any time propounded vntounto themſelues the the aduancement of Chriſts kingdome aboue all things elſe, that honour and preferment ſhould abate their diligence in the maine dutie of their calling. But the Eunuch is preuented of theſe or the like thoughts, whereby Philips Miniſtery might be made vnprofitable vntounto him, whileſt the Lord, in this wonderous and miraculous manner doth take him away.
Let Miniſters then take notice of their duties, Vſe. what to propound vntounto themſelues, as the principall end of their labours, not to get advancemēt in the Church, to grow great, and mighty in the world, but to doe good vntounto the ſoules of men, expecting a bleſſed reward from the Lord at the laſt. Not but that it is lawful for them, that as they preach the Goſpell,1 Cor. 9.2. they may liue of the Goſpel, but not as the manner of many is, to hunt after liuings and preferments in the Church, & leaue their flock to hirelings.Act. 18.25 It was Apolloes comendation, that hee was feruent in the Spirit, and taught diligently the things of God.
(And hee went on his way reioycing.)
In theſe words wee hauehave the happy fruite and effect of Philips Miniſtery, the Conuerſion of the Eunuch, manifeſted hereby one of the proper fruits & effects thereof, his wonderfull ioy. He went on his way reioycing. Hauing now attained the knowledge of Chriſt, and the aſſurance of the pardon of his ſins, being now made of an Infidel a true beleeuer. See here the happie fruit and effect thereof, He went on his way reioycing. The Inſtruction is,
That ſound conuerſion breeds ſound ioy, Doct. Sound conuerſion breeds ſound ioy.now that by the preaching of Philip hee is brought to Chriſt, and ſo to bee a beleeuer. Now that by Baptiſme hee hath put on Chriſt, and by a liuely Faith got aſſurance of the pardon of his ſins, and of his owne reconciliation with God, now is hee a ioyfull man, rids on the reſt of his iourney with great ioy. He went on his way reioycing.
It is a thing incident to true conuerſion, to worke ſound ioy: in the beginning of this Chapter wee may ſee that when Philip had preached the word in Samaria, Verſe 8 the text ſaith, there was great ioy in that City. And Dauid, after hee came to ſee his ſins of Adultery and Murther, how earneſt is hee with God for the pardon of the ſame, that ſo his ſoule might hauehave comfort. Make mee to heare the voice of ioy and of gladneſſe, Pſal 51.8.that the bones which thou haſt broken may reioyce. Meaning indeed, that vntill the Lord ſhould … ſpeake peace vntounto the conſcience, in the aſſurance of the pardon of ſin, hee could hauehave indeed no ioy, no comfort, and therefore in another place he prayeth thus. Lord lift thou vp the light of thy countenance vponupon vsus, Pſal. 4 6.for thou haſt giuen me more ioy of heart, etc.
We may ſee this in the Iaylor, how hard hearted and cruell ſoever he was before his conuerſion, yet when the Lord by the Earthquake had prepared his heart for the miniſtery of Paul and Sylas, as that at laſt hee is brought to be a Beleeuer; The text ſaith, That he reioyced, that he and all his houſhold beleeued in the Lord Ieſus.Act. 16.34
Yea the Lord hath commanded his ſeruants to reioyce, Reioyce in the Lord o ye righteous, Pſal. 33.1.&c. and againe, Bee glad in the Lord o ye righteous, and ſhout for ioy, Pſal 32.13ye vpright in heart. So Paul, Reioyce in the Lord alwayes, and againe, I ſay, reioyce. And is this any other thing,Phil. 4.4. then that which God promiſed vntounto his Church. My ſeruants ſhall reioyce, and ye ſhall be aſhamed, my ſeruants ſhall ſing for ioy of heart, &c. See this by that of Salomon, the tranſgreſſion of an euill man is his ſnare, but the righteous ſhall ſing and reioyce. Pro. 29.6.And ſo Peter, In whom now thogh ye ſee him not, 1 Pet. 1.8.yet doe ye beleeue and reioyce with ioy vnſpeakable and glorious.
And howſoeuer eueryevery true convert and beleeuer attaine not to the like meaſure of ioy and conſolation that others hauehave & enioy, yet in eueryevery ſoule where true converſion & ſauing Faith is wrought, this inward ioy and conſolation, in ſome meaſure or other, at ſome time or other is wrought.
And there is reaſon for it, for
Reaſ. 1 Firſt, what is it that robs a man of ioy, and hinders his conſolation, is it not ſin, your ſins hauehave made a ſeparation betwixt me and you, ſaith the Lord. Now the Godly come to know that their ſins are pardoned in the blood of Chriſt, that the band of their debt is cancelled, and why ſhould not the thoughts of this breed ioy?
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, eueryevery true Conuert hath the Spirit of God, and one fruite of the Spirit is ioy, Gal. 5.23.This Spirit is called by our Sauiour, the Comforter, Ioh. 14.16.which is giuen onelyonly to the Godly, and this ſpirit is an euerlaſting ſpring of ioy,Eſay 12.3. and an earneſt of our eternall ſaluation.
Adde here vntounto thoſe royalties and Priuileges, that the Faithfull hauehave in being reconciled to God, As,
Reaſ. 3 1 That ſuch are at peace with God, with Angels, with men, and with all creatures.Rom. 5.1.
2 HaueHave a gard of heauenly Angels to attend them.Pſal. 34.
3 HaueHave a heauenly Father to take care, & to prouide for them.Mat. 6.
4 HaueHave aſſurance that their names are written in the booke of life.Mat. 1….
5 Are reſerued for a glorious Kingdome.
6 That croſſes,Rom. 8. miſeries and afflictions ſhall all turne to their comfort, and death to their advantage, And hauehave not theſe cauſe to reioyce?
Reaſ. 4 Beſids, hath not a godly man a good conſcience, and is not that a continuall feaſt? Pro. 15.15.The poiut is cleare, let vsus firſt remoue ſome doubts that may lye in the way, before we come to the vſes.
Doe we not ſee that many of thoſe that goe vnderunder the name of Gods people, men that heare the word diligently, &c. Seeme to be ſtrict Chriſtians in their liues, yet goe heauily, hang downe their heads, and mourne more then others, where then is their ioy?
Beſides, none liue more merily and hauehave their liues full of iolity and pleaſures, then wicked men that run moſt licentious courſes, & make no reconing or accompt at all of grace or godlineſſe.
GiueGive mee leaue to anſwere to them both.
Reſp. 1 Concerning the Godly, it is true, their ioy is not ſeene to the world, but for the moſt part is ſecret and inward, and therein doth abound, when otherwiſe their liues many times, ſeeme to bee full of miſery, for as Salomon ſaith of the ioy of wicked men, In the middeſt of laughter the heart is ſad. Pro. 13.14.So may it as truely be ſaid of the Godly in the middeſt of their ſorrowes, their hearts are full of ioy. Howbeit their ioy is not carnall, nor in carnal things, as before in the time of their vnregeneracy, for ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, As ſorowing, 2 Cor. 6.10yet alwayes reioycing.
Secondly, If the Godly at any time ſeem to be full of ſorrow and heauineſſe, it is not Religion and godlineſſe that makes them ſo, but rather indeed the want of it. See this in Dauid, Thou dideſt turne away thy face from mee, and I was ſore troubled. When the Lord ſhall withdraw himſelfe at any time from his ſeruants, as one that will not be ſpoke withall, no mervaile then, though trouble and anguiſh ſeaſe vponupon the ſoule.
Reſp. 3 Thirdly, this thing ſo comes to paſſe many times in the godly, by reaſon they are ignorant of their owne preſent condition, they are not able to iudge aright of their owne eſtate, and herein depriue themſelues of that comfort which otherwiſe they might hauehave, living more by ſenſe then by Faith. A man may hauehave true grace, and yet for the preſent want the vſe, and comfort of the ſame, which the Lord is pleaſed to with-hold from them to humble them, to make them ſearch more narrowly after their corruptions, thereby to diſcouer ſome ſin that yet hath not bene diſcouered, and to make them to priſe his fauour and louelove at the higher rate, when the Lord ſhall bee pleaſed againe to ſmile vponupon them.
Reſp. 4 And laſt of all, Though the Godly ſomtimes be in heauineſſe, yet their heauineſſe ſhall bee turned into ioy, as our Sauiour ſaith, Ye ſhall ſorrow for a ſeaſon, but your ſorrow ſhal be turned into ioy. So Paul, wee are afflicted on eueryevery ſide, but not forſaken, caſt downe, 2 Cor. 4.8.but periſh not. Marke the vpright man, and behold the iuſt, Pſal. 37.the later end of that man is peace. Nothing is more ſure and certaine, then comfort to the Godly, after their time of mourning.
But now come vntounto a wicked man, he hath many times the ſemblance of ioy, but no true ioy, it is not harty nor ſound, in the face not in the heart; the reaſon is, a wicked man, hath in his boſome a halter that ſtrangles his ioy, a guilty and an accuſing conſcience, which howſoeuer hee labours to ſmother and ſtifle, yet is alwayes telling him heauy newes, ſo true is that of the Prophet Eſay, Eſay 48. vlt.There is no peace to the wicked, ſaith my God.
But theſe are the men that ſeem to hauehave the pleaſant liues? Obiect.
Is their condition the better, Anſw. becauſe they are inſenſible of their miſery? hauehave we not ſeen a fellow drink and ſwill the ſame morning hee hath gone to the execution, would any enuie this mans felicitie, and deſire his condition? how many traitors hauehave had a Satten ſute on their backs, when they hauehave loked eueryevery day to be quartered. Surely all the mirth and pleaſures of wicked men is none other, hee is euer deſtitute of the true ground of ioy, and that is Gods ſpirit aſſuring his ſoule of the pardon of ſinne. Now ioy is a fruite of the ſpirit,Gal. 5.23. and wanting this, ſuch muſt needs want true ioy.
And howſoeuer a wicked man doth not by and by meete with the wages and ſtipend of his ſins, but hath ioy now in ſtead of ſorrow, yet as our Sauiour ſaith, Woe to you that now laugh, Luk 6.for you ſhal wayle and weepe, as they hauehave multiplied their ſins, ſo ſhall their ſorrowes bee multiplied at laſt, when the Lord ſhall cauſe them to poſſeſſe the ſins of their youth.Iob 13.26.
We come to the vſes,
Vſe 1 Seing then that ſound conuerſion breeds ſound ioy; This may then in the firſt place ſerue to ſtop the mouthes of thoſe that thinke a Chriſtian life to be the moſt vncomfortable life that may be, and conceiue that when men once begin to liue a Godly life, they muſt then bid adieu to all ioy & mirth whatſoeuer. Thou lyeſt, thou prophane worldling, as our Sauiour ſaid, I hauehave meate to eate that ye know not of. So hath the child of God a ioy and reioycing that the world knowes not of. Indeede now his cheefeſt ioy is not in eating and drinking, in vaine paſtimes and pleaſures, as in times paſt; But in the inward conſolations of Gods ſpirit. The Kingdom of God ſtandeth not in meate and drinke, but in righteouſneſſe and peace, & ioy in the holy Ghoſt. This peace, this ioy the world knowes not; and whileſt the wicked mock and ſcoffe thereat, the righteous ſolace themſelues therein. Surely this diſgrace thus put vponupon Gods people, and on the profeſſion of the Goſpel, that it ouerthrowes al comfort and delight, came not but from hell, to daſh the countenance of grace and godlineſſe, and to bring the profeſſion of Religion more and more out of requeſt. Whereas indeed none hauehave more cauſe to ioy & reioyce then they, they hauehave their ſins pardoned in the blood of Chriſt, they hauehave the miniſtery of Angels to attend them, hauehave a heauenly Father to care for them, hauehave a Sanctified vſe of all eſtates and conditions of life, are aſſured their names are written in the booke of life, and are reſerued for an euerlaſting kingdome: what then ſhould hinder their ioy?
Vſe 2 Secondly, this may ſerue, my brethren, to bring Religion and Chriſtianity daily more and more into requeſt with vsus; who would not liue a ioyfull life, and ſee good dayes? It is that eueryevery man labours for, and hunts after: howbeit, in our purſuite, wee ſet our hearts and affections vponupon wrong obiects; Some would place it in honor, ſome in riches, and ſome in a voluptuous life. Now who doth not ſee how ſuddenly theſe are ſmitten, like Ionas Gourd, and are wormeaten ere we be aware, and many times they proue our greateſt diſcomforts, and worke our greateſt ſorrowes; neuer making good what they promiſe vntounto vsus? How ſuddenly was Hamans glory daſht,…eſt. 5.11. and turned into ignominie and ſhame? Balſhazzer in the midſt of his banquet ſees the hand-writing, which turned his mirth into mourning. The rich man that had inlarged his barnes and his heart, how ſuddenly was he ſtript out of all, and his ſoule ſent to hell? How many hauehave riſen well in the morning, that hauehave made their bed in the darke ere night? How many vnexpected miſeries hauehave men met withall, when they hauehave thought themſelues fartheſt off from them? O then, my brethren, let vsus labour for this peace, for this ioy, which, as our Sauiour ſaith, no man ſhall take away from vsus. Peace with God, ioy in the holy Ghoſt, aſſurance of remiſſion of our ſinnes, and our acceptation with God in Chriſt: one dramme of this is better then all the world beſides; If thou hauehave this, thou art an happie man, how miſerable ſoeuer thou mayeſt ſeeme to the world. If thou wanteſt this, thou art curſed, wretched, and miſerable; how happy ſoeuer thou maieſt ſeeme vntounto men. This ioy is like that new name, that none could reade but thoſe that bad it. It paſſeth all vnderſtanding, did men know it, they would ſay as Dauid did of Goliahs ſword, None like to it, giuegive it me.1. Sam. 21.9
Vſe 3 Thirdly, this ſerues to let all wicked and vngodly men ſee in what an vncomfortable eſtate and condition they liue in. What peace, ſaith Iehn to Iehoram, 2. Kin. 9 22ſo long as the whoredomes of thy Mother Ieſabel remaine? What peace, what ioy can there be to ſuch? ſo long as they want the ground of peace, and of ioy; and that is the pardon of their ſinnes, and aſſurance of their reconciliation with God. I confeſſe indeed, there is a mad mirth, and a drunken peace, ſuch as is the ioy of worldlings, who reioyce in their corne, and wine, and oyle, but this is a ſwiniſh and a brutiſh ioy, in the face, but not in the heart; This ioy and reioycing is but as the crackling of thornes vnderunder a pot,Eccl. 6.7. ſoone in, ſoone out. For the ſpirit of feare and of bondage reſts vponupon them: ſuch hauehave but the ſemblance of ioy; But as for the true ioy, they hauehave it not, they are ſtrangers vntounto it; for this is the fruite of repentance for ſinne, of a mans gracious acceptation with God in Chriſt, which the ſinfull world are ſtrangers vntounto.
Vſe 4 Fourthly, this may ſerue to prouoke Gods p…ople to expreſſe this ioy in their liues, they finde wrought in their hearts, why ſhould wee diſcourage others to poſſeſſe the promiſed Canaan, with the ſad reports of walled Cities, and ſons of Giants, when we are ſure to obtaine if we ſeeke. Surely, wee deſerue to hauehave our portion with Reuben, on this ſide Iordane, if we doe, and neuer to come into Canaan it ſelf. Wherefore doth the Lord command his ſeruants to reioyce alwayes, Reioyce alwayes, and againe I ſay reioyce, Phil. 4 4.if ioy were not their portion? And why doth the Lord giuegive ſo ſtraight a charge to his Prophets, to comfort his people, Comfort you, Iſa. 4.1.comfort you my people, ſaith our God; but that hee would hauehave his ſeruants to credit their Maſter, by expreſſing ſuch ioy, the world is ignorant of. We cannot honour God more, then by giuing the graceleſſe world to ſee that there is a reward for the righteous, that there is a God that iudgeth the earth. This ſhall prouoke others to thinke well, to ſpeake well, and to reſolue to taſte and ſee with vsus how ſweete the Lord is. Away, away, with that dumpiſh, auſtere, and melancholy carriage that is in too many that hauehave ſo good ground of ioy; Reioyce in the Lord alwayes: it becometh well the iuſt to bee ioyfull. What though wee hauehave fallen, what though we hauehave ſinned; and many infirmities ſtill break out in vsus, yet our God is vnchangeable, I am the Lord and change not, …al.therefore ye ſonnes of Iacob are not conſumed. His vnchangeable louelove and decree doth not depend on our will, which is mutable and changeable.
Vſe 5 And laſtly, is there now ſuch ioy to bee found in a Chriſtian courſe here; what is there to bee looked for hereafter? if on earth, what in heauen? where all imperfection ſhall be done away, where there ſhall be no Sathan to tempt, no ſinne nor corruption to ouercloud or hinder the ſunne of righteouſneſſe continually to ſhine vponupon vsus.
Had Dauid ſuch raptures, ſuch ſecret and ſweete ioyes, that hee muſt needs dance before the Arke, how will hee leape before the Lambe?
Could the priſon yeeld ſuch comfort to Paul, and Sylas, that they could not but ſing for ioy, when they ſuffered for Chriſt; what happineſſe is there to bee looked for in heauen, when they ſhall come to raigne with Chriſt? If the ſeed time be ſo ioyous, what will the Harueſt be, when we ſhall come with ioy, and bring our ſheaues with vsus?