The Ethiopian Eunuchs Conversion, Commentary on Acts 8 · Verse 28
VERSE 28. Was returning and ſitting in his Chariot hee read Eſayas the Prophet.Text;
THe man, when hee had beene at Ieruſalem to worſhip, hee left not his religion and deuotion at the Church dore, there to take it vp when hee came againe, as many doe, that if they hauehave beene at the Church, and hauehave made a few poore prayers, heard a Sermon, and ioyned with the congregation in Gods ſeruice, think they hauehave done enough, and then betake themſelues to their pleaſures, and liue in all manner of prophaneſſe all the weeke after; and think they may doe what they liſt, like that lewd woman Solomon ſpeakes of, I hauehave pence offerings with mee, Pro. 7.14.this day hauehave I payd my vowes, let vsus take our fill of louelove. Shee thought that ſhee had then free liberty to do whatſoeuer ſhe pleaſed, in regard of her late ſeruice. So theſe thinke they may giuegive themſelues to all manner of licentious courſes, eſpecially ſeeing they hauehave performed the outward parts of Gods ſeruice.
But this Eunuch is of another minde, being led by another ſpirit, hee is the ſame in priuate that hee is in publique, in his Chariot or Coach, that hee is in the Church. And herein will teach all men vntounto the end of the world.
That he that will be a Chriſtian indeed, Doct. A true Chriſtian muſt bee the ſame in priuate hee is in publique.muſt regard the duties of godlineſſe in priuate as publique, at home as well as abroad. It is not enough that wee hauehave borne a part in Gods ſeruice with the aſſembly in Gods houſe, but wee muſt bring religion home to our houſes.
The diſciples being met together,Luk. 24.14 talked of thoſe things that were done; and this was the great commendations of thoſe noble Bereans, they ſearched the Scriptures at home.Act. 17. Daniel three times in a day prayed in his chamber, his eyes towards the Temple. So Dauid beſides the publique exerciſe of Gods worſhip, Seuen times a day (ſaid hee) will I praiſe thee. Pſ. 19.164And amongſt all other the demonſtrations of a godly man that ſhall bee bleſſed indeed, this is not the leaſt, Hee meditates in the Law day and night. Pſa. 1.2.So Iſaac, hee went out in the euening to meditate; and ſo Iob, it is ſaid that he roſe vp early to offer ſacrifice,Iob. 1.3. and hee called his family together, and there is reaſon for it, for,
Firſt, Reaſ. 1 God that commanded the publique, hath commanded the priuate.
Secondly, Reaſ. 2 this diſtinguiſheth between the ſeruice of Gods people, and the ſeruice of hypocrits; Doth an hypocrite pray alwayes? ſaith Iob, meaning indeed, that he doth not pray conſtantly.
Thirdly, without this, Reaſ. 3 our publique duties are but abomination vntounto the Lord. What maſter can like of that ſeruant that ſhould ſerue him but one day in a weeke, and all the weeke beſides ſerue himſelfe.
This ſerues then to reprooue ſuch as are preſent ſometimes at the publique duties of Gods worſhip, Vſe. 1 ſuch as are the preaching of the word, receiuing of the ſacrament, and the like, but make no reckoning or accompt at all, of priuate duties. Surely ſuch men can neuer approue themſelues to God to performe either in faith and obedience, as hee ought, ſo long as hee labours not after an vniuerſall obedience, to bee the ſame in priuate that he is in publique.
Let vsus then bee admoniſhed in the feare of God, Vſe. 2 that as wee deſire to bee Chriſtians indeed, and therein to approue our ſelues to God, to labour to be the ſame at home as abroad, in our owne houſes, as in the Church, otherwiſe we can neuer aſſure our owne hearts of the truth of grace wrought therein, or that wee goe before an hypocrite or a wicked man, who many times is exerciſed in the one, when he makes no reckoning or accompt at all of the other.
He read Iſaiah the Prophet.
This Noble man did not worſhip God at a venture, or as haply his forefathers had done before him, as many in our dayes, who will doe thus and thus, becauſe their fathers before them did ſo. But hee will worſhip God as hee had learned out of his word. And herein will teach all men, vntounto the end of the world, a neceſſarie dutie;
That if wee will worſhip God aright, Doct. In Gods worſhip we muſt fetch our direction out of Gods wordwe muſt fetch our direction from Gods word, and not out of the Popes Chaire. The word muſt bee our loadſtarre, to guide vsus the way to Chriſt, and to keepe vsus in the way.
No ſeruice can pleaſe God, but that which is done by direction from his word. The Lord himſelfe giues expreſſe charge concerning this,Deut. 4.2. when hee ſaith, Ye ſhall not adde vntounto the word which I command mand you, neither ſhall ye diminiſh ought from it, That ye may keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God, which I command you. The meaning is, Thou ſhalt doe no more or leſſe in my ſeruice, then what I command thee.
Yea, it is no better then Idolatrie,Num. 15.39. and ſpirituall whoredome for vsus to follow our owne hearts, or to bee led by our good meanings in matters appertaining vntounto Gods ſeruice. This is ſuch a ſinne as doth highly prouoke God to anger, as wee may ſee in Nadab and Abihu, Leuit. 10.1.2.in offering vp of their ſtrange fire, who were therefore deſtroyed with fire from heauen. And for this cauſe Ieroboam drew the curſe of God vponupon him, and his poſteritie after him. Becauſe of thoſe golden calues that hee had cauſed to bee erected at Dan, and Bethel, without warrant from God. And how ſharply doth our Sauiour reproue the Scribes and Phariſees for this, who vſed a world of ceremonies and traditions in Gods worſhip, which hee commanded not, and therefore ſaith, In vaine doe ye worſhip me, Mat. 15.teaching for Doctrine the traditions of men. Iſa. 1.11.12.And therefore the Lord will ſay to ſuch, as to thoſe idolatrous Iewes of old, Who hath required theſe things at your hands? And hence is it that the Apoſtle Paul, when hee went about to remoue thoſe errours that we crept into the Church of Corinth about the Sacrament, he brings them to the firſt inſtitution of the ſame by Chriſt himſelfe; for where things are brought to the firſt inſtitution, all humane errours then ceaſe. And this doth the Apoſtle,1. Cor. 11.23. when he ſaith, That which I hauehave receiued from the Lord, deliuer I vntounto you, &c. So that we ſee it is a moſt cleare and grounded truth, that if we would worſhip God aright, we muſt not be led by our fantaſies and carnall reaſon, good meanings, or the like, but we muſt fetch our direction out of Gods word. And great reaſon: For,
God will be acknowledged the onelyonly Law-giuer, Reaſ. 1 the King of his Church, and the onelyonly Prophet to inſtruct his people: For ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, There is onelyonly one Law-giuer, Iam. 4 12.who is able to ſaue and to deſtroy. So that none may preſume in matters appertaining to his worſhip and ſeruice, to adde or detract, leſt hee incurre that curſe: Curſed is he that ſhall adde to the words of this booke.Reu. 22.
Secondly,Ro. 14.23. Whatſoeuer is not of faith, is ſinne. Now faith, we know, is grounded vponupon the word. So that it is impoſſible for a man to pleaſe God in any ſeruice he doth, that hath not his word for his warrant and direction. It was Chriſts laſt commandement that he gaue vntounto his Diſciples, teaching them to obſerue all things that I hauehave commanded you.Mat. 28.20
And ſurely this ſtrikes at the foundation of Popiſh Religion: Vſe 1 for wherein, for the moſt part, ſtands the ſeruice and worſhip of God that is performed amongſt them, but in groſſe ſuperſtition, and in the inuentions of their owne braine, in the traditions of men, Popes, Councels, Cardinals, and the like, in a multitude of vaine and idle ceremonies and obſeruations; all which hauehave no ground or footing out of Gods word, as, namely, their whipping of themſelues, their croſſings and coniurings, praying on beads, going on pilgrimage, and a thouſand the like, all which hauehave no ground or warrant at all out of Gods word: to whom we may truly ſay, as our Sauiour to the woman of Samaria,Ioh. 4.22. Ye worſhip ye know not what.
And ſurely herein we may iuſtifie our Religion againſt the Papiſts, and againſt all the Aduerſaries of Gods truth, that wee know whom we worſhip. And if we be deceiued, God hath deceiued vsus, and his word hath deceiued vsus, which is impoſſible. For his word is true, as himſelfe is.
Secondly, Vſe 2 we are taught hence to acquaint our ſelues with the Scriptures, that ſo wee may be directed how to worſhip God aright. Now Gods word is a perfect rule, and a perfect guide. Saint Peter calls it a Sure word, 2: Pet. 1.19.whereunto (ſaith he) ye do well, if ye take heed. So Dauid, Pſal. 119.31.I hauehave cleaued vntounto thy teſtimonies, O Lord confound me not. And it is worth our beſt conſideration, what Samuel ſpake vntounto Saul, that would ſacrifice where God had not appointed, Hath the Lord (ſaith hee) as great delight in burnt-offerings and ſacrifices, 1. Sam: 15.22.as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed? Behold to obey is better then ſacrifice: and to hearken is better then the fat of Lambes.
And laſt of all, this ſheweth the miſerable condition that ſuch are in, Vſe 3 that are not, neither may they be, acquainted with the word of God; as in the Church of Rome, that hauehave the Scripture locked vp in an vnknowne tongue: they can neuer auoide that woe, our Sauiour pronounced againſt the Scribes and Phariſes,Mat. 23.13 They neither entred into the kingdome of God themſelues, nor ſuffered thoſe that would. Now wanting the word to direct them, they ſerue Idols, yea they worſhip Sathan inſtead of God; For there is no worſhip can bee pleaſing & acceptable vntounto God, that hath not the word for it warrant.
He read Iſaiah the Prophet.
Here we ſee …is employment in his Iourney, vponupon his returne home into his countrey; hee was not idle, neither gaue he himſelfe to ſleeping, nor ſpent he his time in idle diſcourſe, nor yet in reading vaine, fooliſh, wanton, and laſciuious bookes, as the manner of many is to do. But he ſpent his time in reading the Scripture, and in ſtudying the word of God, for the further building of himſelfe vp in the knowledge of God, and of Chriſt. Whoſe example may commend vntounto all Gods people a neceſſarie duty: namely,
That they be daily conuerſant in the Scriptures, Doct. Godly muſt be conuerſant in the Scriptures. Deu. 6.6, 7.and exerciſe themſelues daily therein. This is that charge Moſes gaue vntounto the people from the Lord: Theſe words which I command thee this day, ſhall be in thy heart, and thou ſhalt teach them diligently vntounto thy children, and ſhalt talke of them as thou ſitteſt in thy houſe, when thou walkeſt by the way, when thou lieſt downe, and when thou riſeſt vp. Againe,Ioſ. 1.8. The booke of the Law ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, But thou ſhalt meditate therein day and night.
This is Chriſt owne charge, Search the Scriptures, Ioh. 5.39.for in them ye leoke to hauehave eternall life. This is likewiſe an Apoſtolicall iniunction,Col. 3.16. Let the word of God dwell in you plenteouſly. To this Solomon exhorteth diligently, when hee ſaith,Prou. 7.3. ſpeaking of the word, Binde them vponupon thy fingers, write them vponupon the table of thine heart. And againe, Verſ. 4 Say vntounto Wiſedome, thou art my ſiſter, and call vnderſtanding thy kinſwoman. And this was the great commendations of Timothy, that hee knew the Scriptures of a childe. Therefore doubtleſſe very conuerſant in them. And of Apollo it is ſaid, that hee was mightie in Gods word. So that we ſee, to ſpend much time in reading the Scriptures, and to be conuerſant in Gods word, is an excellent things, a commendable duty.
Though the reading of the Scriptures doe not ordinarily worke faith and repentance, Reaſ. 1 yet it is an excellent meanes to prepare the heart for the ſame worke, and to confirme our faith, to ſtrengthen it, and to build vp a man daily more and more in the knowledge of Chriſt.
Secondly, Gods word muſt be the rule of out walking, Reaſ. 2 and that narrow road, within the limits whereof, we ſhould alwayes containe our ſelues. And indeed by the word muſt all our actions be tried and iudged, and therefore it were moſt expedient that by the word all our actions ſhould bee ſquared.
Thirdly, it is that onelyonly that muſt bee our comfort, Reaſ. 3 when all other comforts faile. Now a ſure friend muſt not be contemned. I had periſhed in my affliction (ſaith Dauid) had it not beene for thy word.
Vſe. 1 Seeing then that the Scriptures ought ſo diligently and frequently be read of vsus. How iniuriouſly then doth the Church of Rome deale with mens ſoules, that will not permit men the reading of the Scriptures, no priuate man in that Church, without ſpeciall lycence, may reade the Scriptures, but muſt take all vponupon truſt, and vponupon the bare word of their teachers. But what is this, but directly to contradict the Lord himſelfe?
We ſee that ignorant men peruert the Scriptures. Obiect.
A poore filly ſhift,Reſp: becauſe ſome abuſe the Scriptures, ſhall others therefore not be permitted the lawfull vſe thereof, meates, drinkes, &c. What is there amongſt vsus that is not abuſed? muſt therefore the lawfull vſe be taken away?
This may ſerue to condemne thouſands, amongſt vsus, Vſe. 2 who ſeldome or neuer reade the Scriptures, neuer take the booke of God into their hands; yea, ſuch as giuegive no place to Gods word in their houſes, hardly hauehave a Bible at home; Cards and Dice are rife amongſt them, theſe are turned and toſſed eueryevery day, but the book of God is caſt into a corner, lyes couered with duſt, and the Spider ſpins her web ouer it.
This may ſerue alſo to taxe many Noble men and Gentle men, Vſe. 3 who thinke it a baſe and contemptible thing to reade the Scriptures, therefore they ſpend their time in Hawking and Hunting, in Carding and in Dicing, in eating and drinking, and in all manner of licentious courſes; but as for reading the Scriptures, it is held a matter of reproach, to ſeem to hauehave a Bible in their hands, a matter of preciſeneſſe, curioſitie and more then needs. But they muſt hauehave in ſtead of the Scriptures which are able to make them wiſe vntounto ſaluation, idle, vaine, and laſciuious bookes; the Court of Venus, the Pallace of pleaſure; bookes of louelove and venery, books of lyes and vanitie, which doe poyſon youth, ſtir vp luſt, and all vncleaneneſſe, and drowne men in perdition.
Well, let ſuch men know, that while they beſtow more time and leiſure in reading ſuch vaine and idle Pamphlets, then in Gods word; the Lord will plague & puniſh them with a ſpirituall plague and iudgement from aboue, that they remaine ſtrangers from the comforts of Gods word; that is indeed a clapſed and a ſealed book vntounto them: whereas vntounto the godly, the word of God is their greateſt ioy and ſolace. Thy word, (ſaith Dauid) is ſweeter vntounto mee, then the honey & the honey combe; and againe, Thy word is dearer vntounto mee then thouſands of gold and ſiluer. This comfort, ſuch men are ſtrangers vntounto, whileſt with the Swine, they feede on huskes and draffe, and hauehave no appetite at all to the word of life.
And laſt of all, Vſe. 4 this may ſerue to prouoke vsus all in the feare of God, by the example of this worthy man, to a greater louelove and delight in the word; that we beſtow more time in reading and ſearching therein, for great is the fruit and profit that comes thereby.
We ſee a childe will take delight to reade his Fathers Will, to ſee what Legacies be giuen him of his father. Now the word of God in the old and new Teſtament, is the Will of God the Father, yea, Chriſt laſt Will and Teſtament, wherein be many legacies giuen to Gods children, namely, remiſſion of ſinnes, eternall life, the kingdome of heauen, &c. O then if we be the ſonnes of God, how can we chooſe but looke into theſe Legacies, royalties, and priuiledges giuen vntounto vsus of God our Father? We ſee how carefull men bee to get the booke of Statutes into their houſes, how diligently will they reade them, and meditate vponupon them, that they may not offend? how much more ought men to ſearch into Gods ſtatute Booke, his Word, that they may not ſinne againſt him?
He reade Eſayas the Prophet.
But why tooke he ſuch paines in reading the Scriptures, Queſt. mig…t not this ſeeme to be loſt labour, ſince himſelfe confeſſeth, that hee could not vnderſtand without a guide?
As hee read with a deſire to learne, ſo he was edified thereby, Anſw. Quamuis multa obſcura, multa o…uia ſunt.as it appeareth by his trauelling vp to Ieruſalem to worſhip. And howſoeuer he confeſſeth his ignorance in that place he now read, yet no man is ſo ignorant, but in reading of that booke, may get ſome profit.
Though many places of Scripture be hard to be vnderſtood, Doct. Men muſt reade the Scriptures though man things be therein obſcure.yet we muſt not giuegive ouer reading; for that which ſeemes hard to be vnderſtood in one place, may be eaſie and plaine in another. And when men make conſcience to bee acquainted with Gods will reuealed in his word, and are deſirous of the knowledge of the myſtery of their ſaluation; God will at one time or other giuegive ſuch to vnderſtand, and direct them to ſome Philip or other, that ſhall open the ſame vntounto them.
Thus God commended the Booke of the Law vntounto the people, not onelyonly to the learned, but euen to the vnlearned alſo, that all ſorts & conditions of men might be familiar therein.Deut. 31.11.12. Thou ſhalt reade the words of this law, before all Iſrael, that they may heare it, and learne to feare the Lord: and in the ſame place he nameth their men, women,Ier. 36.6. and children. So Ieremy commandeth Baruch to reade the word of the Lord before all Iuda, and in the audience of all the people. Therefore it concerned all, and to this end our Sauiour giues this charge vntounto all, Search the Scripture. Ioh. 5.39.Now all theſe were not Clergie to whom theſe ſpake.
What though ſome one place we meete withall be hard to be vnderſtood, ſhall we therefore lay aſide the whole Booke of God, and reade none at all, God forbid? The Scriptures are ſuch a fountaine wherein the Elephant may ſwim, and the Lambe may wade.
What man is there that hauing a Deede whereby he holdeth his Land, will caſt the ſame away, becauſe it is hard, and he cannot vnderſtand it? Nay, will he not the oftner looke into it, and deſire the helpe of thoſe that hauehave more skill? Then much leſſe ſhould we caſt aſide the word of God, though ſome place therein ſeeme to bee hard to bee vnderſtood, which is our deed, and ſheweth vntounto vsus our aſſurance vntounto the kingdome of heauen; nay, wee ſhould reade it the more often, and deſire the helpe of others, that we may vnderſtand the ſame.
Reaſ. 1 The Scriptures are obſcure and darke onelyonly to naturall men, The naturall perceiues not the things that are of God, for they are fooliſhneſſe vntounto him, neithe… can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned.
Now the reaſon why the Scriptures are ſo hard to be vnderſtood of theſe men, is not in the Scriptures themſelues, but in this blind and corrupt nature of ours.
A blinde man, he ſeeth not the light of the ſunne when it ſhineth moſt bright; is the fault in the ſunne, no? but rather in the imperfection of the mans ſight.
Thus is it with the Scripture with naturall men. But to that man whoſe eyes God hath opened, the Scriptures are not obſcure, but this man comming thereunto with humility and feare, in a ſenſe of his owne wants, with a deſire to be inſtructed, hee is ſure to vnderſtand them, at leaſt ſo much as ſhall be neceſſary for his owne ſaluation, according to that of Salomon, …o. 8.9They are all plai… to him that vnderſtandeth, and ſtraight to him that would ſinde knowledge.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, God hath promiſed to teach all the elect, and to giuegive them his ſpirit, to inlighten their mindes, according to that of our Sauiour:Ioh. 6.45. and they ſhall be all taught of God: and againe, He will teach the humble in the way that he ſhall chooſe: Pſal 25 9 Verſ. 12.and What man is hee that feareth the Lord, him ſhall he teach in the way that he ſhall chooſe. So the bleſſed Virgin in her Magnificat, He filleth the hungry with good things, and hath ſent the rich away empty.
Vſe 1 This then ſerues againe to meet with tabt damnable doctrine in the Church of Rome, who teach, and hold, that becauſe the Scripture is hard and difficult to be vnderſtood, teach, that we muſt not reade them, neither hauehave them in a knowne tongue, but locke them vp from the knowledge and vnderſtanding of the ſimple, teaching them to caſt themſelues vponupon the Church, and by a generall implicite faith, to beleeue as the Church beleeueth, to reſt there; a moſt damnable doctrine. Is not this left in the great praiſe and commendations of this Eunuch, that he ſearched into the Scriptures? Doth Philip any where blame him for this his prying into the Scriptures? nay, rather to ſhew how pleaſing and acceptable this was with God, the Lord declareth by ſending of Philip vntounto him, to teach and inſtruct him wherein he was ignorant.
Vſe. 2 Secondly, let this admoniſh vsus to make conſcience of this duty, to be frequent in reading the Scriptures, and that we be not beaten off this duty through the hardneſſe of any one place; we ſee in other things, vſe makes perfect neſſe, and that which at firſt ſeems impoſſible to be attained vntounto, yet by induſtry, is attained vntounto at laſt; as this is true in all Arts and Sciences in the world, ſo in the ſtudy of the Scriptures. Here is milke for Babes, and meate for ſtrong men; this is that riuer wherein children may wade, and the Elephant may ſwimme.
And to prouoke vsus to the more diligent ſearching into the Scriptures, conſider,
Motiues to reade the scriptures.Firſt, the Word of God is the onelyonly euidence a Chriſtian hath for his eternall inheritance. Vſe. 1 Thy teſtimonies hauehave I claymed as my heritage for euer, &c.Pſal. 119.
Vſe 2 Secondly, the Word is able to make thee wiſe vntounto ſaluation,…l. …9.7. how ſimple ſoeuer thou be:
Vſe 3 Thirdly, it is able to conuert thy ſoule, ho… ſtrong ſoeuer thy corruptions be.
Vſe 4 Fourthly, the Word is able to giuegive thee comfort in thy afflictions, how bitter ſoeuer they bee; ſo Dauid, I had periſhed in my afflictions, ….had it not beene for thy Word.