A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Part 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. The Fourth Perſecution of this Firſt Church.
NOW come we to the Fourth Perſecution raiſed againſt this firſt Goſpel-Church, which had hitherto continued in the Apoſtle's Doctrine and Fellowſhip, and in Breaking of Bread, and Prayer, Acts 2.42. and was highly commended with that honourable Character of having great Grace upon them all (both Apoſtles and Auditors, both the Paſtors and the People) Acts 4.33. An account of this Perſecution is given in Acts 8.1, 3, 4. where there is a Relation only of two grand Remarks. (1.) Of the Efficient or Inſtrument of this Perſecution, to wit, the bloody Wolf Saul. And (2.) The Effect of it, to wit, the almoſt Univerſal Scattering of the Body of that moſt purely and moſt powerfully Conſtituted Church at Jeruſalem. N.B. But not one word have we here of any peccatum flagrans, or flaming ſin, whereby God was provoked to let looſe the Devil's Ban-Dogs among Chriſt's Flock to ſcatter them. We read concerning God's Church in the Wilderneſs, (ſo call'd, Acts 7.38.) that while ſhe kept pure from the Iniquity of Baal-peor, God ſaw no ſin in her; and (as the mad Prophet Balaam ſubtilly ſaid) none of that Devil's Spelman's Inchantments could prevail againſt her, Numb. 23.21, 23. therefore gave he that peſtilent Advice to Midian and Moah, to entice Iſrael with their Daughters both to Adultery and Idolatry, &c. Numb. 25.3. Hoſ. 9.10. Micah 6.5. N.B. This Satanical Conſult ſucceeded, produced that foul-flaming ſin in God's Eye, which ſtunk in God's Noſtrils, and whereby they were put under Divine diſpleaſure, 2 Pet. 2.15. Jude 11. Rev. 2.14. but no ſuch foul God provoking ſin is found Recorded concerning this Primitive Goſpel-Church, for which ſuch a plaguy diſperſing Perſecution did here ſo foully fall upon it; which may teach us, N.B. That ſometimes the great God out of his meer Soveraignty over his Servants, may let looſe Perſecution and ſore Affliction upon them, and in ſo doing he is not bound to give an account of his Reaſons why he does ſo to the Sons or Daughters of Men, Job 33.13, &c. Thus God dealt with his None-ſuch Servant Job; his prodigious and None-ſuch Sufferings we do not find were inflicted upon him, for puniſhing any groſs flaming foul ſin that was found in him, but meerly for the exerciſe of his great Grace of Patience, and for evidencing his Sincerity, which Satan ſaid he wanted, &c. Nor do we find any provoking ſin in this Church, which was the procuring cauſe of this Perſecution, &c. yet may we not ſay, that our heavenly Father doth as earthly Fathers are ſaid to chaſtize their Children for their own pleaſure; no, but he always corrects for his Children's profit, Heb. 12.9, 10. Though N.B. Whom he loves he chaſtens, yet he loves not to chaſten, Rev. 3.19. Heb. 12.6, 7, 11. God doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of Men, Lam. 3.33. We are in heavineſs only, when need is, 1 Pet. 1.6, 7. as well to prevent ſin, as to puniſh ſin; thus the Meſſenger of Satan was let looſe to buffet Paul, for preventing his Pride, leſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure, &c. 2 Cor. 12.7, 8. N.B. In this ſound ſenſe only may it be ſaid, that God afflicts from ſin as well as for ſin. Thus God's Viſitation upon Job preſerved his Spirit ſweet for his Generation-work, Job 10.12. And thus the ſame afflicting hand of God withdraws many men from their ſinful purpoſes, and hideth Pride from Man, Job 33.17. We muſt all ſay always in our afflictions with holy David [I know, O Lord, that thy Judgments are righteous, and that thou in thy very faithfulneſs haſt afflicted me] Pſal. 119.75. 'Tis our duty in a Suffering day dropping in upon our heads, then to ſearch our hearts at what door it had its entrance, Lam. 3.40. Sinning in the general is always the occaſion of ſuffering, when this or that ſin is not ever the particular cauſe thereof, as it was in the Church of Corinth [For this cauſe (of their unworthy Receiving the Lord's Supper) many are weak and ſickly among you, and ſome are fallen aſleep,] 1 Cor. 11.30. There could be no juſt ſuffering, where there is not (before) ſome unjuſt ſinning: Now ſeeing God finds all his Churches, and all his Children to be ſinners againſt him (for there be none that ſinneth not, 2 Chron. 6.36. and God hath a [But] at the door of the beſt, as againſt Naaman, 2 Kings 5.1. but he was a Leper; and againſt David, but in the matter of Ʋriah, 1 Kings 15.5. The beſt of men, are but men at the beſt. And a notwithſtanding I have (at leaſt) a few things againſt thoſe ſeven Golden Churches of Aſia, Rev. 2.4, 14, 20, &c.) wherefore his Soveraignty doth moſt juſtly bring ſufferings upon them; giving them their Hell on Earth, to make them long the more for Heaven: A bitter life makes men look for a better life, &c. Now, though this Primitive Chruch was the pureſt Goſpel-Church that ever was in the World, yet was ſhe not altogether without ſin. If that glorious Coeleſtial Body the Moon (which borrows her Light from the Sun of the Firmament) hath ſome ſpots in her, no wonder if this Terreſtrial Church (borrowing her Light from the Sun of Righteouſneſs) be not found without ſome ſpots in her alſo. The ſacred Scriptures do Record two Spots in this Church, (1ſt.) The ſin of Hypocritical Sacrilege in two of her Members, Acts 5. but this ſin ('tis told there alſo) was miraculouſly expiated by the death of thoſe two ſinners: And (2dly.) The ſin of murmuring, Acts 6.1. which indeed is a great, grievous, God-provoking-ſin, as Exod. 16.7, 8. Numb. 14.27, 36. and 16.17. and 17.5. John 6.43. and 1 Cor. 10.10, &c. Note well; Theſe Murmurers were deſtroyed by the Deſtroyer: The Rabbins ſay, God wrote their ſin upon their puniſhment; for, as they had ſinned with their Tongues, ſo they died by an Inflamation upon their Tongues, and Worms iſſuing out of them, Numb. 14.37. But as to this Murmuring that aroſe in this Apoſtolical Church, it was ſeaſonably diſcovered and redreſſed by the choice of Deacons equally concerned in the Helleniſts as well as Hebrews: Nor can we find upon Record any one Church-ſin, whereby ſuch a bleſſed and uſeful Inſtrument as Stephen (ſo full of the Holy Ghoſt and Wiſdom) was forfeited: But on the contrary, N.B. Acts 8.2. Such great Grace remained upon the whole Church, that the eminently religious Members durſt give their ſtoned Stephen a ſolemn Funeral, and with great mourning alſo (as being ſenſible of the Church's great loſs in him) being nothing afraid of thoſe mad Murtherers, and furious perſecuting Butchers, though thoſe outragious Zealots look'd upon it as a piaculiar Act, and of deep pollution among the Jews, to touch a dead Corps, eſpecially of ſuch an one as was put to death for Blaſphemy; yet did theſe Devout Men bear him upon their ſhoulders, and perform'd ſuch Funeral Rites for him, as were uſual only for thoſe of greateſt Eminency, ſuch as were uſed for the Patriarch Jacob, Gen. 50.1, 3, 10. at his Interment; and more lately at Lazorus's even by our Lord himſelf, John 11.35. Thus the Church here lamented their great loſs in ſuch a Man at ſuch a time, which may ſerve to condemn that unnatural Apathy or Stupidity of Stoicks, rather than of Chriſtians in our day: to lament over Dead Members, eſpecially Miniſters of Note, is a laudable Cuſtom. However, though no foregoing foul ſin can be found in this Church, whereby either its Officers, or its own Peace might be forfeited, yet this we find, that a great perſecution was raiſed againſt her, Acts 8.1. not as heretofore againſt the Apoſtles only, but now it was againſt the whole Church: Whereas God had (before this) reſtrained the Rage of thoſe perſecuting Prieſts, &c. with their fear of the people (leſt they ſhould loſe their favour) Acts 4.21. and 5.26. N.B. This Awe had hitherto held them in, as is the unruly Horſe by Bit and Bridle, Pſal. 32.9. but now, through the unſearchable Wiſdom of God, the Reins of that reſtraining Bridle are let looſe, and laid along the Neck of thoſe furious perſecuting Beaſts to run Riot according to their own wicked will, and according as the Devil drove them by both his Whip and Spurs. 'Tis Tertullian's phraſe, every Perſecutor hath [Inſeſſorem Diabolum] the Devil for his Driver, and (as ſaith the Proverb) They muſt needs go, yea run, whom the Devil drives: [The luſts of their Father they both muſt and will do] John 8.44. Satan is call'd the God of this World, 2 Cor. 4.4. becauſe, as the great God at the Creation did but ſpeak the word and it was done; ſo if the Devil do but hold up his finger, give the leaſt hint, his Vaſſals do obey him. N.B. Thus thoſe Prieſts did, who, when they ſaw the people (whom they had formerly feared) ſo tamely ſuffer them to ſtone Stephen to death, do inlarge their Outrage, which hitherto they had let flie againſt the Apoſtles only; but now they fall foul upon the whole Church, wherein Saul (1.) Was their fit Inſtrument, by whoſe Diabolical craft and cruelty they proceeded. (2.) To perſecute the Church ſo effectually, as to diſperſe it abroad: Their Staff of Bands and Beauty (Zech. 11.10, 14.) their former Fellowſhip was now broken. N.B. A little diſcourſe (1.) Of the Efficient cauſe of this Perſecution; and then (2.) Of the ſad Effects thereof, may not do amiſs, as follows.
1. The Divine Record doth ſtigmatize this Saul to ſtrike with the Devil's great Hammer herein. This ſame Saul gives an account of his own Education [that he was brought up at Gamaliel's feet] Acts 22.3. but alas, how little had he learnt of his Tutor or Maſter's Moderation; for his Tutor had taught this his Pupil to do nothing raſhly, much leſs to be found fighting againſt God, as he daringly dehorted the Grand Council, and thereby prudently and piouſly-got them diſſolved, whereby he diſappointed the Devil's deſign of that Satanical Sanhedrim in the Church's ſecond Perſecution, Acts 5.34. to 41. whereof Saul ſitting at his feet, could not be ignorant: Yet this Heteroclite, and degenerating Pupil was ſo fill'd with a furious Phrenzy againſt Chriſt and his Goſpel, that he ſpent his Youth in Perſecution; for, while he was but a Young Man, 'tis ſaid [that the Witneſſes which ſtoned Shephen, threw off their upper Garments (that they might be more nimble to ſtone him) and laid them down at this Young Man's feet] Acts 7.58. for, they were to caſt the firſt ſtones, Deut. 17.7. And the Spirit of God doth farther brand Saul [that he was conſenting to Stephen's death] Acts 8.1. Though he was no Actor in it, yet was he a Conſenter to it, and thereby became guilty of the ſame bloody Crime. N.B. 'Tis all one to hold the Sack, and to fill it; to do evil, and to conſent to it. There is heart-murder, as well as hand-murder, Matth. 5.22. and committing Adultery with the mind, as well as with the body, Matth. 5.28. A mind to do evil is ſin in the ſeed, which time and opportunity brings forth to maturity, James 1.14, 15. Quae, quid non licuit, non facit, ille facit. God may juſtly judge us (ſaith Auſtin) for our evil affections, though we may want an opportunity for our evil actions. N.B. Thus Chriſt charged all the Blood that was ſhed from Abel to that day, upon the Prieſts, &c. Matth. 23.35. becauſe, by their conſenting to ſhed Innocent Blood now, they conſented to, and approved of all the Murders of the Innocent that had been perpetrated in all former Ages. Nor did Saul here barely conſent, for the word foreign ſignifies, He was well pleaſed with it, did approve of it in thought, word, and deed, Acts 22.4, 20. and 26.10, 11. as he acknowledged of himſelf; and 'tis ſaid [that this Saul made Havock of the Church] Acts 8.3. which phraſe makes ſome think that he was the Raving Wolf of the Tribe of Benjamin, which was propheſied by Jacob, Gen. 49.27. He unlearned the Lenity and Moderation of his over-ruled Maſter; N.B. Yet eaſily learned the Savage Cruelty of the mad Multitude, ſo became as mad as the moſt and worſt of that Rude Rabble; yea, ſtepping a degree higher beyond the ordinary ſort of Perſecutors, he violently broke open many Doors of the Houſes where thoſe Chriſtians had their private Meetings, and there he ſpared none of either Sex, but haled both Men and women by the Hair of their Heads (as if they had been taken Captives in the heat of War) and caſt them into Priſon, and ſtill, (which was worſe than all this, he compelled them to blaſpheme, Acts 26.11. that is, not only to renounce their Religion, but alſo to curſe their Crucified Chriſt; therefore confeſſeth, that he had been not only a Perſecutor, but one who had been notoriouſly Injurious, 1 Tim. 1.13. Phil. 3.6.
The Remarks hereupon are, (1.) That there is a blind Zeal miſguided by an Ignis Fatuus, a Will-with-Wiſp, or rather by a falſe Fire from Hell: His Zeal was only exerciſed in perſecuting the Church, Phil. 3.6. that could not conform to the Phariſaical Traditions. N.B. Zeal is good when it acts in a good matter, Gal. 4.18. but this of Saul's was not ſo, Gal. 1.13. He ſaith the ſame of his own Zeal, as of that of the Jews, that it was a Zeal without knowledge, Rom. 10.2, 3. though a warm, yet a blind Zeal; They knew not that Chriſt was the End and Accompliſhment of the Law, and that his Righteouſneſs (not that of the Law) was only acceptable to God. If Zeal be not qualified with knowledge, all will be on fire, as the primum-mobile with its ſwift Revolution would be, were it not cooled by the counter-motion of the lower Spheres. Blind Zeal is as wild-fire in the hand of a Fool; 'tis like the Devil in the Demoniack, which caſts him ſometimes into the Fire, and ſometimes into the Water, Mark 9.22. Ignorance is a great Breeder, and moſtly great-bellied, which Ariſtotle himſelf makes the Mother of miſ-rule and miſchief. The dark corners of the Earth (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) are top-full of cruelty, Pſal. 74.20▪ The Soul that is without knowledge is not good; and he that (without knowledge) baſteth with his feet, ſinneth, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 19.2. The faſter he goeth, the farther he wandereth out of the Right way. Mettle in a blind Horſe is dangerous: Yet this mad Zealot lived a blameleſs life otherwiſe, Phil. 3.6.
The ſecond Remark is; This black Character is deſignedly given (here and elſewhere) of this peeviſh Zealot, as a foil, to give the more luſtre to the Riches of the Grace and Mercy of God towards him, in changing ſuch a bloody worrying Wolf into ſuch a gentle and uſeful Lamb, and of ſuch an unparallel'd Perſecutor, to make ſuch an eminent and wonderful Paſtor. N.B. All this is Recorded of him, that none might deſpair of Saving-Mercy, who can but find hearts given them, to repent of their ſins, and to be converted, &c.
The third Remark is, the proſpect of that black Hue which this young Perſecutor had put upon him, by being dip'd in the Devil's Dye-Fat. N.B. Satan, before his Fall, did think none, but after his Fall, would have none better than himſelf; therefore makes he Saul here as bad as himſelf, both in Malice and Sin. Theſe two Evils, whether in Devils, or in Men, are equally Aged, and be as equally Evil; both have the ſame Name and Nature, as if there were no ſin but Malice. All Evil is envious: The good that a bad man will not imitate, he cannot but envy. He that grieves not becauſe himſelf is evil, uſually Irks that another is good. As Sin ſeparates 'twixt God and Man, ſo it ſows Enmity 'twixt the Devil and Man; yet can it combine wicked men to become Sworn-Brethren in Iniquity, not only in being, but alſo in doing Evil. N.B. This Confederacy is not Union or Concord, but the worſt ſort of Conſpiracy, as was that of Herod's and Pilate's againſt Chriſt. When Thieves ſhake hands, 'tis done for malice and miſchief againſt the truly honeſt Man. Judas both conſents to, and conſults with the Prieſts for killing Chriſt. Saul conſents only which is always the firſt ſtep to ſin) with the Stoners of Stephen, Acts 8.1. and 22.20. N.B. To behold Evil, and not to diſlike it, is to conſent to it. By-ſtanders may be Acceſſories, making the offence of others their own, by their conſent. He that forbids not Evil, furthers it. Particpat Nutans, non obſtans, non manifeſtans. Either Saul's degree was above the Office of an Executioner, or his Age was under it: Yet if he may not be a Partner in the Murder, he will be a Witneſs, yea a Witneſs of the Witneſſes [who laid down their cloaths at his feet] Acts 7.58. N.B. No Age is innocent: [Childhood and Youth are vanity] Eccleſ. 11.9, 10. This Young Man, though not rejoycing in the vain pleaſures of his Youth, yet was villanous and violent in a malicious perſecution of the Goſpel of Truth: So villany as well as vanity was found in this Youth, who might be too young to have Might enough for caſting a Stone at a Martyr's head with his hand, yet was there no want of Malice in his heart (though there was not Might in his hand) to hold the cloaths of thoſe that could more miſchievouſly caſt them: So Saul ſtoned Stephen with his heart, while his hands held the cloaths of thoſe that did it, and probably prompted them on therein: So Saul ſtoned Stephen by the many hands of the mad Multitude, as if his own hands alone were not enough to ſtone him. N.B. Now being once fleſh'd in Stephen's Blood, Saul becomes a ſecond Nimrod (a mighty Hunter) not ſatiated with devouring one ſilly Lamb (whoſe fleſh ſtill ſticks in this Wolf's Teeth) becomes now bolder to ſeize upon the whole Flock: Stephen's Blood had only made his mouth to water after a deeper Draught, and a fuller Carouſe of the Saint's Blood; as one who could not ſit down ſatisfied with deſtroying one ſingle Saint, without diſſolving the whole Communion of Saints.
Having thus far ſpoke (1.) To the Efficient Cauſe or Inſtrument of this Fourth Perſecution, I come (2.) To ſpeak of the ſad and deplorable Effects thereof, which is expreſſed in thoſe words [They were all ſcattered abroad throughout the Regions of Judaea and Samaria, excepting the Apoſtles] Acts 8.1. There be various Opinions about the [All] that were ſcattered hereby.
The firſt Opinion is, that this [All] here is to be taken largely for the Multitude of Believers who were the Conſtituting Members of the firſt Goſpel-Church; at leaſt, ſo many of them as could not commodiouſly Abſcond, and had conveniency to fave themſelves by flight: This was allowed, or rather commanded by Chriſt, Matth. 10.23. Therefore they are too Rigid that diſcommend it.
The ſecond Opinion taketh this [All] more ſtrictly for all the Teachers of the Church, thoſe extraordinary Gifted Deacons, and others who Preached the Word (a work only proper for Miniſters) Acts 8.4. one of which number was Philip, who Preached at Samaria, verſe 5, &c. which very Imploy is ever moſt obnoxious to Perſecution. N.B. This ſenſe is the more probable; For (1.) Luke's ſcope is to write an Hiſtory of the one hundred and eight, which with the Twelve Apoſtles made up the one hundred and twenty mentioned Acts 1.15. who were deſigned for the Miniſtry. (2.) Becauſe Believers ſtill abode in Jeruſalem, verſe 3. which Saul made Havock on, and which remained under the Inſpection of the ſtill remaining Apoſtles, who otherwiſe would have been left without work; [Except the Apoſtles] who were commanded to ſtay at Jeruſalem, Luke 24.47. and Acts 1.8. that they might confirm the Goſpel-Church, which was to ſucceed the Jewiſh Synagogue. N.B. This they do, being well aſſured, that while the Lord hath any work for them to do there, he both could and would preſerve them as he did the Buſh in the midſt of the Fire, Exod. 3.3.) from the Rage of their ouragious Enemies. No doubt but abundance of thoſe many thouſands of Believers were frighted away (with the 108.) to ſave their lives by flight, while this Bloody Wolf (Saul) made ſuch havock of the whole Flock, ſparing no Sex, &c. verſe 3. This was the diſturbance, &c. This bold daring Wolf (who had been but a Spectator in ſtoning of Stephen (waxing worſe and worſe) is now become a principal Actor) he became the worſe by acting his helliſh part the better [breaking into every houſe.] So earneſt was this Wolf of his Prey, and, like a Mad-man, ſpares not Women as well as Men, wreaking his raging Malice upon the weaker Sex, and acting what was below a Man, haling Women, who are commonly exempted from Spoil, Tyranny and Perſecucution; ſo out-doing Pharaoh and Herod, who were the two Arch-Tyrants in all Ages for their matchleſs Outrage upon that Innocent Age of Children, yet murdered they only the Males, and ſpared the Females, Exod. 2.16. and Matth. 2.16. Nor did that mad Crew which Crucified Chriſt, offer violence to the weeping Women at his Croſs▪ but Saul (worſe than all) forgets himſelf to be a Man, or his Mother to be a Woman, drags both Men and Women. Sad havock is made of the Church, when ſuch as may bear for the Church, Perſecutors forbear not, but all ſuffer for Truth, Women as well as Men, when Saul brake up houſe after houſe, ſo that the 108 Teachers could find no private place peaceably to meet in for Teaching the People; this cauſed the fad ſcattering of the Church, and this was the dark ſide of this Divine Diſpenſation, a diſmal Diſturbance: Now come we to take a proſpect of the bright ſide thereof, a beautiful Intermixture of marvelous Mercy and remarkable Deliverance, &c.