A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Part 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. The Firſt Perſecution of the firſt Church, &c.
THE next Inquiry is, what (in general, more particularly afterwards) were the Divine Diſpenſations of Providence towards this Primo-primitive Church, and to theſe two principal Pillars of it Peter and John's Anſwer, the Church had here (as the Militant Church always hath) her Habitation at the Sign of the Chequer, both the Black of Miſery, and the White of Mercy were marvelouſly mingled together, hanging upon the Sign-poſt at her door; her Adverſity and her Proſperity were placed orderly the one over againſt the other (as Solomon ſaith in his Sapientials, Eccleſ. 7.14.) and moſt beautifully intermingled: Chekered work is alway by all perſons look'd upon as a piece of beautiful work, &c.
1ſt. Let us view her Adverſity, the Black of Miſery attending this Church. Theſe two Apoſtles are laid hold of, while they hold forth to, and are thus teaching the People, and are alſo put into hold: We have an exact account hereof in all its circumſtances, Acts 4. (1.) By whom this was done, v. 1. not only by the Jews Prieſts, &c. but alſo by the Gentile Captain over that Guard of Roman Souldiers appointed to prevent Tumults that might ariſe by ſuch vaſt Confluences of the Multitude reſorting to Worſhip in the Temple at the Feaſt.
(2.) For what cauſe, becauſe they Preached the Reſurrection by Jeſus, verſe 2. This grieved them (as Moab was at God's Iſrael's, Numb. 22.3, 4.) and made them ſick of the Devil's fretting Diſeaſe: No wonder that the Sadduces were vexed at this Doctrine, for they denied the Reſurrection, &c. but alſo the Prieſts, &c. were angry, not only becauſe theſe two illiterate perſons took upon them to Preach to the People in the Temple without their Licenſe and Ordination (not underſtanding the Apoſtle's extraordinary Call) and therefore look'd upon it as their duty to ſuppreſs them; but alſo becauſe theſe Intruders into the Preaching Office (as they judged them) did both aſſert the Reſurrection of Chriſt, (which they had given a great ſum of Money to the Souldiers for ſtifling the report of, Matth. 28.12, 13.) and their own Reſurrection alſo through Jeſus, ſuppoſe they ſhould be ſlain by the ſame hands which had ſlain their Lord and Maſter: This did joyntly ſo anger them to ſuch a degree, that they plainly did eat up their own hearts (in their fretting Leproſy of Envy) becauſe they could not come to tear out the hearts of theſe two holy Apoſtles, being reſtrained by an almighty inviſible hand for this time.
(3.) How far God ſuffer'd thoſe Perſecutors to proceed, verſe. 3. as to Degree and to Durance [They laid hands upon them] even thoſe very wicked hands (ſo call'd, Acts 2. v. 23.) which was yet beſmeared with the precious Blood of the Lamb of God: Their ſtrongeſt Argument (as of all wicked Perſecutors) muſt be Club-law and Violence. Argumentum Baculinum is better with them than Ariſtotelicum. Now the Apoſtles began to experience the truth of their Lord's words, Luke 21.12. They ſhall lay hands on you, &c. [They put them in hold] not caſt them into the Jayl, or into the Dungeon, but delivered them into the Sergeant's hand for their forth-coming the next day, it being now Evening, verſe 3. The Lord Tempteth not his Servants above what they were able, 1 Cor. 10.13. They were yet but young Pupils in Chriſt's School; they muſt not have Trials beyond their ſtrength at the firſt, but gradually learn to bear the Croſs. Tender Plants are nouriſhed by ſoft Rains, whereas a Violent and Daſhing Shower would deſtroy them before they be grown into the ſtability of a ſtrong Tree. God knows our frame, and remembers we are but Duſt (inſtar fictilium) poor Potter's Veſſels, eaſily broken as all ſuch brittle matter is, Pſal. 103.14. Therefore God ſuffer'd not Perſecution to break in upon this New planted Church with over-much Violence at the firſt. Theſe two Apoſtles were not immediately Jayled, but only Bailed, promiſing Appearance on the Morrow, &c. Beſide, the Sun of Righteouſneſs (their Lord Chriſt) was but newly departed from them, therefore was it not ſuddenly. As the Pitch Darkneſs of the Night of Perſecution with them: God's deſign is gracious, when he chaſtizeth his Church and Children; 'tis not to cruſh them with the Croſs, but to correct them for their profit, as a Father doth his Children. Heb. 12.14.
(4.) What was the Event of this offer'd Violence, verſe 4. God over-ruled it for this his Church's Advantage and wonderful Increaſe by a New Addition of five thouſand Souls more to it. Note; This Number ſeemeth the more probable to be a New Acceſſion diſtinct from the Three Thouſand aforementioned, Acts 2.41. becauſe to call but Two Thouſand now added, by the name and number of Five Thouſand, is a manner of numbering very unuſual to the Tenure of the Sacred Scriptures. However, ſuppoſe it to be only the Increaſe of that leſſer number, yet was it a moſt goodly and wonderful Draught of Fiſh by thoſe two Fiſhers of Men at the ſecond caſting out the Net of the Goſpel. This was a New Confirmation of that Old Adage [Sanguis Martyrum eſt Semen Eccleſiae, The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of his Church. The more that the Church is moleſted, the more ſhe is multiplied, as ſhe was in Egyps, Exod. 1. v. 11. Though theſe two Apoſtles were now in hold, yet, behold the Evidence of Divine Power; this Church flouriſhed the more by theſe frownings of Men upon her, and was protected from all the Outrages that the Devil could ſtir up againſt her. What Pliny ſaith of the Lilly, that it groweth up and is increaſed by its own Juice which floweth from it, and droppeth down upon its Root. Sure I am, this holdeth moſt true of the Church. This leads to the ſecond Branch in the view of the firſt Church.
2ly. Let us take a proſpect of the Proſperity of it, the White of the Mercy, which gave light and luſtre to her Black of Miſery. This contained the marvelous Deliverance of the Two Apoſtles from their preſent diſturbance and confinement, which conſiſteth of Antecedents, Concomitants and Conſequents thereof. (1.) The Antecedents have the Apoſtle's Tryal, wherein is their Accuſation and their Apology with the Iſſue of both. (1.) They are Accuſed by the Prieſts, &c. who damned both their Doctrine and their Miracle, Acts 4.7. They do not only queſtion their Power, ſaying, Who made them (Illiterate Fellows) Doctors or Teachers; being uncalled and unſent by their Sanhedrim, but alſo, whether they had not cured the Lame Beggar by a power derived from the Devil, and not from God; by vertue of the Black. Art, and not by the Gift of Chriſt's Spirit? Tho' the Miracle it ſelf gave convincing light ſufficient to demonſtrate that it was Heavenborn, yet were they willingly and wilfully ignorant hereof, and inquire thus that they might find matter out of the Apoſtle's own mouths for which they might puniſh them. (2.) The Anſwer of Peter to this Accuſation, verſe 8, 9. put them to a non-plus, ſaying, [Ye Rulers, &c. we have done a good deed, &c.] The end of your Office is to be a Terrour to Evil-doers, and to praiſe them that do well, &c. Rom. 13.3, 4. as your ſelves cannot but acknowledge, and therefore ought to incourage and protect us: We are no Necromancers of the Devil, but the Apoſtles of Chriſt, who hath inabled us to work this Miracle, and in whoſe name all Salvation for Soul and Bo…y is wrought; though ye (who ſhould be Builders) have rejected this Principal Stone more precious not only than Baal (the God of Ekron) in whom Idolaters, but alſo than Moſes in whom ye truſt. This boldneſs of Peter (in daring now to Preach Chriſt ſo confidently to the whole Council, who had been before frighted into a denial of him by a ſilly Wench) did ſo confound them, together with that ocular Demonſtration of the Lame Man (who uſed to lie down) now ſtanding upright beſide the Apoſtles, that they had nothing to ſay, and were at as great a loſs what to do, though they thought power enough was in their hands to have the Victory, verſe 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Though they ſcrupled not to be unjuſt (in condemning the Apoſtles for working ſuch a notable Miracle as all the Countrey rang of) yet loth they were to ſeem to be ſo: Therefore conſult they how to palliate it before men with whom they valued their own Credit more than keeping a good Conſcience towards God, or the Salvation of their own or others Souls. (2.) The Concomitants; when they had thus conferred in this Cabal about finding out the beſt Expedient for ſtifling the Goſpel, the Reſult of clubbing their Wits together was, to lay their thteatning Charge upon the Apoſtles, (1.) Not to Preach (publickly or privately) in the Name of the Lord Jeſus: Nor (2.) To Pray in his Name: Nor (3.) To work any more Miracles by it. Thus thoſe Unjuſt Judges pretended to be ſo far good-natur'd, as to paſs by the former fault, provided the Apoſtles would promiſe to do ſo no more, but be bound to their Good-behaviour for time to come, yet intended by this principal piece of Policy to keep the People in Ignorance, moſt miſchievouſly leſſening their Light (as Cheats uſe to do) that Spectators might more eaſily be gulled and beguiled by their Legerdemain-Tricks without diſcovery, verſe 16, 17, 18. Both Peter and John agreed in one and the ſame Anſwer, as being acted by one and the ſame Spirit, ſaying [We are not concerned at your Threats and Edicts, nor ſolicitous what will beſt bring us off at preſent out of your hands, but we do appeal to your own Conſciences, whether God will excuſe us: If we againſt his Commands do obey yours: Will ye bear us harmleſs againſt the Woe God denounceth againſt us, if we Preach not the Goſpel? 1 Cor. 9.16. Ye command us that which is morally impoſſible, unleſs our Tongues were cut out, &c. verſe 19, 20.] They were now filled with the new Wine of the Spirit, and their Veſſels therefore muſt either vent or burſt. See Jer. 20.9. Pſal. 116.16. and Acts 17.16. This Authority of God being thus oppoſed to Man's, theſe Rulers were over-ruled to diſmiſs the Apoſtles, not from any ſenſe of their own Sin, or dread of Divine Wrath, but for fear of loſing the People's Favour, verſe 21. God uſed this means to Reſtrain theſe Ruler's Rage, &c.
3dly. The Conſequents hereof; (1.) The Apoſtles, thus marvelouſly delivered and diſmiſſed, Return to the Church, and relate to them their marvelous Deliverance, v. 23. incouraging them to hope for the like Salvation in the like ſervice and ſuffering. (2.) This occaſioned the Church's Prayer in Joint-Communion: Wherein God's Omnipotency in Creating and Governing the World doth afford their firſt comfort againſt their preſent ſufferings, and future alſo, verſe 24. This Maſter-controuler will manage all for his own Glory and his Church's good, Rom. 8, 28. Then do they apply the Prophetick Oracle of David, Pſal. 2.12. to their own State at this juncture, Act. 4.25, 26, 27, 28. ſhewing what a meer madneſs it is in Men (whether Jews or Gentiles) to oppoſe Chriſt, for he will prevail mangre the Malice of angry Men, and inraged Devils: Hence the Pſalmiſt begins that Pſalm with an abrupt Le…d, (or why) in an angry Interrogation, as if he had ſaid [What, are ye all mad, ye many, and ye mighty, to attempt a Deſign whereof ye can render no good Reaſon, nor ever expect any good ſucceſs, &c?] Then they petition that God above would behold Men's threatnings below, &c. Act. 4.29. and that Chriſt might magnifie himſelf (not them) both by their Oracles and Miracles, verſe▪ 30. The effect of it was a gracious Anſwer from Chriſt, teſtified both by an Earthquake, and a freſh Effuſion of the Spirit, verſe 31. Note; Thus the Goſpel grew by oppoſition, and would do ſo now, were we but awakened by our Dangers to a more fervent praying as they were here: The Concluſion is the preſent State of the Church; (1.) In its Teachers, many Miracles (unrecorded) were wrought by them, beſide their Magnanimity in Preaching. (2.) In the Hearers, both Unanimity, as if one Soul had moved all the Bodies of that Multitude, and Liberality in contributing, the Manner, how, the Matter, how much, and the End, for what uſe, verſe 32, 33, 34, 35. more particularly in Barnabas, verſe 36, 37, Many Believers lived far from Jeruſalem, which was ſhortly to be deſtroyed, therefore this Act was peculiar to this time and place. (3.) Great Grace was upon all, verſe 33. as if dropp'd down from Heaven, both gratis data, & gratum faciens, that Grace freely given, and that alſo which makes truly gracious, ſhining forth in the carriages and countenances, in the ſpeeches and actions of both Apoſtles and Auditors, ſo that all call'd them bleſſed, &c. Iſa. 61.9, &c.