The Wells of Salvation Opened, Section 5
SECT. V.
2. THE second thing is, To shew what those Words are which Ministers are to tell people whereby they may be saved. And here I shall for the present speak only of those words which the Apostle Peter told Cornelius, whereby he and his house were saved; there was great power and vertue which went along with them, for it is said, whilest he was speaking of them, the Holy Ghost fell upon the Gentiles unto whom he preached, as upon the Apostles themselves at the beginning, chap. 10.44. and therefore they are worthy your serious regard; possibly you that are unconverted in the hearing or reading these words, may have the Holy Ghost fall upon you, and feel such a wonderfull power going along with them, as shall draw you unto Christ, and bring you out of the estate of spiritual death and damnation in which you are by nature, into a state of life and salvation; whilest I am speaking to your ears, God may speak to your hearts, whilest I am presenting these words before you, and holding forth the light unto you, God may open your eyes, and give you by his Spirit such a spiritual discerning of these things as you never had before, and so affect your hearts, as no word of man is able to do: hear then a Sermon of God out of the mouth of the Apostle Peter, which hath been effectual for conversion, and who knoweth but it may produce the same effect in some of you in the repetition and explication of it, as it did in the Gentiles in the first preaching of it? It is said, the Holy Ghost fell upon all them which heard these words when Peter preached them; O that the Holy Ghost might fall upon some of you whilest I am preaching them! The Gentiles had extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost given unto them in their hearing Peter, O that you might have a true work of conversion by the Holy Ghost given in the hearing of me! They are the Words of God, receive them as his words, which may effectually work to your salvation, if the Lord give faith in the hearing. Look up then to the Lord for his blessing, on which the efficacy of the Word doth depend. The words are in Act. 10. from the 34th to the 44th Vers. I shall first read them, and then open these words of salvation to you. After that Cornelius had sent for Peter to Ioppa, he sent for many of his friends to his house, and when they were come together, and Peter was come, and had a relation from Cornelius of his …ision, and they had told him, that they were all there present before God, to hear the things which were commanded him of God. Vers. 34. he begins his Sermon. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive, that God is no respecter of persons▪ but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel, preaching peace by Iesus Christ (he is Lord of all) That Word (I say) ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the Baptisme which John preached: How God anoynted Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of Judea, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before of God, even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testifie, that it was he which was ordained of God to be the Iudge of quick and dead. To him gave all the Prophets witness, that through his Name, whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
This Sermon of Peter's, which is the first Sermon which was preached unto the Gentiles after the partition-wall was broken down, is but brief, but it hath much sweet and soul-saving doctrine in it, and it is likely that the Scripture doth b…t briefly rehearse the heads of that which the Apostle discoursed of more largely unto them; and therefore I shall endeavour to open this Sermon unto you, which is like a rich Cabinet of most precious treasure, wherein is to be found the Pearle of the greatest price, which the wise Merchant-man will sell all that he hath to obtain, because it is not only desireable to enrich him, but also necessary to save him; I mean the Lord Jesus Christ whom the Apostle doth describe and hold forth unto the Gentiles. We read, Luk. 24.31. that the Disciples hearts burned within them, whilest our Saviour spake to them by the way, and opened to them the Scriptures, and O that you might feel your hearts burn within you, whilest I am opening unto you this Scripture, which doth relate Peters Sermon.
The Sermon of Peter may be reduced to Four general heads.
1. Concerning God.
2. Concerning the Word.
3. Concerning Iesus Christ.
4. Concerning the way of salvation by Christ.