Vindication of the Truth of the Christian Religion, Religious treatise · Section 3 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Wherein we ſhall further produce from the Acts of the Apoſtles, ſeveral Places very proper to make us truly ſenſible of the Divinity of the Chriſtan Religion.
CHap. I. 8.
But ye ſhall receive Power after that the Holy Ghoſt is come upon you: and ye ſhall be witneſſes unto me, both in Jeruſalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, &c. unto the uttermoſt part of the Earth. …et theſe Witneſſes be ſtrictly examined, let their Patience be tryed with all kinds of ſevere puniſhments and it will then appear whether it be poſſible ever to force them to recant their Opinion.
Verſ. 26.
And the Lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbred with the eleven Apoſtles. In this election there appears neither Bribe, Preeminence or arbitrary Partiality; ſo different was that Society from theſe now eſtabliſhed in the World.
Chap. II. 13:
Others mocking, ſaid theſe Men are full of new Wine. Theſe ſort of Circumſtances are of excellent uſe to ſhew the Exactneſs and Sincerity of the Hiſtorian.
Verſ. 22.
Jeſus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by Miracles, and Wonders, and Signs, as ye your ſelves alſo know. How came they to know it had Christ wrought no Miracles among them? And what a ſtrange piece of Confidence muſt it have been in the Apoſtles to ſpeak thus?
Verſ. 41.
And the ſame Day were added unto them about three thouſand Souls. What but the wonderful Power of the Holy Ghoſt given to the Apoſtles, could make ſo many Proſelytes?
Verſ. 44, 45.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common, and ſold their poſſeſſions and goods, and parted them to all Men as every Man had need. A holy Society indeed conſiſting of none but ſuch as had given up all their Intereſt in this World, and glorified God by offering up themſelves, and what was deareſt to them, as a ſacrifice to him. What could they hope for, who abſolutely renounced every thing for the ſake of Chriſt? Let a Man reaſon never ſo much upon the manner of uniting Men in a Body together, 'tis certain there was never a more effectual method to form a Society than Charity. For it makes thoſe things equal which humane Paſſions had before diſtinguiſhed; it ſubverts all competition, deſtroys all intereſt, baniſhes the deſigns of Pride and Ambition, and all the little diſtinctions Vanity creates. In a word, it unites Men in a State wherein they all equally enjoy the ſame Revelation, the ſame ſpiritual Worſhip, and the ſame Faith, Hope, and Charity. All which repreſents as it were on Earth the Joys we may partake hereafter, and gives us a lively Image and Idea of Heaven. And what greater Miracle than this can be brought to prove the Divinity of a Religion?
Verſ. 46.
And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking Bread from Houſe to Houſe, did eat their Meat with gladneſs and ſingleneſs of Heart. What Perſeverance, what Joy, nay what Simplicity of Heart did the Apoſtles here ſhew, ſuppoſing them to have been Deceivers? For we muſt either acknowledge them to be ſuch, or elſe allow the Goſpel they preached, to be moſt certainly true and Divine.
Chap. III. 8, 9.
And he entred with them into the Temple, walking and leaping, and praiſing God. And all the People ſaw him walking and praiſing God. Is it an eaſy matter to make other men believe ſuch matters of fact as theſe, ſuppoſing they were altogether falſe?
Verſ. 12.
And when Peter ſaw it, he anſwered unto the People Ye Men of Iſrael, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye ſo earneſtly on us, as though by our own Power, or Holineſs we had made this Man to walk? Had Simon Magus performed ſuch a Miracle, he would certainly have took all the Honour of it to himſelf, and now more confidently than ever affirm, that he was the great Power of God. Obſerve I pray here a Character of Ingenuity, Humility and Sincerity, which can't be ſufficiently expreſſed.
Verſ. 16.
And his name through faith in his name, hath made this Man ſtrong, whom ye ſee and know: yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect ſoundneſs in the preſence of you all. This multiplying expreſſions of the ſame thing may not ſo well pleaſe ſome Men, and ſeems to be an empty flouriſh of words, or a putting ſome good words finely together to ſignifie little; a thing not agreeable to the true Eloquence Men ought to uſe. But here it is not really ſo. The Apoſtles here regarded not Politneſs in the leaſt, but rather were afraid they could not uſe expreſſions ſtrong enough, to let them know that it was not in their own Names, but in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, that all theſe things were done. Tis no matter then whether the Ear was offended at it or not, provided the Ʋnderſtanding humbled itſelf in the preſence of God, and aſcribed that extraordinary Miracle to none but Chriſt himſelf.
Verſ. 14.
But ye denied the holy one and the just, and deſired a murderer to be granted unto you. Obſerve how little he knew what it was to flatter thoſe Men he ſpoke to!
Chap. IV. 4.
Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, believed, and the number of the Men were about Five thouſand. How could S. Luke, who wrote in a time when the Church of Jeruſalem conſiſting of ſo many Proſelytes flouriſhed, I ſay how could he have made ſo many believe ſuch miraculous matters of fact, as had they been real they muſt have ſeen them with their own Eyes?
Chap. V. 15.
Inſomuch that they brought forth the Sick into the Streets, and laid them on Beds and Couches, that at the leaſt the ſhadow of Peter paſſing by, might overſhadow ſome of them. Behold the completion of that Propheſy of Chriſt, who foretold that his Diſciples ſhould do far greater works than himſelf.
Verſ. 32.
And we are his witneſſes of thoſe things, and ſo is alſo the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey. Chriſt daily convinced the Unbelievers by the Teſtimony of his Works; and his Diſciples convinced them by the Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt imparted to them. Is there then, any Dream or Euthuſiaſm, any Illuſion, or Diſtraction of mind, any mutual erroneous Compact in all this? or rather do we not here viſibly perceive the Wiſdom, Truth, and Power of God in this occaſion?
Chap. VII. 51.
Ye ſtiff-necked and uncircumciſed in Heart and Ears, ye do always reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt: as your Fathers did ſo do ye. Which of the prophets have not your Fathers perſecuted? All Deceivers and Impoſtors uſe quite another method, to flatter thoſe they deſign to draw over to their ſide.
Verſ. 59, 60.
And they ſtoned Stephen, calling upon God, and ſaying, Lord Jeſus receive my Spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this ſin to their charge. Stephen died praying to God for his Enemies, in imitation of Chriſt. But he was not ſeiz'd with Sorrow, Anguiſh, or Fear; he cried not out, My God, my God why haſt thou forſaken me? Could not he that repreſented the Servant ſo Couragious, have given us an excellent Deſcription of the conſtancy of the Maſter, but that he had propoſed to himſelf to write nothing but the Truth.
Chap. VIII. 14, 15, 16.
They ſent unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghoſt (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jeſus) By theſe words it is plain, that every body might indifferently receive the Holy Ghoſt; but the Apoſtles alone could impart it to others. A diſtinction that is very remarkable. But it appears yet farther, that the Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt were ſo notable and viſible, that whoſoever had received them, could not but preſently be ſenſible of it: And tho this Diſcourſe of St. Luke might be wholly invented, yet it may well be ſuppoſed, that it was invented upon ſome probable Grounds and Reaſons, and there can be no other for it but this, that in this time the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt were imparted to the faithful; for otherwiſe, to talk thus, would be very impertinent and extravagant.
Verſ. 20.
But Peter ſaid unto him, thy money periſh with thee, becauſe thou haſt thought that the gift of God may be purchaſed with Money. How comes Peter to deal ſo nicely and delicately were he an Impoſtor indeed as well as Simon Magus?
Verſ. 22, 23.
Repent therefore of this thy Wickedneſs, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterneſs, and in the bond of iniquity. How different are theſe expreſſions from thoſe of a Man whoſe Conſcience accuſes him of Impoſture and Infidelity.
Chap. IX. 7, 8, 9.
And the Men which journeyed with him ſtood ſpeechleſs, hearing a voice, but ſeeing no Man. But they led him by the hand, and brought him unto Damaſcus. And he was there three days without ſight, and neither Eat nor Drank. Had St. Luke deſigned to impoſe upon our belief in this rehearſal, he would have managed it with more Judgment. For what neceſſity was there of his relating how that St. Paul had Company with him, when the Light of God ſhone round about him? What made him quote the place, the occaſion, and the Witneſſes, of whom the Synagogue might have eaſily known the whole Truth? How could he make them believe, that the Men which accompanied Saul, led him by the hand to Damaſcus, and that he continued there three days and three nights deprived of his ſight?
Verſ. 16.
For I will ſhew him how great things he muſt ſuffer for my names ſake, &c. The whole Life of S. Paul was an exact accompliſhment of this Prophecy.
Verſ. 31.
Then had the Churches reſt throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghoſt, were multiplied. How ſtrange and ſurpriſing was the progreſs of the Goſpel, which founded ſo many Churches almoſt every where in ſo ſmall a time!
Verſ. 34, 35.
And Peter ſaid unto him, Eneas, Jeſus Chriſt make thee whole; ariſe, &c. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron ſaw him, and turned to the Lord. Doubtleſs thoſe Men here mentioned knew well enough whether there was any ſuch Miracle performed; And thoſe Churches which conſiſted altogether of Proſelytes, who muſt neceſſarily have been Spectators of that Miracle, could not be impoſed upon in this reſpect.
Verſ. 41, 42.
And he gave her his hand, and lift her up; and when he had called the Saints and Widows, preſented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. This was a Miracle notorious enough, and there were Witneſſes ſufficient to contradict and convince the Author of this Book, ſuppoſing this Miracle had been only a framed Story and a Sham upon Men's belief.
Chap. X. 45, 46, 47.
And they of the Circumciſion which believed, were aſtoniſhed as many as came with Peter, becauſe that on the Gentiles alſo was poured out the Gift of the Holy Ghoſt. For they heard them ſpeak with Tongues, and magnifie God. Then anſwered Peter, can any one forbid Water, that theſe ſhould not be baptized, which have received the Gift of the Holy Ghoſt, as well as we? What was the meaning of that aſtoniſhment in thoſe of the Circumciſion? Twas becauſe they had not ſeen till then that the Holy Ghoſt was imparted to the Gentiles. The very mixture of ſuch Circumſtances as theſe, is often of it ſelf ſufficient to convince us of the Truth of any narration.
Chap. XI. 18.
When they heard theſe things, they held their peace, and glorified God, ſaying, Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto Life, This indeed was the Language of the Holy Ghoſt; the perfect ſtile of God; And the very expreſſion of the heavenly Jeruſalem!
Chap. XII. 18, 19.
Now as ſoon as it was day, there was no ſmall ſtir among the Soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had ſought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they ſhould be put to Death. A circumſtance that can't be forged, and which excellently confirms the relation of Peter's miraculous Deliverance.
Chap. XIII. 3.
And when they had faſted, and prayed, they laid hands on them. This Hiſtorian, who repreſents the Diſciples continually faſting and praying, could not deviſe that matter of fact, ſuppoſing it to be falſe. He would be very extravagant that ſhould believe, that the Apoſtles led an ill courſe of Life, and plunged themſelves in all ſorts of lewd Debaucheries. Their Words, their Actions convince us of the contrary. Yet it may be ſaid that they were Villains indeed, if what they preached was falſe: But if they were downright plain honeſt Men, as their ſpeech neceſſarily evinces to us, then was their preaching alſo neceſſarily true.
Verſ. 12.
Then the Deputy when he ſaw what was done, believed, being aſtoniſhed at the Doctrine of the Lord. 'Twould argue but little Judgment in any one that deſigns to impoſe a Fiction upon Men's belief, to pitch upon Circumſtances, as are contrary to publick knowledge. The Converſion of a Deputy, was certainly an Event very remarkable.
Chap. XV. 39.
And the contention was ſo ſharp between them, that they departed aſunder one from the other; and ſo Barnabas took Mark, and ſailed unto Cyprus. This Hiſtorian is very exact in relating the leaſt occurrences. He is ſincere too, ſince he ſcruples not to relate the Contentions which aroſe among the Apoſtles themſelves.
Chap. XX. 12.
And they brought the young Man alive, and were not a little comforted. Can any thing be more ſurpriſing or convincing, than the Reſurrection of the Dead?
Chap. XXIV. 25.
And as he reaſoned of Righteouſneſs, Temperance, and Judgment to come, Felix trembled, and anſwered, go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient ſeaſon, I will call for thee. Great indeed was the Divine efficacy of his words, which made a Judge tremble, ſitting on his Tribunal of Juſtice, and before the Chains of his Priſoner.
Chap. XXVIII. 30, 31.
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired Houſe, and received all that came unto him, preaching the Kingdom of God, &c. Here endeth the Hiſtory of the Acts of the holy Apoſtles written by St. Luke. 'Tis manifeſt he compiled it before the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, becauſe he mentions nothing of that Event. Neither do the Goſpels or Epiſtles of the Apoſtles ſpeak of it: But they often ſpeak of the ſudden coming of the Lord, or of the Judgments he had reſolved to execute upon the Jewiſh Nation.