A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

CHAP. VIII. The Fourth Persecution.

THE Remarks of Mercy mixed with this Church's Misery, are these; (1.) God over∣powers the Devil in setting bounds and limits to all his, and his Instrument's Per∣secutions, saying to them, as to the unruly Ocean [Thus far shalt thou go and no farther, and here shall thy proud Waves be stayed] Job 38.10, 11. N.B. No Reason can be ren∣dred why the main Raging Sea doth not overflow the many small Islands of Dry Land that are seen in Maps, and found by Mariners in all parts of the habitable World, save only this, that the great God hath set Bars upon it by his Divine Decree. God hath shut it up in his Decreed place (the hollows of the Earth) with Bounds and Banks. As it was the incomprehensible work of God's Wisdom and Power to pro∣duce such a prodigious vast powerful Body of that fluid Element out of nothing at the first, like an Infant out of his Mother's Womb, Job 38.8. so 'tis no less a work of wonder, that God can as easily Rule and Repress that unruly Sea, as the Mother or Nurse can her sucking Infant, when 'tis swathed up with Swadling-bands, verse 9. This is a work of God's great Power, and is therefore instanced and insisted upon in Scrip∣ture, as here, and Psal. 107.23. to 30. and Jer. 5.22, &c. God holds the Sea in his hand, as in a Pit, that it cannot pass out of the hollow of God's hand, to overflow the Land in the least of those little Islands, but the Tide is pulled back by an Ebb, &c. N.B. Thus the great God butted and bounded the Roaring and Raging Waves of this great Persecution; though the Enemy came now in like a Floud, yet the Spirit of the Lord did lift up a Standard against him, Isa. 59.19. and made him stand at his appoint∣ed Bounds, beyond which he could not pass. Though Stephen shall be stoned, and the Teachers (with other Believers) shall be scattered by the Adversary, yet not one more shall be murdered; a Church still (though not so very numerous) shall remain in Jeru∣salem, and the Twelve Apostles shall stay there untouched in the midst of that fiery Furnace, to comfort and cherish the Church in that sad deplorable and scattering Day, maugre the Malice of angry Men, and of inraged Devils.

The second Remark is; As God over powered the Devil, so he over-witted him in this Fourth Persecution. The Wisdom of God out-wits all the Seven Heads of the Dragon's Beast, as the Power of God proves too hard for his Ten Horns, insomuch that all the Plotting-heads, and the Pushing-Horns do but Aethiopem lavare, labour in vain, as here. This scattering Persecution (by which the Devil designed to destroy and smother the Gospel) did propagate and spread it the more, Acts 8.4•• &c. and Acts 11.19. They that were scattered went every where Preaching the Word, not only in Judea and Samaria, but they that were scattered abroad (upon the Persecution that

arose about Stephen) travelled as far as Phaenice (the Countrey about Tyre) and Cyprus (that famous Isle in the Mediterranean Sea) and Antioch (the Metropolis of Syria) N.B. Which City, by this means, became in time the New Jerusalem of the Gentile-Church, as Old Jerusalem (out of which they were now banish'd) had been hitherto of the Jewish Church the principal Seat, Acts 11.19, 20, 26. which place is exegetical, explaining what was more briefly intimated, Acts 8.4. This City Antioch will be Re∣nowned to the World's end, because the Banner of Christ was first Erected therein, and Believers listed themselves under him as their Ensign-Bearer, Cant. 5.10. and Captain, Heb. 2.10. and had the honour to be call'd by his sacred Name, Christians, not nick∣named so by the Enemies of Christianity (who scornfully called all Professors of Christ Nazareans, or Nazarites, supposed to arise from Peter's weakness in his Judaizing at this City, Gal. 2.11.) but it was done by Divine Direction, as the word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] doth import, being rendred [warned of God] Heb. 11.7. The name of Christians signifies [Anointed ones] 1 John 2.27. which Divine Unction hath made many Myriads of Be∣lievers in all Ages (in despite of the Devil) to be Kings and Priests unto God, Rev. 1. v. 6. that is, in a spiritual sense, such as ever durst own Christ, and did glory in the name of being call'd Christians. N.B. Oh! that we may hold fast the Profession of our Faith, Heb. 4.14. and 10.23. (being mindful of this holy Oil poured upon us in this name) and not fall; as if we had not been anointed with Oil, 2 Sam. 1.21. Thus the Lord (as he ever doth) did over-shoot Satan in his own Bow, over-ruling the Malice of the Adversary, in turning it here to the propagation of the Gospel. Those Disciples were forced to flie for their lives from the Capital City of the Jews, hereby the Light of the Gospel is carried to the Gentiles. N.B. The great God causeth the Devil to break his own head by his own design, and maketh Light to come out of Darkness, Psal. 112. v. 4. God is a skilful Pilot, and can sail with contrary Winds, using cross Providences to accomplish his precious Promises, Gen. 9.27. Hereby Japhet (the Gentiles) were made to dwell in the Tents of Shem, the Jews. This scattering proved to the Church's great Advantage, which, like the Sea, what ground it loseth on one side, it gaineth on the other side: No doubt, God is fetching such a compass now, &c. 2 Sam. 5.23. 'Tis a great and most sacred Truth, that the great God would suffer no sort of evil to be, un∣less he knew how to bring some excellent good out of that evil. N.B. The following History is a confirming Comment upon this Text of Truth. The most wise God would not have permitted such a Dispersing Persecution upon this Primo-primitive Church, but to over rule it for his own greater glory, and for his Church's greater gain. This Church at Jerusalem was now grown so great by the many Accessions and Additions to it (through the great Grace that was upon it, Acts 4.33.) that it was become like the Hive of Bees, which is so full of stock, that there is not room with∣in to receive all those little laborious Animals, and therefore, if they do not volunta∣rily remove in a Swarm, they must be driven to make a new Colony in another new Hive. Thus (and much more) the Lord dealt with this numerous over-grown and full-stock'd Gospel-Church: A great many of those Evangelical Bees are driven away from Jerusalem, not only to plant new Colonies of Christians in Samaria, but also in many other places both among the Jews and among the Gentiles, as the sequel sheweth.

N.B. The first Instance hereof is; the planting of a Gospel-Church in Samaria, whereof the Procatartick or occasional cause was this great Persecution that the Devil and his Imps raised against this first Church at Jerusalem; but the Organical or instrumental cause thereof, was, Philip, not the Apostle, Mat. 10.3. but the Deacon of that name, Acts 6.5. for all the Apostles still stay'd at Jerusalem, Acts 8.1. This Deacon, having been found faithful over a few things, was made Master of more in the Ministry, as Mat. 25.23. Thus he (being [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] apt to teach the Truth, and able to maintain it by the Gifts of the Holy Ghost upon him) purchased to himself an higher degree in the Ministry of the Church, 1 Tim. 3.12, 13. fairly stepping from that good degree of a Deacon (therefore none should despise the Deaconship, that is so honourably intituled) to an higher Order, &c. This holy Deacon was of that scattered number, whom God directed to go into Samaria; where, what he did, the Divine Record gives a full account of it, Acts 8.5, &c.

N.B. The Relation of his Actings there, (1.) Concerns his Doctrine; and (2.) His Auditors. (1st.) His Doctrine is described; (1.) In the Matter of it, Acts 8.5, 12. He Preached the Doctrine of Faith, Repentance, and Remission of Sins by Christ alone, &c. (2.) In the Success of it, verse 6, 7. a mighty presence of Divine Power prepared those to attend, whom God had a purpose to save, hanging their Ears (as it were) at the mouth of this their Minister, as those are said to do upon Christ himself, Luke 19.48. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] They did hang upon him (it signifies) as the Babe hangs on the Breast, the

Bee upon the Flower, or the little Bird upon the Bill of her Dam: As Christ drew the People after him, by the Golden Chain of his Angelical, yea Divine Eloquence: So Philip here (by the powerful presence of the Spirit of Christ upon him) united his Hearer's hearts (as well as Ears) to attend diligently unto the Doctrine of Christ: He Preached to them concerning his marvelous Birth, his holy Life and Death; and his glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and concerning the Kingdom of his Grace and Glory; both which are one, seeing the Kingdom of God hath its Inchoation on Earth, but its Consummation in Heaven. This diligent attention was a blessed prepa∣rative to these Samaritan's Conversion, seeing Faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10.17. The Syriack word [Methtephisin] here signifies, they did not only Attend to, but also did Acquiesce in all he spake to them. N.B. Were there more Reverend Attention to the Word, and more plenary Aquiescency in it, there would be more Conversion at this day. N.B. But besides Philip's Evangelical Eloquence wherewith he drew his Auditory to his Oracles, he wrought Miracles also which were as so many Evidences of the Truth of his Oracles, and whereby he shewed God's Authority for what he Preached: He healed many Diseases, and cast out many Devils (call'd unclean Spi∣rits, because they delight in sin, that spiritual uncleanness of the Soul) who cried out with a loud voice, as very loth to leave their Lodgings, had they not been con∣strained to it, &c. N.B. The performance of what Christ promised, Mark 16.16, 17. did both corroborate the Faith of those Gospel-Ministers, and did mightily promote the Success of Philip's Ministry in Samaria.

Then (3dly.) The Effect hereof is briefly comprised, v. 8. and [There was great Joy in that City] Tho' Samaria was a place of corrupted Worship, and basely bewitched by the Sorceries of Simon Magus, yet even there God begets a People to himself, who not only rejoyced for the miraculous Cures wrought upon their Bodies, but more especially for the Word of Reconciliation and Salvation Preached to their Souls. N.B. Josephus saith, that at Samaria was a Sanctuary opened by Sanballat for all Renegado-Jews, and upon the very building of the Temple upon Mount Gerizim, multitudes of Jews flocked thi∣ther, that call'd Jacob their Father, had their Priesthood. Service, Pentateuch, &c. so that Samaritanism generally was but a Mongrel-Judaism: Therefore the Jews hated the presence, the are, the fashions, and the very Books of the Samaritans, John 4.9. Now this despised Samaria imbraces the Gospel with Joy; when the formerly beloved and holy City Jerusalem doth explode and persecute it. N.B. Such strange Alterations doth the Free Grace of God work, both in Cities and Countreys, and in all Societies of Men. Once it was before this, that Christ must needs go to Samaria, John 4.4. Oh happy City! that then lay in a sweet Saviour's way to be look'd upon with his gracious look of Love, and that his Footsteps may drop fatness upon it, Psal. 65.11. Many be∣lieved in Christ at that time of the Samaritans, John 4.40, 41. though he stayed among them but two days then, verse 43. for he had forbid his Disciples to Preach in any City of Samaria (which was no obliging Law to himself) Matth. 10.5. because the fuller Calling of the Gentiles (whereof this was only an Earnest) was reserved to after times, when the Partition Wall was broken down, then did the Lord at his Ascension direct his Disciples to be Witnesses of him in the Cities of the Samaritans, Acts 1.8. which was now done, &c. Thus have we dispatch'd the first particular, to wit, The Doctrine of this Deacon Philip in its Efficacy at this place and time: Occasion will be offered to inlarge upon it in the sequel, &c.

The second particular is, Philip's Auditors after this Effect: They were of two sorts. (1.) The False and Hypocritical, who was Simon Magus, verse 9. And (2.) The True and Sound Auditor (beside those Samaritan sound Believers) and that was the Ethiopian Eunuch, verse 27, 28, &c. First of the first and false One, (1st.) Simon Magus is described (1.) By his Countrey; he was a Samaritan, verse 9. It may easily be supposed that this Instrument of Satan must needs be a strong Impediment to the Success of Christ's Gospel in Samaria, having such a strong Satanical Samaritan in the very Bowels of it. (2.) By his Condition or Occupation, how he led his former life in exercising Magical Inchant∣ments, bewitching the whole City with his Sorceries, insomuch that this Conjurer carried the Citizens generally out of themselves (as the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies) so that they were more his than their own, driving them into an amazing Extasie, and af∣frighting them as if he had been one of the Heathen Gods, verse 9, 10, 11. Having by God's permission, and by the Devil's power, wrought wonders among the People; this was a mighty disadvantage to the Entertainment of the Gospel, had not Christ been stronger than this strong Man to disarm him, &c. Luke 11.21, 22. He is described (3.) By his Manners or Behaviour; (1.) While his Hypocrisie was covered; he takes

upon him to believe with an Historical Faith only, and is baptized, v. 12, 13. (2.) When it was discovered even by the Sorcerer himself, by bidding Money wherewith to buy the Holy Ghost; for which (3.) He was reproved by Peter for a Rotten Professor, &c.

The Remarks hereupon are these, (1.) A Rotten Heart may go far in Reformation, yet be in the gall of bitterness, &c. 'Tis said here, [Then Simon himself believed also] Acts 8.13. yet was in the bond of iniquity, verse 23. N.B. He had only the Faith of Devils, who believe their Doom shall be denounced against them to their Eternal Tor∣ment at the last day, which belief makes them [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] frisk and tremble, James 2.19. They give their bare Assent that there is a God to judge them; so Simon did assent with his head, but he believed not with his heart, Acts 8.37. and Rom. 10.9. His Faith was only Historical, believing it to be true, that Christ indeed did many Miracles, and was really Raised from the Dead, &c. He only took upon him to believe, it was not given him of God, whereas Faith is God's gift to us, Ephes. 2.8. and not to be taken up by us at our pleasure; therefore was it not the Faith of God's Elect, Titus 1.1. but a Tempory Faith only, which serveth to breed Horrour, as the Historical doth in Devils, yet is but a meer flash in Hypocritical men, and thereupon soon dwindles away. Not∣withstanding this Historical (which was but Hypocritical) Faith, and his seeming Re∣pentance professed, verse 25. pray for me, &c. yet was he still in the State of sin, and all his pretended Profession was as bitter to God's pallate, as is the flesh of any creature corrupted with Gall, to ours, Deut. 29.18. & 32.32. He was yet fast bound, like a Bond∣slave of Satan, in the irrefragable Bonds of his own Hypocrisie, Ambition, and Avarice.

The second Remark is, Hypocrites shall sooner or later be detected; some men's sins go before hand to Judgment, and some men's sins follow after; no putrid Hypocrisie can be forever hid, 1 Tim. 5.24, 25. N.B. The great Judge of the World keeps his Petty-Sessions often in this life, letting the Law pass upon some few, reserving the rest till the great Assizes of the last Judgment. Some men's sins are discovered and punish'd in this life, before their persons appear at God's Tribunal. In the discovery of Simon's Hypocrisie, there is the Occasion and the Manner thereof to be considered. N.B. (1.) The Occasion, when the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had imbraced the Gospel by Philip's Ministry, they sent Peter and John (those two Pillars of the Church, Gal. 2.9.) as their Embassadors to confirm Philip's Doctrine, and to constitute a Church there by their Apostolical Authority, yea, and to confer upon some men (not on all, nor on the Women who were Believers also, verse 12.) those extraordinary Gifts of Teaching, Heal∣ing, &c. Acts 2.38. which was done only by the Apostles (and not by Philip's) Prayer and Imposition of Hands, Acts 8.14. to 18. N.B. They all that believed had received the Saving Grace of the Holy Ghost (saving this unsound Simon) but none of them the extraordinary Gifts, &c. which were given for confirming this New Tender Church of the Samaritans. This was the Occasion. N.B. (2.) The Manner of Simon's discover∣ing his Hypocrisie was, when he saw those Gifts were conferr'd by Imposition of Hands, he offers a price to purchase this power: Hereby this Notorious Hypocrite discovered himself, having taken a Profession upon him, and counterfeiting that, he believed only for base ends, to wit, both that he should not be deserted by his own Disciples, who now were won over to Philip's Doctrine, and also that thereby he might procure a power of working Miracles, when he saw the Apostles had done far beyond what he was able to do, verse 18, 19. N.B. The unsoundness of his Soul, and baseness of his Spirit, appeared in his having such low estimations of the high things of God, as if they were purchaseable by perishing Metals, and as if these things of God had been ven∣dible here, as after was said to be at Rome, where Simon's Statue stood with this In∣scription [Simoni Deo Sancto] in Claudius Caesar's time, and where 'tis now become a Proverb, [Romae omnia Venalia] All things at Rome are soluble and saleable; so Man∣tuan their own Poet testifieth, &c. N.B. And 'twere well if the Sin of Simony were not found in other places (as well as in Rome) betwixt covetous Patrons, and a cor∣rupt Clergy; so Crucifying Christ afresh between two Thieves; Benefices being be∣stowed (saith he) non ubi optime, sed ubi quaestuosissime, to him who will give the most for them, not who best deserve them: As if a man should bestow so much Provender on his Horse, because he is to Ride upon him, &c. It was Judas's sin [What will ye give me?] Matth. 26.15. that cursed Traitor sold the Head, but Simoniacal Patrons sell the Members; he the Shepherd, they the Sheep; and herein, as worse than Judas; he only sold the Body, but they the Souls of Men, as that Scarlet Strumpet doth at this day, Rev. 18.13. Nor did Simon here desire to purchase those Miraculous Gifts, that he might glorifie God, or confirm the Truths of the Gospel (which he now professed) by them, but to make Merchandize of them, selling dearer

than he would have bought to satisfie his insatiable Thirst after gain, as also to main∣tain his Reputation among his Admirers, who saw the Apostles out-vye and over-do him. N.B. Beside, this Simon Magus was thus far convinced by Simon Peter, that himself had no more than a meer shew of Godliness (under which he laboured to lurk) and was no better a man than what the Apostle had characteriz'd him to be; therefore, being terrified with that direful Threatning, verse 20. and probably fearing to fall under the same dismal Doom that had (as he might hear of) befallen Ananias and Saphira, he feigns a Repentance, as he had done a Faith, begs the Apostle's prayers, which he knew were prevalent with God: What became of him, the Scripture is silent. N.B. How∣ever, this same Simon, whom Philip had look'd upon as Honest, and Baptized him, was detected by Peter, who soon smelt the Fox, and divinely drew him out of his Den, ex∣posing him to open view. Ecclesiastick History saith, that as he was flying in the Air, at Peter's powerful prayers, he fell down and broke his Neck. This Story, though not Canonical in it self, yet holds it a sacred correspondency with Solomon's Canonical Sen∣tence and saying, [The Memory of the Just is blessed, but the Name of the Wicked shall rot] Prov. 10.7. And [He that perverteth his ways shall be known, whereas he that walketh up∣rightly, walks surely] verse 9. Sure I am, the name of this Notorious Hypocrite, hath an ignominious and black Brand put upon it, wherewith he stands stigmatized in all Ci∣vil, as well as Sacred Historie; and notwithstanding his cunning Contrivances to hide his Hypocrisie, yet, as this Hypocrite was detected by Peter, so is he detested by all persons of consideration to this day: His Name still stinks like putrified Carrion. N.B. Though this Simon Magus did manage his matters so cleverly and craftily, that Philip mistook him for a Believer, and baptiz'd him, yet Peter presently pump'd up his Rottenness, and laid him open in his proper colours; all comes out to his eternal con∣tempt and dishonour; therefore, as those wicked Sodomites (who would have car∣nally known Angels in the likeness of Men, Gen. 19.5, 8.) gave the odious name to that beastly sin of Sodomy: So this Sorcerer, unsound Simon, hath given the execrable name to that abominable sin of Simony, wherewith both the Laws of God and Men do brand all those that barter for Spiritual Benefices. N.B. This sin is forbid, Lev. 25.34. The Levites Portion and Patrimony was not to be sold, &c. The sellers of Doves (in which form the Spirit descended, Matth. 3.16.) our Lord did whip out of his Temple twice; the first time was at his Entrance on his Publick Ministry, John 2.14. and the second was at his Ending of it, Matth. 21.12. N.B. Alas! it may most truly be sighed out, and said in our sad seasons, that Satan hath his Simon and Jude, as well as God; He hath his Jude or Judas, who was a seller of our Saviour God the Son, and his Simon that would have been the buyer of God the Holy Spirit; and because he attempted to purchase with Money that greatest of Gifts, he deprived himself of all part and portion either in receiving, or in the conferring of that Gift, and of any part in Eternal Life Preached by Peter, &c.

N.B. But (2dly.) Though Simon Magus proved an unsound Proselite to Philip's Mi∣nistry, yet the Aethiopian Queen Candace's Chamberlain, became a more sound one, (as well as all the other Samaritan Professors) who was truly and throughly converted by the Ministry of Philip; in the Story of whose Conversion there be five singular Circumstances to be observed.

1. The Author or Instrument converting, Philip, Acts 8.26. when the two Embassa∣dors (the Apostles) had confirmed this new Constituted Church at the chief City of Samaria, they all Preach the Gospel in all the same Villages of that Countrey also, as they were commanded by Christ, Acts 1.8. (which testified their Indefatigable and In∣vincible Industry in despite of this fourth great Persecution, Acts 8.1.) so returned to Jerusalem, Acts 8.25. N.B. But Philip was commanded by the Angel of God to go from thence to Gaza, verse 26. nor must he go the ordinary Road thither, but the De∣sart-way, which was up-hill and down-hill (an Emblem of the way to Heaven) so but little frequented. Had not Philip been thus directed, he had certainly gone the com∣mon Path, and not have met with this great Ethiopian Officer, which doth teach us [That man's way is not in himself; it is not in man to direct his own steps] Jer. 10.23. and that the Lord tells all our wandrings, Psal. 56.8. Man is not Master of his own walkings, but is over-ruled and directed by God; and if God will have man to wander in a Wilder∣ness, as David did, when hunted like a Partridge upon the Mountains; and as Philip did here, passing through a Desart, yet was it great comfort to them both, that as they went hither and thither at the Lord's direction, so God kept an account of all their footings and flittings.

N.B. (2dly.) The Object or Person converted; he is commended by his Nation, Con∣dition,

Dignity, Religion and Occupation, Acts 8.27, 28. He was (1.) An Ethiopian by Nation. (2.) An Eunuch, or Gelded Man (such as Queens imployed in their Chambers to avoid suspicion) was his Condition. (3.) His Dignity is imported in his being stiled an Officer of great Authority, a Noble-man of the Queen's Court. (4.) For his Religion, he was a Proselyte, who had been at Jerusalem to worship God in that Solemn Festival of the Passover. N.B. His Religion may rise up in Judgment against many Professors, who know more of God than this Proselyte: He could have only some small know∣ledge of God in that Dark Region of Africa; yet can he cross the Seas, takes this long Journey to worship God at Jerusalem, and in his Return improved his time so well as to Read the Sacred Scriptures, which declares he did not desire to worship the True God according to any false Fancy, but as he was directed by the Word of God in his External Worship. What a shame is it to behold our Courtiers and Gallants, &c. (if they Read at all in their Coaches) do spend their time there in Reading frivolous Romances, &c. when this ignorant Ethiopian Lord did better, having some small smat∣tering of Divine Knowledge, used his best endeavour to increase it; [To him that thus hath, it shall be given him, and that more abundance] Matth. 13.12. They shall know, that follow on to know the Lord, Hos. 6.3. God will rather work a Miracle, than that they who thus seek, should not find, Matth. 7.7. Such as seek God sincerely, and endeavour to know him and his Will faithfully, and more fully, shall not be disappointed. N.B. Here God makes Philip miraculously to meet this Eunuch, who was inquiring after Godli∣ness, &c. N.B. Then (5:) His Occupation; he was Lord Treasurer to this Queen Candace, which is one of the principal of Court-Offices; yet while this Eunuch was oc∣cupied in his Charge over the Queen's Treasure, he still neglected not the True Trea∣sure for saving his own Soul, wherein that precious Promise and Prophecy, Isa. 56.4, 5. was graciously fulfilled. Let not the Eunuch say, I am a dry Tree, verse 3. I will give to them a Place and a Name in my House, both the Credit and the Comfort of being the Sons of God, &c. N.B. And this honour the Lord conferred upon this Eunuch, to make him the first we find who carried the Profession of Christ into Africa; and tho' the Ethio∣pians were a People most despicable in the Eyes of the Jews, and of the Greeks likewise (for their famous Greek Poet Homer, calls those Sun-burnt People, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the lowest of Mankind) yet the Lord did demonstrate hereby, that there is no respect of Persons or of Nations with him, but whoever fears God, and works Righteousness, is ac∣cepted of him, Acts 10.34. Gal. 3.28, &c.

N.B. (3.) The Manner of his Conversion is described by the Eunuch's Reading, and by Philip's Running to hear what he Read; both were done by the direction of the Spirit; as the one is expressed, so the other is undoubtedly implied. As the Spirit by the Ministry of an Angel moved Philip, verse 26, 27. and made him able to Run as swiftly as this great Man's Chariot Ran, so that not only he could come up to the Eunuch, but keep pace with him, to hold a conference also: The Scripture he was Reading, was that in Isa. 53.7, &c. [He was led as a Sheep to the Slaughter, &c. Philip asks him [Understandest thou what thou Readest?] The Eunuch modestly and humbly answered [How can I except some man guide me?] verse 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, &c. Is qui nil dubitat, nil capit inde boni. Ask & learn.

This Proselyte might (by conversing with both the dispersed Jews in his own Coun∣trey, and those at Jerusalem, at his keeping the Festivals there) be acquainted with the Lives of the Prophets, and might find there Recorded, how much Isaiah suffered under Manasseh; this might well raise a doubt in him, whether the Prophet spake of himself, or some other Man; and that he might be resolved of his doubts, such was his mo∣desty and humility, that this great Man takes up his Inferiour into his Chariot (as Jehu did Jehonadab, 2 Kings 10.15.) and asks him this Question; in answer where∣unto Philip Preach'd a powerful Sermon of Christ to him, shewing that Prophecy could be meant of none but our dear Redeemer, and not of Isaiah, Jeremy, or any other: And by that pregnant and pathetical discourse, (the Lord blessing the Ordinance of Hearing the Word) Saving Faith was effectually wrought in this Eunuch's Soul.

N.B. The Remarks upon this are these, 1. This Ethiopian may teach us Christians to spend our time profitably, not vainly; we do not so much want time as waste time, whereof we are but Tenants at will, and must, as Stewards, give an account for that Talent.

2. Of all other Books, to Read the Scriptures most (as he did) that we may by digging in that golden Mine find Eternal Life, John 5.39.

3. That Masters ought to instruct their Servants out of the Scriptures. Thus, 'tis supposed, this man was doing, though he had but small knowledge.

4. That such as are throughly humble, are also truly docile, willing to learn know∣ledge from any hand, and to acknowledge their own ignorance.

5. That Superiors must not disdain to be instructed by their Inferiors, as he here, and great Naaman by a Captive Girl, 2 Kings 5.2, 13. How would our great Treasurers and Chamberlains huff at such an Affront?

6. That bare Reading the Scripture, without understanding it, is no better than the tinkling of a Cymbal: They are blessed that Read it with Knowledge, Attention, Af∣fection and Application in their Lives, Rev. 1.3.

7. Divine Commands must not be grudgingly disputed, but speedily dispatched, as Philip did here, in hastening through a Desart of Difficulties (without cavilling at the uncouth way) to save a Soul.

8. Divine Providence doth wonderfully work in a concurring tendency towards this Ethiopian's Conversion: God both orders him to be Reading such a portion of Scripture, as he had need to be informed of concerning Christ, and also Philip to be so ready at that juncture to inform him there in a most Fundamental Truth.

N.B. (4.) The wonderful Effect of this holy Conference follows; not only the Conversion, but also the Baptism of this New Convert. Incredible gain is got by mutual Confe∣rence in all Arts and Sciences, especially in the knowledge of Divine Truths. N.B. The Mathematicks are so call'd, because they cannot be learned without a Teacher: No Man is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Self-Teacher in Divine Literature. It were to be wished that illiterate Mechanicks, and ignorant Women would say with this great Officer [How can I un∣derstand the Scripture, except some Interpreters help me?] Acts 8.31. The Priests of the Lord should preserve knowledge on their Lips, and the People should seek the Law at their Mouths, Mal. 2.17. Deut. 33.10. and Jer. 3.15. N.B. He that in heavenly things dare become a Scholar only to himself, hath no better than a Fool to his Master. None can know the things of God, by the reach of their own carnal Reason, &c. but only by the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2.10, 11, 14. Thus God's Spirit, who had directed Philip hither, did also in lighten the Eunuch's understanding in the Divine Mysteries of Man's Salvation; and this Questionist becoming a Christian, desires the Seal of Christianity in Baptism, which upon, the Profession of his Faith was done according to God's appointment, verse 36, 37, 38. by Dipping in those hot Countreys, but now God will have mercy, &c. in our cold Countreys; for Sprinkling is as significative and effectual, answering the Type, Exod. 12.3. and Heb. 10.22.

(5thly.) And lastly; The Event of all, to wit, the departure of both each from other. N.B. (1st.) Philip was suddenly taken up out of the Eunuch's sight, and was miraculously caught and carried away out of this great Man's company by the Spirit of God in the Ministry of an Angel, as the Apocryphal Daniel affirms of Habakkuk; and this Rapture and Transportation was in a rapid and swift motion. The like we read of, 1 Kings 18. v. 12. and 2 Kings 2.16. and Ezek. 3.12, 14. 'Tis said [The Eunuch saw Philip no more] Acts 8.39. for he was not let or set down out of the Angel's Arms (who had charge over him, to keep him in his way] verse 40. till he came to Azotus (so call'd by the Septuagint) which in the Hebrew Old Testament Reading is Ashdod, one of the five Principal Cities of the five Lords of the Philistines, Josh. 15.47. 1 Sam. 5.3. and 6. v. 16, 17, 18. N.B. Now the distance from Gaza to Azotus (as Diodorus Siculus mea∣sures it) is 270 Furlongs, or 34 Miles; so far did Philip flie safely upon the wings of an Angel, imployed by the Spirit of God.

The Remarks hereupon are these; (1.) This miraculous Rapture of Philip from the Eunuch's presence and prospect, was for this purpose, that the Eunuch might be the more assured of the Truth of those things which were taught him by Philip's Ministry, and that he was a person sent of God to save this Ethiopian's Soul.

The second Remark is; God will do better to his People at the latter end, than at the be∣ginning, according to his promise, Ezek. 36.11. Philip here had an hard and toilsom Journey from Samaria to Gaza, footing it through a Desart in untrodden paths: But now from Gaza to Azotus he hath an easier passage, an holy Angel becomes his Chariot, and he who ran to the Eunuch's Chariot, [making haste, and not delaying to obey God's Com∣mand, Psal. 119.60.] as he Rode a while in that earthly woodden Chariot (when the Eunuch had handed him into his, Acts 8.30, 31.) So now he Rides in an Heavenly and Angelical flying Chariot, wherein he not only Rode, but did Flie to Ashdod.

The third Remark is; Wheresoever Christ comes, he casts out Satan, that strong Man, out of his strongest holds, as he is the stronger Man, Luke 11.21, 22. This Ashdod was a place famous (or rather infamous) for Dagon, and his Diabolical Worship, 1 Sam. 5.3. where the True God Awakes in his Power, by beating Dagon upon his own Dung-hill,

and paying the Posteriors of his Worshippers with Emerods. And it was a principal place of the Philistines, those Irreconcileable Enemies of the Church of God: But now Philip must go thither with the Gospel, that in this dark place he might bring Life and Im∣mortality to light, 2 Tim. 1.10.

N.B. (2dly.) The Eunuch went on his way rejoycing, which Joy was the fruit of his Faith, Rom. 5.1. admiring at the great Gift conferred upon him in the Knowledge of Christ, and in the Salvation of his Soul, which was now sealed to him with the Seal of the Cove∣nant of Grace; he values not what the wild Courtiers at home would say of him, or cen∣sure him for having Christ's Mark set upon him, but takes Ship at Gaza, and becomes the first, we find, that carried Christianity into Africa.