ACTS 2.
THe later part of this Text will continue further new matter unto us, while we treat of this Divine Vocation: and to bring you to the coherence of it, You may take notice of two great and strange wonders recorded in the Chapter: The first is, That admirable Apparition of the holy Ghost in fiery cloven Tongues upon the heads of the Apostles: Wherein take notice of the time when this was, In the day of Pentecost; on this time the Law was given on Mount Sinai by Moses; and now the Gospel is to be preached to the whole world.
- Consider the Manner of this Apparition, it was with a rushing mighty winde; this did denote the great efficacy and mighty power of the Spirit in the Word preached.
The second way was of Tongues, to shew the gifts that God would bestow upon the Apostles, and fiery Tongues to signifie the light, and the heat, and the purifying vertue that would be in the Word preached, and cloven Tongues, because they would divide the Word aright to every hearer. Thus as once diversity of Tongues was a judgement, and by it Babel was built; so here, divers Tongues are a mercy, and by it the spiritual Jerusalem is built.
In the next place you have the Efficacy of this Apparition demonstrated in the Apostle Peters Sermon. And
First, He confirmeth this wonderful work of God by a Prophecie out of Joel, wherein God promised To pour out his Spirit (that denoteth abundance) on their sons and daughters, their men-servants and maid-servants, the meanest and most contemptible, contrary to that wicked saying of the Rabbins, Spiritus Sanctus non cadit super animum pauperis; And after the Apostle Peter had doctrinally instructed them about Christ, and practically convinced them of their particular sinne in crucifying of him (for Singularia sunt quae pungunt) you have the wonderful and savoury effect upon the hearers, described in two things:
-
Their remorse and trouble of conscience for sinne, They were pricked in heart, as a man that is stabbed at the heart with a dagger: This ought to be the fruit of all our Sermons, to send you away grieved and troubled, wounded at the very heart. The tears of the hearers are the praises of the Preacher.
-
Their desire and enquiry, What shall we do that we may be saved, then is our Ministery blessed, when it puts you upon these serious Questions. When you go home, What shall I do to be saved? I am out of the way, my sinne is discovered, this Sermon hath told me of all the evil that ever I did: Oh what shall I do to be saved! Now that which is the second wonder in this Chapter is, The Number of those Persons that were converted at this time: its said, ver. 41. That they were about three thousand. Here is one to be admired more then the Heathen Orpheus, that could make beasts follow him, and tame their natures; for ignorant and prophane enemies, even a great multitude imbrace Christ. Here is Peter catching of men, as once he did fish, and the net is so full, that it is ready to break.
In the next place, You have Peters Advice and Councel, directing them into the way of Salvation; wherein consider a two-fold duty; 1. Repent. 2. Be baptized, with the Object, Into the name of Christ; This doth not exclude the other persons.
- You have a two-fold encouragement; 1. From the benefit sealed in Baptism, Remission of sins. 2. A gracious Effect God would vouchsife to them, Ye shall receive the holy Ghost. And my Text is brought in as a reason, why they should repent and be baptized, and hope for remission of sins, For the Promise is to you, &c.
Which words are diligently to be opened, because of some late Questions arising about Infant-Baptism, that are started hence. In them you may observe, The mercy spoken of or published, The Promise. 2. The Subject, and that is in a three-fold enumeration, To you, viz. the Jews to whom then he preached. 2. Their Children. 3. To those that are afar off, […]. Some understand it of place afar off from the Countrey of Judea; Some of the time to come, because its […], To the generations that are to come. To be sure its meant of the Gentiles, who in other places are said To be afar off. And therefore you have this explained in the last expression, Even as many as God shall call.
Now first let us consider, What is meant by the Promise. Those that would elude this place so pregnant for baptizing of Infants of believers, because the promise is made to them, say, Its meant of extraordinary gifts, such as those miraculous gifts spoken of. But this is very absurd, because 1 Cor. 14. all that did believe had not those extraordinary gifts, All did not speak with tongues, all had not the gift of healings.