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fake." Obferve what a clofe connection there is between doing and fuffering for CHRIST. If any of my brethren in the miniftry are prefent, let them hear what preferment we must expect, if we are called out to work remarkably for GOD: not great prebendaries or bishopricks, but great fufferings for our LORD's name fake; these are the fruits of our labour: and he that will not contentedly fuffer great things for preaching CHRIST, is not worthy of him. Suffering will be found to be the best preferment, when we are called to give an account of our miniftry at the great day.

I do not hear, that Ananias quarrelled with GoD concerning the doctrine of election; no, (O that all good men would, in this, learn of him!) "He went his way, and entered into the house; and put his hands on him, and said, Brother Saul," just now, it was this man; now it is brother Saul: it is no matter what a man has been, if he be now a' chriftian; the fame fhould be our brother, our fifter and mother; GOD blots out every convert's tranfgreffions as with a thick cloud, and fo fhould we; the more vile a man has been, the more fhould we love him when believing in CHRIST, becaufe CHRIST will be more glorified on his behalf. I doubt not, but Ananias was wonderfully delighted to hear that fo remarkable a perfecutor was brought home to GOD: I am perfuaded he felt his foul immediately united to him by love, and therefore addresses him not with, thou perfecutor, thou murderer, that camest to butcher me and my friends; but, "brother Saul." It is remarkable that the primitive chriftians much used the word. brother and brethren; I know it is a term now much in reproach; but thofe who defpife it, I believe, would be glad to be of our brotherhood, when they fee us fitting at the righthand of the Majefty on high. "Brother Saul, the LORD (even JESUS that appeared unto thee in the way as thou cameft) hath fent me, that thou mightest receive thy fight, and be filled with the Holy Ghoft." At this time, we may fuppofe, he laid his hands upon him. See the confequences.

Ver. 18. Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and he received fight forthwith;" not only bodily, but fpiritual fight; he emerged as it were into a new world; he faw, and felt too, things unutterable: he felt a union of foul with GOD; he received the fpirit of adoption; he could

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now, with a full afurance of faith, cry, "Abba, Father." Now he filled with the Holy Ghoft; and had the love of GOD fhed abroad in his heart; now were the days of his mourning ended; now was CHRIST formed in his foul; now he could give men and devils the challenge, knowing that 903 CHRIST had juftified him; now he faw the excellencies of ^^^ CHRIST, and efteemed him the fairest among ten thousand. You only know how to fympathize with the apoftle in his joy, who, after a long night of bondage, have been fet free by the Spirit, and have received joy in the Holy Ghost. May by the all that are now mourning, as Saul was, be comforted in like manner!

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The fcales are now removed from the eyes of Saul's mind; Ananias has done that for him, under GOD: he must now do another office, baptize him, and fo receive him into the vifible church of CHRIST; a good proof to me of the neceffity of baptifm where it may be had: for I find here, as well as elfewhere, that baptifm is adminiftered even to thofe who had received the Holy Ghoft; Saul was convinced of this, and therefore arofe and was baptized; and now it is time for him to bolrecruit the outward man, which, by three days abftinence and

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piritual conflicts, had been much impaired we are "therefore told, (ver. 19.) "when he had received meat, he was ftrengthened."

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But O, with what comfort did the apoftle now eat his food! I am fure it was with fingleness, I am perfuaded alfo with gladnefs of heart; and why? he knew that he was reconciled to GOD; and, for my own part, did I not know how blind and flinty our hearts are by nature, I fhould wonder how any one could eat even his common food with any fatisfaction, who has not fome well-grounded hope of his being reconciled to GOD. Our LORD intimates thus much to us: for in his Toad to 901. glorious prayer, after he has taught us to pray for our daily bread, immediately adds that petition, Forgive us our tref Pafles; as though our daily bread would do us no fervice, lefs we were fenfible of having the forgivenefs of our fins. To proceed: Saul hath received meat, and is ftrengthened; and whither will he go now? to fee the brethren; "then was Saul certain days with the difciples that were at Damafcus." If we know and love CHRIST, we shall alfo love and defire to

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be acquainted with the brethren of CHRIST: we may generally know a man by his company. And though all are not faints that affociate with faints, (for tares will be always fpringing up amongst the wheat till the time of harveft) yet, if we never keep company, but are thy and afhamed of the despised children of GoD, it is a certain fign we have, have not yet experimentally learned JESUS, or received him into our hearts. My dear friends, be not deceived; if we are friends to the Bridegroom, we fhall be friends to the children of the Bridegroom. Saul, as foon as he was filled with the Holy Ghoft, was certain days with the difciples that were at Damafcus." But who can tell what joy thefe difciples felt when Saul came amongst them! I fuppofe holy Ananias introd introduced him. Ou I Methinks I fee the once perfecuting zealot, when they came toto falute him with a holy kifs, each of vol 36 940 THU 16 7pon their necks, weeping over them with floods of tears, and saying, my brother, O my fifter, Can you forgive me -918 "Can you give fuch a wretch as I the right-hand of fellow1 min hip, who intended to drag you behind me bound unto febusrufalem!" Thus, I fay, we may fuppofe Saul addreffed

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himself to his fellow-difciples; and I doubt not but they were was ready to forgive and forget as Ananias was, and faluted him with the endearing title of "brother Saul." Lovely was this ! bool in meeting fo lovely, that it feemed Saul continued cerri: tain to communicate experiences, and to days with a learn the way of GOD more perfectly; to pray for a bleffing on his future miniftry, and to praife CHRIST JESUS for what he had done for their fouls." Saul, perhaps, had fat certain years at the feet of Gamaliel, but undoubtedly learned more thefe certain days, than he had learned before in all his life. It pleafes me to think how this great scholar is transformed by wing of his mind: What a mighty change was here! the renewing of his That fo great a man as Saul was, both as to his ftation in life, and internal qualifications, and fuch a bitter enemy to the (it chriftians; for him, I fay, to go and be certain days with the people of this mad way, and to fit quietly, and be taught of iliterate men, as many of thefe difciples we may be fure were ; what a fubftantial

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What a hurry and confufion may we fuppofe the chief priests were now in! I warrant they were ready to cry out, What is he alfo deceived? As for the common people, who knew not the law, and are accurfed, for them to be carried away, is no fuch wonder; but for a man bred up at the feet of Gamaliel, for fuch a scholar, fuch an enemy to the caufe as Saul; for him to be led away with a company of filly, deceived men and women, furely it is impoffible: we cannot believe it. But Saul foon convinces them of the reality of his becoming a fool for CHRIST's fake: for ftraightway, inftead of going to deliver the letters from the high priests, as they expected, in order to bring the difciples that were at Damafcus bound to Jerufalem," he preached CHRIST in the fynagogues, that he is the Son of God." This was another proof of his being converted. He not only conversed with christians in private, but he preached CHRIST publicly in the fynagogues: efpecially, he infifted on the divinity of our LORD, proving, notwithstanding his ftate of humiliation, that he was really the Son of GOD.

But why did Saul preach CHRIST thus? Because he had felt the power of CHRIST upon his own foul. And here is the reason why CHRIST is fo feldom preached, and his divinity fo flightly infifted on in our fynagogues: because the generality of thofe that pretend to preach him, never felt a faving work of converfion upon their own fouls. How can they preach, unless they are firft taught of, and then fent by GOD? Saul did not preach CHRIST before he knew him; no more fhould any one elfe. An unconverted minifter, though he - could fpeak with the tongues of men and angels, will be but as a founding brass and tinkling cymbal to those whose senses are exercised to difcern fpiritual things. Minifters that are unconverted, may talk and declaim of CHRIST, and prove from books that he is the Son of GOD; but they cannot preach with the demonftration of the Spirit and with power, unless they preach from experience, and have had a proof of his divinity, by a work of grace wrought upon their own fouls. GOD forgive thofe, who lay hands on an unconverted man, knowing that he is fuch I would not do it for a thoufand worlds.. LORD JESUS, keep thy own faithful fervants pure, and let them not be partakers of other mens fins!

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Such an instance as was Saul's converfion, we may be af fured, muft make a great deal of noife; and, therefore, no wonder we are told, ver. 21. "But all that heard him were amazed, and faid, Is not this he that destroyed them who called on this name in Jerufalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests."

Thus it will be with all that appear publicly for JESUS CHRIST; and it is as impoffible for a true chriftian to be hid, as a city built upon a hill. Brethren, if you are faithful to, you must be reproached and have remarks made on you for CHRIST; efpecially if you have been remarkably wicked before your converfion. Your friends will fay, is not this he, or fhe, who a little while ago would run to as great an excefs of riot and vanity as the worst of us all? What has turned" your brain? Or if you have been clofe, falfe, formal hypo crites, as Saul was, they will wonder that you fhould be fo deceived, as to think you were not in a safe state before. No doubt, numbers were furprized to hear Saul, who was touching the law blameless, affirm that he was in a damnable condition (as in all probability he did) a few days before.

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Brethren, you must expect to meet with many fuch difficulties as these. The fcourge of the tongue, is generally the first crofs we are called to bear for the fake of CHRIST. Let not, therefore, this move you: It did not intimidate, no, it rather encouraged Saul: fays the text, "But Saul increased the more in ftrength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Da! mafcus, proving that this is very CHRIST." Oppofition never? yet did, nor ever will hurt a fincere convert: Nothing like oppofition to make the man of GOD perfect. None but a hireling, who careth not for the sheep, will be affrighted at the approach or barking of wolves. CHRIST's minifters are as bold as lions: it is not for such men as they to flee.

And therefore (that I may draw towards a conclufion) let the ministers and difciples of CHRIST learn from Saul, not to fear men or their revilings; but, like him, increase in ftrength, the more wicked men endeavour to weaken their bands. We cannot be chriftians without being opposed: no; difciples in general muft fuffer; minifters in particular muft fuffer great things. But let not this move any of us from our ftedfaftnefs

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