Acts 23

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIII.—Happy are they who can appeal to God, that, by his grace, they have lived soberly, righteously, and godly, before him. And it is base in judges to abuse any honest man for avowing his own integrity. He, who knows their heart and way, will vindicate his faithful servants, to the confusion of their enemies, however great; and proud persecutors will quickly feel themselves unable to stand before the storm of his judgments.—In ordinary cases, we must not speak evil of our rulers, whom we know and own as such.—But we may join the wisdom of the serpent with the simplicity of the dove. We may divide the counsels of our enemies, though we may not revile their persons; and, by maintaining some particular article of truth, set one part of them against another. If one party be enraged, the other will probably favour us.—If we be upright followers of that which is good, God can make the secular powers to protect us, and can overrule our dangerous circumstances to gain their favour. And, if Jesus assure us of his presence and support, and of our future usefulness, it should entirely remove all our disquieting fears, let our enemies do what they will.—Abandoned are those miscreants, and especially those judges, who, contrary to the law of nature or nations, combine to murder such as they cannot convict of any crime. No pretence of religion can sanctify, but greatly aggravates, such horrible villany. To bind ourselves under a curse to work iniquity, is but to ensnare our souls into fearful damnation.—But watchfully God marks the most secret plots of his people’s enemies. Easily he discovers and disappoints them in favour of his faithful servants. And he will avenge wickedness on the wicked, and will even turn their intended mischiefs to the good of his servants, and for promoting their further usefulness in the world