Acts 7

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VII.—If we are called to account for our faith and hope in Christ, let the oracles of God be our sole defence: they all relate to him. In them he is represented as the God of glory; as the angel JEHOVAN, who appeared to the patriarchs; and as the worker of wonders for, and giver of laws to, his people. He was prefigured by Moses and Joshua, David and Solomon, their distinguished rulers, and by the tabernacle and temple; and is now exalted to the right hand of God as the object of all religious adoration.—Infinitely faithful is God to his covenant promises: all are fulfilled in their season. But very mixed and mysterious is the conduct of his providence. Great perplexity and distress often usher in the most remarkable deliverances. And God’s favourites are in general tried before they are honoured. It is a distinguishing mercy to be, even in our ancestors, early taken into his covenant, and to be always under his special direction, government, and care. And thrice happy are they who not only have his ordinances established among them, but are themselves made his meet habitation, through the Spirit!—But, notwithstanding all his awful or delightful providences towards his church, many hypocritical professors are more fond of rites and ceremonies, or of their own idolatrous inventions, than of either his law or his gospel. Obstinately they revolt from him, resist his Spirit, persecute his servants, and reject him and his salvation, to their own everlasting perdition.—Kindly and honourably Jesus stands by his faithful confessors; fills them with the Holy Ghost, and grants them clear and seasonable manifestations of his glory. If enemies cast them out and murder them, he stands ready to embrace, support, comfort, and carry them to heaven. With the greatest confidence of faith may they therefore commit their departing souls to him; and, imploring forgiveness to their murderers, with glory and triumph fall asleep in his arms. 3