February 14

FEBRUARY 14.—“Felix trembled.”—Acts 24:25.

“FELIX trembled”—not Paul. Yet Felix was the judge, and Paul the prisoner. But the prisoner was not guilty. Though he suffered as an evil-doer even unto bonds, he had a conscience void of offence; and knew that he was suffering in the best of all causes, and for the most excellent of all masters. Therefore none of these things moved him. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. The audience might have intimidated him. It was a trying thing to speak before persons of such reputation, and rank, and influence, as Tertullian the orator, Felix the Roman governor, Drusilla his wife, and other individuals of quality, whom the occasion had drawn together. Yet he trembled not; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. Creatures are all reduced to their proper level, when by faith we realize the presence and the eye of God. The fear of man would have brought a snare. It would have subdued or restrained his fidelity. And as Ahab’s four hundred chaplains, when called in before the king, addressed themselves to his vanity, and only flattered him, so Paul would have endeavoured to ingratiate himself with those who had power over him; or at least, have studiously avoided whatever would tend to make them feel unpleasantly. But what was the nature and manner of his address? He was acquainted with the characters of those before him. He knew Felix was cruel and oppressive. He knew that he was addicted to bribery and corruption in his office. He knew that he was living in adultery: for this Drusilla now united to him, had been seduced by him from her own husband Azigus. And what does he? He not only gives his views of the faith in Christ doctrinally, but he applies them practically. He reasons of righteousness; and shows that there is such a thing as justice between man and man. He reasons of temperance; and shows the evils of unbridled appetites and passions. He reasons of judgment to come; and shows the awfulness of that day when the great as well as the small will stand before an impartial tribunal, and whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Yet he does not tremble. Wherefore? He has truth on his side. He has God on his side. He has nothing to do with consequences; but by manifestation of the truth commends himself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. “Such a man,” said James the Sixth, “always preaches before me as if death stood at his elbow.” It does really stand at the elbow of every minister; and therefore he should be able to use the words of Baxter:

“I preach as if I ne’er should preach again;

“Felix trembled”—not Drusilla. He was a Pagan; she was a Jewess; and had even induced her former husband to submit to the rite of circumcision, as the condition of her marrying him. She therefore seemed more likely to be affected than Felix. How was it she escaped, and left all the emotion to him? Was her insensibility derived from the thought of her Jewish extraction and privileges? We should have deemed this impossible; but we know that the Jews when they were most wicked, emboldened and encouraged themselves by this consideration. You steal, says God by