September 29
The Nature and Effect of Philip's Preaching
The Christian's Daily Treasury"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them, and the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake." Acts 8:6, 6.
As it is with an arch, the more weight and pressure there is upon it, the firmer it cements and unites together; and as it was with the Israelites, the more they were afflicted the more they grew, so it has been with the Church of God in all ages; Christianity was rocked in the tempest, and cradled in the storm. In the context we have an instance of this, in the persecution that arose about Stephen. Let us make two inquiries from the passage before us.
WHAT IS IT TO PREACH CHRIST? It is to exhibit him as — The consummation of Jewish types. The ancient temple with its bleeding victims, smoking incense, and imposing ceremonies, conducted by a succession of the holy priesthood, prefigured the Gospel dispensation, under which was offered one grand atoning sacrifice. The great and all-sufficient Saviour. Under this character God promised him, patriarchs saw him, prophets predicted him, types prefigured him, apostles proclaimed him, and we preach him. The Fountain of life. From this fountain issue the refreshing streams of spiritual blessings, which impart life to the soul, and joy to the heart. The Restorer of peace. This implies that discord once existed: of this, sin was the cause, and Divine anger the effect; but Jesus is our Mediator, who by his blood has ratified peace in heaven, and by his Spirit confers peace on earth. The Author of salvation. Salvation is a joyful sound to the ear, and a rich blessing in the soul: we must ever bear in mind that Christ is the object, the Author, and the consummation of it.
HOW SHOULD SUCH PREACHING BE RECEIVED? We are here told that the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake. Here is a pattern for us. The Gospel should be heard with attention, candor, prayer, self-application, and a desire to reduce its truths to practice. In a spiritual sense we are to make the sanctuary a house of merchandise; we trade for rich pearls, and we are to attend ordinances as the merchant that sails from port to port, not to see places, but to take in his lading.