And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. (12) And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. (13) Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. (14) Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, (15) And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: (16) Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. (17) Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (18) And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Reader! do not fail to observe, the awful darkness in which those men must have been covered, who, while looking with astonishment at the Apostles, in the contemplation of the miracle which they had wrought; had sense enough to know, that such an act could not be performed by man: yet were totally ignorant of the nature, and being of God. And, let me ask, is it not equally so with respect to a real knowledge of God, notwithstanding the light of the Gospel, in the present day, when such gross misconceptions take place, concerning the real character of Jehovah, in his threefold distinction of Person? How few are there, who though they profess this truth, that live in the heartfelt knowledge and enjoyment of it. The creed of multitudes, concerning this glorious, and fundamental article of our holy faith, is found only in their prayer-books. They know the Person of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, only by name. They constantly have heard of these truths. They have been taught to rehearse them. (Read that Scripture, Isaiah 29:13.) And they repeat in words, what they are taught to believe in form; but know not the power of godliness. And here they rest. But, in respect to the relation of the Persons of the Godhead to each other, and of their love and grace to the Church: who of this description could give a reason, if they were asked, of the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear? 1 Peter 3:15
Reader! do not dismiss the consideration of this subject, (for it is a solemn one), before that you have given it a more special regard; as it concerns yourself, in making it personal. Depend upon it, that it is not the simple acknowledgement of God, as God, which constitutes a real faith in him. Neither is it all that is needful to be called true faith, which subscribes to the doctrine, that there are three which hear record in heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are One, 1 John 5:7. For, although it be in fact, no acknowledgment of the true God, which doth not acknowledge him in the true scriptural revelation of Him, as existing in a threefold character of Person; yet men may acknowledge Jehovah in this sense by mouth, while having no saving apprehension of him as such, in the heart. It is with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and then from the heart, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Romans 10:10. Other belief is in fact no saving belief. For we are told, that there is a sense, in which devils believe and tremble, James 2:19. The true faith of the Gospel, on this, and every other momentous article of faith, is taught of God. And this becomes a life-giving, a soul-quickening, and refreshing faith, bringing the believer into a personal acquaintance with each glorious Person of the Godhead, as they have been pleased to reveal themselves to the Church in Christ, in their Covenant offices, and characters: when you and I know, and have tasted, the love of God the Father, the grace of God the Son, and the communion of God the Holy Ghost, 2 Corinthians 13:14. And it was, as the Lord Jesus himself saith, for the communication of this knowledge, that as God-Man Mediator, he had power given him over all flesh; that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father had given him. And, Christ defined this eternal life, to consist in this knowledge; to know Him the only true God, (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), and Jesus Christ God-Man Mediator, whom Jehovah hath sent, John 17:2-3. Reader! what hath the Lord taught you, of these precious things? The belief, the mere profession of belief, in an unknown God, is no belief at all. They that know thy name, (is the language of scripture), will put their trust in thee, Psalms 9:10
I hardly think it necessary to pause and remark, what is so very plain, the stupidity of those people at Lystra, in their proposed sacrifices. We may indeed make an improvement under grace from it, in observing on the one hand, to what a desperate state of ruin our whole nature is reduced, by the fall; and on the other, what grace the Lord Jesus hath manifested to his Church, in her recovery. What line shall fathom the vast depths of misery, in the one; and what stretch of thought, calculate the infinite dimensions of mercy, in both depths, heights, breadths, and lengths, in the other? Ephesians 3:17-19
But I pass over for the present, the consideration of these things, in order to call the Reader's attention to that part of the Apostle's sermon, before these men of Lystra, wherein he speaks of the Lord's suffering, in times past, all nations to walk in their own ways. Which is a similar expression to what he said some time after, in his discourse before the men at Athens. The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent, Acts 17:30
It cannot be supposed that in either case, Paul meant, that the God of the whole earth was indifferent to the conduct of his creatures. Much less, that the infinite Creator, whose eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good; can possibly be an inattentive observer, to any of the works of his Almighty bands. But, the sense seems to be this. The Apostle is drawing a line of distinction, between the Church and the world. And he intended to shew them, from what he said of himself and his companion, that as they were men of like passions with themselves; the Church of God, no more than the world, had in themselves any difference of nature. It is as if Paul had said; though to the coming of Christ, the Lord suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, all the purposes of revelation being wholly with an eye to his Church; yet even then, from the fall of man, the Lord had been gathering out his children, wheresoever they were scattered, from the Adam-nature of corruption. But now, by the Son of God having finished redemption-work, and being returned to glory; the Holy Ghost is come down, to send abroad the remedy of God's own providing for sin; and commanding all men everywhere to repent. This appears to be the mean drift of the Apostle's words. God's people consisting both of Jew and Gentile, are scattered over the face of the earth. And, therefore, still with an eye to the Church, so scattered, the Lord is sending his message to them. And the consequence will be, that all in every nation, whom the Father hath given to his Son, shall come to him; for he that calls them to repent, will give them grace to repent; for they shall come that are ready to perish, John 6:37
And, in the further confirmation of these truths, the Apostle adds: Nevertheless, the Lord left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Meaning, no doubt, that notwithstanding in spiritual things, the Lord had all along respect only to his Church; yet he left not himself without witness to the whole earth in temporal things. The Covenant which he made after the flood with all flesh, had stood firm, and would stand firm, never to be broken. The Lord had said, and several thousand years had now run out since the Lord said it, to confirm the purpose of his unchangeable decree. While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, should not cease, Genesis 8:22
I beg the Reader to remark this. And, while he doth remark it, in testimony to the faithfulness of a Covenant God with all flesh, and to which every day's experience gives a further testimony; let him not forget, that while the Lord continueth his fruitful seasons, and fills the heart with food and gladness, carnal men have not the true relish which spiritual men enjoy. Here, as in the other instance, there is still a line of distinction drawn. It is not the mere possession of the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, nor the precious things put forth by the moon; unless the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush, sweeten, and sanctify all, Deuteronomy 33:14-16. It is the want of this, for which so many aching hearts are in fine houses: and on the contrary, the possession of this, which gladdens the sorrowful situations of many that are very poor. Reader! turn over the subject for yourself, and judge accordingly. See Commentary on Acts 17:22, etc.