Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/170

164 we must improve the day of small things, but must not rest in it.

2. What the work was, that was wrought upon her whose heart the Lord opened. Observe here,

(1.) The Author of this work; it was the Lord, the Lord Christ, to whom this judgment is committed; the Spirit of the Lord, who is the Sanctifier. Note, Conversion-work is God's work; it is he that works in us both to will and to do; not as if we had nothing to do; but of ourselves, without God's grace, we can do nothing; nor as if God were in the least chargeable with the ruin of them that perish; but the salvation of them that are saved must be wholly ascribed to him.

(2.) The seat of this work; it is in the heart that the change is made, it is to the heart that this blessed turn is given; it was the heart of Lydia that was wrought upon; conversion-work is heart-work; it is a renewing of the heart, the inward man, the spirit of the mind.

(3.) The nature of the work; she had not only her heart touched, but her heart opened. An unconverted soul is shut up, and fortified against Christ, straitly shut up, as Jericho against Joshua, Josh. 6. 1. Christ, in dealing with the soul, knocks at the door that is shut against him; (Rev. 3. 20.) and when a sinner is effectually persuaded to embrace Christ, then the heart is opened for the King of glory to come in; the understanding is opened to receive the divine light, the will opened to receive the divine law, and the affections opened to receive the divine love. When the heart is thus opened to Christ, the ear is opened to his word, the lips opened in prayer, the hand opened in charity, and the steps enlarged in all manner of gospel-obedience.

3. What were the effects of this work on her heart.

(1.) She took great notice of the word of God; her heart was so opened, that she attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul; she not only gave attendance on Paul's preaching, but gave attention to it; she applied to herself (so some read it) the things that were spoken of Paul; and then only the word does us good, and makes an abiding impression upon us, when we apply it to ourselves. Now this was an evidence of the opening of her heart, and was the fruit of it; wherever the heart is opened by the grace of God, it will appear by a diligent attendance on, and attention to, the word of God, both for Christ's sake, whose word it is, and for our own sakes, who are so nearly interested in it.

(2.) She gave up her name to Jesus Christ, and took upon her the profession of his holy religion; she was baptized, and by that solemn rite was admitted a member of the Church of Christ; and with her her household also was baptized, those of them that were infants, in her right, for if the root be holy, so are the branches, and those that were grown up, by her influence and authority. She and her household were baptized, by the same rule that Abraham and his household were circumcised, because the seal of the covenant belongs to the covenanters and their seed.

(3.) She was very kind to the ministers, and very desirous to be further instructed by them in the things pertaining to the kingdom of God; She besought us, saying, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, if ye take me to be a sincere christian, manifest your confidence in me by this, come into my house, and abide there." Thus she desired an opportunity, [1.] To testify her gratitude to them, who had been the instruments of divine grace in this blessed change that was wrought upon her. When her heart was open to Christ, her house was open to his ministers for his sake, and they were welcome to the best entertainment she had, which she did not think too good for those of whose spiritual things she had reaped so plentifully. Nay, they are not only welcome to her, but she is extremely pressing and importunate with them; she constrained us; which intimates that Paul was very backward and unwilling to go, because he was afraid of being burthensome to the families of the young converts, and would study to make the gospel of Christ without charge, (1 Cor. 9. 18. Acts 20. 34.) that those that were without might have no occasion given them to reproach the preachers of the gospel as designing, self-seeking men, and that those that were within might have no occasion to complain of the expenses of their religion: but Lydia would have no nay, she will not believe that they take her to be a sincere christian, unless they will oblige her herein; like Abraham inviting the angels, (Gen. 18. 3.) If now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away from thy servant. [2.] She desired an opportunity of receiving further instruction. If she might but have them for a while in her family, she might hear them daily, (Prov. 8. 34.) and not only on sabbath-days at the meeting; in her own house she might not only hear them, but ask them questions; and she might have them to pray with her daily, and to bless her household. Those that know something of Christ, cannot but desire to know more, and seek opportunities of increasing their acquaintance with his gospel.

16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market-place unto the rulers, 20. And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: 24. Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Paul and his companions, though they were for some time buried in obscurity at Philippi, yet now begin to be taken notice of.

I. A damsel that had a spirit of divination, made them to be taken notice of, by proclaiming them to be the servants of God. Observe,

1. The account that is given of this damsel; she was pythonissa, possessed with such a spirit of divination as that damsel was, by whom the oracles of Apollo at Delphos were delivered; she was acted