Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/97

Rh set home by the blessed Spirit, will make an awakened soul to tremble. How can those choose but tremble, that are made to see the eternal God provoked against them, the whole creation at war with them, and their own souls upon the brink of ruin! [2.] He was astonished, was filled with amazement, as one brought into a new world, that knew not where he was. Note, The convincing, converting, work of Christ is astonishing to the awakened soul, and fills it with admiration. "What is this that God has done with me, and what will he do?"

(2.) His address to Jesus Christ, when he was in this frame; Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Which may be taken, [1.] As a serious request for Christ's teachings; "Lord, I see I have hitherto been out of the way; thou that hast shewed me my error, set me to rights; thou hast discovered sin to me, discover to me the way to pardon and peace." It is like that, Men and brethren, what must we do? Note, A serious desire to be instructed by Christ in the way of salvation is an evidence of a good work began in the soul. Or, [2.] As a sincere resignation of himself to the conduct and government of the Lord Jesus. This was the first word that grace spake in Paul, and with this began a spiritual life; Lord Jesus, What wilt thou have me to do? Did not he know what he had to do? Had he not his commission in his pocket? And what had he to do but to execute it? No, he had done enough of this work already, and resolves now to change his master, and employ himself better. Now it is not, ''What will the High-Priest and the elders have me to do? What will my own wicked appetites and passions have me to do? But, What wilt thou have me to do?'' The great change in conversion is wrought upon the will, and consists in the resignation ot that to the will of Christ.

(3.) The general direction Christ gave him, in answer to this; Arise, go into the city of Damascus, which thou art now near to, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. It is encouragement enough to have further instruction promised him; but, [1.] He must not have it yet; it shall be told him shortly what he must do, but, for the present, he must pause upon what has been said to him, and improve that. Let him consider a while what he has done in persecuting Christ, and be deeply humbled for that, and then he shall be told what he has further to do. [2.] He must not have it in this way, by a voice from heaven, for it is plain he cannot bear it; he trembles; and is astonished; he shall be told therefore what he must do, by a man like himself, whose terror shall not make him afraid, nor his hand be heavy upon him; which Israel desired at mount Sinai. Or, it is an intimation that Christ would take some other time to manifest himself further to him, when he was more composed, and this fright pretty well over. Christ manifests himself to his people by degrees; and both what he does, and would have them to do, though they know not now, they shall know hereafter.

7. How far his fellow-travellers were affected with this, and what impression it made upon them. They fell to the earth, as he did, but rose without being bidden, which he did not, but lay still till it was said to him, Arise; for he lay under a heavier load than any of them did; but when they were up,

(1.) They stood speechless, as men in confusion, and that was all, v. 7. They were going on the same wicked errand that Paul was, and perhaps, to the best of their power, were as spiteful as he; yet we do not find that any of them were converted, though they saw the light, and were struck down, and struck dumb by it. No external means will, of themselves, work a change in the soul, without the Spirit and grace of God, which distinguishes between some and others: among these that journeyed together, one is taken, and the others left. They stood speechless; none of them said, Who art thou, Lord? or, What wilt thou have me to do? as Paul did: but none of God's children are born dumb.

(2.) They heard a voice, but saw no man; they heard Paul speak, but saw not him to whom he spake, nor heard distinctly what was said to him; which reconciles it with what is said of this matter, (ch. 22. 9.) where it is said, They saw the light and were afraid; which they might do, and yet see no man in the light, as Paul did; and that they heard not the voice of him that spake to Paul, so as to understand what he said, though they did hear a confused noise. Thus they who came hither to be the instruments of Paul's rage against the church, serve for witnesses of the power of God over him.

8. What condition Saul was in after this, v. 8, 9.

(1.) He arose from the earth, when Christ bid him, but, probably, not without help, the vision had made him so fainty and weak, I will not say like Belshazzar, when the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another, but like Daniel, when upon the sight of a vision, no strength remained in him, Dan. 10. 16, 17.

(2.) When his eyes were opened, he found that his sight was gone, and he saw no man, none of the men that were with him, and began now to be busy about him. It was not so much this glaring light, that, by dazzling his eyes, had dimmed them—Nimium sensibile laedit sensum; for then those with him would have lost their sight too; but it was a sight of Christ, whom the rest saw not, that had this effect upon him. Thus a believing sight of the glory of God in the face of Christ, dazzles the eyes to all things here below. Christ, in order to further the discovery of himself and his gospel to Paul, took him off from the sight of other things, which he must look off, that he may look unto Jesus, and to him only.

(3.) They led him by the hand into Damascus; whether to a public house, or to some friend's house, is not certain: but thus he who thought to have led the disciples of Christ prisoners and captives to Jerusalem, was himself led a prisoner and a captive to Christ into Damascus. He was thus taught what need he had of the grace of Christ to lead his soul (being naturally blind and apt to mistake) into all truth.

(4.) He lay without sight, and without food, neither did eat nor drink for three days, v. 9. I do not think, as some do, that now he had his rapture into the third heavens, which he speaks of, 2 Cor. 12. So far from that, that we have reason to think he was all this time rather in the belly of hell, suffering God's terrors for his sins, which were now set in order before him: he was in the dark concerning his own spiritual state, and was so wounded in spirit for sin, that he could relish neither meat nor drink.

10. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold he prayeth, 12. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have