Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/835

 offered the  same  chances  of  salvation  as  the  “children  of  Abraham”. They wanted  to  have  a special  redemption  for  themselves,  and  refused to have  anything  to  do  with  a Redeemer  who  offered  salvation  to  all alike. Many of  the  so-called  enlightened  men  of  our  own  time  have rejected the  saving  faith  preached  by  the  Church,  for  the  very  same cause, namely,  jealous  pride,  and  have  thereby  made  themselves  unworthy of  everlasting  life.

4. Speaking  against  faith.  The  sorcerer  sinned  in  this  way  by seeking,  for  his  own  interests,  to  set  the  pro-consul  against  the  Christian faith. The Jews  of  Antioch  in  Pisidia  committed  the  same  sin  when they contradicted  the  doctrine  of  St.  Paul,  and  even  uttered  blasphemies against it.

Sacrifice can  he  offered  to  God  alone. The  two  apostles  were,  therefore, justly  indignant  when  the  Lystrians  wished  to  offer  sacrifice  to them. Filled with  righteous  anger  they  rushed  into  the  midst  of  the idolaters, to  stay  them  in  their  sin.

To convert  the  sinner, and  prevent  him  from  sinning,  is  one  of  the spiritual works  of  mercy. It is  an  act  of  love  of  God,  because  an offence  against  Him  is  prevented; and  it  is  an  act  of  love  of  our  neighbour, because  his  soul  is  thereby  saved  from  injury. Herod Agrippa complacently accepted  his  deification  by  his  flatterers,  whereas  Paul and Barnabas  were  indignant  at  the  attempt  to  pay  them  divine  honour, and cried  out:  “We  are  mortals,  men  like  unto  you!”

Among the  many  great  virtues  of  St.  Paul,  the  following  shine forth conspicuously  in  this  chapter:

1. He  was  full  of  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  which  made  him  oppose the Jewish  sorcerer,  and  forbid  the  idolatry  of  the  Lystrians.

2. Being  armed  with  patience  and  fortitude, he  did  not  shrink  from the fatigue  of  his  long  journeys,  nor  did  he  fear  the  hatred  of  the Jews, or  let  even  the  fear  of  death  restrain  him  from  preaching  faith in Jesus  Christ.

3. His  humility  made  him  seek  God’s  glory  in  all  things,  and declare, after  his  return  to  Antioch,  that  it  was  God  who  had  done such great  things  through  him  and  Barnabas;  thus  giving  God  the  glory, and taking  none  to  himself.

Do you  seek  God’s  glory  in  all  things? Do you perform  the  duties  of  your  state  of  life  faithfully,  or  neglect them from  a slothful  dread  of  exertion? Be careful  to  direct  your intention to  God  every  morning!