Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good… I. HIS GREAT WORK AND BUSINESS IN THE WORLD WAS TO DO GOOD. What He did, and we in imitation of Him ought to do, I shall reduce to two heads. 1. Doing good to the souls of men, and endeavouring to promote their spiritual and eternal happiness. (1) By good instruction. And under instruction I comprehend all the means of bringing men to the knowledge of their duty, and exciting them to the practice of it; by instructing their ignorance, and removing their prejudices, and rectifying their mistakes, by persuasion and by reproof; and by making lasting provision for the promoting of these ends. (2) By good example. And this our blessed Saviour was in the utmost perfection. And this we should endeavour to be. For good example hath a secret influence upon those with whom we converse, to form them into the same disposition and manners. It is a living rule that teacheth men without trouble, and lets them see their faults without open reproof. Besides that, it adds great weight to a man's persuasion, when we see that he advises nothing but what he does, nor exacts anything from which he himself desires to be excused. As, on the contrary, nothing is more insignificant than good counsel from one that does not follow the advice which he is so forward to give to others. 2. Procuring their temporal good, and contributing to their happiness in this present life. And this was a great part of Christ's business in this world. And though we cannot be beneficial to men in the miraculous manner that He was, yet we may be so in the use of ordinary means; we may comfort the afflicted, and vindicate the oppressed, and do a great many acts of charity which our Saviour, by reason of His poverty, could not do without a miracle; we may take a poor child and bring him up in the knowledge and fear of God, and put him into a way wherein, by his industry, he may make a fortune, and be able to relieve hundreds of others. Men glory in raising magnificent structures, and find a secret pleasure to see sets of their own planting to grow up and flourish; but surely it is a greater and more glorious work to build up a man, to see a youth of our own planting take root in the world, and to shoot up and spread his branches so that we, who first planted him, may ourselves find comfort under his shadow. And those who are in the lowest condition may do great good to others by their prayers. For "the fervent prayer of righteous man availeth much." II. HIS DILIGENCE IN THIS WORK. This will fully appear if we consider — 1. How unwearied He was. He was not only ready to do good to those that gave Him opportunity, and besought Him to do it, but went Himself to seek out objects. 2. How self-denying He was. He neglected the ordinary refreshments of nature, that He might attend this work. He was at everybody's beck and disposal. Nay, He was willing to deny Himself in one of the dearest things in the world — His reputation and good name. 3. Consider the malicious opposition and sinister construction that His good deeds met with. For His casting out of devils, He was called a magician; for His endeavour to reclaim men from their vices, "a friend of publicans and sinners"; for His free and obliging conversation, "a wine bibber and a glutton." 4. How cheerfully, notwithstanding all this, He persevered! It was not only His business, but His delight; "I delight (says He) to do Thy will, O My God."Conclusion: The subject will be of excellent use. 1. To show us our defects. How does this blessed example upbraid those who, instead of "going about doing good," are perpetually intent upon doing mischief? And those likewise who, though they are far from being so bad, yet wholly neglect this blessed work of doing good? And this too under a pretence of being employed about other duties, They are so taken up with prayer, and reading and hearing sermons, and sacraments, that they have scarce any leisure to mind the doing of charitable offices. Others spend all their zeal about some controversies in religion; and therefore think it but reasonable that they should be excused from those meaner kind of duties, as those who serve the king in his wars used to be exempted from taxes. But "pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." 2. To persuade us to the imitation of this blessed example. Let us "go and do likewise." The work itself is such that men should not need to be courted nor urged to it. But dwell upon these considerations. (1) It shows an inclination and desire to have others happy as well as ourselves. Those who are of a mean and sordid disposition love to contract themselves within themselves, and like the hedgehog, to shoot out their quills at everyone who comes near them. But the noblest and most heavenly dispositions think themselves happiest when others share with them in their happiness. (2) It is the most pleasant employment in the world. This Cato boasts of, as the great comfort of his old age — "that nothing was more pleasant than the conscience of a well-spent life, and the remembrance of many kindnesses done to others." Sensual pleasures are not lasting, and leave a sting behind them. But the pleasure of doing good remains, and the reflection upon it afterwards does forever minister joy. (3) It is to imitate the highest excellency and perfection; it is to be like God, who is good and doth good, and to be like Him in that which He esteems His greatest glory, and that is, His goodness. (4) It is one of the greatest and most substantial duties of religion; and, next to the love and honour which we pay to God Himself, the most acceptable service that we can perform to Him. It is one half of the law, and next to the first and great command, and very like unto it: in the excellency of its nature, and in the necessity of its obligation. (5) It will give us the greatest comfort when we come to die. (6) It is attended with the greatest consideration I shall offer to you — which is reward both in this world and the other. (Abp. Tillotson.) Parallel Verses KJV: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. |
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