Archive for June 30th, 2008
God desires to save men:
1) For which cause Paul also willing to confirm the old law, forbids us to “bear the yoke with unbelievers.” Also it behooves us to mark the goodness of God, which suffered the word of the Gospel, whereby life and salvation is offered unto man, to be preached unto those that were polluted with such filthy lust. He is therefore truly that God which desires to have men saved, and wills not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent and live. Hereunto belong many examples of the Gospel, wherein we read that Christ of a certain singular favor and familiarity, offered salvation unto Publicans and Harlots. Radulpe Gualthere, An Hundred, threescore and fifteen Sermons, uppon the Acts of the Apostles, trans., by Iohn Bridges, (London: no publ, 1572), 828.
2) The first thing we have to note, is how Christ commanded Paul now friendly to arise and to stand up on his feet, whom erewhile he had horribly thrown down as his enemy, and persecuted. But this thing happened not, (as we have other-wheres heard) before his heart was pulled down, and that he humbly inquired what the will of God was, and acknowledged him to be his Lord. Which thing yet he would never have done, but that he felt in his mind and affections working of the Spirit of Christ. This truly is a notable example of God’s goodness, which even then evidently declares itself, when he seemed to be angry. For he will not be chiding with us, but forasmuch as he desires to have men saved, he observes this scope and end in his judgements, that he will have men rather instructed to salvation, than destroyed. Neither will he draw forth his whips and scourges, until he see he cannot prevail by his words. Neither yet does he beat us for any other end, than to have us convert unto him, and to trust to be saved: whereof we have both testimonies and examples everywhere in the Scriptures, wherewith we may confirm our wavering faith in all troubles and adversities. Radulpe Gualthere, An Hundred, threescore and fifteen Sermons, uppon the Acts of the Apostles, trans., by Iohn Bridges, (London: no publ, 1572), 858-859.