Page images
PDF
EPUB

SERMON CXVI.

BY REV. GEORGE A. CALHOUN,

NORTH COVENTRY, CONN.

THE CHARACTER, CONDUCT, AND DESTINY OF THE JAILER AND FELIX CONTRASTED.

Acts, xvi. 29-34.-Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas; and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

ACTS, xxiv, 25-27.-And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

THESE passages of Scripture contain each a concise account of the religious character and conduct of an individual. And my object in presenting both before you at the same time is, that we may contrast the character and conduct of the trembling jailer at Philippi, with those of the trembling Felix at Cesarea, and derive instruction from the contrast. In relation to the Jailer and Felix, I observe,

1. They were both sinners. With regard to the jailer we have no information, except that contained in the text and context. That he was a sinner, is evident from the fact that all men are sinners; and that he possessed a character less desirable than that of many other unsanctified persons, is inferred from two circumstances. The first is, he was probably educated a heathen, and would, of course, be addicted to the vices and cruelties so common among those who are not under the restraining influence of the gospel. The second circumstance from which is deduced an inference unfavorable to his character, is his treatment of the apostles when they were committed to his custody. He thrust them into the most uncomfortable part of the prison, fastened their feet in the stocks, and, leaving their wounds undressed, retired to rest. That he might have treated the apostles with less severity, in consistency with his duty as keeper of the prison, is apparent from his subsequent conduct towards them. From our scanty knowledge of the jailer we must conclude,

that at the time he took Paul and Silas in custody, he was not only a wicked, but a cruel man.

Of Felix, before his interview with the apostle, the Bible gives us no account. That he did not sustain a character as exemplary as that of many other heathen, is the universal testimony of historians. He lived in an illegal manner with Drusilla, the lawful companion of another; and in administering the government of provinces, over which he was placed as procurator, he was oppressive and cruel. Felix was a man of more consequence than the jailer; and in proportion to the elevation of the station which he occupied, appears to have been his wickedness. Still there was a resemblance somewhat striking in the moral characters of these individuals. Both were sinners, and sinners of a cast more unpleasant than usual. I observe,

II. They were both brought in an interesting manner within the reach of religious instruction. In violation of law, and with cruel hands, were Paul and Silas committed to prison at Philippi. Their jailer, during the night, was roused from sleep by an earthquake, and seeing the doors of the prison opened, he supposed his life to be forfeited in consequence of the flight of his prisoners. In the phrensy of despair, when about to seal his condemnation for ever by the act of suicide, Paul gave him the pleasant and timely information, that though the doors of the prison were opened, and the bands of the prisoners. were loosed, yet no prisoner had escaped. At this juncture the apostles preached to him the gospel. "They said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." "And they spake unto him the word of the Lord,

and to all that were in his house."

In an illegal and cruel manner was Paul apprehended at Jerusalem, and sent to Felix at Cesarea, who detained him in custody. In making his defence against the false accusations of the Jews, Paul preached to Felix the doctrine of the resurrection. At another time, in the presence of Felix, Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. He doubtless

gave him that instruction which was necessary for his salvation. We know not but the gospel was as fully and as clearly preached to Felix, as to the jailer. Both being Gentiles were taught the truths of Christianity by the great Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul preached to both. And while a prisoner he preached to both.

Thus far there was a coincidence in the providence of God in relation to these men. In the way of each was Paul cast; and cast too without their solicitation. In the first place he was called upon by the providence of God to communicate unto each the truths of our holy religion, without being requested; and afterward, in compliance with their wishes, he preached to them the same gospel of Christ. In relation to the jailer and Felix, I observe,

III. They were both convicted of sin under the instructions which they received from the apostles. The jailer and Felix each gave a listening ear to what was said by the inspired preacher. They doubtless regarded what Paul communicated as being the truth of God. At that critical and solemn period-the period of death temporal, and death eternal—when the jailer heard from the lips of Paul the mild and timely caution, "Do thyself no harm," with the addition, "we are all here;" then was he brought to view himself a sinner. The deadly weapon dropped from his hands: he sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. But what occasioned this trembling? The danger resulting from the supposed escape of

the prisoners was past; and all pertaining to the prison, and to himself as keeper, was now safe. He did not plead with the apostles to aid him in closing the doors of the prison, or in replacing the bands of the prisoners. The effects of the earthquake on the prison did not occupy his attention. "And he sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas." His terror was great. And what caused this terror? The friendly conduct of the apostles, in connection with the extraordinary occurrence which had just taken place, were made effectual, by the Holy Spirit, shed down from heaven to convince him of sin; and he trembled lest he should experience the second death.. The jailer was now a convicted sinner.

And while the Roman governor was listening to the reasoning of Paul on the subject of righteousness, temperance, and judgment, he too was disquieted. "Felix trembled." And what caused the hardened Roman to tremble? He was Paul's judge, invested with the power of life and death, and Paul was in bonds. Was it the sight of the unarmed prisoner before him, which caused Felix to tremble? No violence was offered. No threats were uttered. But Paul reasoned, and Felix heard him. And as he listened to the truths of God, as exhibited in the simple reasoning of the Apostle, his sins, like an angry cloud about to burst upon him, came to view. Then was near Felix an invisible agent, whose office it is to convince of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He now saw himself to be a sinner, and he felt the sting of a guilty conscience-the distress of a self-condemned sinner--and looking unto a judgment to come, he trembled. While in the presence of Paul and listening to his words, both the jailer and Felix became convicted sinners. I observe,

IV. They both resolved to engage in the concerns of their salvation. Convinced as they were of the importance of salvation, they could do nothing less than resolve to give it their attention. And that they did thus resolve, is evident from their conduct. The jailer, with trembling solicitude inquired, what he must do to be saved? This he would not have done, under existing circumstances, had he not determined to engage in the concerns of his soul. evidently resolved, when he had learned what to do to be saved, to do it.

He was

And from the manner of Felix's speaking to Paul, as well as from the state of feeling which he manifested under the exhibition of truth; we derive evidence, that it was not his intention when he dismissed the apostle, to abandon the subject of religion; but it was clearly his purpose to resume it, and give it his particular attention. "And as Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee." Here we find his resolution, not only to engage in the concerns of his soul, but to employ the apostle as his religious teacher.

Thus far the two men whose characters we have been contemplating, appear alike. There was a striking resemblance between them. They were alike sinners, and sinners of a cast more unpleasant than usual. They were both religiously instructed by the Apostle to the Gentiles, while he was in bonds to them. They were both convicted of sin, and caused to tremble in view of the wrath to come. And they both resolved to engage in their salvation. there was a period when a dissimilarity between them commenced. Hence, I observe,

Yet

V. The jailer resolved to delay no longer his immortal interests, while Felix

put off the subject to a future period. The jailer's conduct at this time is worthy of serious regard, and of imitation. So soon as convicted of his sins, he earnestly sought the way of salvation. No time was lost in needless conversation respecting the earthquake. No care of the prison or of the prisoners was suffered to divert his attention. No cavilling spirit was indulged in relaProstrate before the embassadors of

tion to the instructions of the apostles. Christ, he sought the way of life with a solicitude deep and earnest. He evidently felt in his own heart the import of that scripture, "Behold now is the accepted time: behold now is the day of salvation." The needful repose of night could not call him away from this interesting subject. Every word, every motion indicated that his soul was intent on securing, without delay, his immortal interests.

But it was far different with Felix. Though trembling in view of his sins and the wrath to come,--though resolved to attend to the interests of his soul,— he was not yet determined to make religion his first business. Hence he did not, with the jailer, inquire what he should do to be saved? But he said to the preacher, "Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season I will call for thee." Difficulties in the way of reformation in his conduct, or business, or pleasure, induced him to postpone the subject to a future period. And the subject was postponed to give place for that which was more in accordance with the unsanctified feelings of the Roman governor. I observe,

VI. The jailer soon gave evidence of piety, while Felix afforded evidence of increasing hardness of heart. Ere the sun had streaked the east, the jailer believing, was joyful in the Lord. To his solicitous inquiry: "What must I do to be saved?" the apostles replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." And now, instead of the severity and cruelty which he had manifested towards the apostles on their commitment, he showed himself to be a friend of God's persecuted servants. The same hour of the night he took Paul and Silas, and washed the stripes which the day before were inflicted upon them. And he was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And he received the apostles into his own house, and treated them with all the kindness of a brother's love. And in the morning, when the magistrates sent to have Paul and Silas set at liberty, thus to escape the reproach of their illegal and iniquitous proceeding, the jailer, in friendship, gave Paul information of their base intentions. The change which was thus suddenly wrought in the character of the jailer, was that new birth which is essentially requisite for the kingdom of heaven. He afforded full evidence of possessing a new nature, and of being enrolled with the sons of God.

But how was it with Felix? When divine truth was urged upon his conscience by the energy of the Holy Spirit, did he say, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief?" This was not his language; but he said, "Go thy way for this time." He unquestionably expected that a convenient season was not far distant. And did the expected season soon arrive? He subsequently enjoyed opportunities for communing with Paul; but were righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, topics of his conversation with the apostle? We hear no more of Felix's trembling under divine truth. When, by a resolution to improve a future period in relation to his soul, he stifled his conviction of sin, and calmed the agitations of his troubled breast; he not only caused Paul to go his way for that time, but the Holy Ghost to depart. He afterward conversed with the Apostle, and sent for him the oftener, because he hoped

that money would be given him for Paul's freedom. And to secure some pecuniary advantage to himself, he kept that persecuted servant of Jesus two whole years in bondage. And when his office expired and he was succeeded by Festus, to gratify the malice of the Jews, and prevent them from complaining to the emperor of the injustice and cruelty of his administration, he left Paul a prisoner at Cesarea. The Bible continues the history of Felix for about two years after the time of his trembling before the apostle. During that period, we have convincing evidence of his increasing hardness of heart. While the jailer afforded satisfactory evidence that he was a child of God," the conduct of Felix presented lamentable proof that he became more and more a child of the devil. I observe,

VII. It is probable that the jailer is now in heaven, and that Felix is in the world of despair. I know of no reason for doubting any more the salvation of the jailer, than that of any other saint whose name is recorded in the Bible. His conversion appears to have been recorded in the Scriptures as a real conversion, and his conduct to have been such as characterizes the saint. No stigma is cast on the Christian character of the jailer. His name is left on the sacred page as a fair candidate for immortal blessedness. And we are happy in the assurance, that the promise of salvation on condition of faith, made to the trembling Philippian, has been fulfilled; and that he is now with Paul and Silas before the throne of God.

But delaying Felix-unhappy Felix-where is he? History tells us, that his companion, Drusilla, who could hear Paul reason of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come without being moved, and the child of their illicit connection, were consumed by a terrible eruption of Mount Vesuvius: and that Felix but narrowly escaped the punishment of his crimes from the hand of Roman justice. We cannot find, either in the Bible or in profane history, any indication that his heart was changed before death. All the circumstances attending his life and his conduct, so far as recorded, are calculated to lead the reflecting mind to fearful conclusions respecting his present condition. Were we to hope that he was not now lifting up his eyes in torments, and mingling his wailings with those of the damned; we should hope without evidence. Felix once trembled in view of judgment to come, but he ceased to tremble. His terrors and convictions soon subsided-his passions remained unsubdued, and extended their sway-and circumstances would strongly indicate, that while the jailer was now in Abraham's bosom, Felix was in the pit of endless despair.

From what has been disclosed in relation to the character and conduct of these individuals, we learn:

1. That persons may resemble each other for a season, who in subsequent life and in eternity shall be vastly different. The Philippian jailer and the Roman governor were, in important particulars, alike for a season. Alike they were sinners against God. Alike they had long remained insensible to their obligations and to their dangers. Alike they were instructed by an inspired apostle. Alike they trembled in view of the wrath to come. And alike they resolved to give the subject of religion their attention. But they were not always alike. The jailer determined to delay no longer obedience to heavenhe became a rejoicing convert-a kind friend to the apostles-an heir of life -and is now a glorified spirit in heaven. Felix delayed, for a more convenient season, making his peace with God-became a hardened sinner-cherished

« PreviousContinue »