But beside all this, there are the Bible facts. Peter knew his Bible and could quote it. How familiar he must have been with the Old Testament! Could he have found, in any part of the book, passages more telling and more
suitable? If we knew our Bible better, we should not need to do as the manner of some is, round off common-place ideas of our own, with pretty poetry of someone else’s!
Then, the preacher was not afraid to tell the congregation what sins they had committed. Many of them were what is called “good sort of people, went to place of worship, and paid their way,” &c. But it was true, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Let us who preach, cry to God to give us His Spirit, that we may tell those who hear us of their sins. How are they to be convinced of sins, if they are not told of them?
Nor was Peter satisfied with the good feeling, or even with seeing the people moved. It was not enough for him that his hearers were pricked in the heart, he would have them do more. Would he not have said to many of those who have gone into the inquiry-room, “I am not satisfied that you are in earnest. You want God to save you in your sins.” Repentance is impossible to those who are not conscious of guiltiness. And, without repentance, faith holds the cup of water to one who was never thirsty. Do you wonder that it is loathsome? He might drink if it were not so pure,
But it takes thirst to relish water!
This is a tempting subject, we could say much more, but we will only add, that the last word in the chapter, which tells of “Peter the Preacher,” gives the result of such sermons as his—
“Saved!”
XXIV. “WHEN SOLOMON WAS OLD.”
“It came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other Gods.”
1 Kings xi. 4.
Who could have predicted that this would come to pass? And yet it is often so, for it is still true that