3.
“A GREAT DEAL OF NOISE ABOUT RELIGION”
It is no argument that an operation on people’s minds is not the work of the Spirit of God, that it occasions a great deal of noise about religion.
For though true religion is contrary to that of the Pharisees – which was ostentatious, and delighted to set itself forth to the view of men for their applause – yet such is human nature that it is morally impossible for there to be a great concern, strong affection, and a general engagedness of mind among a people, without causing a notable, visible, and open commotion and alteration among that people. – Surely, it is no argument that people’s minds are not under the influence of God’s Spirit, that they are very much moved; for indeed spiritual and eternal things are so great, and of such infinite concern, that there is a great absurdity in men’s being only moderately moved and affected by them; and surely it is no argument that they are affected with these things in some measure as they deserve, or in some proportion to their importance. And when was there ever any such thing since the world, stood, as a people in general being greatly affected in any affair whatsoever, without noise or stir? The nature of man will not allow it.
They turned the world upside down
Indeed, Christ says: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation” (Luke 17:20). That is, it will not consist in what is outward and visible; it will not be like earthly kingdoms, set up with outward pomp, in some particular place which will be the special royal city and seat of the kingdom. As Christ explains in the words which come next: “Neither shall they say, Lo here, or lo there; for behold the kingdom of God is within you.” “ Not that the kingdom of God will be set up in the world on the ruin of Satan’s kingdom, without a very observable great effect: a mighty change in the state of things, to the observation and astonishment of the whole world. Just such an effect as this is foretold in the prophecies of Scripture, and by Christ himself in this very passage, and indeed in his own explanation of these words: “For as the lightning that lighteneth out of one part under heaven, shineth unto another part under heaven, so shall also the Son of man be in his day” (verse 24). This is to distinguish Christ’s coming to set up his kingdom from the coming of false Christs, which he tells us will be in a private manner in the deserts and in the secret chambers; whereas this event of setting up the kingdom of God would be open and public in the sight of the whole world with clear manifestation, like lightning that cannot be hidden but glares in everyone’s eyes and shines from one side of heaven to the other. And we find that when Christ’s kingdom came, by that remarkable outpouring of the Spirit in the apostles’ days, it occasioned a great stir everywhere. What a mighty opposition was there in Jerusalem on occasion of that great effusion of the Spirit! And so in Samaria, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and other places! News of the affair filled the world, and caused some people to say of the apostles that they had turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).