Cornelius the Centurion. (Acts 10th chapter)
Was justified, before Peter came to
him.
1. He was a "devout
man."—Ver. 2. "A pious man." Sawyer.
Devout. "Yielding a solemn and
reverential attention to God in religious exercises,
particularly in prayer; pious; devoted to religion;
righteous."—Webster. "Religious awe and piety:
to worship, to adore God."—R o b i s o n ' s
Lexicon. It is said that there is no word in the English
language that ascribes a more full and intense religious
character, than the word "devout."
2. He "feared God with all his
house."—Ver. 2. "The fear of the Lord is to
hate evil."—Prov. 8:13. "By the fear of the
Lord, men depart from evil."—Prov. 16 :6. "God
is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that
feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with
him."—Acts 10:34,35. "It shall be well with
them that fear God, which fear before him."—Eccl.
8:12. "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord;
that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of
shine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well
with thee. ... Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed
that feareth the Lord." —Psa. 128:1-4. "The
angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear
him, and delivereth them."—Psa. 34:7. "O fear
the Lord, ye his saints."—Psa. 34:9.
What a beautiful wreath of heavenly
truth! The man who reads the above scriptures, and says
that Cornelius and his household were in an unconverted
state when Peter came to them, simply presumes to make God
a liar, and exposes his utter blindness.
3. He was "a just
man."—Ver. 22. "A man,
righteous."—Young. "The way of the just is
uprightness."— Isa. 26:7. "Such as are upright
in their way are his delight." —Prov. 11:20.
"He blesseth the habitation of the just." Prov.
3:33. "Just persons . . . need no
repentance."— Luke 15.7. "The path of the just
is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto
the perfect day."— Prov. 4:18.
4. His prayer was heard. It
is said that Cornelius "gave much alms to the people,
and prayed to God alway."—Ver. 2. Surely his life
was an example, even to many who profess holiness today.
He "prayed to God alway." Neither were
his prayers dry and lifeless; for the angel said to him,
"Thy prayers and shine alms are come up for a
memorial before God."—Ver. 4. "Thy prayer is
heard, and shine alms are had in remembrance in the sight
of God."—Ver. 31.
"His prayers were heard"
and were held in remembrance in the sight of God. Reader,
consider this. Was he a sinner? Let the Word answer.
"Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any
man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he
heareth."—John 9 :31. "The Lord is far from
the wicked: but heareth the prayer of the
righteous."—Prov. 15 :29.
This chain of testimony so clearly
establishes the fact that Cornelius was a justified man
when Peter came to him, that there is no appeal from it.
We will next notice that he received a second experience
of saving grace when Peter came, even HIS
ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION. Let it be remembered that we are
saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of
the Holy Ghost. Cornelius had experienced the
"washing of regeneration," but had not yet
received the "renovation" or baptism of the Holy
Ghost— had not received the "fullness"
promised to all believers. See Acts 11:13-16. For this
purpose Peter was sent for, who, when he came, expounded
the way of salvation more perfectly: and "while Peter
yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them which
heard the word. And they of the circumcision, which
believed, were astonished, as many as came with Peter,
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift
of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues,
and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid
water, that these should not be baptized, which have
received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded
them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."—Ver.
44-48. "Being sanctified by the Holy
Ghost."—Rom. 15:16.
