Paul's Sermon Before Felix

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Acts 24:25

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go your way for this time…

I. THE APPROPRIATE SERMON. I can conceive that Felix expected to have a grand disquisition upon some recondite themes of the gospel. This was not the place nor the time for that.

1. I can imagine how Paul would bring before the mind of Felix the widow who bad been defrauded of inheritance, the fatherless children who were left to beg their bread, the many bribes that he had taken, the false decisions that he had given.

2. Then gently turning to the other subject, I can imagine how he would fix his eyes upon Drusilla and bring the most powerful motives to bear upon her lascivious heart; and then turning to Felix, would remind him that adulterers have no inheritance in the kingdom of God.

3. I can conceive how Felix would bite his lips. Paul gave him no time for passion; for in a fury of impassioned eloquence he introduced the "judgment to come." He made Felix think he saw the great white throne, the books opened, and himself arraigned before his Judge; and what the apostle did every minister ought to do. He selected topics appropriate to his audience. But some will say, "Ministers ought not to be personal." Ministers will never be true to their Master till they are, I admire John Knox for going, Bible in hand, to Queen Mary, and sternly upbraiding her. I do not exactly love the way in which he did it, but the thing itself I love.

II. THE AFFECTED AUDIENCE. What is it that makes men tremble under the sound of the gospel? Some say it is their conscience. Doubtless it is in some sense. But I believe that what some people call natural conviction is the work of the Spirit. In some men's hearts He works with restraining grace, and the trembling of Felix is to be accounted for by this quickening his conscience and making him tremble. But what shall be said of some of you who never tremble?

III. THE LAMENTABLE DISAPPOINTMENT. "It is wonderful," said a good man once to a minister, "to see a whole congregation moved to tears by the preaching of the Word." "Yes," said that minister, "it is wonderful; but I know a wonder ten times greater, viz., that those people should so soon wipe away their tears and forget what they have beard." 'Tis wonderful that Felix trembled before Paul; 'tis more wonderful that Felix should say, "Go thy way." Stop, Felix; let Paul speak to thee a minute longer. Thou hast business; but hast thou no business for thy soul? Dost thou reply, "Nay, I must attend to Caesar." Ah! Felix, but thou hast a greater monarch than Caesar. I know what thou durst not say. Felix, thou art turning aside again to indulge in thy lascivious pleasures. Go, and Drusilla with thee! But stop! Darest thou do that, with that last word ringing in thy ears, "Judgment to come"? You, too, many of you, have often been impressed under the ministry, and on Monday you have said, "I must attend to business." Think of men that are dying every day, saying, "We must live," and forgetting that they must die! Another replies, "I must have a little more pleasure." What! can there be pleasure in turning suicide to thine own soul? But the usual reply is, "There is time enough yet." The young man says, "Let me alone till I grow old." And you old men, what do you say? "When do you hope to find a convenient season? The young may die, the old must! But still the common cry is, "There is time enough." What for? Surely you have spent time enough in sin? What! time enough to serve a God that laid down His life for you? No! eternity will not be too long to utter His praise. Thou sayest, "Another time." How knowest thou that thou wilt ever feel again as thou feelest now? This morning, perhaps, a voice is saying in thy heart, "Prepare to meet thy God." Tomorrow that voice may be hushed. How do you know that you shall live to be warned again? Oh! why will you then dare to procrastinate? Will your soul ever be saved by your saying, "Time enough yet"? Tillotson well says, "A man may say, 'I resolve to eat,' but the resolve to eat would never feed his body. A man might say, 'I am resolved to drink,' but the resolve to drink would never slake his thirst." And you may say, "I am resolved by and by to seek God," but your resolve will not save you.

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