Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 24:25

25 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.

These Two, Righteousness and Temperance, the Christian Religion do indispensibly require: And all true Worship without these, will not make up our most holy Religion, or give to any the Title of a Religious or an Holy Man. But Paul chose rather to discourse of those than any other Vertues, because Felix was most defective in them. He would lay his Plaister where there was a Sore, tho it pained the Patient, and he should get little thanks for his labour. Had great men but such faithful Preachers, it might contribute very much to hinder them in their career of sin, and by that means help to mend the World.

Or Continence; the want of which is charged upon both these great persons, being taxed by Historians for Adultery. So that Paul preaches here as Iohn Baptist did once to Herod, very suitably, tho not gratefully. Yet in the discharge of his Duty he meets with no Trouble, not so much as a Reproach, which probably the sense of the Iudgment to come might contribute to.

Whatsoever is present, this is certainly to come: And the secret Reflections that wicked men have upon it in the mi[illegible: 1 letter]st of their fullest enjoyments, mingle Fears and Terrors with them▪ Hence their surda vulnera, misgivings and inward guilt (as its contrary, the peace [illegible: 1 word] God) passeth all understanding.

Felix not liking [illegible: 1 word] Discourse (the Subject being too quick and searching for him), put it off longer. And so men put off the consideration of their Duties, and of the Judgment that will pass upon every one according unto what he hath done in the flesh, till the Judg be, as it were, set, and their Case called.