them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." But the miraculous and extraordinary gifts imparted through this divine Agent, were not, we know, at this time given, because that Jesus was not then glorified, nor were the wonderful gifts poured down on the apostles upon the day of Pentecost confined to that juncture. They were even endued with the power of imparting the like astonishing endowments they had themselves received, on believing converts to the new religion; frequent mention of which is made in the Acts of the Apostles: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all 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." (x. 44-46.) By this miraculous interposition, an infallible external evidence was given to the truth of Christianity; the descent of the Holy Ghost was visible to the senses of the astonished beholders:* and the gifts bestowed infused in the hearts of the astonished receivers an evidence of its truth, that could neither be mistaken * It was visible to ocular demonstration on the day of Pentecost; and in Acts viii. 18, it is thus recorded: "When Simon saw that the Holy Ghost was given." H or effaced. Had not indeed the aid of supernatural attestation been given at this terrific era to the truth of Revelation, it would be difficult, if not utterly impossible, rationally to account for the success of its pristine preachers, or for the resignation wherewith they and their converts submitted, for its sake, to every suffering most appalling to humanity. It has been well remarked, that the Christian religion was erected upon real miracles, and has been often shook by the false pretences of unreal ones: and perhaps a better criterion cannot be pointed out for discerning betwixt these, than that directed by our sapient Lord for the detection of false prophets-"by their fruits ye shall know them." But this subject would lead us here into far too wide a field. "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." (Acts xi. 15,16.) "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us." (xv. 8.) "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. VOL. II. L When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." (xix. 2-6.) In addition to the accustomed blessings procured through the rite of baptism, they were gifted with the miraculous ones at this era poured down on man by the Holy Ghost: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which He had promised afore by his prophets in the holy Scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness." (Rom. i. 1-4.) "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (v. 5.) "Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God." (viii. 26, 27.) All these passages fully prove the Holy Ghost a person, not a property. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (xv. 13.) "Being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." ́ver. 16.) Through mighty signs and wonders, 66 by the power of the Spirit of God." (Ver. 19.) "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Cor. ii. 4, 5.) " It is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (Ver. 9, 10.) " But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (vi. 11.) "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." (xii. 13.) "God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." (2 Cor. v. 5.) "That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. iii. 14.) "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts." (iv. 6.) "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (v. 5.) "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (ver. 25,) "Sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." (Eph. i. 13.) " For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (ii. 18.) "Whereby, when ye read, ye may underderstand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." (iii. 4, 5.) "There is one Spirit, one Lord, one God 66 and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (iv. 4—6.) "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed." (Ver. 30.) "The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." (v. 9, 10.) "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (vi. 17.) "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (Phil. i. 19.) "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost." (1 Thess. i. 5.) Quench not the Spirit." (v. 19.) "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit." (2 Thess. ii. 13.) The same agent who was then is now, and ever will be, worlds without end. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed. on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Tim. iii. 16.) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly." &c. (iv. 1.) "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." (2 Tim. i. 14.) According to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour." (Tit.iii. 5, 6.) “God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, and with divers 66 66 66 |