ration of tlieir privileges as trusted and commissioned messen- gers, notwithstanding their grievous fall ? — I cannot help sus- pecting that this lesson was contained in the action of breathing. It not only symbolized the infusion for the first time of special ministerial gifts and graces. It also symbolized the restoration to complete power and confidence in their Master's eyes, even after their faith had so nearly breathed its last, and given up the ghost. The first symptom of returning life, when a man is recovered from drowning, is his beginning to breathe again. To set the lungs breathing, in such cases, is the first aim of a skilful doctor.
When we remember that the wind is pre-eminently an em- blem of the Holy Ghost (John iii. 8 ; Ezek. xxxvii. 9 ; Acts. ii. 2), we cannot fail to see that there is a beautiful fitness in the symbolical action which our Lord has employed.
Lampe thinks that our Lord breathed on all the disciples at once, and not on each one separately. It is probable that it was so, in my judgment.
Hooker remarks (Eccles. Pol. 6, v. c. 77), " The cause why we breathe not, as Christ did on the disciples unto whom He im- parted power, is that neither Spirit nor spiritual authority may be thought to proceed from us, who are but delegates and as- signs to give men possession of His grace."
The words, ** Receive ye the Holy Ghost," are almost as deep and mysterious as the action of breathing. They can only sig- nify, " I bestow on you the Holy Ghost." But in what sense the Holy Ghost was bestowed, is a point that demands atten- tion, and we must beware that we do not run into error.
(a) Our Lord cannot have meant that the disciples were now to " receive the Holy Ghost " for the first time. They had doubtless received Him in the day when they were first con- verted and believed. Whether they realized it or not, the Holy Ghost was in their hearts already. " No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Cor. xii. 3.)
(&) Our Lord cannot have meant that the disciples were now to " receive the Holy Ghost," for the purpose of working mira- cles and speaking with tongues. They had worked many mir- acles already, and the gift of speaking with tongues was spe- cially conferred afterwards, on the day of Pentecost, when they were endued with power from on high.
(c) Our Lord, in my opinion, must have meant, " Receive the Holy Ghost as the Spirit of knowledge and understanding.'' He must have meant that He now conferred on them a degree of light and knowledge of divine truth, which hitherto they had not possessed. They had been greatly deficient in light and knowledge up to this time. With all their faith and love to- wards our Lord's Person, they had been sadly ignorant of manj things, and particularly of the true purpose of His coming, and