that there is nothing too great for us to expect at the hands of such a gracious Goda.]
But the promise itself is most glorious —
[The gift of the Holy Ghost is that peculiar blessing which the Church in all ages was taught to look for under the Chris- tian dispensation. A measure indeed of the Spirit was vouch- safed to the godly at all times; but the fuller effusion was reserved for the times of the Apostles ; as it is said, " The Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified b." If we go back as far as to the days of Abraham, we shall find, that the promise of the Spirit was made to him, not so much for his descendants after the flesh, as for his spiritual progeny among the Gentiles, to whom it was fulfilled in the Apostles' daysc. And the prophets taught the Jews, in every successive period, to look forward to the same time for the full enjoyment of this privilege. The prophet Joel in particular spoke strongly on this subject: and St. Peter refers to his words, as accom- plished on the day of Pentecost d. Our blessed Lord also, both before and after his resurrection, instructed his disciples to expect a more abundant measure of the Spirit than had ever yet been vouchsafed to the world : and to that very instruction of his did St. Peter refer, when the Spirit was first poured out upon the Gentilese. The measure in which this blessing was to be imparted to the Church, is also particularly marked in the words of our text: " I will pour (not merely sprinkle, but pour) water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground ;" even such abundance, as shall be sure to reach the roots, and produce, not a transient change, like that of grass upon the house-top, but a radical and permanent change, both of heart and life.
That we may estimate the change aright, we have it exhibited in two striking images ; that of grass, growing up after a season of extreme drought ; and that of willows, watered by perennial streams. Here are images familiar to every eye, and calculated to convey a just idea of the effects universally produced by the operations of the Spirit of God upon the soul. A new principle of life begins to shew itself; and a new beauty and excellency to adorn the whole character : the appropriate fruits of every season, and of every condition, are brought forth, and the whole soul appears " as a well-watered garden." Partial changes may be produced by natural means: but the supernatural operation of the Spirit invariably causes a total surrender of the soul to
a Ezek, xvi. 3—6. b John vii. 39. c Gal. iii. 14.
a Compare Joel. ii. 28, 29. with Acts ii. 1—4, 16—18. e Compare Matt. iii. 11. and Jaike xxiv. 49. and Acts i. 4, 5. with Acts xi. 15, 16.