blessings of salvation to those who call upon himk. At the same time we must observe that none who comply with this direction are excluded ; " Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord," whatever he may have been, or whatever he may have done in times past, provided he call in sincerity and truth, shall find the Lord rich in mercy towards him.]
This subject will be found of use,
1. To confirm our faith against the cavils of
infidels —
[There have been in every age some, who have rejected Christianity as a cunningly devised fable. But we would ask, Was the effusion of the Spirit predicted ? or could the accom- plishment of that prediction be counterfeited? Was the de- struction of Jerusalem foretold ? Did Jesus apply the very words of our text to that event, and declare that they should be accomplished before that generation should pass away ? And did this also happen within the time specified, attended with such prodigies as strictly corresponded with the terms of this prophecy ? Then Christianity must be of divine original ; Jesus must be the true Messiah ; and salvation must be, as he has declared, through faith in him. Let us then " never be moved away from the hope of the Gospel," but " hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering."]
2. To vindicate our experience against the calum- nies of scoffers —
[St. Peter adduces this passage in vindication of those who had received the miraculous influences of the Spirit ; and asserts that, what was profanely imputed to intoxication, was indeed a fulfilment of the words of Joel. Thus scoffers of the present day deride all pretensions to the enlightening and sanctifying influences of the Spirit, and, without any candid examination, impute them to folly or hypocrisy. Our profes- sions of faith in Christ, our simple dependence on him, and assured hope of salvation by him, are also deemed enthusiasm. But if we can say, " This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel," or by Peter, or by any other inspired writer, we need not regard their calumnies. If it was said to the apostles, ' Ye are drunk,' we may be content to have it said of" us, ' Ye are fools.' Let us then seek more and more earnestly the operations of the Spirit, and be daily calling on the Lora Jesus for grace and mercy: so shall our experience accord with the sacred oracles, and our deliverance be completed, when the sufferings of infidels and scoffers shall commence.]
k Rom. x. 12, 13.