Lord f," and were accepted of the Lord, " being sanctified by the Holy Ghosts"]
2. The manner in which it was wrought — [As in the time of working the miracle we see types ful- filled, so in the manner of its being wrought we behold emblems illustrated and realized. The attention of the whole multitude was fixed by an appeal both to their eyes and ears. " They heard a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind." Our Lord compares the influences of the Spirit to wind; " The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the SpiritV' Who then must not recognize in this tempest the inexplicable, but effectual, operations of the Spirit on the minds of men ?
At the same time " cloven tongues, like as of fire, appeared," and abode visibly on the head of all who were then assembled. Now we know, it is the property of fire to enlighten, to warm, to purify : and such were to be the effects of the Spirit which was poured out upon them ; for whilst, by the diversity of tongues in which they spake, they communicated light and understanding to the world ; they inflamed them with love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and transformed them into the very image of their God: and thus was the prophecy of John the Baptist accomplished; " I baptize you with water; but He that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire1."]
Such was the miracle, which, however interesting in itself, derives a still greater interest from the cir- cumstances before referred to. We now proceed to,
II. Suggest some reflections for the improvement of it— The decided proof which it gave of Christ's Mes- siahship, and of the power and glory to which he is exalted, must naturally suggest itself to every mind. We therefore wave the consideration of the miracle in that view, (more especially as we propose to notice it in the following discourse ;) and confine our atten- tion to other reflections less obvious, but equally important :
1 . What rich provision has God made for the sal- vation of the world !
[Was the gift of his only dear Son necessary to redeem
f Isai. lxvi. 20. B Rom. xv. 16.
h John iii. 8. ] Matt. iii. 11.