speculative knowledge they may be complete; but in divine unction they will be very defective ; and their words, from the want of that unction, will never reach the heart. Hence God generally permits his most faithful servants to be severely tried, in order that from their own experience they may be able to instruct and comfort the people committed to their charge d. Next, see the effect produced,]
2. On the Church at large — [As in the teachers there was an immediate increase of holy zeal, so was there in the hearers a visible augmentation of heavenly love. Instantly " the whole multitude of believers became of one heart and one soul : neither said any of them that aught of the things that he possessed was his own ; but they had all things common." They all considered themselves as one body : and exactly as the different members of a body, the eye, the ear, the hand, the foot, employ their respective powers, not with a view to any separate interest of their own, but for the collective benefit of the whole, so did these Christians, as soon as ever they were " filled with the Holy Ghost;" every one selling his nouses or lands to form one common stock for the support and comfort of the whole.
Mark then here also the effect of persecution ; how it united the Lord's people in one common bond, and advanced their mutual love to a height, which under other circumstances it would never have attained. Doubtless the particular act of casting all their property into one common stock is to be imitated only under circumstances similar to theirs : but the Spirit that dictated that act should abound in us, as much as in them : and it will abound in us in proportion as we possess the grace of Christ. The trials of the saints at this day being light, they know but little of sympathy, and make but little sacrifices for the good of others : but, if they were driven more to God by the sword of persecution, they wTould feel greater need of sympathy themselves, and would be ready to exercise it in a far larger measure towards others.]
From whence we may learn,
1. Where to go with our troubles — [Whither should we go, but to that God, who has ordained them all, and promised to overrule them for our eternal good? The Apostles indeed went first "to their own company, and reported all that had been said to them:" but this was for the purpose of comforting and encouraging them, and not with a view to obtain comfort or encouragement themselves ; for that they betook themselves to prayer, having
11 '_> Cor. i. 3—6.