ln_g this shape. What of the descent of the Hol) Ghost? Observe it (1) as between Christ himself and the opened heavens, and (2) B8 a token of the grace and truth which have come by Christ. 1. What we have before us is not a coming of the Spirit for personal holiness, for in this sense the Holy Spirit had been with Christ during the preceding thirty years. It is the wming of the Holy Spirit into a new form of a-lmi- nistraeion. The new thing is what St John expresses. "The Spirit abode upon him." He dwelt henceforth in the Man Christ Jesus, not as a mere limitless ahundance, but as an undivided abundance. All offices, gifts, graces, were realized in the Lord him- self. He was Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher; be was all in all. The fountaiu was sealed in his own Person; after the Ascension the seal was broken, anJ the power in the glorified humanity was divided. Some he gave as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangeli~ts, some as pastors and teachers. But that which is • siguified by the investiture of Jesus coming out of Jordan is that in bim, consecrated the Messinh, is the fuluess of grace and blessing; that his exclusively is the baptism with the Holy Ghost. "The same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." 2. And see the token of this administration. "Like a dove "-recalling the mission of the do,;e which Noah put forth from the ark, and which returned to bim with the olive leaf in its mouth. "Like a dove "-suggesting love tender and brooding, noiseless and winning, the Spirit descends. Is not this the characteristic token of the new covenant? (See Kehle's thirty-third hymn.) It is the dove-like Spirit that dwells in Jesus. There is a fire that goes before him. When he began the public ministry, he took a pa.ssage full of gracious words, yet one which concludes with the proclamation of a day of vengeance of our God. '!'here are" woes" in Jesus' discourses very scathing and stern. 'l'here is" the wrath of the Lamb." But the characteristic action of Christ is that of the Dove. 'l'he Dove is visible even in hls Divinity, even in the lambent tongues, the lightning ff.ashes, the arrows of conviction. He is waiting to be gracious. 0 sinner, yield thyself to hlm. For thee are prepared dove-like blessings, in.B.uences "To nurse the soul to heavenly love, The struggling spark of good wituin Just smothered in the strife of sin To quicken to a timely glow, The pure 11.ame spreat.ling high o.nd low.•
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTI10f.:3. Vera. 1, 2.-Roman worldliness and Hebrew devotedness. We have these historical personages brought into view in order to :6.x the year when John began his ministry. At the time when they lived they would have scorned the idea that their names were only to be valuable iu proportion as they shed light on the life and the work of this rugged Jewish saint. But so it is. We only care to know about these Roma11s because their figures cross the stage of sacred history, and because they came intu temporary relationship with John and with John's great Master. Their names, how- ever, being brought into conjunction with his, let us notice the cuntrast which they present to us. I. THEY WERE UNLIKE AS THEY COULD BE TO Ol!IE ANOTHER IN THE crr.CUMSTa~CES AND SURROUNDINGS OF THEIR Lll!'E. These Roman worldlings dwelt in palaces, lived in Juxury, surrounded themselves with everything that could minister to comfort an,l enjoyment; they were gorgeously apparelled, and lived delicately in their kin~ly courts (eh. vii. 26). John was a man who despised delicacies, and deliberately chose that which was coarse in garment, unpalatable in food, rude in dwelling. His life w,\.:! positively devoid of that which was refreshing, comforting, delightful, so far as the outward and the visible were concerned. II. 'l'HKY WERE DIAMETBIOALLY OPPOSED IN CHARACTER. If we except Philip, who left a reputation for justice and moderation, and Lysanias, of whom nothing or littl,; i& known, we may say of the others that they were men whose character wa1 not only reprehensible, but even hideous. Of Tiberius Cresar we read that, after he came to the throne, he entirely disappointed the promise of his earlier years, and that he "w«llowed in the very kennel of the low and debasing." Of Pilate we know from the evauge- 76 TilE GOST'EL AOOORDINO TO ST. LUKE. [""· 111. 1~1S.