I. IT WAB DEOOTTEN 01!' DIVINE INFLUENCE, We must not dissever this passa"a from nil that precedes, but remember that this remarkable manifestation of sacr;d feeling _was the outcome of _Divin~ influence. It was the gift of the Holy Ghost, desccndm~ upon the Church m cop10us streams of sacred power, which brou"ht forth these abounding signs of spiritual life. All life in the soul of man is "~m from above." Whatever looks like it, in the shape of extraordinary activity or intense feeling, which is not awakened by the Spirit of God, is but the semblance and show of it, and is not the vital thing itself. II. IT WAS MANIFEB'!'ED IN ABIDING FORMS. 1. In open declaration or faith in Christ: "They that gladly received his word were baptized" (ver. 41). 2. In attach• ment to saving truth: "'l'hey cot.tinned steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" (ver. 42). Souls in earnest will not leave the truth by which they have been led to God to wander in byways of unsatisfying human fancies; still less to go off into the high-road of error. 3. In fellowship: with man, and also with God (vers. 42, 44, 46). The disciples" continued in fellowship, and in breaking of bread;" they" were together;" they "continued with one accord in breaking bread.'' Here was (l) human feilowship -the cordial, frequent associating one with another; and (2) fellowship with God in the Lord's Supper. 4. In prayer (ver, 42) and in praise (ver. 47). The, sacred fervour which often comes as, in part, the result of devotion will spend itself largely in more devotion, in private and public "prayers," and in " praising God.'' Prayer and praise are the very atmosphere in which elevated piety lives and breathes and has its being. 5. In consideration of the needs of others (vers. 44, 45). They who have a real" zeal for God," who are devoted to Jesus Christ, will ask themselves what they can do to help those who are in need; how they can best contribute to the comfort, the elevation, the well-being of those who are left behind in the race, who are defeated in the battle oi life. They will show, in some fol'm-differeut states of society demand different methods-sympathy, liberality, succour. III. IT BAD UNFAILING RESULTS. I. In sacred joy: "They did eat their meat with 11:ladness and singleness of heart" (ver. 46). We may reasonably doubt the excellence of nny spiritual fervour which does not show itself in gladness of heart. 2. In ge'Tleral devoutness: "Fear came upon every soul" (ver. 43). If we are heartily and wisely in earnest, those who witness our lives will be impressed with the reality of our convic- tions, and will pause to ask whence this holy ardour comes. 3. In abounding useftilness (vers. 41-47), The Lord will add tq the Church continually of those who" are in the way of salvation.''-O. Vers. 1-4.-The epoch of tlie spiritual di.~pensation. I. Tm: DAY. The fiftieth after the Passover; the beginning of the great fesLival of harvest. What associations of joy I lt was a focus of national life. It was a convenient season for the designs of Providence. Jerusalem was thronged, and the multitude was alive with thongbt. A sound now heard from the depths of the world of spirit must viilrate through the conscience of mankind for ages, II. 'l'HE souND. As of a mighty blast from heaven, sweeping through the whole house from top to bottom. The phenomena of the wind and of the storm have ever been the natural symbolism of Divine presence and power to the human intelligence, The sense of hearing is the peculiarly believing sense ; all through the grades of language faith "cometh by hearing.'' Now it is the soft voice of love, and now that of powel', which speaks; in the zephyr or in the boreal blast. Ill, THE LIGHT, The eye, too, is addressed. This is the more sceptical sense, and either confirms or corrects the repol't of the ear. Thomas was in the me~ting, and would possibly have explained the sound away, The testimony of the eye 1s needed for full satisfaction, and is given. Not one but many tongues, cleft and DS of fire, are seen; on the head of each disciple rests a tongue. The picture is that of a wing of flame, distributed into manifold parts according to the nurube: of th_ose pres~n~. And this is the analysis of the symbol: cleansiug, nll-penetratmg D_IVlne act1v1ty; ~be lova that consumes evil, and fu.~es the material of life to ends of refinement; umty of principle with distributive and various operation in this power, As the burning ray reveals the gem, so does the disparting flame reveal the love that ever bll!ns iii the centre of things, in the heart of the livin& God. Here, then, was the "Spmt 64 'l'HE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES, [OR, ll, 1-47,
of power and of love " made known through oar and eye in inmost conscience and feeling. IV. THE EFFECT, It was fulness of conscious life, which in turn breaks forth in wondrous action. All things are for this epoch possible. They begin to speak in foreign ton,;nes. Their utterances are felt to be not their own. It is "acco1ding as the Spirit granted them utterance." They are the lEolian harps on which the wiud is playing. The best of our speech and thought is in like manner from an inner fulness, and is felt not to be our own. What we do as we say "unconsciously," i.e. conscious that it is not we but God in us, is our true deed. Mozart could not explain to his friend the process of his marvellous musical constructions. At times the thoughts flowed into him in full stream, and he merely reported them as they came. We cannot artificiRlly bring on the hour of inspiration. We must ,vatch and wait and pray, For every faithful heart there are Pentecostal .ipochs. .And of each it will be reccrdl!d, "suddenly it came," like all Divine comings, to leave unlooked-for power and blessing behind.-J.