The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 151

it did, the word of Jesus himself about his own truth, previous to hie death and after his resurrection, and the conduct and directions of Jesus previous to his a6cension nnd to the day of Pentecost, amply prove it. But though it needs no proof, it may vory largely need enforcement. Probe.bly nothing so stays the advent of the grandest effects of Christianity as forgetfulness on the part of its professors of the force necessary, because divinely appointed, to give it effect. 'l'he Spirit is not honoured as he sl10uld be in the Church. The Church does not " look for " his coming, nor wait for him, with much longing and with trustful prnyer. At this very time and for i;orne years past there has been a wonderful activity within the borders of the Church -almost preternatural-but, alas I not at all relatively evidencing the supernatural. "Lo, here!" and " Lo, there! " has long been tho cry ; so-called " revivals" have been proclaimed, and tbe stir of them, nt all events, has been seen in most various sections of tlie Church; undeniably an unwonted industry of head and hand and foot has prevailed 1n the region of human instrumentality. And those who have thus wrought have heen far too ready to " blow the trumpet and proclaim" a self-made and only self- found triumph. Ilut where has the real life been evidenced? Where have real nbounding fruits been witnessed? This is a thing not less remarkable than it seems, but far more so, and it begs to be approached, not with offhand explanation, but with exceedingly reverent scrutiny. That many men of incorrupt life and unsuspected simplicity of aim have laboured with extremest zeal to lay hold upon their fellow-men for Christ, and tbe fruits of their labour have been a grievous gleaning instead of an undoubted crop! Collaternl explanations and mitigating considerations must yield to the one solemn account of it. The Holy Spirit has not been in the midst of that work, has not been the beginning and the end of that activity. But what is this which we have here? It is a refreshing crisis for which truly everything had prepared the way. Yes, but without it-if it had not come-everything that had gone before would have been dried to the aridity of the sandy desert itself. "When they had finished praying, the very place where they were assembled together was shaken." It meant the entrance of the Spirit of all power and might. "And the assembled believers were all filled with the Holy Ghost "-"Pentecost repeats itself-" and they spake the word of God with boldness." What ,h..--.ught, what hallowed musing, what prayer of the Church, should seek both for itself and for the world another visit of this same kindl-B. Vers. 32-35.-..A novel unanimity. It is safe t.o say that this verse marks one of ihe world's largest moral strides of progress. It is a landmark in itself, of widest significance. It is a moral landmark of deepest and most grateful omen. Travel through the whole history of the Old Testament, and you come to no spot that can show a sight like this. The nearest approach to it some finger-post prophetic, prophetio of nothing else than this. From this landmark the world has confessedly travelled on again far. But it is not either "taken away" or so mnch as "removed." It stands where it did, and it is what it was. And it bas become also a beacon. Some beacon.. are for warning, but this for encouragement and for inspiration of the highest degreo. In the unanimity so novel and surprisiag found in this passage of sacred history, there is no great difficulty in distinguishing the essential and permanent amid what was accidental and likely to be temporary. Eighteen centuries fled of the world's and the Church's history have not failed to throw on the subject all necessary light. They have shown that it was none of the genius of Christianity to reduce the comple;.dty of human life and business to a simplicity that would show no problem at all. Christianity has far too much genius for this ; its meaning and its re110urces alike justly more ambitious, almost by an infinite quantity. And they have shown that amid a multitude and a variety of elements and interests, of relationships and duties, Christian 11rinciple, motive, and love have been ever engaged, are still engaging thelll.Belves, in ean.i.nating one fellowship, one family. Want shall not be more common than resource, nor demand than supply, nor prayer than the loving-kindness which hears and answers, prompt and bountiful. And these things not of physical miracle, but of the CO'T/1,mwnity of "kindred minds." Meanwhile we are permitted to examine the conditions of a fellowship that amounted to a unanimity most astonishing, We Bro permitted_to study it not in theory but in e.ctual fact, Notice- OH, !V, 1-37.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 147