The Baptism of the Spirit.

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people came running together from other parts of the temple, and then from all the city, and strangers and sojourners in Jerusalem, they were addressed by some of the disciples, each in his own language. The infant Church, which had just now been in one place in prayer and supplication, separated from the world and Jewish worshippers, is now scattered among the worshippers, each one telling the wonderful works of God-a type of the Church as she throws herself into all lands and among all peoples, telling in their own language, and not in the old Hebrew, or Greek, or even the Latin, the wonderful story of the Cross. This was the baptism of fire of which John the Baptist spoke when he said: "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." It was the voice of the Lord, saying: "Go, speak unto the people all the words of this life." A measure of it, I think, is put into the heart of every truly converted man, and he longs to tell what God has done for him; but in its highest form it comes down upon those whom it thrusts out as labourers in His harvest-perhaps its very highest form on those who, in obedience to its mandates, take their lives in their hands and go to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Separating, then, the abiding power from the temporary and miraculous, there seems to be, first, a strong impulse to speak for Jesus an impulse like that exhibited in Christ's own youth, when he spoke with the doctors in the temple, and said, in answer to his wondering mother's question: "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

Secondly, this baptism does not change the natural characteristics of the minister, but works through them. Peter, quoting from Joel, said: "Your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams." In the young, imagination is prominent. They are ever building castles in the air and looking through prisms, viewing the world as if it were clad in brilliant hues. God uses all the imagination, and all the hopefulness and fervency, and all the energy and activity which the young possess. The old men "dream dreams." Memory predominates with them. They bring out of its storehouses incidents of the past. The sons and daughters "shall prophesy";

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Effects of the Baptism of Fire.

even the little children join in songs; and earth's sweetest music is heard when "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise."

Nor is this divine endowment restricted to the influential or the wealthy; but it is given also to the servants and handmaids. In the days of servitude it glowed in the heart and spoke through the tongue of the pious slave. It works through all classes and conditions of humanity, using all the peculiarities of men and all their circumstances.

May I suggest, before passing from the description of this pentecostal scene and its prophecy, that the "wonders in Heaven above and signs in the earth beneath," the sun turned into darkness and the moon into blood, which were to be "before that great and notable day of the Lord came," may have been already accomplished. Judaism had been shaken; its sceptre was for ever departed. The blood of innocent children had been shed. Miracles without number had been wrought by the hand of Christ. The sun had been veiled in darkness for three hours while the Son of Man hung upon the cross; and the earth had quaked as with fear.

This baptism of fire wrought great changes in the character of the apostles, and manifests the same elements in the hearts of true ministers everywhere.

First, it imparted to the apostles a high degree of moral courage. Their timidity was changed into bravery. They no longer fled from persecutors or assailants; but standing in the temple, spoke daily of the work of the Lord Jesus. They feared neither prisons nor death, though their preaching necessarily aroused the strong antagonism of the Jewish authorities. They proclaimed Him publicly to be the one whom they had crucified as a malefactor. No marvel the Jewish council said: "Ye intend to bring this man's blood upon us." Reproved and even scourged, they received the pain with joy that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Lord Jesus. Imprisoned for the night, they spoke as boldly the next morning. It is supposed that all of them but one suffered a violent death for their attachment to Christ.

Mr. Spurgeon's Calvinism.

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A clear conviction of this Divine mission still gives the minister a foundation for his heroism. He hears the voice which said to Abram: "I am the Almighty God. Walk before Me and be thou perfect." The same conviction of duty which sent the patriarch from Mesopotamia to Canaan, which sent the prophets on holy missions and inspired the heroes of Israel, works in the heart of the minister. He has heard the voice saying "Go preach," and it has been as a fire in his bones. This is usually strongest with the young minister, and especially with those who, under circumstances of great distress and difficulty, go forward in the discharge of duty. Too frequently, as we become accustomed to the ministry and are in comparatively comfortable circumstances, this thought of a Divine mission is less prominent and abiding. Hence, says the apostle: "Stir up the gift of God which is in thee." Uncover the coals which have become imbedded in ashes, that the free air of heaven may make them glow and sparkle. All ministers, in every age and under all circumstances, need this conviction. Every time they ascend the pulpit they should feel that they are sent of God-sent with a Divine message and sent to that specific congregation. Among modern ministers, Mr. Spurgeon is one of its strongest illustrations. He is a Calvinist; but his Calvinism seems to me to take one form. He feels that he was predestinated from all eternity to preach the Gospel in his Tabernacle-that he was sent to that particular people. He steps upon the platform with this feeling in his heart; he enters upon his work as though he had something important to say; he challenges the attention of the congregation by his devout manner and by his own deep interest in the subject which he presents. Without this conviction of a Divine mission, why should people gather to hear us? How can we hold their attention and reach their consciences?

Another element was a clear conviction of the presence of the Unseen. The apostles had looked up to Heaven as Jesus ascended; angels spoke with them; they had seen the tongues of fire; they lived partly in the invisible. The Spirit which still dwells in the heart of the minister allies him to the invisible. Its home is in the highest heavens. Its constant tendency is to

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Legend of St. Chrysostom.

draw the human heart to the Unseen. The true minister feels that he is compassed about with a cloud of witnesses, that ever look upon him from the heavens above; that they are with him in his ministrations. Thus he lives "as seeing Him who is invisible." Faith is one of its manifestations-"the evidence

of things not seen."

There is a beautiful legend of St. Chrysostom. He had been educated carefully; was a man of culture and devoted to his calling; and yet in his earlier ministry he was not remarkable for his success. At one time he had what seemed to be a vision. He thought he was in the pulpit, and in the chancel and round about him were holy angels. In the midst of them and directly before him was the Lord Jesus; and he was to preach to the congregation assembled beyond. The vision or the reverie deeply affected his spirit. The next day he ascended the pulpit he felt the impression of the scene. He thought of the holy angels as if gathered around him; of the blessed Saviour as directly before him-as listening to his words and beholding his spirit. He became intensely earnest; and from that day forward a wonderful power attended his ministrations. Multitudes gathered around him wherever he preached. Though he had the simple name of John while he lived, the ages have called him Chrysostom, the "golden-mouthed." Could we as ministers have ever with us this conviction that near us, beside us, in the pulpit and around us were holy angels; that the Blessed Saviour was ever before us, looking upon us with those eyes of love that broke Peter's heart, and listening for our words and longing to have us say something that His own spirit and power might bear with wings of fire to the hearts of the people, what an immense effect would it have on our ministrations! This blessed influence the Holy Spirit is ever exercising-taking of the things of the Father and showing them to us; bringing to our remembrance the words of Christ; opening our eyes to behold wondrous things out of His law; and revealing to us the personal presence of the Blessed Saviour in all His omnipotence. It is this Spirit which in moments of weakness, of darkness, and loneliness whispers to our souls: "Lo! I am with you alway."

Another element was the consciousness of divine assistance. The presence of the Invisible alone might overawe and overwhelm; but when that presence is revealed and manifested in the form of assistance, what an immense power does it become! The heroes of old claimed to have the presence and assistance of their gods. Jupiter and Mars changed the destinies of battles. Eneas claimed to be the son of Venus. Alexander was called the son of Jupiter Ammon. Cæsar claimed a divine commission and influence. The very thought of friends looking on becomes an assistance. The hero in the day of battle is nerved by the thought of home, friends, and country. With what deathconquering energy will the husband and father meet the savage foe, seeking to destroy his home and to murder his wife and children! Alexander, when a young man, entering upon his career of conquest, said: "I seem to be standing where the eyes of the whole world are upon me." But how feeble these things compared to the thought of the presence of God, and that His power not only strengthens and protects us, but may pass, through our instrumentality, to the hearts of the congregation! How inspiring that other thought, that we are not looking for God to assist us, so much as God is longing to use us for His own glory! He says: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." It is the glory of the vine that its little twigs are laden with grapes. Christ is that Vine. We are the branches and twigs; and how anxious He is that we may bring forth much fruit! What limit can we set to the results to be accomplished, if so be the power of God works through us? The power that nerved the arm of a Samson to remove the gates of Gaza, and then to shake down the pillars of an edifice; the power that through the simple blowing of rams' horns caused the walls of Jericho to fall down; the power that opened a path through the Red Sea, and fed millions with manna; that power, in all its majesty and might, is with us and ready to work, through our words, our tongues, our eyes, and through our very gestures, to reconcile the world unto God. How sad is it that some weak spot in the conductor limits the intensity and quantity of the divine electric stream!