Apoftles in a very ftrange and furprizing Manner. And this might be called, the Promife of the Holy Choft, both upon account of the Prediction in Joel, mentioned by St. Peter at the 16th, and 17th, and fome following Verfes of this Chapter; It fhall come to pass in the laft Days, (faith God) I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flef, &c. And also because our Saviour several Times promifed it his Apostles whilft he convers'd with them upon Earth. Thus in John xv. 25. When the Comforter is come, whom I will fend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth. And fo likewife at the 7th Verte of the xvith Chapter; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will fend him unto you. Thele Promiles were made before his Death: And they were again repeated after his Refurrection,

Thus St. Luke informs us, in the last Chapter of his Gospel, that he spake after this Manner; Behold, I fend the Promife of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the City of Jerufalem, until ye be indued with Power from on high. And to the fame Purpose we are told, in the first Chapter of his Acts of the Apofiles; that

be

be commanded them that they should not depart from Jerufalem, but wait for the Promife of the Father, which (faith he) ye have heard of me: For John truly baptiz'd with Water, but ye shall be baptiz'd with the Holy Ghoft not many Days hence. Upon either or both of these Accounts might the Baptifm, with the Holy Ghoft, or the fhedding forth of the Holy Ghost upon the Apoftles, be called the Promife of it.

Now of the fulfilling of this Promise to the Apostles, we have a large Account in this Chapter out of which my Text is taken. As they were all with one Accord in one Place, fuddenly there came a Sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty Wind, and it filled all the Houfe where they were fitting. The fuddennefs of this Sound, its impetuous, violent rufhing, and its filling all the Houfe, very properly reprefented the wonderful Power and Force of that Holy Spirit, which bore down the Oppofition Chriftiantity met with in its Infancy, and quickly gave it a very great Footing in all Parts of the World.

To proceed; We are told that Cloven Tongues appear'd to them, like as of Fire, and it fat upon each of them; And they were all filled with the Holy Ghoft, and began

F 2

began to freak with other Tongues, as the Spirit gave them Utterance: Thus they were qualified to talk whatfoever Language they had Occafion to make Ufe of in propagating the Chriftian Faith. This Variety of Languages which they were quallified to talk, might be denoted by the Form in which the Tongues appeared; for they appeared Cloven or divided.

Their appearing like as of Fire, might be a Token of that Warmth and Vigour, wherewith the Apostles fhould preach the Doctrine of JESUS CHRIST; and also of the powerful Conviction following their Difcourfes; which had a Force over confiderate thinking Men, like as Fire over combustible Matter, which it brings into the fame Condition with it felf.

Again, Thefe Tongues coming upon each of them, fhew'd that they were all endued with the like Gift; and their fiting upon them might fignify, that this Gift was to rest upon them, or that they fhould conftantly enjoy the Ufe of those Languages, which were neceffary in order to the making Disciples in all the Nations over which they fhould travel.

And as the Descent of the Holy Ghost enabled the Apoftles to impart the Divine Myfteries to others, fo it brought the Know

Knowledge of all neceflary Doctrines to themselves. THIS indeed was but previous to THAT; it being impoffible for any one to inforın another of what he himself is ignorant. And therefore though the Apostles had lived a very confiderable Time under the Miniftry of our Saviour himself, and had heard the Doctrines of the Gospel Difpenfation from his own Mouth; yet he, knowing the Weakness and Dulnefs of their Capacities, judged it requifite, that, after his Departure, the Holy Ghost fhould refresh their Memories, and enlighten their Understandings, with a clear Knowledge of thofe Points, they might forget, or not rightly apprehend. Agreeably hereunto, he fpeaks to them in John xiv. 26. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will fend in my Name, he shall teach you all Things, and bring all Things to your Remembrance whatsoever I have faid unto you. And again, in John xvi. 12. 13. I have yet many Things to Jay unto you, but ye cannot hear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all Truth.

Neither were thefe I have already mentioned the only Benefits redounding to the Apoftles from the Defcent of the Holy F 3 Ghost

Ghoft, but they received likewife the Power of working Miracles. Thus at the 43d Verfe of the Chapter before us, we read, that many Wonders and Signs were done by the Apostles. And feveral of these are recorded in this Book of their Acts; fuch as communicating the Holy Ghost to others; driving unclean Spirits out of those who were vexed with them; giving Soundness of Limbs to Men that were born Cripples: reftoring the Dead to Life; Ariking Offenders dead; and the like.

Thus by the Defcent of the Holy Ghost, the Apostles were enrich'd with a Treasure of heavenly Doctrines: They were capacitated to deliver them to Men of any Nation whatsoever: And could work Miracles to convince thofe to whom they de livered them, of their Truth and Certainty.

And as thefe extraordinary Talents and Privileges were given to the Apostles of our Lord; fo they did not bury them, or permit them to lye by neglected; but employ'd them according to the Defign of him by whom they were given. Which leads me to the laft Head of Discourse, to wit, the Behaviour of the Apostles after the Defcent of the Holy Ghost upon them. But this I fhall referve to another Opportunity.. SER.