A.D. 30. wh. the sin of Judas rendered it just that he should have his abode."— Olshausen. pears to have The choice of Matthias by lot, an evidence of a faith.-A faith wh.-I. Even after painful experiences, despairs not of the triumph of the kingdom of Christ. II. Recognises the high calling and importance of the apostolic office. III. In consciousness of its own weakness, refers the decision to the Lord in everything.e 66 с "The word Where at last?-A Hindoo, of a thoughtful, reflecting turn of clerus, as app. to mind, but devoted to idolatry, lay on his deathbed. As he saw the clergy, ap- himself about to plunge into that boundless unknown, he cried been suggested out, "What will become of me?" Oh," said a Brahmin. who by the use of the stood by, "you will inhabit another body.' "And where," said term in the LXX. he, " shall I go to then?" "Into another." "And where then?” and in this pas-"Into another, and so on, through thousands of millions." Darting across this whole period as though it were but an instant, he cried, "Where shall I go then?" Paganism could not answer, and he died agonising under the inquiry, "Where shall I go last of all?" sage." Words- d Pr. xvi. 33. Pentecost a Le. xxiii. 15, 16; De. xvi. 3. "The Holy Ghost is given on earth, that we should love our neighbours, and He is given from hea ven, that we should love God." -Gregory. b B. Dickinson, A.M. tongues of fire Chrysostom. Rabbinic wri CHAPTER THE SECOND. 1, 2. Pentecost,a lit. fiftieth. Fiftieth day fr. second day of passo., interval 7 weeks, a week of weeks, hence called in O. T. the feast of weeks. place, the upper room. as.. wind, as if a mighty wind (lit. blast) were rushing along. filled, i.é., the sound. The day of Pentecost.-The occurrences of this day exhibitI. Evidence of a special Divine influence. II. The Divine mission of Jesus, and the truth of Christianity. III. The folly of opposition to Christ's kingdom. IV. The grand means of advancing Christ's cause and saving sinners. V. The Christian minister's grand source of encouragement. VI. The reality and importance of revivals of religion." 3, 4. cloven. . fire, the tongues of fire parted themselves of like streams fr. one source; or like branches fr. one root, and disa Wordsworth, tributed themselves among them." sat. them, many old. writers b sup. the flame to have exhibited a tongue-like appearters show that it ance. filled, abundant fulfilment of the promise. other, other was a common than they had learned. This would sugg. that the Gospel was belief of the Jews designed for men of all languages, and that these Apostles were ance like fire oft. to preach it among all nations. that an appear in encircled the The sound of wind and flames of fire, striking images of the heads of distin- nature and operation of the Holy Ghost.-I. The Holy Ghost has guished teachers of the law. God the nature of wind: 1. In His secret coming; 2. In His powerful has oft. been shaking; 3. In His purifying blowing; 4. In His soft refreshing. pleased to reveal II. He has the nature of fire: 1. In His bright shining; 2. In His Himself to men genial warming; 3. In His destructive burning; 4. In His rapid conformity with their own spreading.c-The accompanying signs of the outpouring of the conceptions as to Spirit.-I. As proofs that the kingdom of power and grace is the mode in wh. under one God. II. As types of the Spirit and His power."The Pentecost, the culminating period in the system of Redemption. nications fr. Him. This period was distinguished by a new manifestation of the As by star to ma- Divine Spirit, and there are three things observable in His gians."-Hackett. b Calvin, advent: I. His action upon the disciples: 1. Upon their ear; 2. Upon their eye; calling them: (1) To life; (2) To speech; See A. J. Mor- (3) To purity. II. His action in them. III. His action through it is natural to expect commu riches, etc. Hein them. The speech: 1. Followed their Divine inspiration; 2. Unquestionably was miraculous; 3. Was immensely useful; 4. Was profoundly religious.d A.D. 30. ris's "Words for Heart and Life," 135. "He came in a sound, to awake them; in wind, to fire, to enlighten move them; in and warm them; in tongues, to Utility of a knowledge of languages.-The Rev. Pliny Fisk, in a letter to the Society of Inquiry respecting Missions at Andover, soon after his arrival at Smyrna, writes-"I beg leave to submit to you one remark, which seems to me important, respecting the qualifications of a Missionary. It is this: more knowledge of languages should be acquired. I say, more knowledge of languages, rather than a knowledge of more languages. To have such an acquaintance with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, as will enable you speak."- Farinnot only to read them with familiarity, but to speak and write don. them, would be of very great utility in this country, and I pre-e Dr. Lechler. sume in any part of Asia, probably in any part of the world. And let me add that it would be well if the wife of a Missionary were to know Italian, French, and Latin." a make them d Dr. Thomas. bles There were three 5, 6. dwelling, both residents and visitors at the feast. the multidevout, God-fearing. every nation, many and distant lands. tude assemwhen.. abroad (see Gk.), when this sound occurred. "It was heard over all the neighbourhood, prob. over all Jerus." together, to what seemed the centre, or source of the sound. every language, one of the Apos. employed this, another that language. .. classes of dispersed Jews: (1) Those led into cap. by Shal- whom were (2) (B.C. 606), chiefly in Mesopotamia; (3) Ptolemy Lagus(B.C. 329), who The import of the Pentecostal gift.-I. It is a sign for Israel. II. It is a type of the lot of the Gentiles; a type-1. Of the calling of all nations; 2. Of the election of those who inquire after salvation; 3. Of the rejection of those who mock at the great works of God. III. The hope, trust, and confidence of true Christians.-Jews out of every nation. The dispersion of Israel, a masterpiece of the Divine government-I. As a just punishment for sin; II. As a powerful means for spreading the knowledge of the true God; III. As an instrument for spreading the Gospel.c ants of Jerus. Unknown tongues.-The introduction of the word unknown, which does not occur in the New Testament, has given some colour to the absurd idea that these were tongues unknown to any human language. They were foreign languages, doubtless unknown before to the speakers, but certainly understood by their audience, as the context proves. a carried inhabit into Egypt. a Alford so also Hackett, Meyer, De Wette, etc. b Пlarless. c Lechler. 7, 8. Galileans, people of one country and language. how, their assince, being all of one land, they naturally speak one and the same tonishment tongue. born, speak it, too, as well as we who fr. birth have used it. The outpouring of the Spirit upon the disciples of the Lord.— I. What is necessarily implied in it. II. The external signs under wh. the Spirit appeared. III. The power wh. He immediately showed in the disciples. IV. The effect wh. He produced upon the rest of the people.b a Jo. vii. 52; Ac. i. 11. men and other illiterate persons should all on a sudden become linguists, and in The want of the Holy Spirit.-It is as if you saw a locomotive an hour's time engine upon a railway, and it would not go; and they put up a be able to speak driver, and they said, "Now, that.driver will just do." They try intelligibly to a another and another. One proposes that such and such a wheel and variety of should be altered; but still it will not go. Some one then bursts nations in their in amongst those who are conversing, and says, " No, friends; but respective guages, was an the reason why it will not go is because there is no steam. You ability' wh. in have no fire; you have no water in the boiler: that's why it will those circum great number lan was A.D. 30. not go. There may be some faults about it; it may want a bit of stances of place, paint here and there; but it will go well enough with all those time, and per- faults if you do but get the steam up." But now people are sons, wherein it saying, "This must be altered, and that must be altered." But it exercised, would go no better unless God the Spirit should come to bless us, That is the Church's great want; and, until that want be supplied. have been super- we may reform and reform, and still be just the same. We want natural or mira- the Holy Spirit; and then, whatever faults there may be in our culous."-Hon. R. organisation, they can never materially impede the progress of may justly be concluded Boyle. b Laughbein. c Spurgeon. many nations to a Map No. 21, in Christian Know.; Christianity when once the Spirit of the Lord God is in our midst.c 9,10. Parthians, etc. [consult Atlas a], design of Lu. to show in how many tongues the Apos. spoke. Judæa," The people of Jerus. would be astonished to hear Galileans speak the dialect of Judæa with purity" [i. 214, 364]. Jews. . proselytes, fr. the various districts ref. to. The proselytes were Jews converted fr. heathenism.. The thousand-tongued hallelujah of the world in honour of God. Explo. Fund, pub.-I. Begun on the morning of creation in the kingdom of nature. by Soc. for Pro. II. Renewed at Pentecost in the kingdom of grace. III. Perfected, see also, Class but never finished, on the day of manifestation in the kingdom of and Desk, N. T. glory.c 210, 211; also Topics, vol. i. b Rev. F. C. Cook; cf. Ma. xxvi. 73, 74; Mk. xiv. 69 -72. selytus: Gk, pro selytos Language.-Language must either have been revealed from heaven, or it is the fruit of human invention. The latter opinion is embraced by Horace, Lucretius, Cicero, and most of the Gk. and Rom. writers; the former by the Jews, and Christians, and the profoundest philosophers of France and England. It has Proselyte, one who been affirmed that Hebrew was the language spoken by Adam; has come over to but others deny this, and say that the Heb., Chaldee, and Arabic a religion or opi- are only dialects of the original long-lost and unknown. Of the nion. Fr. L. pro- Heb., the Chaldee and Syriac are dialects. The orig. European proser-languages were thirteen. (viz., Greek, Latin, Dutch, Sclavonian, chomai, to come spoken in the E.; Welsh; Biscayan, spoken in Spain; Irish; to-pros, to; er- Albanian, in the mountains of Epirus; Tartarian, the old Illyrian; the Jazygian, remaining yet in Liburnia; the Chaucin, in the N. of Hungary; and the Finnic, in E. of Friesland). Arabic is the mother-tongue of Africa. From the Lat. sprang the Italian, the one language French, and Spanish; and fr. the Spanish the Portuguese. The of the whole Turkish is a mixed dialect of the Tartarian. From the High world."-Jerome. Dutch, or Teutonic, sprang the present German, Danish, Swedish, d Topics, ii. 271. Norwegian, English, Scotch, etc. There are 3,664 known ls., or rather dialects, in the world: 737 Asiatic, 587 European, 276 African, 1,624 American.d chomai, e'ython, to come. c Gerok. "Christ became some doubt, others mock a Lu. i. 49; 1 Ti. iii. 16; Ro. i. 16. b Jahn says that 11-13. Cretes.. Arabians, words to be understood as preceding "Jews and proselytes." wonderful. . God," lit. great things of God. what.. this? their minds impressed by the miracle. others, to whom the Apos.' discourse was senseless, bec. unintelligible. new wine, sweet, not new, for the vintage sweet wine was had not yet come. produced fr. dried grapes, by The multitude in amazement.-I. A multitude gathered from soaking them in all parts of the world. II. Gathered for religious purposes. old wine, and III. Astonished by a miracle: 1. They heard Galileans speak in then pressing them a second other tongues; 2. They heard, in their own tongues, every man, time. It was very the wonderful works of God. IV. Variously affected: 1. All were intoxicating. amazed; 2. Some inquired; 3. Some mocked. Are not hearers "Behold their at this day also, var. affected by the Gospel ? A.D. 30 folly convicted by the season itself, how could be new cost? But са Names of the Holy Spirit.-As in the case of the Father and Son, the Scriptures supply us with a variety of appellations and epithets by which to designate the Holy Spirit. He is spoken of as-"Breath of the Almighty; Comforter; Eternal Spirit; Free Spirit; God; Good Spirit; Holy Spirit; Holy Spirit of God; there wine at PenteHoly Spirit of Promise; the Lord; Power of the Highest; the Spirit; Spirit of the Lord God; Spirit of the Lord; Spirit of lumny is blind." God; Spirit of the Father; Spirit of Christ; Spirit of the Son; -Severian. "He who speaks Spirit of life; Spirit of grace; Spirit of prophecy; Spirit of of heavenly adoption; Spirit of wisdom; Spirit of counsel; Spirit of might; things, speaks Spirit of understanding; Spirit of knowledge; Spirit of the fear with of the Lord; Spirit of truth; Spirit of holiness; Spirit of revela- tongues." tion; Spirit of judgment; Spirit of burning; Spirit of glory; Seven Spirits of God; Voice of the Lord.”—J. Bate. Gregory. new c F. Wagstaff. character of but now exalted as the Messiah, vv. 2229; 34-36. a Lightfoot. 14, 15. Peter, note the change wrought in him by the Holy Peter's deSpirit. standing, having taken up his station. Boldness. fence of the Apostles with eleven, identifying himself with them; they concurring in what he said. This the first public testimony of the witnesses. In Peter's adlifted.. voice, perh. bec. of his voice he may have been put dress we have: forward. A fisherman with a strong voice. words, his speech Defence of again betrays him; but now as an earnest preacher of the truth. Apos. vv. 14, 15. third.. day, ab. 9 A.м., bef. wh. time the Jews held it unlawful (2) Mir. explained to take food during a festival,a still more to drink wine. as fulfil. of prophecy, vv. 16-21. A new order of religious ministry.-In Peter's speech we see (3) Gift of Spirit I. A statement for refuting the charge of the scoffer: 1. Negative as the act of the -"these are not drunken," etc. crucified, (1) A categorical denial; also once an intimation of (2) The groundlessness of the charge, and Jesus, vv. 30-33. -(3) Of high improbability. 2. Positive (v. 16). II. An argu- (4) The claim of ment for convicting the hearts of the hardened. III. An exhorta-Christ tion for directing the conduct of the awakened. They were convicted of an act-1. Most guilty; 2. Most irreparable. Missionary character of Christianity.-There is one feature of b Dr. Thomas. Christianity which must strike the mind of every observer, viz., "He, who had that no other system of religion in the world is missionary. They not endured the all limit themselves to the people, country, and clime, where they questioning of a have grown. Where are the Missionaries of the religions of poor girl, now, China, of India, of Africa, of Persia, of Japan? But no sooner the people, all was Christianity introduced into the world than it sent forth its breathing muragencies beyond the place of its introduction. Jerusalem, Judea, der, discourses Samaria, and the utmost parts of the earth,” are the scope of its with such confloperations. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel very thing beto every creature," is the command of its Spirit to all its agents; comes And hence, Christianity has its agents, institutions, literature, questionable and means in every quarter of the globe. What does this prove Resurrection.". for Christianity? That as a system of religion, it is nobler, Chrysostom. grander, more benevolent and diffusive than any other; and the "In the way of an success which has crowned Christianity wherever it has gone, careful to remove demonstrates that it is Divine in its origin; adapted to all minds, the prejudice ahearts, lives, and countries; civilising, meliorating, saving, and gainst them."— beautifying in its effects; and the only religion which can restore Clarius. a fallen world to its glorious Creator and God.c 66 16-18. by.. Joel,a though he was the mouthpiece, not author of the words, Peter, under the direct influence of the Spirit, recognises the Divine origin of the Book. and, etc., the LXX. being chiefly quoted. the.. days, in N.T. this express.=age in the midst of dence, that this an un proof of the orator, he is first c J. Bate. the gift of the Spirit predicted a Joel ii. 28-32. A.D. 30. b Hackett. c Dr. Green. 66 of Messiah, the world's last great moral epoch." all flesh, not Jews only. prophesy, not merely foretell, but teach (forthtell). visions, revelations to waking sense. dreams, "sleep." The pouring out of God's Spirit.-I. Some observations on these words: 1. The blessing promised-God's Spirit; 2. The manner of its dispensation; 3. The extent of its influence; 4. The opens as a com- season of its communication; 5. The certainty of its effusion. pass, that reaches II. Some applications of them: 1. The strong claims wh. this over all our map, subject has on our attention; 2. The duties to wh. it urges us; world; from our 3. The hopes with wh. it inspires us.d "The Holy Ghost, as He is a cloven tongue, Over all Our east to our west, A remarkable dream.-Although little or no attention is to be from our birth paid to dreams in general, it cannot be denied that they are someto our death; times remarkable, and followed by striking effects. The followfrom our cradles to our graves; ing is an instance of this kind, in the case of a lame boy who had and directs us, been very wicked and undutiful. Adjoining a room where he lay, for all things, to was a passage. He dreamed that this was on fire, and thought it all persons, in all places, and at was hell. He imagined that he saw many devils flying about all times."-Dr. in the flames, and that they were coming to take him away. Awaking in great terror, he attempted to alarm his mother; and put out his arm to her, but in vain. Though he said nothing of "Printing is an his dream for several months, a great alteration had been reart, in which man marked in his temper. He was very desirous that his mother was indisputably should read the Scriptures to him, and some hymn-books. He instructed by the great delighted in reading, as he could, the Scripture texts on the re Donne. same embroider for a blessing as the Teacher, who ward tickets, which his brothers and sisters obtained at a Sabbath taught him to school. So great was the pleasure he derived from the Word of the service of the God, that he would say in an evening, "I could keep awake all sanctuary; and night to hear my mother read the Bible." His mother sitting by wh. amounts his bedside, he said to her, "Mother, though I am in so much almost to as great pain, I am happy." She replied, "What makes you happy, my gift of tongues." dear?" Because," said he, "I am not afraid to die." dear, do you know that death has a sting?" "Yes," he replied, "but Christ has taken it away." A little before his departure, he was heard saying, "He will never, never forsake me." Soon after, he looked up, and exclaimed, "Jesus and His angels ! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!"e -Cowper. e Whitecross. who may be b Mk. xiii. 24. 66 66 66 My 19-21. wonders, etc., prodigies, as at the crucifixiona-the eclipse-rending of rocks-earthquake at Resurrection. day.. Lord', acc. to Heb. prophets, the day when God will punish His enemies for rejection of His mercy, etc. whosoever, every one, "no union with any external association or succession required; "Judgments the promise is to individuals as individuals."e name.. Lord, against the wick-i.e., of Christ. saved, fr. doom of rejectors, and admitted to joys ed come quick of His Kingdom. after these grand former is a warn manifestations The language of the Holy Ghost.-I. How it causes itself to be of grace; the dis- heard. II. How it is heard: to 1. Bewilderment; 2. Offence; and play of the 3. Salvation.-Standt.-How in the light of Pentecost every secret ing to us to acthing is brought to light.-I. The secrets of the heart: 1. The cept the latter." scorners; 2. The disciples. II. Those of Scripture: 1. Its promises; -Bengel. 2. Its threatenings. III. The ways of God : 1. In the present; "Never forget 2. In the future.d that the day will Reliance on Christ.-Might I be permitted to advert to my own our virtues will experience, I should say, that I have found nothing so salutary as be tried, as with to turn the mind immediately to the Saviour. "Whosoever fire; and that calleth upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." To pray humility alone immediately to Christ, to cast ourselves incessantly upon His come, when all |