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and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again." Let his offers, his most advantageous offers constrain us thus to judge, thus to turn to God, thus to admit conviction. God is willing to make the sinner righteous, to "take away his heart of stone and give him a heart of flesh"," to justify him, sanctify him, glorify him, if he will only on his part freely acknowledge his sin, throw himself on the mercy of God, and sue, in all humbleness of mind, for pardon and peace. And this being done, all the good things that can be desired or expected will follow, all those personal, spiritual, social, and domestic qualities which spring from a lively faith, form the perfect man, and make the soul meet for eternity.

The Apostle here enumerates many of these with much particularity, and recommends them with great earnestness. His observations begin with an incentive to increased diligence in the discharge of these obligations. "The end of all things is at hand." And his concluding words in effect are, that the fruits of a true reliance on the merits of Jesus Christ must be practically diffused through all the conversation, and that if they are, they will minister, as they ought, in the most comprehensive manner and through the only available channel, to the glory of God. Is this the case with those who are here assembled? Are they living examples of the faith they profess? Do they in effect prove, by their life and conversation, that they renounce sin and strive after holiness, and all through faith in him who is the atonement for sin and Giver of every good gift? In a word, do they prepare for an "end of all things?" Soberness, watchfulness unto prayer, fervent charity among themselves, hospitality one to another without grudging, speech in conformity with the oracles of God, ministration according to the ability that God giveth, these are some of the evidences of sincerity in the cause of Christ; and Christ will require them at the hands of his people. Let each of us lay this to heart, and ask himself, upon the basis of these evidences, what is his present state in the sight of God. Let him ask the question solemnly; let him answer the question deliberately; let him consider the question impartially; let him give to each point here brought forward, its due portion of attention; and the Spirit which "takes of the Lord's and shows it" unto his disciples, shall “ guide him into all truth3."

1 2 Cor. V., 14, 15. 2 Ezek. xxxvi., 26.

3 John xvi., 13, 15.

WHIT SUNDAY.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts ii., 1 to 11.

WHEN the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because

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that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another. Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

This is the day on which we commemorate the feast of Whitsuntide, called Pentecost in the Jewish Church, because it was kept forty-nine days, or seven weeks after the feast of the Passover'; and distinguished in the Christian Church, because it was the day on which the Saviour's promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost was in a most extraordinary manner fulfilled. The Epistle for the day contains an account of this latter remarkable event, and, beyond all doubt, it has been with this view selected. It states that while the Apostles "were all with one accord in one place," 'suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, which filled all the house where they were sitting." It states also that "there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and that it sat upon each of them, and that they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." "Now when this was noised abroad," the historian goes on to say, "the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one

1 The Hebrews called this feast, the feast of Weeks, (Exod. xxxiv., 22,) because it was kept seven weeks after the Passover; see also Levit. xxiii., 10, 11. 2 John xiv., 16, 17, 26.

to another, behold are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born?" And then the inspired writer proceeds to inform us further, that so palpable was the power of "speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," that "devout men out of almost every nation under heaven" heard the Apostles speak, in the tongues peculiar to their own countries, the wonderful works of God."

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The extraordinary circumstances connected with this transaction were: first, the existence of a power or faculty of speaking with other tongues; and secondly, the communication of that miraculous power or faculty to Galileans, men most unpolished and unlettered, and devoid of all capacity and intelligence. In general, a knowledge of other tongues can only be gained after severe study, and by men of some capacity and attainments. But in this case the knowledge of other tongues was gained in a moment, and by men who were most illiterate and ignorant. And the effects of the miracle were manifest to so many, and to men of so many different nations, and at the same moment, that none could be deceived. Thus did God work a special miracle for the furtherance of truth, and provide a special evidence for the establishment of its credibility. And thus do we obtain the true foundation of this day's observance, which is, not because it is the feast of Pentecost, and an important incident in Jewish history, but because it commemorates the first miraculous effusion of the Holy Ghost. The name given in our prayer books to this day, Whit Sunday, is supposed to have originated in the colour of the vestments anciently worn by baptized persons, this having been the day on which baptism was most frequently administered in the early church, and white vestments having been usually worn on such occasions by the candidates for baptism.

And now the very grave consideration arises, how we may derive edification from this portion of Scripture, and what is the edification which it affords. First, we should feel very thankful for the signal instance of God's mercy to the Church recorded in this day's history. The effusion, as at this time, of the Holy Ghost, caused the Gospel to take deep root in the hearts of the people, and enabled the preachers of the Gospel "to go forth in the strength of the Lord God'," and to plant what " grew mightily and prevailed. The fruits of that seed-time of the Acts xix., 20.,

1 Ps. Lxxi., 16.

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faith we of the present day enjoy, and blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath made that branch of his planting to take root downward and bear fruit upward. Further, we must not only feel thankful for that inestimable benefit, but increase our faith in the Author of it. He who could send forth such demonstrations of his power, and establish on so immovable a foundation the evidences of his Gospel, must indeed be God. Again, we are assured, in this Scripture, of the faithfulness of God, who both promised and performed. Let trust in this faithful God continue, even as his faithfulness to his promise continues. Once more, what weak instruments were on this occasion chosen to work out the designs of God? Shall despairing sinners ever despair, shall ignorant brethren ever toil in vain after knowledge, shall inveterate worldlings ever really find the world too strong for them, if Christ is strongest in his people's weakness, and can choose despised Galileans to be messengers of the churches, and stewards of the mysteries of God? And finally, we are here told of an extraordinary operation of the Holy Ghost, which has ceased, but has been followed by another operation of the same Spirit, which works as effectually, though not so visibly. This operation will work, if we will only give it free course, in all our hearts. But feelings, and thoughts, and imaginations, are not alone sufficient to establish the fact of this operation, nor can they make out a claim for any of us, of themselves, to the title of sons of God. As the works which the Apostles did in former days, proved them to be those on whom the gift of tongues had fallen, so must certain fruits of the Spirit known and read of all men, and explained and set forth in the Bible, prove us to have the gifts of the Spirit.

If the recurrence of this festival puts us upon the inquiry, and leads us into a train of thought ministering to such inquiry, it will not have now been celebrated in vain. The fruits of the Spirit are enumerated by St. Paul, and St. Paul is accessible to all.

"The fruits of the Spirit are in all goodness and righteousness and truth'." They are "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance".". If we are without these, whatever be our profession, whatever our inward excitement, we are without the Spirit: and if we are without the Spirit, we are without Christ, and are none of his. With them, on the contrary, we are Christ's, and can offer evidence not to be gainsayed, that we have really "crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts"." 3 Gal. v., 24.

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Eph. V., 9.

2 Gal. v., 22, 23.

MONDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK.

FOR THE EPISTLE.

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached ;

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged

on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God,

Acts X., 34 to 48.

even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The greater part of this address of the Apostle to the people is a recapitulation of the history of Jesus as contained in the Gospels, and was accompanied and followed by an extraordinary effusion of the Holy Ghost, and also followed by the immediate baptism of those who had heard the word and received of the Spirit. The people thus highly favoured were Gentiles, men not belonging to the Jewish nation, and hence, in the opinion of all Jews, even of Jews who had embraced the Gospel, beyond the pale of salvation. The Apostle', in particular, who bore a chief part in this ministration, had, in common with his pre

1 Gal. ii., 11 to 14.

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