peace.

The Shechinah had withdrawn from the temple, in which the priests of the Aaronic order still ministered according to the rites of the now abrogated law; but it descended with more softened radiance, to authenticate, illumine, and bless the church, which henceforth was to become the holy and spiritual temple of the living God.

On the opening of the tabernacle, and subsequently of the temple, for the worship which was presented by the Jews, fire came forth from the presence of the Lord, to enkindle the sacrifice prepared upon the altar, and to consecrate the respective structures for divine service: so, when the Christian church was opened for all the nations of the world, in all their various languages; and to witness and report which opening, representatives from all parts of the earth were present,* the same impressive token

* "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, 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 to another, 'Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes

of divine authority and favour was given. But then, let it be observed, that they were the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, which were here authenticated, as acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, in the Christian church ;-not the bleeding victim, nor the unbloody sacrifice, presented on an altar. The fire celestial, assumed the form of the tongue; the member of the body which God has made to celebrate his praise, address his throne of mercy, and proclaim his truth. The tongue was cloven, that by the living, glowing, tremulous, movement of its divided tip, a significant emblem might be presented, of the power which was conveyed to praise, and to preach, in diverse languages; and of the fervour and constancy with which both parts of its service should be performed.

The same divine authentication, in the same form, and for the same purpose, was subsequently given, when Peter opened the kingdom in the house of Cornelius, and the Gentiles were first actually admitted into the bosom of the Christian church. When Peter, with the two household servants and the devout soldier, the messengers which had been sent

and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this ?" Acts ii. 5-12.

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for him, arrived at the house, he found many that were come together. And while he was speaking to them, of the testimony which the prophets had given to the efficacy of the Redeemer's atonement, for the remission of the sins of every individual who should believe in him, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God."* And, that the outward radiant form of the tongue accompanied the inward miraculous power to magnify God, in languages previously unknown, is obviously implied, in the words which Peter employed, when he rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order, to the Apostles and brethren that were assembled at Jerusalem, and amongst whom a contention had been raised, because he had gone into men uncircumcised, and had eaten with them. "As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning."†

And while the divine authentication given to spiritual, and not to material sacri

*Acts x. 44-46.

† Acts xi. 15.

fices; the consecration was given to the living stones of the spiritual house, not to the gross and lifeless stones or timber, of which the upper room at Jerusalem, or the place of assembly in the house of Cornelius, was constructed. The radiance indicative of divine favour, was not, as of old, spread in one unbroken cloud of glory through the whole extent of the building; but it was divided into as many parts as there were living worshippers present; and it rested in the form of cloven tongues, like as of fire, upon the head of each of them. And when they went forth to extend the boundaries of the church, elements of consecration for buildings they carried none; but they carried, what was infinitely more valuable and efficacious, the purifying influences of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and the power to utter the truth which sanctifies with their lips. Streams of celestial grace were poured through them as the channels, to refresh, and purify, and cheer the hearts of those whom they addressed. That was fulfilled in them which the Saviour had promised, "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not

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yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified."*

This promise began to be fulfilled on the first day that the disciples received in copious blessings, the proof of the acceptance and efficacy of the work, which their ascended Priest had gone to discharge on their account. While those who were assembled in the upper room to wait for the blessing, in number about a hundred and twenty, received the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit's grace; they became the channels, through which its more ordinary, but not less saving streams, flowed, to three thousand persons in one day. The whole company of the assembled disciples, male and female, young and old, were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. They all contributed in producing that impression upon the assembled multitude, which Peter was instrumental in advancing to its decisive result, when they that gladly received his word were baptized; "and the same day," as the fruit of the labours of the hundred and twenty, which would doubtless be continued through the day, as well as of the address which Peter

* John vii. 38, 39.